Best Boarding Schools in North Carolina (2026-27)

Top North Carolina Boarding Schools (2026-27)

View top ranked boarding schools nationwide:

Asheville School

Gr: 9-12 | 260 students

Student-teacher ratio: 6:1

Avg. class size: 13 students

Acceptance rate: 40%

Tuition listed

Non-denom. / Christian

360 Asheville School Rd.

Asheville, NC 28806

(828) 254-6345

(4)

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Christ School

Gr: 8-12 | 302 students

Student-teacher ratio: 6:1

Avg. class size: 12 students

Acceptance rate: 67%

Tuition listed

All-boys (Episcopal)

500 Christ School Road

Asheville, NC 28704

(828) 684-6232

(1)

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Oak Ridge Military Academy

Gr: 7-12 | 120 students

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

Avg. class size: 10 students

Acceptance rate: 70%

Tuition listed

2317 Oak Ridge Road

Oak Ridge, NC 27310

(336) 515-8040

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Saint Mary's School

Gr: 9-12 | 309 students

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

Avg. class size: 14 students

Acceptance rate: 98%

Tuition listed

All-girls (Episcopal)

900 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

(919) 424-4100

(1)

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North Carolina Boarding School Trends (11-Year)

Boarding Schools

+33.3% (+1 school) 11-yr

1,034

Students

+28.4% (+229 students) 11-yr

$60,269

Avg. Tuition

+34.5% (+$15,447) 11-yr

12.50

Avg. Class Size

-1.3% (-0 students) 11-yr

17.75%

Students of Color

+61.4% (+6.8 pp) 11-yr

6.75:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

+19.0% (+1.1) 11-yr

Historical Statistics Overview

This State (NC)

US (avg. per state)

# Schools

4 Schools

6.4 Schools

View Data

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

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools
Year	North Carolina (NC) Total	US Avg per State
2025	4	6.4
2024	4	6.2
2023	4	6
2022	4	5.9
2021	4	5.7
2020	3	5.4
2019	3	5.4
2018	3	5.2
2017	3	5.1
2016	3	4.9
2015	3	5
2014	3	5

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# Students

1,034 Students

2,517 Students

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

Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students
Year	North Carolina (NC) Total	US Avg per State
2025	1,034	2,517
2024	1,033	2,453
2023	1,033	2,367
2022	1,031	2,384
2021	1,003	2,278
2020	889	2,144
2019	881	2,197
2018	861	2,146
2017	852	2,100
2016	841	1,980
2015	819	1,985
2014	805	1,962

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Academics and Faculty

This State (NC)

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

8:1

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

Trends in Average Student-Teacher Ratio
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	6.75	7.56
2024	6.75	7.42
2023	6.75	7.27
2022	6.75	7.24
2021	6.5	7.14
2020	6	7.1
2019	6	7.31
2018	6	7.25
2017	5.67	7.28
2016	5.67	7.25
2015	6.67	7.42
2014	5.67	7.45

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% Faculty with Advanced Degree

47%

69%

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

Trends in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	46.5%	68.79%
2024	46.5%	68.47%
2023	57.25%	68.7%
2022	57.25%	68.29%
2021	58%	67.41%
2020	74%	66.44%
2019	75%	65.37%
2018	75%	65.99%
2017	72.33%	65.94%
2016	68.33%	65.26%
2015	68.33%	64.84%
2014	68%	64.51%

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Academic Programs

This State (NC)*

* Fewer than 3 schools in North Carolina report Avg. IB Courses, so the South regional average is shown for that row.

Avg. AP Courses

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

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	17.67	21.79
2024	22.5	22.03
2023	22.5	21.94
2022	20.75	21.71
2021	19.75	21.96
2020	24.33	21.81
2019	23.67	21.32
2018	23.67	21.08
2017	23	20.87
2016	16	20.25
2015	16.33	20.27
2014	16	18.54

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Avg. IB Courses

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

Regional Trends (South) in Average Number of IB Courses Offered
Year	South Region Avg	National Avg
2025	31.5	28.48
2024	31.5	32.63
2023	31.5	32.37
2022	31.5	31.96
2021	31.5	33.52
2020	31.5	31.42
2019	33	32.29
2018	36.4	33.53
2017	34.2	29.83
2016	34.2	30.17
2015	23	27.41
2014	21.8	26.13

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Avg. Class Size

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

Trends in Average Class Size
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	12.5	12.78
2024	12.5	12.77
2023	12.5	12.73
2022	12.5	12.61
2021	11.75	12.54
2020	12.33	12.41
2019	12.33	12.58
2018	12.33	12.7
2017	12.33	12.59
2016	12.33	12.57
2015	12.67	12.63
2014	12.67	12.58

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Academic Performance

This State (NC)

Avg. SAT Score

1251

1271

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Trends in Average SAT Score
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	1251	1271
2024	1251	1274
2023	1251	1278
2022	1251	1276

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Avg. ACT Score

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Trends in Average ACT Score
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	24.67	27.06
2023	25.67	26.99
2022	25.67	26.75

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Avg. Acceptance Rate

68%

59%

View Data

Trends in Average Acceptance Rate
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	68%	58.56%
2024	68%	57.34%
2023	68%	56.69%
2022	68.75%	56.48%
2021	68.5%	55.89%
2020	64.67%	55.26%
2019	64.33%	54.55%

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Tuition and Finances

This State (NC)*

* Fewer than 3 schools in North Carolina report Avg. Financial Aid Grant, so the South regional average is shown for that row.

Avg. Tuition (Boarding)

$60,269

$64,455

View Data

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

Trends in Average Tuition Cost
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	$60,269	$64,455
2024	$59,056	$62,584
2023	$58,426	$60,415
2022	$57,060	$58,343
2021	$52,971	$57,017
2020	$56,265	$55,760
2019	$55,590	$54,186
2018	$54,948	$52,108
2017	$52,748	$50,594
2016	$47,518	$49,180
2015	$46,082	$47,708
2014	$44,822	$48,599

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Avg. Tuition (Day)

$33,753

$38,004

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average Day Student Tuition
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	$33,753	$38,004
2024	$32,345	$36,732
2023	$31,814	$35,848
2022	$34,952	$34,469
2021	$26,765	$34,614
2019	$30,078	$31,555
2018	$29,757	$30,133
2017	$28,558	$29,344
2016	$25,560	$29,140
2015	$24,825	$28,042
2014	$24,015	$27,217

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Avg. Tuition (International)

$61,817

$62,450

Avg. Financial Aid Rate

36%

42%

View Data

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

Trends in Average Financial Aid Rate
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	36.33%	41.95%
2024	37%	40.75%
2023	37%	40.83%
2022	37%	39.99%
2021	31.67%	40.06%
2020	33%	39.31%
2019	33%	38.46%
2018	33.67%	37.83%
2017	34.67%	36.82%
2016	34.33%	36.22%
2015	34.33%	35.64%
2014	34.33%	34.99%

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Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$21,503

$27,075

View Data

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

Regional Trends (South) in Average Financial Aid Grant
Year	South Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$21,503	$27,075
2024	$22,155	$26,722
2023	$23,238	$26,202
2022	$22,421	$26,183
2021	$23,069	$26,267
2020	$23,159	$26,166
2019	$22,149	$26,311
2018	$21,131	$25,365
2017	$20,206	$24,537
2016	$18,848	$23,339
2015	$17,911	$22,851
2014	$17,997	$22,694

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Avg. Endowment

$40 MM

$84 MM

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Trends in Average School Endowment
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	$40 million	$84 million
2024	$40 million	$83 million
2023	$33 million	$77 million
2022	$33 million	$73 million
2021	$33 million	$73 million
2020	$30 million	$67 million
2019	$29 million	$67 million
2018	$29 million	$72 million

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Student Diversity

This State (NC)

% Students of Color

18%

30%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % Students of Color
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	17.75%	29.63%
2024	16.5%	29.4%
2023	16.5%	28.56%
2022	16.5%	27.27%
2021	17%	26.61%
2020	16.33%	25.85%
2019	13.33%	24.45%
2018	13.33%	23.62%
2017	13.33%	22.39%
2016	13.33%	21.58%
2015	13.67%	21.11%
2014	11%	20.77%

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% International Students

13%

27%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % International Students
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	12.67%	26.71%
2024	12.33%	26.61%
2023	12.33%	26.33%
2022	13%	25.9%
2021	10.67%	25.04%
2020	12.33%	25.42%
2019	11.67%	25.64%
2018	11.67%	26.43%
2017	11.67%	26.69%
2016	12.33%	25.93%
2015	14.33%	25.38%
2014	12.67%	25.14%

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% Boarding Students

66%

59%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % Boarding Students
Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National Avg
2025	66%	59.08%
2024	66.5%	60.19%
2023	66.5%	60.59%
2022	66.5%	61.19%
2021	68%	61.06%
2020	69%	61.8%
2019	69%	62.22%
2018	69.33%	62.39%
2017	68.67%	63.02%
2016	66%	63.39%
2015	67.33%	63.63%
2014	67.67%	63.4%

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in North Carolina?

There are 4 college-preparatory boarding schools located in North Carolina.

What is the average tuition cost of boarding school in North Carolina?

The average North Carolina boarding school tuition cost is $60,844 per year.

What is the oldest boarding school in North Carolina?

Saint Mary's School, founded in 1842, is the oldest boarding school in North Carolina.

What boarding school in North Carolina has the lowest acceptance rates?

Asheville School has the lowest boarding school acceptance rate (40%) in North Carolina.

What boarding school in North Carolina has the highest average SAT scores?

Asheville School has the highest average SAT scores (1307) in North Carolina.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Quick Facts (26-27)

Top North Carolina Boarding Schools (2026-27)

North Carolina Boarding School Trends (11-Year)

Historical Statistics Overview

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools

Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students

Academics and Faculty

Trends in Average Student-Teacher Ratio

Trends in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees

Academic Programs

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Regional Trends (South) in Average Number of IB Courses Offered

Trends in Average Class Size

Academic Performance

Trends in Average SAT Score

Trends in Average ACT Score

Trends in Average Acceptance Rate

Tuition and Finances

Trends in Average Tuition Cost

Trends in Average Day Student Tuition

Trends in Average Financial Aid Rate

Regional Trends (South) in Average Financial Aid Grant

Trends in Average School Endowment

Student Diversity

Trends in Average % Students of Color

Trends in Average % International Students

Trends in Average % Boarding Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent Articles

Featured Schools

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