The Best Private Schools in Lamar, Colorado
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Lamar. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary School
Diocese of Pueblo Catholic Schools
St. Mary School is Lamar's premier private educational institution, serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade. As part of the Diocese of Pueblo Catholic Schools, it offers a faith-based education combined with strong academic fundamentals. The school features small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes advanced mathematics, science, language arts, and religious education. Extracurricular activities include sports teams, music programs, and community service opportunities. The school maintains strong parent involvement and has served the Lamar community for over six decades with consistent academic excellence and character development.
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St. Patrick School
Diocese of Pueblo Catholic Schools
Located approximately 30 minutes from Lamar in La Junta, St. Patrick School serves families throughout southeastern Colorado with exceptional private education from Pre-K through 8th grade. The school offers a rigorous academic program rooted in Catholic values, featuring advanced technology integration, comprehensive STEM education, and strong emphasis on literacy and mathematics. With dedicated certified teachers and modern facilities, St. Patrick provides a nurturing environment that emphasizes both academic achievement and moral development. The school has extensive extracurricular offerings including athletics, music, drama, and community outreach programs.
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Baca County Christian School
Independent Christian School
Serving students from throughout southeastern Colorado including Lamar families, Baca County Christian School in Springfield offers comprehensive Christian education from elementary through high school. The school provides a college-preparatory curriculum with small class sizes, individualized attention, and strong emphasis on both academic excellence and spiritual growth. Unique programs include agricultural science, business education, and comprehensive fine arts. The school features modern facilities including science labs, computer technology centers, and athletic facilities. With a focus on developing well-rounded students, BCCS offers numerous extracurricular activities including sports, music, drama, and community service programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Lamar, Colorado
What are the primary private school options available for families in Lamar, Colorado, and what are their core educational approaches?
Lamar, CO, offers a few key private school options, each with a distinct focus. **St. Mary School** (PreK-6) and **St. Patrick School** (K-6) are Catholic parish schools providing faith-based education integrated with a standard academic curriculum. **Baca County Christian School**, while located in nearby Springfield, serves the wider region and offers a Protestant Christian education from a non-denominational perspective. Given Lamar's rural setting, these schools provide smaller class sizes and close-knit communities, but options for middle and high school grades are very limited within the city itself, often requiring consideration of schools in neighboring communities or homeschooling partnerships.
How does tuition at private schools in Lamar, CO, compare to state averages, and what financial assistance might be available?
Tuition at Lamar's private schools is typically below the Colorado state average for private education, reflecting the area's lower cost of living. For the 2023-2024 school year, tuition at St. Mary and St. Patrick Schools is approximately $2,500-$3,500 per year for parish members, with slightly higher rates for non-members. Financial assistance is often available through the individual parishes and diocesan programs. Baca County Christian School also operates with modest tuition and may offer sibling discounts. Importantly, Colorado has the **Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit**, which allows donors to designated child care providers (including many private schools) to receive a state income tax credit, which can incentivize donations that schools may use for tuition assistance.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in Lamar offer that address the needs of a rural community?
Private schools in Lamar leverage their small size to offer personalized learning but may have limited specialized programs compared to urban centers. Their uniqueness often lies in community integration and values-based education. For instance, agricultural science and local history might be woven into the curriculum. Extracurriculars are often community-dependent and may include 4-H partnerships, local church activities, and cooperative sports programs where students from multiple small schools (sometimes including public schools) form combined athletic teams. The emphasis is typically on strong core academics, character development, and fostering resilience and community responsibility—traits highly valued in rural Colorado.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for private schools in Lamar, and are there waiting lists?
Due to their small size, enrollment processes in Lamar's private schools are generally straightforward and personal. The timeline often begins in early spring (February-April) for the following fall, but rolling admission is common as space allows. The process typically involves submitting an application, providing past academic records, and a family interview or meeting with the principal. For the Catholic schools, baptismal records are required. Waiting lists are not typically a major issue given the limited population, but popular early elementary grades can fill. A key local consideration is to apply early if you are interested in Pre-K or Kindergarten, as these classes have strict size limits. The best first step is to contact the school office directly for a tour and specific application packet.
For parents considering both sectors, how do the private schools in Lamar, Colorado, differ from the public Lamar School District RE-2?
The primary differences lie in scale, curriculum framework, and environment. **Lamar Public Schools (RE-2)** offer a comprehensive K-12 system with a wider array of elective courses, advanced placement (AP) classes at the high school level, and larger-scale athletic and extracurricular programs. **Lamar's private schools** offer smaller, more intimate classroom environments (often 10-15 students per grade) with a consistent, values-based (Christian) education throughout the day. They do not offer AP courses but focus on core proficiency. A major practical difference is that the private options currently end at 6th grade, requiring a transition to public middle/high school or a longer commute to a private junior high/high school elsewhere. The choice often centers on whether a family prioritizes a specific religious foundation and small community in elementary years versus the continuity and breadth of a single public district system.