Most Selective Boarding Schools (2026-27 Rankings)

National Average Acceptance Rate (Trends)

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Total Growth: +9.7% (+5.2% since 2016)

Year	National avg
2025	58.6% (▲ 1.3 pp)
2024	57.3% (▲ 0.6 pp)
2023	56.7% (▲ 0.2 pp)
2022	56.5% (▲ 0.6 pp)
2021	55.9% (▲ 0.6 pp)
2020	55.3% (▲ 0.7 pp)
2019	54.6% (▲ 0.1 pp)
2018	54.5% (▲ 0.2 pp)
2017	54.3% (▲ 0.9 pp)
2016	53.4% (▼ 0.3 pp)
2015	53.7% (— 0 pp)
2014	53.7%

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Show school map — National (Acceptance Rate range: 10%–100%, avg 58%)

Acceptance Rate Range: 10% 100% Avg. Acceptance Rate: 58%

Frequently Asked Questions

Which boarding schools have the lowest acceptance rates?

The boarding schools with the lowest acceptance rates are Blair Academy, Brooks School and Cate School.

How many boarding schools are ranked for the lowest acceptance rates?

164 boarding schools are ranked for the lowest acceptance rates.

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Did You Know?

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.