Just went down a rabbit hole looking at prep schools where the richest students in America actually go, and honestly? The tuition numbers are wild. We're talking $50k-$60k+ annually just for high school. Like, that's literally more than some people's annual salary.

The schools with the richest students tend to cluster around New England and California—places like Phillips Academy Andover, Groton, and Middlesex in Massachusetts are basically where old money sends their kids. Andover's been around since 1778 and charges nearly $54k a year. Then you've got The Thacher School in California on 427 acres, charging over $56k, or Groton at almost $60k. Milton School in Massachusetts hits the highest I saw—$63,950 annually.

What's interesting is how these high schools with the richest students aren't just expensive because of the name. Most of them have genuinely rigorous academics, international student bodies, and facilities that rival small colleges. St. Mark's has a 210-acre campus. The Webb Schools in California literally has separate schools for boys and girls, both in the same area.

The wild part? Connecticut seems to be the hub. Loomis Chaffee, Taft School, Kent School—all there, all pushing $52k-$54k range. Even the average private school tuition in Connecticut is almost $29k, which is more than in-state tuition at UConn.

Makes you think about the whole education inequality thing. These schools with the richest students definitely aren't accessible to most families without serious financial aid. And yeah, some offer need-based aid, but when your base tuition is $60k, even 'affordable' is still pretty out of reach for average families.