Stuart Country Day School Photo - The front of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, NJ.

Best New Jersey Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 1,372 private schools serving 217,836 students in New Jersey (there are 2,569 public schools, serving 1,360,135 students). 14% of all K-12 students in New Jersey attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $18,203 for elementary schools and $23,629 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in New Jersey include Delbarton School, Princeton Day School, and Newark Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 78% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 40% and the student-teacher ratio is 11:1.
44% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.

Overview

This State (NJ)
US
# Schools
1,372 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
217,836 Students
5,699,317 Students
% Average Students of Color
40%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
20,228 Teachers
507,826 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
54%
55%
Average Class Size
14 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
15 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1262
(Out of 1600)
1233
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$18,757
$14,878
Average Summer Program Cost
$841
$1,138
Average % on Financial Aid
27%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$16,285
$7,124
Average Acceptance Rate
78%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$57.49 million
$61.71 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.65
# American Indian Students
942 Students
29,886 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
11,318 Students
265,088 Students
% Asian Students
5%
5%
# Hispanic Students
15,575 Students
507,413 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
9%
# Black Students
14,114 Students
416,690 Students
% Black Students
7%
7%
# White Students
116,434 Students
2,932,713 Students
% White Students
53%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
292 Students
20,067 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
59,276 Students
1,471,571 Students
% of Others Students
27%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
12 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked New Jersey Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
24
4,250
9%
166
28,365
17%
61
6,702
9%
73
11,200
12%
7
952
8%
10
1,174
4%
95
16,136
10%
33
3,989
8%
56
10,384
11%
17
992
5%
77
11,210
16%
120
15,418
11%
130
19,987
17%
95
11,754
14%
132
35,975
35%
71
11,317
12%
1
32
<1%
78
9,998
17%
22
2,856
13%
92
14,056
12%
11
1,056
6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in New Jersey?
The top-ranked private schools in New Jersey include Delbarton School, Princeton Day School, and Newark Academy.
How many private schools are located in New Jersey?
There are 1,372 private schools are located in New Jersey.
How much do private schools cost in New Jersey?
The average private school tuition in New Jersey is $18,203 for elementary schools and $23,629 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in New Jersey?
Approximately 40% of students in New Jersey private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in New Jersey go to private school?
14% of all K-12 students in New Jersey attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in New Jersey?
44% of private schools in New Jersey are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.
Which private schools in New Jersey are often viewed compared to one another?

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