The Best Private Schools in Gilbert, Arizona
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Gilbert. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Benjamin Franklin Charter School - Gilbert Campus
Benjamin Franklin Charter School
Benjamin Franklin Charter School is a highly-rated public charter school serving Gilbert with a classical education approach. The school emphasizes character development, academic excellence, and traditional values. With small class sizes and dedicated teachers, they offer a comprehensive Core Knowledge curriculum along with robust STEM programs. The Gilbert campus features modern facilities, strong parent involvement, and consistently high test scores, making it one of the top educational choices in the area.
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BASIS Charter School - Chandler
BASIS Charter Schools
BASIS Chandler is consistently ranked among the top charter schools nationally and serves many Gilbert families. The school offers an accelerated, internationally benchmarked curriculum with advanced STEM coursework starting in elementary grades. Students have access to extensive AP course offerings, state-of-the-art science labs, and competitive extracurricular programs. BASIS is known for its highly qualified faculty and exceptional college preparation, with graduates regularly attending top-tier universities.
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Heritage Academy - Mesa
Heritage Academy
Heritage Academy in nearby Mesa serves Gilbert students with a classical liberal arts education focused on character development and leadership. The school emphasizes American heritage, constitutional principles, and civic responsibility. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, Heritage offers a rigorous academic program complemented by extensive extracurricular activities including debate, sports, and community service. The school consistently receives high marks for parent satisfaction and academic outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Gilbert, Arizona
What are the primary types of private school options available to families in Gilbert, Arizona?
Gilbert offers a diverse range of private education models. These include high-performing charter school networks like Benjamin Franklin Charter School (Gilbert Campus) with a classical curriculum, and nationally-ranked STEM-focused schools like BASIS Charter School in nearby Chandler. There are also private, faith-based academies like Heritage Academy in Mesa, which emphasizes American heritage and character education. Additionally, Gilbert is home to several traditional preparatory schools, Montessori programs, and Christian academies, providing parents with significant choice in educational philosophy and structure.
How does Arizona's school choice legislation, like Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), impact private school affordability in Gilbert?
Arizona's ESA program is a significant factor for Gilbert families. It allows state-funded education dollars to follow a student to the private school of their choice. For the 2023-24 school year, the ESA amount is approximately $7,000-$8,000 per student, which can be applied directly to private school tuition. This makes many Gilbert-area private schools more accessible. However, it's crucial to check with individual schools (like BASIS or Heritage Academy) as their tuition may exceed the ESA amount, and not all private schools participate in the program. The application process is managed by the state, separate from school admission.
What unique academic or extracurricular specializations are prominent in Gilbert-area private schools?
Reflecting Gilbert's community and the broader East Valley's tech industry, many local private schools have strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) emphases. Schools like BASIS Chandler are renowned for advanced STEM curricula leading to high AP passage rates. Conversely, schools like Benjamin Franklin Charter School in Gilbert offer a core knowledge and classical education model, focusing on Western tradition and literacy. Heritage Academy provides a unique civics and leadership-focused curriculum. Extracurricularly, many Gilbert private schools leverage local facilities for robust athletic programs, robotics clubs, and agricultural science, tapping into the region's resources.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in the Gilbert area?
For sought-after schools like BASIS Chandler or Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, planning is essential. Most have application windows that open a full year in advance, typically between September and January for the following academic year. These processes often include submission deadlines, entrance assessments or placement tests, and family interviews. Many top schools also use a lottery system for admission if applications exceed available spots. It is highly recommended to attend open houses (often held in the fall) and to apply to multiple schools. Waitlists are common, so understanding each school's specific timeline and requirements is critical for Gilbert parents.
How do the academic environments and outcomes of Gilbert private schools compare to the highly-rated Gilbert Public Schools district?
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) is consistently ranked among Arizona's top public districts, offering excellent education. The choice often comes down to specific needs and environment. Private and charter schools in Gilbert (like BASIS) often provide more accelerated, specialized curricula with smaller average class sizes, which can be ideal for gifted students or those seeking a specific pedagogical approach. They may also have more flexibility in curriculum design. Public schools in Gilbert offer broader extracurricular diversity, no tuition, and a community-school model. Ultimately, many families choose based on whether they prefer the tailored, often more rigorous private model or the comprehensive, neighborhood-based excellence of GPS.