The Best Private Schools in Harrison, Idaho
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Harrison. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Dominic's Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Boise
St. Dominic's Catholic School is a highly-regarded private Catholic school serving the broader North Idaho region, including Harrison. Founded in 1957, this established institution offers comprehensive education from preschool through 8th grade with a strong emphasis on faith formation, academic excellence, and character development. The school features modern facilities, dedicated faculty with an average of 15+ years teaching experience, and a robust curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, comprehensive arts education, and competitive athletics. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment, small class sizes, and strong community values. The school serves families throughout Kootenai County with many students commuting from surrounding communities.
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St. Thomas More Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Boise
St. Thomas More Catholic School provides classical Catholic education serving the Coeur d'Alene area and surrounding communities including Harrison. Established in 2000, the school offers preschool through 8th grade education with a classical curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, moral development, and academic rigor. The school features dedicated classroom spaces, a chapel, technology-integrated learning environments, and comprehensive fine arts programs. With small class sizes averaging 15 students, the school maintains a 10:1 student-teacher ratio and employs highly qualified educators. Parents highlight the school's strong community atmosphere, academic preparation for high school, and values-based education that serves families throughout the region.
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St. George's School
Independent School
St. George's School is an elite independent day school serving the broader Inland Northwest region, including families from Harrison who commute for its exceptional educational offerings. Founded in 1972, this prestigious college-preparatory school offers comprehensive education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with an International Baccalaureate program and extensive advanced placement opportunities. The school features a 100-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities including science laboratories, performing arts centers, athletic complexes, and outdoor education facilities. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and 85% of faculty holding advanced degrees, St. George's provides exceptional academic preparation and consistently achieves top college placement results. The school serves as a regional educational hub with transportation options and community connections throughout North Idaho.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Harrison, Idaho
What are the private school options for families in Harrison, Idaho, and are there any non-religious alternatives?
Harrison, Idaho, is a small, rural community, and its private school landscape reflects that size. The primary options are faith-based institutions, specifically St. Dominic's Catholic School, St. Thomas More Catholic School, and St. George's School. As of now, there are no standalone, non-sectarian private schools within Harrison itself. Families seeking a secular private education often look to larger nearby cities like Coeur d'Alene, approximately a 45-minute drive away, which offer independent and Montessori schools. For Harrison residents, the local private schools provide a close-knit, values-based education with small class sizes, but the choice is currently limited to religiously affiliated institutions.
How does tuition at Harrison, Idaho private schools compare to the state average, and what financial aid options exist?
Tuition at Harrison's private Catholic schools is generally below the Idaho state average for private elementary education, reflecting the area's rural cost of living. Annual tuition typically ranges from $4,000 to $7,000 per student, whereas state averages can be higher, especially in urban areas like Boise. All the local Catholic schools offer financial aid programs, often funded through parish subsidies and diocesan assistance. Importantly, Idaho has the "Idaho Opportunity Scholarship" for higher education and the "Empowerment Scholarship" (voucher) program, but the latter's applicability to K-12 private schools is subject to specific eligibility criteria, primarily for students with special needs or from certain public school districts. Parents should inquire directly with St. Dominic's, St. Thomas More, or St. George's about their specific tuition scales, multi-child discounts, and need-based aid applications.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in Harrison, ID, offer that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in Harrison uniquely integrate the North Idaho environment into their programs. Given the town's location on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene and near vast national forests, schools often emphasize outdoor education and environmental science. Programs may include local ecology studies, outdoor stewardship projects, and physical education that incorporates hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing. Furthermore, the small community size allows for partnerships with local historians, artists, and naturalists for specialized workshops. While core curricula align with Idaho state standards and Catholic educational benchmarks, this localized, experiential learning is a significant differentiator from both larger urban private schools and the local public district.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Harrison, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment process for Harrison's private schools usually begins in January or February for the following academic year, with priority often given to current families, siblings of enrolled students, and active parishioners of the affiliated Catholic churches. Given the limited capacity of these small schools, it is common for grades to fill quickly, leading to waitlists, particularly for entry-level grades like kindergarten. The process typically involves submitting an application, providing academic records (if applicable), a family interview, and sometimes a student assessment. For families moving to the area outside this window, it's essential to contact the school office directly, as mid-year enrollment is possible if space is available. Proactive communication is key due to the limited number of seats.
For a family new to Harrison, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school and a private Catholic school?
The decision hinges on several Harrison-specific factors. The public school, part of the Plummer-Worley Joint School District, offers a tuition-free education with standardized programs and likely broader extracurricular offerings like sports teams that private schools may not support due to size. The private Catholic schools (St. Dominic's, St. Thomas More, St. George's) offer much smaller class sizes (often 10-15 students), a consistent faith-based values curriculum integrated throughout the day, and a tight-knit community atmosphere. Transportation is a major practical consideration; while the public district provides busing, private school families are typically responsible for their own transportation, which can be significant in a rural area. Ultimately, the choice comes down to prioritizing religious education and small-scale personal attention versus the no-cost, comprehensive services and potentially wider peer network of the public system.
Private Education Insights
Finding the Right Fit: Special Needs Private Schools in Harrison, Idaho
If you are a parent in Harrison, Idaho, searching for "special needs private schools near me," you are likely navigating a path that requires both heart and careful research. The journey to find the right educational environment for a child with unique learning needs is deeply personal, and while our charming lakeside community offers a wonderful quality of life, specialized private school options within the town itself are more traditional in nature. Understanding this local landscape is the first step toward making an informed decision for your family. Harrison is home to valued community institutions like St. Dominic's Catholic School, St. Thomas More Catholic School, and St. George's School. These schools provide excellent, faith-based education with typically smaller class sizes, which can be a significant benefit for children who thrive with more individual attention. However, it is crucial to understand that these schools are generally not specialized special needs schools. They operate as mainstream private institutions, and their capacity to support significant learning differences, such as those requiring intensive therapies or dedicated one-on-one aides, may be limited.
This doesn't mean doors are closed; it means your search strategy may need to broaden. The key is direct and detailed conversation. We strongly recommend contacting the admissions directors at these local Harrison schools directly. Inquire specifically about their experience and resources for supporting students with diagnoses like dyslexia, ADHD, or high-functioning autism. Ask about their teacher training, whether they have learning specialists on staff or on retainer, and how they implement individualized accommodations within their curriculum. Sometimes, a smaller, nurturing environment with a willing and adaptable faculty can be a perfect fit for a child with mild to moderate learning challenges, even without a formal "special needs" designation. The intimate community feel of a school like St. George's or St. Dominic's could provide the supportive social framework your child needs to flourish.
For families in Harrison whose children require more comprehensive, specialized programs, your "near me" search will logically extend to the broader Coeur d'Alene and Spokane regions. This is a common and practical path for many North Idaho families. The drive may become part of your routine, but the access to schools with specialized curricula, speech and occupational therapists on-site, and teachers trained in specific methodologies can be transformative. When researching these options, consider them an extension of our community's resources. Furthermore, do not overlook the power of local networks. Connect with other parents through community centers, your pediatrician's office, or regional support groups for specific disabilities. They often have the most current, ground-level insight into which private schools in the wider area are truly inclusive and effective. Your search for "special needs private schools near me" in Harrison, Idaho, is ultimately about finding the right balance between academic support, social-emotional environment, and family logistics. Start with clear conversations here at home, then let those answers guide your exploration outward, ensuring you find a school where your child is not only accepted but truly understood and empowered to succeed.