The Best Private Schools in Earlville, Iowa
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Earlville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary's School
Archdiocese of Dubuque Catholic Schools
St. Mary's School in nearby Manchester serves the Earlville community with a comprehensive Catholic education program from preschool through 8th grade. The school emphasizes faith formation alongside rigorous academics, featuring small class sizes with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Programs include advanced STEM curriculum, comprehensive fine arts, competitive athletics, and community service opportunities. The school maintains strong parent satisfaction through its family-oriented approach and has been recognized for academic excellence within the Archdiocese of Dubuque school system.
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LaSalle Catholic School
LaSalle Catholic School System
LaSalle Catholic School in Cedar Rapids serves students from throughout Eastern Iowa, including the Earlville area. This comprehensive Catholic school offers education from preschool through high school with a strong college preparatory focus. The high school features Advanced Placement courses, a dedicated STEM Academy, competitive athletics, and extensive performing arts programs. The school is known for its rigorous academics, with 99% of graduates attending college. Facilities include modern science labs, technology centers, and athletic complexes that support comprehensive student development.
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Wahlert Catholic High School
Holy Family Catholic Schools
Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque serves students from across Eastern Iowa, including the Earlville community. As part of the Holy Family Catholic Schools system, Wahlert offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with strong STEM programs, extensive fine arts offerings, and competitive athletic teams. The school features advanced technology integration, modern science facilities, and a robust campus ministry program. With a focus on developing well-rounded students, Wahlert maintains high academic standards and has a strong track record of college acceptance and scholarship awards for graduates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Earlville, Iowa
What are the private school options available for families residing in Earlville, Iowa, and what grade levels do they serve?
Earlville, Iowa, is served by a few private, faith-based schools, though some are located in nearby communities. The primary local option is **St. Mary's School**, a Pre-K through 6th-grade Catholic school. For middle and high school, many Earlville families transition to schools in larger nearby cities. **LaSalle Catholic School** in Holy Cross (about 30 minutes away) serves grades 5-12, and **Wahlert Catholic High School** in Dubuque (about 45 minutes away) serves grades 9-12. This means a continuous Catholic education pathway is available but involves commuting as children progress.
How does tuition for private schools like St. Mary's in Earlville compare to state averages, and are there any Iowa-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition at smaller private schools in rural Iowa like St. Mary's is often more affordable than in urban areas, typically ranging from $2,500 to $4,500 annually for parishioners. Non-parishioner rates are higher. Iowa offers two significant financial aid programs: the **School Tuition Organization (STO) Tax Credit** and the **Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit**. The STO program, administered by organizations like the Archdiocese of Dubuque, provides need-based scholarships funded by donor tax credits. The Tuition and Textbook Credit allows families to claim a state income tax credit for a portion of private school expenses, directly reducing tax liability.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Earlville area offer that differentiate them from public schools?
Private schools in the Earlville area emphasize a faith-based education integrated into the core curriculum, which is their primary differentiator. Academically, they often feature small class sizes (sometimes multi-grade classrooms) allowing for highly individualized attention. While extracurricular options may be more limited than in large public districts, they focus on community-oriented activities. For specialized programs in arts, athletics, or advanced STEM, students at schools like Wahlert Catholic High School benefit from the resources of a larger regional institution, something a small-town public school may not be able to match in breadth.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for a school like St. Mary's in Earlville, and are there considerations for families moving to the area?
Enrollment for St. Mary's School in Earlville typically begins in early spring (February/March) for the following academic year, with priority often given to registered parishioners and returning families. The process involves submitting an application, birth and baptismal certificates, and previous school records. For families moving to Earlville outside this window, it's essential to contact the school office directly, as spots in small, multi-grade classrooms can be limited but may be available. Given the rural setting, demonstrating a commitment to the school's faith community can be an important part of the process.
For an Earlville resident, what are the practical considerations when choosing between the local public school and a private option like St. Mary's, especially regarding transportation and community involvement?
The key considerations are transportation, cost, and educational philosophy. The **Earlville Public School** (part of the Maquoketa Valley Community School District) provides free busing and no tuition. Choosing St. Mary's requires arranging transportation, as the district does not provide busing to private schools, though carpooling is common. The private school offers a tight-knit, faith-based community with consistent values across all subjects. The public school offers a broader peer group from the immediate geographic area and typically more diverse extracurricular offerings. Many families in Earlville value the private school's role in reinforcing their religious beliefs and the close teacher-student relationships fostered in a very small setting.
Private Education Insights
Discover Top-Rated Private Pre-K Programs Near Earlville, Iowa
If you’re a parent in Earlville, Iowa, typing “private pre k near me” into your search bar, you’re likely looking for more than just a daycare. You’re seeking a foundational educational experience that aligns with your family’s values and sets your child on a positive path. In our close-knit Delaware County community, the decision often centers on finding a nurturing environment where early learning and character development go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, Earlville and the surrounding area offer some distinctive options that provide exactly this kind of start, blending academic readiness with the warmth of a small-town setting.
A primary consideration for many local families is the continuity of education. In Earlville, institutions like St. Mary’s School have long been cornerstones, offering programs that often begin with preschool and continue through elementary grades. This model means your child isn’t just attending a standalone pre-K; they are potentially joining a school family where teachers know every student’s name and siblings can learn together. The transition from a private pre-K into the higher grades at the same school can provide remarkable stability and comfort for a young child, eliminating the anxiety of changing environments after just a year or two. When you search for “private pre k near me,” you’re not just looking for a classroom for the next year, but for a community for the next decade.
Expanding your search slightly beyond Earlville opens doors to other respected institutions. LaSalle Catholic School in nearby Holy Cross and Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque represent the broader network of Eastern Iowa Catholic education. While Wahlert is a high school, its existence highlights the full K-12 pathway available to families who begin their journey in a local private pre-K program. Choosing a pre-K program affiliated with this network means your child’s education can be part of a coherent, values-based journey from their first day of school to their graduation day. The curriculum in these early years often focuses on social skills, early literacy and numeracy, and faith-based values, all delivered in a structured yet playful manner suited to four and five-year-olds.
For Earlville parents, practical logistics are always part of the equation. The benefit of a local private pre-K is often found in its manageable commute and the familiar faces you’ll see at drop-off and pick-up. These schools become extensions of your own parenting, reinforcing lessons about kindness, respect, and curiosity. As you evaluate options, we encourage you to visit, ask about teacher qualifications and student-to-teacher ratios, and observe the classroom atmosphere. See if the philosophy resonates with your hopes for your child’s first school experience. In a town like ours, education is deeply personal, and finding the right “private pre k near me” is about connecting your family to a place where your youngest learner is known, cherished, and inspired to take their first confident steps into the world of learning.