The Best Private Schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Jacksonville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Mount St. Mary Academy
Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Mount St. Mary Academy is a premier Catholic college preparatory school for young women, consistently ranked among the top private schools in Arkansas. Located in nearby Little Rock, it serves families throughout central Arkansas including Jacksonville. The school offers a rigorous academic program with 18 Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM education, competitive athletics, and extensive fine arts programs. With a 100% college acceptance rate and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, Mount St. Mary provides personalized attention and strong community values.
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Pulaski Academy
Independent
Pulaski Academy is a highly-regarded independent college preparatory school serving the greater Little Rock metropolitan area, including Jacksonville families. Known for its innovative educational approach and strong academic reputation, the school offers a comprehensive curriculum with 22 Advanced Placement courses, state-of-the-art STEM facilities, and nationally recognized athletic programs. The campus features modern academic buildings, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic facilities. Pulaski Academy consistently produces graduates who attend top-tier universities nationwide.
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Jacksonville Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
Jacksonville Christian Academy is a local private Christian school providing comprehensive education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Located directly in Jacksonville, the school offers a faith-based education with strong academic foundations, college preparatory courses, and a variety of extracurricular activities including competitive sports and fine arts programs. The school features modern classrooms, science labs, and athletic facilities while maintaining small class sizes for personalized instruction. JCA serves as a community-focused educational option for Jacksonville area families seeking private Christian education.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas
What are the primary private school options available for families living in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and what are their key characteristics?
Jacksonville, AR, offers a few primary private school options, each with distinct characteristics. **Mount St. Mary Academy**, located in nearby Little Rock, is a highly-regarded all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school known for its rigorous academics and strong sense of community, attracting many Jacksonville families. **Pulaski Academy**, also in Little Rock, is a prestigious, non-sectarian independent school famous for its mandatory laptop program, competitive athletics, and a no-D policy that emphasizes mastery of subjects. Within Jacksonville itself, **Jacksonville Christian Academy** provides a local, faith-based K-12 education with a biblical worldview and a smaller, community-oriented environment. Parents should consider commute, educational philosophy, and religious affiliation when evaluating these primary choices.
How does tuition for private schools in the Jacksonville, Arkansas, area compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for the top private schools serving Jacksonville families is generally at or above the Arkansas state average for private education. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition at Pulaski Academy and Mount St. Mary Academy ranges from approximately $15,000 to $20,000+ per year for upper grades. Jacksonville Christian Academy, as a local parochial school, often has a lower tuition rate, typically in the $6,000-$10,000 range. Importantly, all these schools offer financial aid packages based on demonstrated need. Additionally, Arkansas residents can benefit from the **Succeed Scholarship Program**, a state-funded voucher for students with disabilities, and the **Arkansas Children's Educational Opportunity Account Program (ACE)**, which provides grants for certain eligible students (e.g., from military families, foster care, or attending a D- or F-rated public school) to use at private schools.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Jacksonville, AR, area offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
Private schools in this area offer specialized programs not always available in Jacksonville's public school district. **Pulaski Academy** is renowned for its **Mandatory 1:1 Laptop Program** integrated across all grades and its entrepreneurial studies focus. **Mount St. Mary Academy** offers distinctive programs like extensive STEM research opportunities, a comprehensive fine arts curriculum, and unique leadership institutes for young women. **Jacksonville Christian Academy** provides a structured Bible-integrated curriculum and may offer smaller class sizes for more individualized attention. A key differentiator for these schools is often greater flexibility in curriculum design, allowing for advanced, project-based, or specialized tracks that can be more challenging to implement in larger public systems.
What is the typical enrollment and application timeline for private schools like Pulaski Academy or Mount St. Mary Academy that serve Jacksonville residents?
The timeline is competitive and requires early planning. For schools like Pulaski Academy and Mount St. Mary Academy, the application process for the following academic year typically opens in **August or September**, with priority application deadlines often set for **January or February**. This process usually includes submitting an application, academic records, teacher recommendations, and requiring entrance testing (like the ISEE or school-specific exams). Admissions decisions and financial aid awards are typically communicated in **March**. For **Jacksonville Christian Academy**, the process may be more rolling but still benefits from early inquiry. It is crucial for Jacksonville parents to begin research and campus visits a full year in advance, especially for sought-after grades like kindergarten, 6th, and 9th.
For a family living in Jacksonville, what are the major practical considerations when choosing between the local public school district and a private school option?
Jacksonville families must weigh several location-specific factors. **Commute** is significant: opting for Pulaski Academy or Mount St. Mary Academy means a daily drive to Little Rock (20-45 minutes), while Jacksonville Christian Academy offers a local alternative. **Cost** is paramount, weighing tuition against no-cost public education, though Arkansas's scholarship programs may help. **Educational Environment**: Private schools often offer smaller class sizes and specific religious or philosophical alignments. **Academic & Extracurricular Focus**: Private schools may provide more consistent access to advanced coursework, arts, or specific sports compared to the offerings at a particular Jacksonville public school. Finally, consider **community**: attending a local public school fosters neighborhood connections, whereas a private school creates a community based on shared values or educational goals, which may be more geographically dispersed.
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