The 50 best private high schools in America

Facebook/phillipsacademy

Attending a top private high school provides a solid academic foundation, helps students gain entrance into first-rate colleges, and prepares them for the challenges of the real world.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, just released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the country.

The ranking looked at over 8,000 private schools across the US, rating each on its composite SAT and ACT scores, four-year matriculation rate, and student-teacher ratio, as well as the caliber of colleges that graduates attend and survey responses from students and parents. You can read the full breakdown of the methodology here.

Read on to learn more about what makes these 50 schools the best in America:

50. Emma Willard School

Location: Troy, New York

Overall rating: 94.57

Average SAT score: 2030

"Emma Willard is a great school that prepares their students for college and beyond," one senior said. "The academics are serious and fast-paced, but if do your work and ask for help when you need it, you will succeed."

49. St. Andrew's School

Location: Middletown, Delaware

Overall rating: 94.58

Average SAT score: 1980

"I have had the greatest four years of my life here at SAS," a senior commented. "Both the students and the faculty are the nicest people that I have ever met. I cannot imagine a better environment to take advantage of a great education, as well as make tons of lifelong friends along the way."

48. Lick-Wilmerding High School

Location: San Francisco, California

Overall rating: 94.60

Average SAT score: 2090

"I can't say enough great things about this school," one parent said. "Everything they do is thoughtful and deliberate. Not only does L-W have excellent academics but they also develop the entire person, socially and emotionally. Students are kind, tolerant, diverse, respectful, and very happy!"