The Best Private Schools in Saint Paul, Iowa
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Saint Paul. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Burlington Notre Dame Catholic School
Burlington Notre Dame Catholic School
Burlington Notre Dame Catholic School is a top-rated private institution serving the broader region, including Saint Paul, with a reputation for academic rigor and holistic student development. The school offers a K-12 curriculum featuring Advanced Placement courses, robust STEM programs, and a faith-based environment. Facilities include state-of-the-art science labs, a performing arts center, gymnasium, and sports complexes. Extracurricular activities range from competitive athletics to band, theater, and clubs. Reviews commend the school for high teacher quality, strong parent involvement, and exceptional college preparation, with many graduates attending prestigious universities.
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Holy Trinity Catholic Schools
Holy Trinity Catholic Schools
Holy Trinity Catholic Schools is a highly-regarded private institution serving the Saint Paul area from Fort Madison, offering a comprehensive K-12 education rooted in Catholic values. The school emphasizes academic excellence with a strong college preparatory program, including advanced STEM courses and dual-credit opportunities. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, a gymnasium, and athletic fields. Extracurriculars span sports, music, drama, and community service, fostering well-rounded development. Parent reviews consistently praise dedicated teachers, small class sizes, and a supportive community environment, contributing to high student achievement and college acceptance rates.
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St. James Lutheran School
St. James Lutheran Church
St. James Lutheran School provides a nurturing, Christ-centered education for students from preschool through 8th grade, serving families in Saint Paul and surrounding Lee County. The school is known for its strong academic foundation, with a focus on literacy, mathematics, and faith integration. Facilities feature updated classrooms, a library, playground, and music room. Programs include art, choir, and technology enrichment, alongside seasonal sports and community events. Parents highlight the school's family-like atmosphere, experienced faculty, and emphasis on character development, resulting in high satisfaction and student readiness for high school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Saint Paul, Iowa
What are the private school options for families living in Saint Paul, Iowa, and do any offer transportation from our rural community?
Saint Paul, Iowa, is served by a few key private institutions, though it's important to note that some are located in nearby towns. Directly in Saint Paul, Holy Trinity Catholic Schools is a major PK-12 option. For Lutheran education, St. James Lutheran School in nearby Saint Paul offers a parochial option. Burlington Notre Dame Catholic School, located about 15 miles away in Burlington, is also a common choice for families in the Saint Paul area. Transportation varies significantly; Holy Trinity may offer bus routes within a certain radius, while for schools like Burlington Notre Dame, carpooling is often organized by families. It's essential to contact each school's admissions office directly to inquire about specific transportation services or zone boundaries for busing.
How does tuition at Saint Paul, Iowa private schools compare to the state average, and what financial aid or Iowa-specific programs are available?
Tuition for private schools in the Saint Paul area is typically below the national private school average but aligns with rural Iowa costs. For the 2024-2025 school year, elementary tuition at schools like Holy Trinity or St. James Lutheran often ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 annually, with discounts for parish members or multiple children. Iowa offers two key financial programs: the **School Tuition Organization (STO) Tax Credit** and the **Iowa Tuition Grant**. The STO allows donors to receive a state tax credit for contributions that fund need-based scholarships for private school students. Additionally, the **Iowa Tuition Grant** provides direct assistance to students attending private colleges, but some local foundations may offer scholarships for K-12. Parents should ask each school about their partnership with an STO and any local parish or congregational subsidies.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Saint Paul-area private schools offer that leverage the local community or environment?
Private schools in the Saint Paul area often integrate the region's agricultural and close-knit community values into their programs. Holy Trinity Catholic Schools, for instance, may have strong FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapters and agriscience projects that utilize the local farming landscape. Many schools emphasize faith-based service learning, with students participating in local food pantries or community events in Saint Paul and Lee County. Smaller class sizes allow for personalized learning and partnerships with local businesses for internships, particularly at the high school level. Burlington Notre Dame, with its larger size, might offer a broader range of sports and arts, but all schools in the area pride themselves on character education and a family-like atmosphere that is distinctive to small-town Iowa.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like Holy Trinity in Saint Paul, Iowa, and when should we apply?
The enrollment process for Saint Paul-area private schools often begins early in the calendar year for the following fall. For Holy Trinity Catholic Schools and St. James Lutheran, priority registration for existing families and parish members usually opens in January or February, with open enrollment for new families starting in March. The process typically involves submitting an application, providing birth and baptismal certificates (for religious schools), academic records, and possibly a family interview. Given the small size of these schools, some grades—especially kindergarten and early elementary—can fill quickly. It is highly advisable to initiate inquiries by December and complete applications by early spring to secure a spot. Schools may host open houses in the fall and winter.
For a family in Saint Paul, Iowa, what are the primary considerations when choosing between the local public school (Holy Trinity Catholic Schools) and a private school?
The primary consideration for Saint Paul families often centers on educational philosophy, religious formation, and class size. The **Holy Trinity Catholic Schools** system is the main private option, offering a faith-based education integrated with Catholic values throughout the curriculum. The public school option for most Saint Paul residents is the **Fort Madison Community School District**, which provides a secular education with potentially broader resources in certain areas like special education or specific electives due to its larger district size. Key factors include: the desire for religious instruction, smaller average class sizes in private schools, tuition cost versus no cost for public school, extracurricular offerings (where larger public schools may have more sports teams), and transportation logistics. Many families in this community value the tight-knit, disciplined environment of the local private schools.