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Lowest Acceptance Rates
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.

Lowest Acceptance Rates:

Among All Schools (out of 240 schools)

Sorted by range (alphabetically within range) * Indicates Boarding Grades Offered
Boarding School
School Type
Grades*
Acceptance Rate
1.-14.  CFS, The School at Church FarmAll-Boys
   7-12
<25%
1.-14.  Deerfield AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14.  Georgetown Preparatory SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12
<25%
1.-14.  Girard CollegeCo-Ed
   1-12
<25%
1.-14.  Groton SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12
<25%
1.-14.  The Hotchkiss SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14.  Lawrenceville SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14.  Middlesex SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
<25%
1.-14.  Milton AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12
<25%
1.-14. Peddie SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14. Phillips Academy AndoverCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14. Phillips Exeter AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
<25%
1.-14. St. Paul's SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
<25%
1.-14. The Thacher SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
<25%
15.-21. Choate Rosemary HallCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
25%-30%
15.-21. Episcopal High SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
25%-30%
15.-21. The Governor's Academy
(formerly Governor Dummer Academy)
Co-Ed
   9-12
25%-30%
15.-21. The Hockaday SchoolAll-Girls
   8-12
25%-30%
15.-21. St. George's SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
25%-30%
15.-21. St. Mark's SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
25%-30%

Sorted by range (alphabetically within range) * Indicates Boarding Grades Offered
Boarding School
School Type
Grades*
Acceptance Rate
15.-21. Westminster SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
25%-30%
22.-26. Cate SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
30%-35%
22.-26. Concord AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12
30%-35%
22.-26. Massanutten Military AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
30%-35%
22.-26. St. Andrew's School, DECo-Ed
   9-12
30%-35%
22.-26. Suffield AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
30%-35%
27.-34. Blair AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. The Bolles SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. Canterbury SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. Cranbrook SchoolsCo-Ed
   9-12
35%-40%
27.-34. Hill SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. Loomis Chaffee SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. Mercersburg AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
35%-40%
27.-34. The Pennington SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12
35%-40%
35.-44. The Athenian SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
40%-45%
35.-44. Berkshire SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
40%-45%
35.-44. Brooks SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
40%-45%
35.-44. George SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
40%-45%
35.-44. Saint James SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12
40%-45%
35.-44. St. Stephen's Episcopal SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12
40%-45%
35.-44. Salisbury SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
40%-45%
35.-44. Stevenson SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
40%-45%
35.-44. The Webb SchoolsCo-Ed
   9-12
40%-45%
35.-44. The Williston Northampton SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
40%-45%
45.-53. Asheville SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
45%-50%
45.-53. Avon Old Farms SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
45%-50%
45.-53. Culver AcademiesCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
45%-50%
45.-53. The Masters SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
45%-50%
45.-53. Miss Porter's SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12, PG
45%-50%
45.-53. Proctor AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12
45%-50%
45.-53. South Kent SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
45%-50%
45.-53. The Stony Brook SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12
45%-50%
45.-53. White Mountain SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
45%-50%
54.-74. Annie Wright SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Dana Hall SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Emma Willard SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. The GunneryCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Holderness SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Hoosac SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Indian Springs SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Kent SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Lake Forest AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Lawrence AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Millbrook SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. New Hampton SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Orme SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Pomfret SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. St. Anne's-Belfield SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Salem AcademyAll-Girls
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Tallulah Falls SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Tilton SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Verde Valley SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
50%-55%
54.-74. Vermont AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
50%-55%
54.-74. Woodberry Forest SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12
50%-55%
75.-94. Brewster AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Cheshire AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Flintridge Sacred Heart AcademyAll-Girls
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. Fork Union Military AcademyAll-Boys
   6-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Garrison Forest SchoolAll-Girls
   8-12
55%-60%
75.-94. The Knox SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12
55%-60%
75.-94. La Lumiere SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. The MacDuffie SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. Miss Hall's SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. Missouri Military AcademyAll-Boys
   6-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Northfield Mount Hermon SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Northwood SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Oregon Episcopal SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. Portsmouth Abbey SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. St. Andrew's School - RICo-Ed
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. St. Timothy's SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. The Webb SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. West Nottingham AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
75.-94. Westtown SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
55%-60%
75.-94. Wilbraham & Monson AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
55%-60%
95.-131. Besant Hill School (Formerly Happy Valley School)Co-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Blue Ridge SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. The Cambridge School of WestonCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Chatham HallAll-Girls
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Christ SchoolAll-Boys
   8-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Christchurch SchoolAll-Boys
   8-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Conserve SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Cushing AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Darrow SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Dublin SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Dunn SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. The Ethel Walker SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Fryeburg AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Houghton AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Hyde-BathCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Hyde-WoodstockCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Idyllwild Arts AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Interlochen Arts AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Kimball Union AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. The Madeira SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Midland SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Montverde AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. New Mexico Military InstituteCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. New York Military AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Perkiomen SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12
60%-70%
95.-131. St. John's Northwestern Military AcademyAll-Boys
   7-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Shattuck-St. Mary's SchoolCo-Ed
   6-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Southwestern AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Stoneleigh-Burnham SchoolAll-Girls
   7-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Subiaco AcademyAll-Boys
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Thomas Jefferson SchoolCo-Ed
   7-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Trinity Pawling SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Villanova Preparatory SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Virginia Episcopal SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
60%-70%
95.-131. Wentworth Military Academy & CollegeCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
95.-131. Western Reserve AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
60%-70%
132.-186. Academy of the Holy FamilyAll-Girls
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Admiral Farragut AcademyCo-Ed
   6-12
>70%
132.-186. Advanced Academy of GeorgiaCo-Ed
   11-12
>70%
132.-186. Andrews Osborne AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12
>70%
132.-186. Army and Navy AcademyAll-Boys
   7-12
>70%
132.-186. The Brook Hill SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. Camden Military AcademyAll-Boys
   7-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Colorado Rocky Mountain SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Colorado Timberline AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Cotter SchoolsCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Darlington SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Family First AcademyCo-Ed
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. Florida Air AcademyCo-Ed
   6-12
>70%
132.-186. The Forman SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Fountain Valley School of ColoradoCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Foxcroft SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Gould AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. The Gow SchoolAll-Boys
   7-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Grand River AcademyAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Grier SchoolAll-Girls
   7-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Hargrave Military AcademyAll-Boys
   7-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Hawaii Preparatory AcademyCo-Ed
   6-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Hebron AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. High Mowing SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Howe Military School & Summer CampCo-Ed
   5-12
>70%
132.-186. The King's AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12
>70%
132.-186. The Kiski SchoolAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Lowell Whiteman SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. The Marvelwood SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Miller SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Monte Vista Christian SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Oak Hill AcademyCo-Ed
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. Oakwood Friends SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Ojai Valley SchoolCo-Ed
   3-12
>70%
132.-186. Oldfields SchoolAll-Girls
   8-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Oliverian SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. Olney Friends SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. The Outdoor AcademyCo-Ed
   10-11
>70%
132.-186. The Oxford AcademyAll-Boys
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Purnell SchoolAll-Girls
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Randolph-Macon AcademyCo-Ed
   6-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Riverside Military AcademyAll-Boys
   7-12
>70%
132.-186. St. Catherine's Military AcademyAll-Boys
   4-8
>70%
132.-186. Saint John's Preparatory SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. St. Johnsbury AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. St. Margaret's SchoolAll-Girls
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. St. Thomas More SchoolAll-Boys
   8-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. San Marcos Baptist AcademyCo-Ed
   7-12
>70%
132.-186. Scattergood Friends SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Squaw Valley AcademyCo-Ed
   6-12
>70%
132.-186. The Storm King SchoolCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. Stuart Hall SchoolAll-Girls
   8-12
>70%
132.-186. Wasatch AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12, PG
>70%
132.-186. Wayland AcademyCo-Ed
   9-12
>70%
132.-186. The Winchendon SchoolCo-Ed
   8-12, PG
>70%


  View all schools sorted by "acceptance rate"

Top School Listings by Category:

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  Community Size - Largest student body (number of students)
  Community Size - Smallest student body (number of students)
  Boarding Focus - Highest percentage of boarding students
  Diversity - Highest percentage of international students
  Diversity - Highest percentage of students of color
  Affordability - Least expensive tuition
  Affordability - Highest percentage of students on financial aid
  Student Attention - Smallest average class sizes
  Student Attention - Lowest teacher:student ratio
  Faculty Education - Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees
  School Resources - Largest endowments
  School Resources - Endowment per student
  Selectivity - Lowest acceptance rates
  Offering Breadth - Most sports offered
  Offering Breadth - Most extracurriculars offered
  Offering Breadth - Most AP/advanced courses offered
  Student Test Scores - Highest average SAT scores
  Student Test Scores - Highest average SSAT score
  School History - Oldest founding date

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