The Best Private Schools in Uncasville, Connecticut
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Uncasville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Williams School
Independent School
The Williams School is a prestigious coeducational independent day school serving southeastern Connecticut, including Uncasville. Founded in 1891, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for grades 6-12 with small class sizes and personalized attention. The campus features modern academic facilities, science labs, and athletic spaces. The school emphasizes critical thinking, writing skills, and character development through a comprehensive program that includes 16 Advanced Placement courses, competitive athletics, visual and performing arts, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Located approximately 15 minutes from Uncasville, it serves families throughout New London County.
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St. Bernard School
Catholic Diocese of Norwich
St. Bernard School is a Catholic, coeducational college preparatory school located directly in Uncasville, serving students in grades 6-12. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the school provides a values-based education rooted in Catholic tradition while welcoming students of all faiths. The curriculum includes honors and Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM programs, competitive athletics, and extensive arts offerings. The campus features modern classrooms, science laboratories, a chapel, athletic facilities, and technology resources. With a strong focus on academic excellence and character formation, St. Bernard has a longstanding reputation for preparing students for college success and lifelong learning.
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Norwich Free Academy
Independent Endowed School
Norwich Free Academy is a renowned endowed independent school serving multiple towns in southeastern Connecticut, including Uncasville. As one of the largest and most comprehensive private secondary schools in New England, NFA offers an exceptional educational experience for grades 9-12. The school features extensive academic programs including over 20 Advanced Placement courses, a distinguished arts magnet program, career and technical education pathways, and competitive athletic teams. The 40-acre campus includes state-of-the-art facilities, multiple academic buildings, performing arts centers, and athletic complexes. Located approximately 15 minutes from Uncasville, NFA has a long tradition of academic excellence and serves as a regional educational leader.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Uncasville, Connecticut
Are there any private schools actually located within Uncasville, CT, or will we need to look at nearby towns?
Uncasville itself is a village within the town of Montville and does not have a standalone private K-12 school campus within its immediate borders. Therefore, families in Uncasville typically look at highly-regarded private and parochial schools in the broader southeastern Connecticut region. The schools you mentioned, like The Williams School in New London and St. Bernard School in Montville (just minutes from Uncasville), are the primary options. Norwich Free Academy, while a unique endowed academy, is often considered a public-private hybrid and serves as the high school for Norwich and several surrounding towns, accepting tuition students from other districts like Montville/Uncasville.
What are the tuition ranges for the top private schools near Uncasville, CT, and are there financial aid options specific to Connecticut residents?
Tuition for the leading day schools near Uncasville varies. For the 2024-2025 academic year, The Williams School (grades 7-12) tuition is approximately $40,000+, while St. Bernard School (Pre-K-12) is roughly $15,000-$18,000 for elementary and $20,000+ for high school. Connecticut offers the "CT CARES" program, which provides tax credits for donations to scholarship funds that benefit students attending private schools, potentially increasing financial aid availability. Additionally, all these schools have their own need-based financial aid programs, and some participate in the statewide "ACE" scholarship fund. It's crucial to apply for aid early, as deadlines often precede admission decisions.
Given Uncasville's proximity to Mohegan Sun and major employers, do local private schools offer specialized programs in hospitality, business, or technology?
Yes, the unique economic landscape of southeastern Connecticut influences program offerings. The Williams School, with its college-preparatory focus, emphasizes STEM and global studies but also offers robust entrepreneurship and computer science courses relevant to the business and tech sectors. St. Bernard School has a strong business program and offers various technology and engineering electives. Furthermore, the region's career-focused education is supported by partnerships with local entities, and some schools facilitate internships or project-based learning that can connect students to the hospitality and entertainment industries centered around Mohegan Sun.
How does the enrollment timeline for private schools near Uncasville, CT, differ from the public school calendar, and when should we start the process?
The private school admission cycle operates on a much earlier timeline than public school registration. For a fall start, the process for schools like The Williams School and St. Bernard typically begins in the prior September/October with open houses. Application deadlines are often in January or February, with admission decisions and financial aid notifications released in March. This means if you are considering private school for the 2025-2026 year, you should begin researching and visiting schools in the fall of 2024. This contrasts sharply with the public school process in Montville, which is continuous and based on residency.
What are the key factors for an Uncasville family when choosing between the local Montville public schools and a private school in the region?
The decision often hinges on several location-specific factors. Montville public schools are well-regarded and offer a no-tuition option. Choosing a private school like St. Bernard or The Williams may be driven by desire for a specific religious foundation (St. Bernard is Catholic), a more intensive college-prep environment with smaller class sizes, or specialized academic tracks. For high school, some Uncasville families also consider applying to Norwich Free Academy (NFA) as a "tuition-out" option from Montville High School, which provides a large campus with extensive elective and arts programs—a unique third path that blends aspects of both public and private education. Transportation is also a key practical consideration, as private schools do not provide district busing from Uncasville.
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