Avon Old Farms School

Trinity-Pawling School

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Most Selective Boarding Schools

The average acceptance rate across the 22 ranked all-boys boarding schools is 68% (2026-27).

Among all-boys boarding schools, the one with the lowest acceptance rate is Salisbury School, with 33%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

# All-Boys Schools Ranked: 22
Top 20 Range (Lowest Acceptance Rates): 33%–95%
All-Boys Schools Avg.: 68%
National Avg.: 59%

Quick Facts (26-27)

# All-Boys Schools Ranked: 22
Top 20 Range (Lowest Acceptance Rates): 33%–95%
All-Boys Schools Avg.: 68%
National Avg.: 59%

National Average Acceptance Rate (Trends)

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

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

View Data

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: 33%–95%, avg 68%)

Acceptance Rate Range: 33% 95% Avg. Acceptance Rate: 68%

Frequently Asked Questions

Which all-boys boarding schools have the lowest acceptance rates?

The all-boys boarding schools with the lowest acceptance rates are Salisbury School, Avon Old Farms School and Trinity-Pawling School.

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

22 all-boys 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.