Wisconsin’s Top Private High School Costs $26K, New Rankings Show

WAUNAKEE, WI — Wisconsin’s best private high school costs $25,706 annually, according to the 2026 rankings released Monday by Niche.

Madison Country Day School in Waunakee was ranked the No. 1 private high school in Wisconsin and placed No. 323 nationally in Niche’s analysis of 30,000 private institutions.

For the 2026 Best Private High Schools in America ranking, Niche evaluated schools using academics, teacher quality, resources, and extracurricular offerings, as well as parent, student, and alumni input. SAT/ACT scores were not factored into this year’s methodology.

Behind Madison Country Day, rounding out the top 10 private schools in Wisconsin are:

• No. 2 Brookfield Academy, Brookfield — $25,900 tuition; ranked No. 359 nationally
• No. 3 Wayland Academy, Beaver Dam — $26,000 tuition (boarding listed at $71,800); ranked No. 386 nationally
• No. 4 The Prairie School, Wind Point — $22,000 tuition; ranked No. 412 nationally
• No. 5 University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee — $33,150 tuition; ranked No. 427 nationally
• No. 6 University Lake School, Hartland — $24,950 tuition; ranked No. 445 nationally
• No. 7 Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee — $17,630 tuition; ranked No. 466 nationally
• No. 8 St. Lawrence Seminary High School, Mount Calvary — $18,000 tuition; ranked No. 479 nationally
• No. 9 Marquette University High School, Milwaukee — $15,600 tuition; ranked No. 491 nationally
• No. 10 Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay — $15,350 tuition; ranked No. 498 nationally

Nationally, The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut (costing $71,170 a year), secured the No. 1 private high school spot, followed by Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.

Niche says its rankings combine comprehensive data with reviews from students, parents and educators to help families choose schools where children can excel academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for the future.