Most Selective Boarding Schools

Among "Schools with 200-400 Students", view the boarding schools with the lowest acceptance rates (2026).
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.
Brooks School
Cate School
Eagle Hill School
The Thacher School
St. Andrew's School, DE
St. Mark's School
Portsmouth Abbey School
Salisbury School
The Williston Northampton School
Canterbury School
Emma Willard School
Asheville School
Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy
Indian Mountain School
The Winchendon School
Dunn School
The Ethel Walker School
Holderness School
Hoosac School
Kimball Union Academy
Acceptance Rate Range: 11% 98% Avg. Acceptance Rate: 55%

Lowest Acceptance Rates

Among Schools with 200-400 Students (out of 61 schools)

Sorted by range (alphabetically within range)
Brooks School Photo - Come visit our beautiful 251 acre campus located on the shores of Lake Cochichewick.
#1(T1–T8)Brooks School
Gr: 9-12
Episcopal
1160 Great Pond Road
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 725-6272
(10)
Cate School Photo - Day Walk
#1(T1–T8)Cate School
Gr: 9-12
1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
(19)
Eagle Hill School Photo - The PJM STEM center houses science and math classrooms, labs, and makerspaces. Anything that can be imagined can be created in the PJM STEM center!
Gr: 8-12
P.O. Box 116 , 242 Old Petersham Road
Hardwick, MA 01037
(413) 477-6000
(2)
The Thacher School Photo - In courses designed for intellectual and creative expansion, students and teachers meet in seminar circles, studios, and laboratories to create a learning environment that is vigorous and supportive, galvanizing and nurturing.
Gr: 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
(26)
St. Andrew's School, DE Photo - St. Andrew's seminar style discussions, which include faculty and students seated at a central round table, are heard throughout English, history and language classes.
Gr: 9-12
Episcopal
350 Noxontown Road
Middletown, DE 19709
(302) 285-4231
(13)
St. Mark's School Photo - St. Mark's School
#5(T5–T11)St. Mark's School
Gr: 9-12
Episcopal
25 Marlboro Road
Southborough, MA 01772
(508) 786-6118
(7)
Portsmouth Abbey School Photo
Gr: 9-12
Catholic
285 Cory's Lane
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 643-1248
(5)
Salisbury School Photo - Salisbury School
#7(T7–T14)Salisbury School
Gr: 9-12, PG
All-boys (Episcopalian)
251 Canaan Road
Salisbury, CT 06068
(860) 435-5732
(2)
The Williston Northampton School Photo - Williston promises an academic culture that respects your ability to think for yourself and gives you the right balance of structure and freedom to make the most of it. You'll be immersed in a challenging curriculum that cultivates active, lifelong learning. And with an average class size of 13 students, your teachers are truly going to know you.
Gr: 9-12, PG | 7-12, PG (day)
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027
(413) 529-3241
(17)
Canterbury School Photo - At Canterbury, you will develop the skills most essential to meeting future challenges and succeeding in college. These start with critical thinking, excellence in writing, and a solid foundation in digital literacy.
#10(T10–T16)Canterbury School
Gr: 9-12, PG
Catholic heritage
101 Aspetuck Avenue
New Milford, CT 06776
(860) 210-3832
(1)
Emma Willard School Photo
#10(T10–T16)Emma Willard School
Gr: 9-12, PG
All-girls
285 Pawling Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 833-1320
(9)
Asheville School Photo - Asheville School. An Education for an Inspired Life.
#12(T12–T20)Asheville School
Gr: 9-12
nondenominational Christian heritage
360 Asheville School Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 254-6345
(4)
Hawai'i Preparatory Academy Photo
Gr: 9-12, PG | K-12, PG (day)
65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road
Kamuela, HI 96743
(808) 881-4321
(4)
Indian Mountain School Photo - As one of the most popular spring sports at IMS, the varsity boys and girls programs have sent athletes to compete at the highest levels of high school and college.
Gr: 5-9 | PK-9 (day)
211 Indian Mountain Road
Lakeville, CT 06039
(435) 480-0871
The Winchendon School Photo
#12(T12–T20)The Winchendon School
Gr: 9-12, PG
172 Ash Street
Winchendon, MA 01475
(978) 297-4476
(2)
Dunn School Photo - In 2020 the new Leadership Center was completed. Overlooking the open space known as Munger Common, the center provides state of the art meeting rooms and learning facilities, is home to the student-run Earwig Cafe, and hosts our college counseling team. Students can be found gathering both indoors and outside the center for conversation and relaxation.
#16(T16–T29)Dunn School
Gr: 9-12 | 6-12 (day)
P.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(800) 287-9197
The Ethel Walker School Photo - Beaver Brook Building - This building houses many of our academic classes as well as administrative offices, meeting spaces, art rooms, and our computer lab.
Gr: 7-12, PG | 6-12, PG (day)
All-girls
230 Bushy Hill Road
Simsbury, CT 06070
(860) 408-4200
Holderness School Photo - In the Holderness classroom, each student is literally in the front row, with an average class size of 12. We offer AP courses spanning multiple disciplines and encourage students to pursue an intellectual passion of their own in their twelfth-grade year as part of the Senior Thesis program.
#16(T16–T29)Holderness School
Gr: 9-12, PG
Episcopal
PO Box 1879
Plymouth, NH 03264
(603) 536-1747
(8)
Hoosac School Photo - Hoosac School was founded in 1889.
#16(T16–T29)Hoosac School
Gr: 8-12, PG
Episcopal
14 Pine Valley Road
Hoosick, NY 12089
(518) 686-7331
(1)
Kimball Union Academy Photo
#16(T16–T29)Kimball Union Academy
Gr: 9-12, PG
7 Campus Center Drive
Meriden, NH 03770
(603) 469-2100
(5)
Miss Porter's School Photo
#16(T16–T29)Miss Porter's School
Gr: 9-12
All-girls
60 Main Street
Farmington, CT 06032
(860) 409-3530
(5)
Proctor Academy Photo - A community built on authentic relationships.
#16(T16–T29)Proctor Academy
Gr: 9-12, PG
204 Main Street - P.O. Box 500
Andover, NH 03216
(603) 735-6652
(12)
Rumsey Hall School Photo - Rumsey Hall School campus.
#16(T16–T29)Rumsey Hall School
Gr: 5-9 | PK-9 (day)
201 Romford Rd.
Washington, CT 06794
(860) 868-0535
Walnut Hill School for the Arts Photo
Gr: 9-12, PG
12 Highland Street
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 650-5020
(3)
Brewster Academy Photo - Welcome to Wolfeboro! Brewster's lakeside location provides students with a variety of resources on and off campus. Our outdoor facilities include six athletic fields, nine tennis courts, and a boathouse which provides storage and work areas for rowing shells and "420" racing sailboats.
#25(T25–T40)Brewster Academy
Gr: 9-12, PG
80 Academy Drive
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
(603) 569-7200
(10)
Delphian School Photo - Delphian is located just one hour from Portland, OR. on a large 720 acre wooded campus. The residential community is in constant motion, alive with students from all around the world.
#25(T25–T40)Delphian School
Gr: 5-12 | PK-12 (day)
non-religious
20950 SW Rock Creek Road
Sheridan, OR 97378
(503) 843-3521
(19)
Grier School Photo
#25(T25–T40)Grier School
Gr: 7-12, PG | 5-12, PG (day)
All-girls
2522 Grier School Road
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814) 684-3000
(6)
The MacDuffie School Photo - Aerial view of MacDuffie's 250 acre campus
#25(T25–T40)The MacDuffie School
Gr: 6-12, PG
66 School Street
Granby, MA 01033
(413) 255-0000
(1)
The Madeira School Photo - Capitol Hill internships in the offices of senators and representatives are a hallmark of the junior year at Madeira
#25(T25–T40)The Madeira School
Gr: 9-12
All-girls
8328 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 556-8273
(2)
New Hampton School Photo - Energetic, exceptional faculty who drive a customized learning experience.
#25(T25–T40)New Hampton School
Gr: 9-12, PG
70 Main Street
New Hampton, NH 03256
(603) 677-3401
(8)
Saint James School Photo - Saint James' picturesque 800-acre campus is conveniently located only 70 miles from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
#25(T25–T40)Saint James School
Gr: 8-12
Episcopal
17641 College Road
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 733-9330
Tilton School Photo - Tilton School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school serving students from 9th to 12th grade and postgraduates. Tilton's student body of 220 consists of day students and boarding students from 19 states and 16 countries. Although the Tilton Experience is different for every student, it challenges all students to try new things, learn new skills, and try new things.
#25(T25–T40)Tilton School
Gr: 9-12, PG
30 School Street
Tilton, NH 03276
(603) 286-1733
(1)
Trinity-Pawling School Photo - The next-generation school for boys is here, on a campus that feels warm and welcoming and human-scaled, in an academic community that thinks ahead, looks forward, and gets transformational results.
Gr: 8-12, PG | 7-12, PG (day)
All-boys (Episcopal)
700 Route 22
Pawling, NY 12564
(845) 855-4825
(1)
Westtown School Photo - Main building
#25(T25–T40)Westtown School
Gr: 9-12 | PK-12 (day)
Quaker
975 Westtown Rd
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
(44)
Cheshire Academy Photo - Our 104 acre (0.42 sq km) campus is in the center of the quiet, beautiful Town of Cheshire, CT. Though just a two hour drive to both Boston and New York, Cheshire is a quiet small town where students are in walking distance of a few area shops and cafes.
#35(T35–T45)Cheshire Academy
Gr: 9-12, PG
10 Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
(203) 439-7250
(5)
Christchurch School Photo - "Set your course at the river. " Established in the Episcopal tradition, Christchurch is inclusive, welcoming students and families of all faiths and backgrounds.
#35(T35–T45)Christchurch School
Gr: 9-12
Episcopal
49 Seahorse Lane
Christchurch, VA 23031
(804) 542-6843
Fork Union Military Academy Photo - The cadets in parade formation. The first full dress parade of the year begins usually at the end of April and is on Sunday.
Gr: 7-12, PG
All-boys (Baptist General Association of Virginia)
PO Box 278, 4744 James Madison Hwy
Fork Union, VA 23055
(434) 842-4205
(6)
The Cambridge School of Weston Photo - With over 250 courses to choose from, our dynamic curriculum allows students to balance engaging foundational courses with exploration and in-depth study as they choose from offerings like: "Multivariable Calculus," "The Biology of Cancer," "Wearable Art," "Japanese Women Writers," and "U.S. Cold War and Vietnam."
Gr: 9-12, PG
45 Georgian Road
Weston, MA 02493
(781) 642-8650
(15)
Christ School Photo
#38(T38–T59)Christ School
Gr: 8-12
All-boys (Episcopal Church)
500 Christ School Road
Asheville, NC 28704
(828) 684-6232
(1)
Fountain Valley School of Colorado Photo - Fountain Valley School is a coed independent college preparatory school that offers day and boarding programs for students in grades 9-12. FVS was established in 1930 and is located on an 1,100 acre campus in Colorado Springs, Colo., which is 70 miles (115 km) south of Denver. Colorado's mountain ski resorts are two hours to the west, and the School
Gr: 9-12
6155 Fountain Valley School Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
(719) 391-5251
(4)
Idyllwild, CA
Gr: 9-12, PG
52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223
(18)
Kents Hill School Photo - Our idyllic, 400-acre campus is nestled in the midst of the Belgrade Lakes and provides sweeping views of the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire.
#38(T38–T59)Kents Hill School
Gr: 9-12, PG
PO Box 257, 1614 Main St., Rte. 17
Kents Hill, ME 04349
(207) 685-1606
(1)
Miller School of Albemarle Photo - Miller School of Albemarle, a coeducational day and boarding college preparatory school for students in grades 8-12 and post-graduate, opened its doors in 1878 with 33 students. Girls first enrolled in 1884, making it one of the nation`s oldest coeducational boarding schools. The school is situated 12 miles west of Charlottesville on a gently rolling campus of 1600 pristine acres.
Gr: 8-12, PG
1000 Samuel Miller Loop
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 818-1385
Missouri Military Academy Photo - Established in 1889, Missouri Military Academy has transformed young men into leaders who are well-educated, prepared gentlemen of character. Our long history and distinct traditions inspire a sense of pride and duty among the young men who seek to fulfill their potential at MMA.
Gr: 7-12, PG
All-boys (Non-denom. / Christian)
204 Grand Street
Mexico, MO 65265
(573) 581-1776
(6)
Ojai, CA
#38(T38–T59)Ojai Valley School
Gr: 3-12 | PK-12 (day)
723 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1423
(2)
The Putney School Photo
#38(T38–T59)The Putney School
Gr: 9-12, PG
418 Houghton Brook Road
Putney, VT 05346
(802) 387-6201
(14)
Ross School Photo
#38(T38–T59)Ross School
Gr: 6-12, PG | PK-12, PG (day)
18 Goodfriend Drive
East Hampton, NY 11937
(631) 907-5400
Army and Navy Academy Photo
#48(T48–T79)Army and Navy Academy
Gr: 7-12
All-boys (secular)
2605 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(888) 762-2338
(4)
Camden Military Academy Photo - A proud family!
Gr: 7-12, PG
All-boys (non-sectarian)
520 Hwy. 1 North
Camden, SC 29020
(803) 432-6001
(18)
Cardigan Mountain School Photo
Gr: 6-9
All-boys
62 Alumni Drive
Canaan, NH 03741
(603) 523-3548
(2)
CATS Academy Boston Photo - Adams Hall
#48(T48–T79)CATS Academy Boston
Gr: 8-12, PG
2001 Washington Street
Braintree, MA 02184
(857) 400-9700
(1)
Forman School Photo - The Forman Green is at the center of campus life. Surrounded by dorms and faculty homes, it reflects the traditional charm of an historic New England community.
#48(T48–T79)Forman School
Gr: 9-12, PG
12 Norfolk Road, P.O. Box 80
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-1802
(6)
Harlingen, TX
Gr: 7-12, PG
All-boys
320 Iwo Jima Blvd
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 423-6006
(1)
Maur Hill - Mount Academy (MH-MA) Photo
Gr: 9-12
Catholic
1000 Green St.
Atchison, KS 66002
(913) 367-5482
Mount Michael Benedictine School Photo
Gr: 9-12
All-boys (Catholic)
22520 Mount Michael Road
Elkhorn, NE 68022
(402) 238-1457
Riverside Military Academy Photo
Gr: 6-12
All-boys
2001 Riverside Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501
(877) 692-2338
(5)
St. Andrew's-Sewanee School Photo - Founded in 1868, St. Andrew's-Sewanee and its students enjoy many long held traditions like the Morning Watch, ringing the Chapel Bells after a victory, Creative Expression Assemblies, Winterim, and the International Flag Ceremony. Recent additions include the Tri-Tree Competition, the pancake race, and the Blessing of the Animals.
Gr: 7-12 | 6-12 (day)
Episcopal
290 Quintard Rd.
Sewanee, TN 37375
(931) 598-5651
(6)
Saint Bede Academy Photo - With an average student population of 300, our small class sizes offer students one-on-one interaction with their instructors.
#48(T48–T79)Saint Bede Academy
Gr: 9-12
Catholic
24 W US Highway 6
Peru, IL 61354
(815) 250-0285
Raleigh, NC
#48(T48–T79)Saint Mary's School
Gr: 9-12
All-girls (Episcopal)
900 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 424-4100
(1)
Saint Stanislaus High School Photo - We make the most of our location right on the Bay, developing unique programs, clubs, and activities for our students to enjoy. Our scuba and sailing clubs enjoy time in the water, while our environmental club focuses on care for our oceans, too.
Gr: 7-12
All-boys (Catholic)
304 S. Beach Blvd.
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
(228) 467-9057
San Marcos Academy Photo - San Marcos Academy has offered a tradition of excellence in private, Christian education since 1907.
#48(T48–T79)San Marcos Academy
Gr: 6-12 | Pre-K-12 (day)
Affiliated with Texas Baptists through the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
2801 Ranch Road 12
San Marcos, TX 78666
(800) 428-5120

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