The Best Private Schools in Tavernier, Florida
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Tavernier. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Island Christian School
Independent Christian School
Island Christian School is a highly-regarded private Christian school serving the Upper Keys community since 1986. The school offers comprehensive education from preschool through 12th grade with a strong college preparatory curriculum. Known for its small class sizes and personalized attention, the school features robust STEM programs, competitive athletics, and extensive fine arts offerings. The campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, athletic facilities, and dedicated arts spaces. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment, academic rigor, and strong community values.
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Treasure Village Montessori
American Montessori Society
Located just minutes from Tavernier in Islamorada, Treasure Village Montessori has been serving Upper Keys families since 1977. As an American Montessori Society accredited school, it offers authentic Montessori education for students from toddler through middle school. The school features a unique coastal campus with outdoor classrooms, gardens, and direct access to natural learning environments. Their program emphasizes hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, Spanish language acquisition, and individualized academic pacing. The school is renowned for developing independent, critical thinkers with strong community engagement.
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Coral Shores High School - Cambridge Program
Monroe County School District (Private Program)
While part of the public school system, Coral Shores High School's Cambridge AICE Program functions as a premier academic track that many families consider as a private-school-level option. The rigorous Cambridge curriculum offers internationally recognized diplomas and college credit opportunities. The program features specialized courses in marine science (leveraging the school's unique Florida Keys location), advanced mathematics, and comprehensive humanities. Students benefit from small class sizes within the program, dedicated faculty, and exceptional college acceptance rates. The campus includes state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and athletic facilities serving the entire Upper Keys community.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Tavernier, Florida
What are the primary private school options available in Tavernier, Florida, and what educational philosophies do they represent?
Tavernier, located in the Florida Keys, offers a few distinct private school options, each with a different educational approach. Island Christian School provides a traditional, faith-based education integrated with Christian values. Treasure Village Montessori follows the Montessori method, emphasizing child-led, hands-on learning in a multi-age classroom setting. While Coral Shores High School is a public school, it offers a prestigious, private-like Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program, which is a rigorous, internationally recognized curriculum. For families strictly seeking a private high school, they often look at options in nearby Key Largo or Marathon, making the local landscape a mix of dedicated private institutions and specialized public programs.
How does the cost of private school tuition in Tavernier, FL, compare to the state average, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs available?
Tuition for private schools in Tavernier and the broader Keys can be higher than the Florida state average due to the remote island location and associated operational costs. For example, local private schools may have annual tuition ranging from approximately $8,000 to $12,000. Florida offers significant financial aid options that Tavernier families can utilize, most notably the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship. These state programs provide funding for tuition at eligible private schools based on financial need or other criteria, making private education more accessible. It's essential to check with individual schools like Island Christian School to confirm their participation in these programs.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Tavernier private schools offer that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in Tavernier uniquely integrate the coastal and marine environment into their curricula. Island Christian School and other local institutions often emphasize marine science, environmental stewardship, and outdoor education. Activities may include coastal ecology projects, snorkeling for science classes, and partnerships with local marine research organizations like the Marine Mammal Conservancy or the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This localized focus provides students with an immersive, hands-on learning experience that is specific to life in the Florida Keys, blending academic rigor with unique regional relevance.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Tavernier, and are there waiting lists due to limited capacity?
The enrollment process for Tavernier's private schools often begins in the winter or early spring for the following academic year, with many schools hosting open houses from January to March. Due to the small size of these institutions—particularly Treasure Village Montessori and Island Christian School—capacity is very limited, and waiting lists are common, especially for the primary grades. The process typically involves an application, family interview, and assessment (age-dependent). For the Cambridge Program at Coral Shores High School (a public choice program), there is a separate application process with specific academic prerequisites and deadlines set by the Monroe County School District. Early inquiry and application are strongly recommended.
For families considering both options, what are the key differences between the private schools and the public Coral Shores High School Cambridge Program in Tavernier?
The key difference lies in structure, environment, and curriculum. Dedicated private schools like Island Christian School offer a small, close-knit community with integrated religious values and a consistent pedagogical approach from kindergarten through middle school. The Cambridge Program at Coral Shores High School is a rigorous, secular academic track within a larger public school, offering world-class preparation for university and potential college credit. It attracts high-achieving students but does not provide the holistic, faith-based environment of a private institution. For younger children, private schools offer an alternative to the local public elementary schools, often with smaller class sizes. The choice ultimately depends on a family's priorities for class size, religious education, and the specific academic intensity of the Cambridge pathway versus a traditional private school setting.
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