The Best Private Schools in Moore, Idaho
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Moore. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Community School
Independent
The Community School is a highly regarded independent day school located approximately 30 miles from Moore in Sun Valley. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes and personalized attention. Notable for its exceptional outdoor education program that leverages the surrounding natural environment, the school features state-of-the-art facilities including modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic facilities. The school maintains a 100% college acceptance rate and emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence.
Programs:
Sage School
Independent
Located in Hailey, approximately 25 miles from Moore, Sage School serves students in grades 6-12 with a focus on experiential and project-based learning. The school features a challenging academic program with Advanced Placement courses and emphasizes critical thinking and leadership skills. With an average class size of 12 students, the school provides individualized attention and strong college counseling. The campus includes modern classrooms, science laboratories, art studios, and outdoor learning spaces. The school is particularly known for its strong arts program and outdoor education components that utilize the nearby Sawtooth Mountains.
Programs:
Xavier Charter School
Public Charter School
Xavier Charter School is a highly-rated public charter school located in Twin Falls, approximately 60 miles from Moore. Serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the school offers a classical education model combined with strong STEM programming. The curriculum emphasizes rigorous academics, character development, and critical thinking skills. The school features modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, and athletic facilities. With strong test scores and college acceptance rates, Xavier has earned recognition for academic excellence and maintains small class sizes with dedicated faculty. The school serves students from throughout the Magic Valley region.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Moore, Idaho
What are the specific private school options available for families in or near Moore, Idaho?
Moore itself is a very small, rural community, so there are no private schools physically located within its boundaries. However, families in Moore typically look to nearby cities in the greater Magic Valley region. The most prominent options include The Community School in Sun Valley (a prestigious K-12 independent school), Sage School in Hailey (a project-based K-8 school), and Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls (a public charter school with a classical curriculum, which is a tuition-free option). Accessing these schools requires a commute, making transportation a key logistical consideration for Moore residents.
How does Idaho's school choice landscape, including charter schools, affect the private school decision for Moore families?
Idaho's educational landscape is unique because it includes robust public charter school options like Xavier Charter School, which are tuition-free. For Moore parents, this means the decision isn't simply "private vs. public district school." They must compare tuition-based private schools (like The Community School or Sage School) against free, specialized charter schools. This makes the choice highly values-based: are you seeking the specific pedagogical approach, smaller class sizes, and facilities of a private institution, or does the specialized, tuition-free model of a charter school meet your needs? Idaho also has the "Empowering Parents Grants," which can help cover educational expenses but typically do not apply to private school tuition.
What are the tuition ranges and financial aid possibilities for private schools serving the Moore, ID area?
Tuition for the primary private schools accessible to Moore families varies significantly. The Community School, as a top-tier independent school, has tuition that can exceed $30,000 annually. Sage School's tuition is more moderate but still represents a major investment, typically in the $15,000-$20,000 range. Importantly, both schools offer need-based financial aid to qualifying families. Moore parents should investigate each school's financial aid application process (often requiring tax documents and forms like SSS/Clarity) and deadlines, which are usually early in the calendar year for the following fall. The rural location and commute may also add indirect costs for fuel and time.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Moore offer that local public schools may not?
The private and charter schools in the region offer distinct specializations. The Community School emphasizes outdoor education and sustainability, leveraging its Sun Valley location with extensive wilderness programs and global travel opportunities. Sage School focuses on deep, project-based learning and social-emotional development within a small community setting. Xavier Charter School offers a classical, Core Knowledge curriculum with a strong emphasis on rhetoric and Western tradition. For Moore families, these represent alternatives to the more standardized curricula of rural public school districts, often providing more robust arts, language, or advanced placement pathways that are harder to sustain in smaller public schools.
What are the critical enrollment timelines and application steps for private schools in the Magic Valley region for a Moore resident?
Planning and early action are crucial due to competitive admissions, especially at The Community School and Sage School. The typical timeline begins in the fall (September-October) a year prior to desired enrollment, with open houses and tours. Application deadlines are often between January and February. Key steps include: 1) Submitting an application with essays and recommendations, 2) Scheduling a student visit/interview, and 3) Completing financial aid applications concurrently if needed. For Xavier Charter School, as a public charter, there is an annual open enrollment period, and if applications exceed space, a public lottery is held. Moore families must factor in these deadlines plus the commute for visits and testing well in advance.