The Best Private Schools in Washburn, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Washburn. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Peoria Notre Dame High School
Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Peoria Notre Dame is a comprehensive Catholic high school serving students from Washburn and throughout central Illinois. The school combines rigorous academics with faith-based education, offering a challenging college preparatory curriculum with 14 Advanced Placement courses. Features include modern science and technology labs, extensive athletic facilities, and a strong emphasis on community service. Consistently recognized for academic excellence with graduates attending top universities nationwide.
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Metamora Township High School
Metamora Township High School District 122
Metamora Township High School serves students from Washburn and surrounding communities with a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum. The school features modern facilities including state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and extensive athletic facilities. Known for strong academic performance with over 90% of graduates pursuing higher education. Offers 18 AP courses, robust STEM programs, championship athletic teams, and extensive extracurricular activities including nationally-recognized music and drama programs.
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Central Catholic High School
Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Central Catholic High School in Bloomington serves students from Washburn and surrounding counties with a tradition of academic excellence and character formation. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory program with Advanced Placement courses, STEM curriculum, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Features include modern academic facilities, competitive athletic programs, and a strong focus on community engagement. Known for high college acceptance rates and personalized attention with small class sizes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Washburn, Illinois
Are there any private schools located directly within Washburn, Illinois, or do families typically look to surrounding communities?
There are no private K-12 schools physically located within the village limits of Washburn, IL. Families seeking private education typically look to schools in nearby larger communities such as Peoria, Bloomington, and Metamora. The top-regarded options often include Peoria Notre Dame High School (Peoria), Central Catholic High School (Bloomington), and Metamora Township High School (a public school in Metamora often mistakenly listed as private). For younger grades, various private elementary and middle schools in the Greater Peoria area serve Washburn residents, requiring a daily commute.
What is the average annual tuition for private high schools accessible from Washburn, IL, and are there Illinois-specific financial aid options?
For the private high schools accessible to Washburn families, tuition typically ranges from $8,000 to $12,000 per year. Peoria Notre Dame and Central Catholic High School fall within this range. Illinois offers the "Invest in Kids Act" tax credit scholarship program, which can provide significant financial aid to eligible families based on income. Additionally, most private schools in the area have their own need-based financial aid and parish subsidy programs for member families. It's important to factor in commuting costs when calculating the total expense.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs do private high schools near Washburn, IL, offer that differ from local public schools?
Private high schools in the region, such as Peoria Notre Dame and Central Catholic, often emphasize college-preparatory curricula with mandatory religious studies and character education. They frequently offer distinctive programs like robust theology departments, structured retreats, and competitive athletic leagues within the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) but often in private school conferences. Many have strong STEM, fine arts, or dual-credit partnerships with Illinois colleges like Illinois Central College or Bradley University, which may be more streamlined than those in some smaller public districts serving Washburn.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in the Peoria/Bloomington area that serve Washburn students?
The enrollment process for schools like Peoria Notre Dame or Central Catholic High School usually begins in the fall for the following academic year. Key steps include an open house (often October-January), submission of an application by a winter deadline (January-February), placement testing for incoming freshmen, and a review of academic records. Many schools have a priority deadline for Catholic parish members. Given Washburn's location, arranging a shadow day for your child requires planning for the commute to Peoria or Bloomington. We recommend initiating contact with admissions offices by early fall.
How does the community environment of a private school in a larger city like Peoria compare to the public school experience in the Washburn area?
The Washburn area public school experience, through districts like Lowpoint-Washburn CUSD #11, offers a close-knit, rural community environment. In contrast, private schools like Peoria Notre Dame draw a regional student body from across several counties, creating a diverse community united by religious mission and academic focus. This provides Washburn students with a wider social and extracurricular network but within a values-based framework. The trade-off involves a significant commute, integrating into an established school culture outside one's immediate township, and often larger average class sizes than the very small public schools in Woodford County.
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