Top private high schools offer a lot of perks, from the newest classroom technology to pristine athletic fields. But when it comes down to it, nothing is more important than the quality of a school's academics.
Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, just released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the US, from which it also ranked the schools with the best academics— the smartest private high schools across the country.
Niche determined the bulk of the ratings by weighing the composite SAT/ACT score, caliber of colleges graduates attend, and percentage of seniors who go on to four-year colleges for more than 8,000 schools. Niche also looked at student-teacher ratio and survey responses from parents and students. You can read the full methodology here.
Read on to see the 50 private high schools with the smartest students in the country.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best private high schools in America
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50. The Pingry School
Location: Martinsville, New Jersey
Average SAT score: 2060
Four-year matriculation rate: 100%
Popular college choices: Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University
"The curriculum here is top-notch," one junior said. "Many students go to Ivy Leagues and other prestigious universities. The schedule is awesome and provided like a college schedule. Workload is heavy, but students deal with it."
49. Newark Academy
Location: Livingston, New Jersey
Average SAT score: 2080
Four-year matriculation rate: 100%
Popular college choices: University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Columbia University
"Teachers are always happy to provide extra help, and for the most part create fun and engaging classroom environments," one senior said.
Students point out that excellent teachers make the hard work worth it.
"Definitely one of the best schools in the state," another senior noted. "Rigorous academics but the teachers make it possible for everyone to succeed as long as they apply themselves."
48. Noble & Greenough School
Location: Dedham, Massachusetts
Average SAT score: 2080
Four-year matriculation rate: 100%
Popular college choices: Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Cornell University
"Noble typically has one of the most impressive matriculation rates in the country and definitely prepares its students for college and the real world," one Niche user shared. "I've been a step ahead of my peers in college and I know many of my fellow classmates can agree to this.
"Students and alumni are all well connected and the school has given me valuable life skills," they added. "I did plenty of internships in high school and the networks that I have been able to create will benefit me later on in the future."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider