The Best Private Schools in Clifford, Indiana
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Clifford. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Bartholomew Catholic School
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
St. Bartholomew Catholic School serves students from Clifford and surrounding communities with a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a faith-based environment, featuring small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and strong community involvement. Their curriculum includes advanced mathematics, science labs, technology integration, and comprehensive arts programs. The school maintains strong parent satisfaction through regular communication and community-building events.
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St. Peter's Lutheran School
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
St. Peter's Lutheran School provides Christ-centered education for students from preschool through 8th grade, serving families throughout Bartholomew County including Clifford. The school features a rigorous academic program with emphasis on critical thinking, comprehensive literacy, and STEM education. Facilities include modern classrooms, science lab, computer lab, and gymnasium. The school is known for its strong sense of community, dedicated teachers, and well-rounded student development.
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St. Columba Catholic School
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
St. Columba Catholic School serves students from Clifford and the greater Columbus area with a Pre-K through 8th grade educational program. The school focuses on developing the whole child through academic excellence, spiritual formation, and character development. Their curriculum includes advanced mathematics, comprehensive language arts, science exploration, and technology integration. The school features dedicated teachers, strong parent involvement, and a supportive learning environment that prepares students for high school success.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Clifford, Indiana
What are the private school options for K-8 education in Clifford, Indiana, and what are their religious affiliations?
Clifford, Indiana, is served by three primary private schools, all with religious affiliations. St. Bartholomew Catholic School and St. Columba Catholic School are both parish-based Catholic schools offering a faith-based education integrated with standard academic curricula. St. Peter's Lutheran School provides education from a Lutheran Christian perspective. These institutions represent the core of private education in Clifford, catering to families seeking a values-based academic environment. There are no non-sectarian private schools within Clifford itself, so families seeking that option would need to look in larger nearby communities like Columbus or Franklin.
How does tuition at Clifford, IN private schools compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition at Clifford's private schools is typically below the Indiana state average for private elementary education, reflecting the area's lower cost of living. For the 2024-2025 school year, tuition at these parish schools often ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 annually for parish members, with slightly higher rates for non-members. All three schools offer financial assistance, primarily through need-based scholarships and parish subsidies for active members. Indiana state programs like the School Choice Scholarship (voucher) program and the Tax Credit Scholarship (SGO) program are critically important, as eligible families can use these to significantly reduce or even cover full tuition at these state-approved, accredited schools.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do the private schools in Clifford, Indiana, offer given their small-town setting?
The private schools in Clifford leverage their small, close-knit community environment to offer unique programs. A common focus is on agricultural and environmental science, with outdoor classrooms and garden projects that connect to the rural landscape of Bartholomew and Johnson counties. St. Bartholomew and St. Columba Catholic Schools often participate in shared academic competitions and faith-based events with other Catholic schools in the Indianapolis Archdiocese. St. Peter's Lutheran may offer specific music and liturgical arts programs tied to its church. Due to their size, extracurriculars like sports are often cooperative, with students joining teams from other small schools or local public districts, fostering unique community partnerships.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Clifford, Indiana, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment process for Clifford's private schools typically begins with an open house in January or February for the following academic year. Priority registration is almost always given to current students, siblings of current students, and active members of the supporting parish (for the Catholic and Lutheran schools). Formal applications are due by early March, with acceptance notifications sent by April. Due to the small size of these schools, some grades—particularly kindergarten and early elementary—can fill quickly, leading to waitlists. It is highly recommended for parents, especially those new to the parish or community, to initiate contact with the school office in the fall prior to the desired enrollment year.
For families in Clifford, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Southwestern Jefferson-Consolidated School Corporation) and the available private schools?
The key considerations involve educational philosophy, class size, and cost. The public school, Southwestern Elementary/Jr-Sr High School, offers a secular education with potentially broader extracurricular and special education resources due to public funding. The private schools in Clifford offer much smaller class sizes (often 15:1 or lower), a consistent faith-based values curriculum throughout the day, and a tight-knit community feel. Financially, public school has no tuition, while private school requires investment, though Indiana's voucher program can mitigate this for eligible families. Transportation is also a factor; public schools provide busing, while private school families often must arrange their own transportation, which is a significant logistical consideration in a rural area like Clifford.