Boarding Schools with the Highest Average ACT Scores (2026-27 Rankings)

National Average ACT Score (Trends)

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

Total Growth: +4.2% (+1.1 since 2016)

Year	National avg	YoY Change (#)	YoY Change (%)
2025	27.1	▲ +0.2	▲ +0.7%
2024	26.9	▼ -0.1	▼ -0.4%
2023	27	▲ +0.2	▲ +0.7%
2022	26.8	▲ +0.1	▲ +0.4%
2021	26.7	— 0	— 0.0%
2020	26.7	▲ +0.2	▲ +0.8%
2019	26.5	▲ +0.1	▲ +0.4%
2018	26.4	▲ +0.2	▲ +0.8%
2017	26.2	▲ +0.2	▲ +0.8%
2016	26	▲ +0.3	▲ +1.2%
2015	25.7	▲ +0.3	▲ +1.2%
2014	25.4	—	—

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Show school map — National (Average ACT Score (Out of 36) range: 20–34, avg 27)

Average ACT Score
(Out of 36) Range: 20 34 Avg. Average ACT Score
(Out of 36): 27

Frequently Asked Questions

Which boarding schools have the highest average ACT scores?

The boarding schools with the highest average ACT scores are Annie Wright Schools, Lake Forest Academy and Lawrenceville School.

How many boarding schools are ranked for the highest average ACT scores?

120 boarding schools are ranked for the highest average ACT scores.

Recent Articles

October 26, 2026

How Much Free Time Do Boarding Students Get?

How much free time do boarding students really have? Learn how to evaluate schedules, homework, weekend obligations, activity requirements, and everyday routines before choosing a school that fits your child.

October 26, 2026

Boarding School Support During a Family Crisis

Learn how boarding schools can support students during family illness, bereavement, divorce, or emergencies, and what parents should ask about communication, counseling, academic flexibility, travel, privacy, and ongoing care arrangements.

October 26, 2026

Boarding School for an Only Child: Social Adjustment

Considering boarding school for an only child? Learn which questions to ask about roommates, friendships, privacy, adult support, and family communication before choosing a school that fits your child’s needs.

Featured Schools

Did You Know?

For several key reasons (listed below), these comparisons are intended only as informal reference points for evaluating the ACT taking ability of a school's student body.

A school's average ACT score is based on a relatively small sample of students from year to year (typically less than 100 students for a graduating class).

Average ACT scores, then, can naturally fluctuate year to year while the quality of the overall program and strength of the student body remains consistent.

Schools in the list below are often separated by small statistical differences, which for all intents and purposes, are not meaningful in determining the overall strength of the student body between two schools.

As a final note: average ACT scores should never be used by a family as an expectation of what score they can expect their child to receive if they go to a particular institution.