The Most Difficult High School to Get into, Ranked

Choose the high school you think is the most difficult!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 13, 2024 06:24
Choosing the right high school can be a pivotal decision in a student's academic career. The competitiveness of admission processes varies widely among schools, with some presenting significantly higher barriers to entry. Identifying these schools helps future applicants gauge the level of preparation needed to improve their own chances of acceptance. Here, users have the opportunity to participate in forming a live ranking of the most difficult high schools to gain entry into. By casting votes, users contribute to a clearer picture of the competitive landscape in education, potentially aiding students and parents in making informed decisions about where to apply.

What Is the Most Difficult High School to Get into?

  1. 1
    55
    votes
    Phillips Exeter Academy
    JWilliams · CC BY-SA 2.5

    Phillips Exeter Academy

    John Phillips
    Located in New Hampshire, Phillips Exeter Academy is considered one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country. It is highly selective, with an admission rate of just 19%. Students must complete an application, submit transcripts, recommendations, and essays, and participate in an interview process.
    Phillips Exeter Academy is a prestigious, private co-educational independent boarding school in Exeter, New Hampshire, United States. It is renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum and highly selective admission process. Founded in 1781, it has a long history of providing a top-notch education to students from around the world.
    • Location: Exeter, New Hampshire, USA
    • Founding Year: 1781
    • Type: Private, Co-educational, Independent Boarding School
    • Admission Selectivity: Highly selective
    • Curriculum: Rigorous and comprehensive
    Phillips Exeter Academy in other rankings
  2. 2
    42
    votes
    St. Paul's School
    Alex.muller · CC BY 3.0

    St. Paul's School

    Dr. George Cheyne Shattuck
    Also located in New Hampshire, St. Paul's School is another highly selective boarding school. Students must submit transcripts, recommendations, essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 16%.
    St. Paul's School is a highly prestigious and selective co-educational boarding school located in Concord, New Hampshire, United States. It is renowned for its rigorous academic programs, strong focus on character development, and extensive extracurricular opportunities.
    • Year Founded: 1856
    • Gender: Co-educational
    • Location: Concord, New Hampshire, United States
    • Boarding Type: Boarding school
    • Admission Type: Selective
    St. Paul's School in other rankings
  3. 3
    24
    votes

    The Brearley School

    Dr. Samuel A. Brearley
    Located in New York City, The Brearley School is a private all-girls school that is highly selective. Students must complete an application, submit transcripts, recommendations, and essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 17%.
    The Brearley School is an all-girls, private college-preparatory school located in Manhattan, New York City. Established in 1884, it has gained a reputation for being one of the most prestigious and difficult high schools to gain admission to in the United States.
    • Type: Private, girls-only
    • Location: Manhattan, New York City
    • Year Established: 1884
    • Admission Difficulty: Extremely difficult
    • Reputation: Highly prestigious
  4. 4
    30
    votes

    Horace Mann School

    Nicholas Murray Butler
    Located in New York City, Horace Mann School is a highly selective private school that is known for its rigorous academics. Students must submit transcripts, recommendations, essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 15%.
    The Horace Mann School is a prestigious independent college preparatory school located in New York City. Renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum and commitment to excellence, it is widely recognized as one of the most difficult high schools to gain admission to.
    • Established in: 1887
    • Location: New York City, New York, United States
    • Grade Levels: Pre-K to 12
    • Co-Educational: Yes
    • Admissions Selectivity: Highly competitive
  5. 5
    10
    votes

    The Dalton School

    Helen Parkhurst
    Also located in New York City, The Dalton School is a private school that is highly selective. Students must submit transcripts, recommendations, essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 20%.
    The Dalton School is a prestigious independent school located in New York City. Known for its rigorous academics and progressive educational philosophy, it is considered one of the most difficult high schools to get into. Founded in 1919 by Helen Parkhurst, the school has a long-standing reputation for its commitment to individualized education and intellectual growth.
    • Location: New York City
    • Year of Foundation: 1919
    • Educational Philosophy: Progressive
    • Admission Difficulty: High
    • Academic Rigor: Challenging
  6. 6
    7
    votes
    Stuyvesant High School
    Jim.henderson · CC0
    Located in New York City, Stuyvesant High School is a highly competitive public school that is known for its rigorous academics. Applicants must take a standardized test, and the admission rate is just 3%.
    Stuyvesant High School is a prestigious public high school located in New York City. It is known for its rigorous academic curriculum and competitive admissions process.
    • Location: New York City
    • Type: Public high school
    • Admissions: Highly competitive
    • Curriculum: Rigorous academic program
    • Mascot: Pegleg Pete
    Stuyvesant High School in other rankings
  7. 7
    12
    votes
    The Harker School
    Harker School Staff Photographer · CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Harker School

    Howard and Diana Nichols
    Located in California, The Harker School is a highly selective private school that is known for its rigorous academics. Students must complete an application, submit transcripts, recommendations, and essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 9%.
    The Harker School is a prestigious and highly selective private school located in San Jose, California. It offers a comprehensive K-12 education with an emphasis on academic excellence, college preparation, and holistic development of students.
    • Location: San Jose, California
    • Type: Private
    • Grade Levels: K-12
    • Selection Process: Highly competitive
    • Academic Focus: Emphasis on academic excellence
  8. 8
    5
    votes
    Located in Massachusetts, The Roxbury Latin School is a highly selective private school that is known for its rigorous academics. Students must submit transcripts, recommendations, essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 11%.
    The Roxbury Latin School is an all-boys preparatory school located in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. It has a rigorous academic curriculum and provides a strong focus on character development. The school aims to foster a supportive and intellectually challenging environment for its students.
    • Gender: All-boys
    • Location: West Roxbury, Massachusetts
    • Year Founded: 1645
    • Type: Preparatory school
    • Academic Curriculum: Rigorous
  9. 9
    12
    votes
    Located in California, Harvard-Westlake School is a highly selective private school that is known for its rigorous academics. Students must complete an application, submit transcripts, recommendations, and essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 11%.
    Harvard-Westlake School is a prestigious and highly selective high school located in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 1989 through the merger of two renowned institutions, the Harvard School for Boys (founded in 1900) and the Westlake School for Girls (founded in 1904), both of which have outstanding academic legacies. The merger created a coeducational college preparatory school renowned for its rigorous curriculum, exceptional faculty, and high academic standards.
    • Grade Levels: 7-12
    • Location: Los Angeles, California
    • Year Founded: 1989
    • Type of School: Private
    • Gender: Coeducational
    Harvard-Westlake School in other rankings
  10. 10
    11
    votes
    The Lawrenceville School
    Daderot · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Located in New Jersey, The Lawrenceville School is a highly selective boarding school that is known for its rigorous academics. Students must complete an application, submit transcripts, recommendations, and essays, and participate in an interview process. The admission rate is just 18%.
    The Lawrenceville School is a prestigious, coeducational, independent boarding school located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Established in 1810, it is one of the oldest and most renowned preparatory schools in the United States.
    • Location: Lawrenceville, New Jersey
    • Established: 1810
    • Type: Coeducational, independent boarding school
    • Admissions Selectivity: Extremely competitive
    • Enrollment: Approximately 800 students

Missing your favorite high school?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for difficult high school

  1. Admission Rates
    The percentage of students who applied and were accepted for admission. A lower admission rate typically indicates that the school has higher standards and is more selective.
  2. Average GPA/Test Scores
    The average grade point average (GPA) or standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT scores, of admitted students. Comparing these statistics can help in understanding the academic competitiveness required for admission.
  3. Course Rigor
    The level of difficulty, rigor, and variety of courses offered by the school, like Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.
  4. Extracurricular Activities and Achievements
    The range of extracurricular activities, community service, and sports participation required or expected from applicants, as well as any notable achievements students have made outside the classroom.
  5. Essays and Personal Statements
    The quality, depth, and originality of essays and personal statements required for admission, which showcase students' critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, and personal values.
  6. Recommendations
    The types, quality, and strength of recommendation letters required from teachers, counselors, or other adults who can attest to the applicant's character, achievements, and potential for success.
  7. Application Process
    The complexity and competitiveness of the application process, including the number of required forms, essays, and interviews, as well as the timeline and deadlines for submission.
  8. Reputation and Rankings
    The school's overall reputation, recognition, and rankings in various local, national, or international lists, which may influence the perception of its prestige and desirability.
  9. Alumni Success
    The track record of the school's graduates, including their academic, professional, and personal successes, which could serve as an indicator of the quality of education and preparation students receive at the school.
  10. Diversity
    The demographic diversity and inclusivity of the school, as well as its commitment to fostering a diverse learning environment, which may be important for shaping an enriching educational experience.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult high school to get into. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or School is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 4912 views
  • 191 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each School once every 24 hours. The rank of each School is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult high school to get into

Background Information: High school admissions can be a competitive and challenging process, with some schools having more rigorous requirements than others. Many factors can affect a school's selectivity, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, and even geographic location. Some schools are known for their prestigious reputation and consistently high standards, making them notoriously difficult to get into. In this article, we'll explore some of the most challenging high schools to gain admission to and what sets them apart from the rest. Whether you're a student or a parent, understanding the admissions process can help you better prepare for the journey ahead.

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