美国中学分为公立和私立两种。公立学校对美国当地学生是免费的，国际学生如需就读公立学校，只能通过专门的交流项目申请入学，而且必须交纳学费，就读时间不能超过一年。私立学校可以面向国内和国际学生招生，国际学生的比例按学校不同有很大区别，但所有学生的收费标准是一样的。
每年美国都有私立寄宿学校根据SAT平均成绩的排名。SAT(Scholastic Assessment Tests)测验是美国高中学生能否进入大学学习的决定性考试，相当于中国的高考。它分为SAT I 和SAT II 两种，是由美国大约4,300 所大学组成的文教组织--美国大学委员会(The College Board)委托教育测验服务社(Educational Testing Service，ETS)定期举办的世界性测验。美国各大学会参考此成绩，决定是否接受学生的入学申请。liuxue86.com
2011年美国私立高中排名——按照建校时间：
校名 类型 提供年级 建校时间
1. West Nottingham Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1744
2. Linden Hall All-Girls 5-12, PG 1746
3. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Co-Ed 9-12 1763
4. Salem Academy All-Girls 9-12 1772
5. Phillips Academy Andover Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1778
6. Phillips Exeter Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1781
7. Georgetown Preparatory School All-Boys 9-12 1789
8.-9. Fryeburg Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1792
8.-9. Washington Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1792
10. Lawrence Academy Co-Ed 9-12 1793
11. Cheshire Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1794
12. Oakwood Friends School Co-Ed 9-12 1796
13. Deerfield Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1797
14. Milton Academy Co-Ed 9-12 1798
15. Westtown School Co-Ed 9-12 1799
16. George Stevens Academy Co-Ed 9-12 1803
17.-18. Hebron Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1804
17.-18. Wilbraham & Monson Academy Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1804
19. Bridgton Academy All-Boys 12-12, PG 1808
20. Lawrenceville School Co-Ed 9-12, PG 1810
2011 年美国私立高中排名——按照师资力量（拥有高等学历的教师比例）：
校名 类型 提供年级 拥有高等学历的教师比例
| 1.-9. Advanced Academy of Georgia | Co-Ed | 11-12 | >90% |
| 1.-9. Ashbury College | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >90% |
| 1.-9. Houghton Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >90% |
| 1.-9. Idyllwild Arts Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >90% |
| 1.-9. Indian Springs School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | >90% |
| 1.-9. St. Margaret's School | All-Girls | 7-12 | >90% |
| 1.-9. THINK Global School | Co-Ed | 9-10 | >90% |
| 1.-9. Valley Forge Military Academy | All-Boys | 7-12, PG | >90% |
| 1.-9. Wentworth Military Academy & College | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | >90% |
| 10.-27. Chatham Hall | All-Girls | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Concord Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Cranbrook Schools | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Culver Academies | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Episcopal High School | Co-Ed | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Georgetown Preparatory School | All-Boys | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. The Madeira School | All-Girls | 9-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. The Meeting School | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Oak Hill Academy | Co-Ed | 8-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Oakdale Christian Academy | Co-Ed | 7-12 | 80%-90% |
| 10.-27. Phillips Exeter Academy | Co-Ed | 9-12, PG | 80%-90% |
