The Best Private Schools in Burlington, Iowa
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Burlington. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Notre Dame Catholic School
Diocese of Davenport
Notre Dame Catholic School is Burlington's premier private educational institution serving students from preschool through 8th grade. The school provides a comprehensive education rooted in Catholic values while offering strong academic programs. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, a library, gymnasium, and dedicated spaces for art and music. The school emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence, with small class sizes ensuring personalized attention. Extracurricular offerings include basketball, volleyball, choir, and various academic competitions. Parent satisfaction is consistently high due to the school's strong community atmosphere and commitment to holistic student development.
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St. Paul Catholic School
Diocese of Davenport
St. Paul Catholic School offers a faith-based education focused on academic excellence and moral development. Serving kindergarten through 8th grade students, the school features a rigorous curriculum that integrates technology across all subjects. The campus includes well-equipped classrooms, a computer lab, library resources, and recreational facilities. The school maintains small student-teacher ratios to ensure individualized instruction and strong student-teacher relationships. Programs include comprehensive religious education, music and art instruction, and competitive sports teams. The school community is known for its welcoming environment and active parent involvement.
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Divine Mercy Catholic School
Diocese of Davenport
Divine Mercy Catholic School provides a comprehensive private education grounded in Catholic tradition while preparing students for academic success. The school serves preschool through 8th grade with a curriculum that emphasizes core academic subjects alongside faith formation. Facilities include updated classrooms, technology resources, a gymnasium, and dedicated spaces for specialized instruction. The school offers targeted intervention programs for reading and mathematics, ensuring all students receive appropriate support. Extracurricular activities include sports, choir, and community service opportunities. Parent reviews consistently highlight the school's caring faculty, strong academic foundation, and supportive community environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Burlington, Iowa
What are the main private school options available in Burlington, Iowa, and what grade levels do they serve?
Burlington, Iowa, is served primarily by three Catholic schools, which constitute the main private school options. Notre Dame Catholic School offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th-grade education. St. Paul Catholic School provides education for students in Pre-K through 6th grade. Divine Mercy Catholic School, formed from a previous consolidation, serves students in Pre-K through 5th grade. For high school, Burlington families typically look at Catholic high schools in nearby larger cities or consider the local public high school, as there is no private high school within Burlington itself.
How does tuition for private schools in Burlington, IA, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition at Burlington's Catholic schools is generally below the state average for private elementary education in Iowa, reflecting the area's cost of living. Exact rates vary by school and parish membership, but active, contributing parishioners often receive a significantly reduced rate. All schools offer need-based financial assistance, and Iowa's unique School Tuition Organization (STO) tax credit program is a critical resource. Through this program, donors can direct funds to specific schools, which are then distributed as tuition grants to eligible families. It's essential to inquire directly with Notre Dame, St. Paul, or Divine Mercy about their specific tuition schedules, parish subsidies, and application processes for STO aid.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Burlington's private schools offer that differentiate them from public schools?
Burlington's private schools emphasize a faith-based education integrated into the core curriculum, which is their primary differentiator. Academically, they often feature smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized attention. Specific programs include weekly Mass and religion classes, sacramental preparation for Catholic students, and community service projects rooted in Christian values. While they may not have the extensive elective or athletic offerings of the larger Burlington Community School District, they foster a close-knit community environment. Some schools may also participate in academic competitions through the Diocese of Davenport and offer after-school programs or clubs focused on arts, chess, or faith formation.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Burlington, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment process for Burlington's Catholic schools typically begins in January or February for the following academic year, with priority often given to current families and registered parishioners. The process involves submitting an application, providing birth and baptismal certificates, and completing tuition agreement forms. Due to their smaller sizes, popular grades can fill quickly, so early inquiry is recommended. While persistent waitlists are less common than in major metropolitan areas, they can occur for specific early childhood or kindergarten sections. Open houses are usually held in the winter, and contacting the school office directly for a tour is the best first step to understand each school's specific deadlines and availability.
For families new to the area, what are the key considerations when choosing between Burlington's private Catholic schools and the public school district?
The decision hinges on several Burlington-specific factors. Academically, the public district offers a wider range of advanced placement courses, vocational programs through the Burlington Regional Center, and larger-scale athletic and arts programs at the middle and high school levels. The private schools offer a consistent faith-based environment from Pre-K through middle school with a strong focus on character development. Logistically, consider transportation, as private schools do not provide district busing. Financially, weigh the tuition cost against the potential for a values-aligned education. Many Burlington families appreciate the small-school community of the Catholic elementary schools before transitioning to the public system for high school to access its broader opportunities.
Private Education Insights
Finding the Right Special Needs School in Burlington, Iowa: A Parent's Guide
For parents in Burlington, Iowa, navigating the educational landscape for a child with special needs can feel particularly daunting. The search for the right supportive environment often begins with the phrase "special needs private schools near me," and it’s important to understand both the opportunities and the realities within our local community. Burlington offers a warm, close-knit environment, and its private schools are integral parts of that fabric, though their approach to specialized learning may differ from what you initially envision.
First, it’s crucial to clarify that Burlington does not currently host a private school designed exclusively for students with significant or multiple disabilities. The specialized programs you might find in larger metropolitan areas are not present here. However, this does not mean private education is off the table. The local Catholic schools—Notre Dame Catholic School, St. Paul Catholic School, and Divine Mercy Catholic School—represent the core of private K-8 education in our area. These institutions are known for their strong values, small class sizes, and individualized attention, which can be a tremendous benefit for students with mild to moderate learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or speech and language needs. The key is direct and honest communication. Scheduling a meeting with the principal and teachers to discuss your child’s specific IEP or 504 Plan is the essential first step. These schools often have a great capacity for compassion and accommodation within their existing frameworks, but their resources are finite.
Therefore, your search for "special needs private schools near me" in Burlington may effectively transform into a search for the right partnership. Many families successfully create a supportive package by combining the structured, values-based environment of a local private school with external therapies and supports readily available in the Southeast Iowa region. The Area Education Agency (AEA) 15 serves our community and can provide essential services like occupational therapy, speech therapy, and educational consulting, sometimes even within a private school setting through agreed-upon arrangements. Furthermore, for high school-aged students, the conversation often expands to looking at options in larger nearby cities or considering the robust special education programs within the Burlington Community School District.
The journey requires proactive advocacy. When you visit schools like Notre Dame, St. Paul, or Divine Mercy, come prepared with specific questions. Ask about their experience with students who have similar needs to your child. Inquire about teacher training in differentiated instruction, the flexibility of their curriculum, and their track record for fostering an inclusive, bully-free environment. The small-town advantage here is that these schools are deeply connected to the community; they know their families well. For the right child—one whose needs align with the level of support the school can realistically provide—a Burlington private school can offer a nurturing and academically sound foundation. Your search is less about finding a labeled institution and more about finding the educational team, both inside and outside a school’s walls, that is genuinely committed to helping your child thrive right here in Des Moines County.
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