The Most Sought-After Schools of 2022
Test Innovators has helped countless students prepare for the SSAT and the ISEE and gain admission to the best independent and private schools. Every year we review our data from thousands of test takers to determine the most popular schools.
Below are the 50 most sought-after independent schools of 2022, based on the number of students who stated their intention to apply this year. Please keep in mind that there are many wonderful schools not included on this list that may be perfect for you.
Charlotte Country Day
Established date: 1907
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,744
Annual tuition: $20,125 – $28,010
Financial aid allotment: $7.9 million; 21% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Charlotte Country Day website.
Westminster Christian Academy
Established date: 1976
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 7-12
Total enrollment: 930
Annual tuition: $19,550
Financial aid allotment: $3.15 million; 32% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Westminster Christian Academy website.
St. Thomas High School
Established date: 1900
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 700
Annual tuition: $21,900
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the St. Thomas High School website.
Houston Christian High School
Established date: 1998
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 525
Annual tuition: $28,963
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Houston Christian website.
McDonogh School
Established date: 1873
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,458
Annual tuition: $46,600 (5-Day Boarding); $19,900 – $34,700 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $6.1 million
Learn more on the McDonogh School website.
Hawken
Established date: 1915
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Preschool-12
Total enrollment: 1,500
Annual tuition: $23,300 – $37,950
Financial aid allotment: $12.3 million; 45% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Hawken School website.
Parish Episcopal
Established date: 1972
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,100
Annual tuition: $19,875 – $34,510
Financial aid allotment: $3.8 million; 91% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Parish Episcopal website.
Ensworth
Established date: 1958
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,200
Annual tuition: $26,990 – $35,990
Financial aid allotment: $3.9 million
Learn more on the Ensworth School website.
Roxbury Latin
Established date: 1645
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 7-12
Total enrollment: 300
Annual tuition: $37,900
Financial aid allotment: 36% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Roxbury Latin School website.
Taipei American School
Established date: 1949
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: KA-12
Total enrollment: 2,400
Annual tuition: NT$870,860 – NT$960,365 (NT$ = New Taiwan dollars)
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Taipei American School website.
Deerfield Academy
Established date: 1797
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 650
Annual tuition: $67,520 (Boarding); $48,850 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $13 million
Learn more on the Deerfield Academy website.
The Rivers School
Established date: 1915
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 6-12
Total enrollment: 518
Annual tuition: $57,950
Financial aid allotment: $6.7 million; 29% of students receive aid
Learn more on the The Rivers School website.
The John Cooper School
Established date: 1988
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,316
Annual tuition: $24,480 – $30,250
Financial aid allotment: $2.1 million; 12% of students receive aid
Learn more on the John Cooper School website.
Cary Academy
Established date: 1996
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 6-12
Total enrollment: 787
Annual tuition: $28,495
Financial aid allotment: over $2 million
Learn more on the Cary Academy website.
The Bishop’s School
Established date: 1909
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 6-12
Total enrollment: 800
Annual tuition: $41,040
Financial aid allotment: $4.1 million; 20% of students receive aid
Learn more on the The Bishop’s School website.
Ursuline Academy
Established date: 1874
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 860
Annual tuition: $25,900
Financial aid allotment: $1.6 million; 24% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Ursuline Academy of Dallas website.
Charlotte Latin
Established date: 1970
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Transitional Kindergarten-12
Total enrollment: 1,500
Annual tuition: $21,200 – $29,350
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Charlotte Latin School website.
La Jolla Country Day School
Established date: 1926
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Age 3 – Grade 12
Total enrollment: 1,125
Annual tuition: $21,920 – $39,330
Financial aid allotment: $5.2 million
Learn more on the La Jolla Country Day School website.
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Established date: 1970
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 2,050
Annual tuition: $17,000 – $25,900
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Lake Highland Preparatory School website.
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (Jesuit Dallas)
Established date: 1942
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,100
Annual tuition: $22,650 – $23,176
Financial aid allotment: $2.6 million
Learn more on the Jesuit Dallas webpage.
Buckingham Browne and Nichols
Established date: 1883
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,032
Annual tuition: $40,150 – $57,200
Financial aid allotment: $10.4 million; 25% of student receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Buckingham Browne & Nichols.
Newark Academy
Established date: 1774
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 6-12
Total enrollment: 674
Annual tuition: $47,120
Financial aid allotment: over $3 million
Learn more on the Newark Academy website.
Awty International School
Established date: 1956
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,700
Annual tuition: $25,550 – $32,230
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Awty International School website.
Providence Day
Established date: 1970
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Transitional Kindergarten-12
Total enrollment: 1,861
Annual tuition: $20,800 – $29,620
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Providence Day School website.
Eastside Preparatory School
Established date: 2002
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 5-12
Total enrollment: 500
Annual tuition: $40,400
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Eastside Preparatory School website.
The Overlake School
Established date: 1967
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 5-12
Total enrollment: 530
Annual tuition: $39,962
Financial aid allotment: $1.5 million; 8% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Overlake School website.
Hong Kong International School (HKIS)
Established date: 1966
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 2,900
Annual tuition: HK$225,200 – HK$ 256,300 (HK$ = Hong Kong dollars)
Financial aid allotment: HKIS does not offer financial aid at this time
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Hong Kong International School.
St. Agnes Academy
Established date: 1905
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 930
Annual tuition: $24,000
Financial aid allotment: $2 million; 18% of students receive aid
Learn more on the St. Agnes Academy website.
The Hotchkiss School
Established date: 1891
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 599
Annual tuition: $66,940 (Boarding); $56,910 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $12.5 million; 37% of students receive aid
Bishop Lynch
Established date: 1963
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,150
Annual tuition: $20,650
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Learn more on the Bishop Lynch website.
Francis Parker School
Established date: 1912
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Junior Kindergarten-12
Total enrollment: 1,300
Annual tuition: $24,080-$38,920
Financial aid allotment: $7.25 million; 25% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Francis Parker School website.
The Hockaday School
Established date: 1913
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,115
Annual tuition: $29,890 – $35,465
Financial aid allotment: over $3 million; 14% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Hockaday School website.
The Dalton School
Established date: 1919
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,300
Annual tuition: $57,970
Financial aid allotment: $12 million; 21% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Dalton.
Episcopal High School
Established date: 1839
Type of school: Boarding
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 440
Annual tuition: $66,360
Financial aid allotment: $8.4 million; 35% of students receive aid
Check out our guide for How to Get Into Episcopal High School.
Strake Jesuit
Established date: 1960
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,300
Annual tuition: $24,465
Financial aid allotment: $4.8 million; 20% of students receive aid
Learn more on the Strake Jesuit website.
The Kinkaid School
Established date: 1906
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,466
Annual tuition: $26,420-$32,050
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into The Kinkaid School.
Milton Academy
Established date: 1798
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: K-8 (Day), 9-12 (Boarding)
Total enrollment: 1,022
Annual tuition: $65,950 (Boarding); $57,800 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $13.1 million ; 35% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Milton Academy.
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Established date: 1906
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 1-12
Total enrollment: 911
Annual tuition: $28,648 – $35,821
Financial aid allotment: $2.5 million; 13.5% of students receive aid
Learn more on the St. Mark’s School of Texas website.
Noble and Greenough School
Established date: 1866
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 7-12
Total enrollment: 630
Annual tuition: $63,650 (5-Day Boarding); $57,650 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: over $7 million
Check out our guide on How to Get into Noble and Greenough School.
Trinity School
Established date: 1709
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,040
Annual tuition: $58,385 – $58,495
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Trinity School.
Greenhill School
Established date: 1950
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Pre-K-12
Total enrollment: 1,348
Annual tuition: $29,030 – $36,240
Financial aid allotment: $5.9 million; 20% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Greenhill School.
Lakeside School
Established date: 1919
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 5-12
Total enrollment: 876
Annual tuition: $40,080
Financial aid allotment: 32% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Lakeside School.
St. John’s School
Established date: 1946
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,422
Annual tuition: $27,140 – $32,540
Financial aid allotment: $4.215 million; 14% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into St. John’s School.
Riverdale Country School
Established date: 1907
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: PreK-12
Total enrollment: 1,260
Annual tuition: $61,305
Financial aid allotment: $10.5 million; 20% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Riverdale Country School.
The Harker School
Established date: 1893
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: K-12
Total enrollment: 1,975
Annual tuition: $39,225 – $56,650
Financial aid allotment: Reach out to the school for information about financial aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into The Harker School.
Choate Rosemary Hall
Established date: 1890
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 850
Annual tuition: $65,820 (Boarding); $50,910 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $13.5 million; 32% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Choate Rosemary Hall.
Horace Mann School
Established date: 1887
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: Nursery-12
Total enrollment: 1,793
Annual tuition: $42,940 – $58,800
Financial aid allotment: $12 million; 14% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Horace Mann.
Harvard-Westlake School
Established date: 1900
Type of school: Day
Grade levels: 7-12
Total enrollment: 1,620
Annual tuition: $44,500
Financial aid allotment: $14 million; 20% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Harvard-Westlake.
Phillips Exeter Academy
Established date: 1781
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,077
Annual tuition: $61,121 (Boarding); $47,739 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: $25 million; 45% of students receive aid
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Exeter.
Phillips Academy Andover
Established date: 1778
Type of school: Boarding/day
Grade levels: 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,149
Annual tuition: $66,290 (Boarding); $51,380 (Day)
Financial aid allotment: 46% of students receive financial aid; 12% of students receive full scholarships
Check out our guide on How to Get Into Andover.
Please click here to see the Most Sought-After Schools from previous years.
