Among "All Schools," view the twenty boarding schools with the "lowest acceptance rates." First, some important notes:
- Acceptance rates listed below reflect the average rate of acceptance for all applicants (boarding and day applicants) in the previous year.
- Keep in mind that acceptance rates may be lower or higher than the average acceptance rate depending on: what grade you are applying for, whether you are a boarding applicant or day student applicant, and the time of year you are applying.
- Schools typically have the most openings for freshmen and sophomores (many schools do not accept incoming seniors), so applying for entrance into 9th or 10th grade may improve your chances of admission.
- Acceptance rates between boarding applicants and day student applicants may differ (i.e., schools in certain areas may a higher ratio of day student applicants to day student openings, versus boarding applicants to boarding openings; the acceptance rate of some schools will actually be lower for day applicants and higher for boarding applicants).
- Many, but not all, schools will accept applications after application deadlines, but admission generally becomes more difficult.
| Sorted by range (alphabetically within range) | * Indicates Boarding Grades Offered | ||
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| 1.-15. Choate Rosemary Hall | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Deerfield Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Georgetown Preparatory School | All-Boys | 9-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. Groton School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. The Hockaday School | All-Girls | 8-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. The Hotchkiss School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Lawrenceville School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Middlesex School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. Peddie School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Phillips Academy Andover | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. Phillips Exeter Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. St. Paul's School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. The Taft School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | <25% |
| 1.-15. The Thacher School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | <25% |
| 1.-15. THINK Global School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | <25% |
| 16.-21. Cate School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 25%-30% |
| 16.-21. Emma Willard School | All-Girls | 9-12, PG | 25%-30% |
| 16.-21. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 25%-30% |
| 16.-21. Milton Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 25%-30% |
| 16.-21. St. Andrew's School, DE | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 25%-30% |
| Sorted by range (alphabetically within range) | * Indicates Boarding Grades Offered | ||
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| 16.-21. St. George's School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 25%-30% |
| 22.-30. Annie Wright School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. Canterbury School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. CFS, The School at Church Farm | All-Boys | 7-12 | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. Concord Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. The Loomis Chaffee School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. The Masters School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. New Hampton School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. Suffield Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 30%-35% |
| 22.-30. Westminster School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 30%-35% |
| 31.-38. Berkshire School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. Blair Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. The Bolles School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. Hill School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. Mercersburg Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. The Pennington School | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. St. Mark's School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 35%-40% |
| 31.-38. Salisbury School | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | 35%-40% |
| 39.-51. The Athenian School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Brooks School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Cranbrook Schools | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Episcopal High School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Hawai'i Preparatory Academy | Co-Ed | 6-12, PG | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. The Knox School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. St. Albans School | All-Boys | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Saint Andrew's School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. St. Andrew's School - RI | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. Stevenson School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. The Stony Brook School | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. The Webb Schools | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 40%-45% |
| 39.-51. The Williston Northampton School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 40%-45% |
| 52.-65. Asheville School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Avon Old Farms School | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Culver Academies | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Cushing Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Indian Springs School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Miss Hall's School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Miss Porter's School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Northfield Mount Hermon School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Oldfields School | All-Girls | 8-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Proctor Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Saint James School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. South Kent School | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. Western Reserve Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 52.-65. The White Mountain School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 45%-50% |
| 66.-88. Bement School | Co-Ed | 3-9 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Brewster Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Dana Hall School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. The Ethel Walker School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Fay School | Co-Ed | 6-9 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. The Gunnery | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Holderness School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Hoosac School | Co-Ed | 8-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Lake Forest Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Lawrence Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Millbrook School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. The Orme School of Arizona | Co-Ed | 8-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Perkiomen School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Pomfret School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Portsmouth Abbey School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. St. Anne's-Belfield School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Salem Academy | All-Girls | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Tallulah Falls School | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Thomas Jefferson School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Tilton School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Verde Valley School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. Vermont Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 66.-88. West Nottingham Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 50%-55% |
| 89.-104. Besant Hill School (Formerly Happy Valley School) | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. The Cambridge School of Weston | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Dunn School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy | All-Girls | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Fork Union Military Academy | All-Boys | 6-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Garrison Forest School | All-Girls | 8-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. George School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. The MacDuffie School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Northwood School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Oregon Episcopal School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. St. Stephen's Episcopal School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. St. Timothy's School | All-Girls | 9-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. The Webb School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Westover School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Westtown School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 55%-60% |
| 89.-104. Wilbraham & Monson Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 55%-60% |
| 105.-142. Blue Ridge School | All-Boys | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Brehm Preparatory School | Co-Ed | 6-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Chatham Hall | All-Girls | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Christ School | All-Boys | 8-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Christchurch School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Cotter Schools | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Darrow School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Dublin School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Erie First Christian Academy | Co-Ed | 8-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Foxcroft Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Hebron Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Houghton Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Hyde School - Bath, ME | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Hyde School - Woodstock, CT | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Idyllwild Arts Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Interlochen Arts Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Kimball Union Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. La Lumiere School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. The Madeira School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Midland School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. New Mexico Military Institute | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. New York Military Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. North Country School | Co-Ed | 4-9 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Ojai Valley School | Co-Ed | 3-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. St. Croix Schools | Co-Ed | 6-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. St. John's Northwestern Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Shattuck-St. Mary's School | Co-Ed | 6-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Southwestern Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Stoneleigh-Burnham School | All-Girls | 7-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Subiaco Academy | All-Boys | 7-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Trinity Pawling School | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Villanova Preparatory School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Virginia Episcopal School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Wentworth Military Academy & College | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. The Winchendon School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Woodberry Forest School | All-Boys | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 105.-142. Woodside Priory School (Priory) | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 60%-70% |
| 143.-208. Academy of the Holy Family | All-Girls | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Admiral Farragut Academy | Co-Ed | 6-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Advanced Academy of Georgia | Co-Ed | 11-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Andrews Osborne Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Army and Navy Academy | All-Boys | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Brandon Hall School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Brook Hill School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Buffalo Seminary | All-Girls | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Camden Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Cardigan Mountain School | All-Boys | 6-9 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Cheshire Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Colorado Rocky Mountain School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Colorado Timberline Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Darlington School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Excelsior School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Fenster School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Florida Air Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Forman School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Fountain Valley School of Colorado | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Fryeburg Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Gould Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Gow School | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Grand River Academy | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Greenwood School | All-Boys | 4-9 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Grier School | All-Girls | 6-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Hargrave Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. High Mowing School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Hillside School | All-Boys | 5-9 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Howe School and Summer Camp | Co-Ed | 5-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The King's Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Kiski School | All-Boys | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Linden Hill School | All-Boys | 3-9 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Lowell Whiteman School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Lustre Christian High School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Marvelwood School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Maur Hill - Mount Academy (MH-MA) | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Meeting School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Menaul School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Mercyhurst Preparatory School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Miller School | Co-Ed | 8-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Missouri Military Academy | All-Boys | 6-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Monte Vista Christian School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Oak Creek Ranch School | Co-Ed | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Oak Hill Academy | Co-Ed | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Oak Ridge Military Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Oakland School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Oliverian School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Olney Friends School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Purnell School | All-Girls | 9-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Randolph-Macon Academy | Co-Ed | 6-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Riverside Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. St. Catherine's Military Academy | All-Boys | 4-8 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Saint John's Preparatory School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. St. Johnsbury Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. St. Margaret's School | All-Girls | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. St. Stanislaus College Preparatory | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. St. Thomas More School | All-Boys | 8-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. San Marcos Baptist Academy | Co-Ed | 6-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Scattergood Friends School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Squaw Valley Academy | Co-Ed | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. The Storm King School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Stuart Hall School | Co-Ed | 8-12 | >70% |
| 143.-208. Valley Forge Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Valley International Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Wasatch Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >70% |
| 143.-208. Wayland Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >70% |
• View all schools sorted by "acceptance rate"
