The Best Private Schools in Bushton, Kansas
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Bushton. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary's Catholic School
Diocese of Salina
St. Mary's Catholic School in nearby Russell serves the Bushton area with a comprehensive PreK-8 education program rooted in Catholic values. The school features small class sizes with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, modern technology integration, and a strong emphasis on character development. Academic programs include advanced mathematics, science labs, and comprehensive language arts. Extracurricular offerings include basketball, volleyball, music programs, and community service opportunities. The school maintains strong parent involvement and consistently achieves high academic performance metrics.
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Thomas More Prep-Marian
Hays Catholic Schools
Thomas More Prep-Marian is a premier Catholic college preparatory school serving students from Bushton and surrounding communities. The school offers both day and boarding options with a rigorous academic curriculum featuring 15 Advanced Placement courses. Campus facilities include state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and extensive athletic complexes. The school emphasizes leadership development through its Junior ROTC program and offers comprehensive extracurricular activities including championship athletics, fine arts, and international student programs. TMP consistently achieves 100% college acceptance rates.
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Holy Family Elementary School
Diocese of Salina
Holy Family Elementary School in Great Bend provides quality Catholic education to families in the Bushton region. The school serves PreK-6 students with a focus on faith formation and academic excellence. Features include smart classroom technology, dedicated music and art instruction, and comprehensive physical education programs. The curriculum emphasizes literacy development, mathematics proficiency, and science exploration. Parent satisfaction is high due to strong communication systems, family involvement opportunities, and the school's commitment to individual student success. Extended care options and summer programs are available.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Bushton, Kansas
What are the private school options for families living in or near Bushton, Kansas?
Bushton itself is a small rural community, so most private school options are located in nearby towns, requiring consideration of commute. The primary options include St. Mary's Catholic School (K-8) in nearby Russell, Thomas More Prep-Marian (9-12) in Hays, and Holy Family Elementary School in Hays. For Bushton families, this means evaluating the daily drive to Hays (about 30 miles) or Russell (about 20 miles). These schools are faith-based, primarily Catholic, and represent the main private alternatives to the Central Plains (USD 112) public school district serving Bushton.
How does tuition at private schools near Bushton, KS, compare, and are there financial aid options specific to Kansas?
Tuition varies by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, St. Mary's in Russell typically has a lower tuition rate for elementary grades, often under $3,000 per year for parishioners. Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays has higher tuition for high school, often ranging from $6,000 to $8,000+. Kansas offers specific financial aid options that Bushton families can utilize, most notably the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program. This program provides scholarships funded by donations from Kansas businesses, which can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible families. Additionally, most schools offer parish subsidies, multi-child discounts, and need-based aid.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Bushton area offer that differ from the local public school?
Given their smaller, faith-based environments, schools like Thomas More Prep-Marian (TMP) offer a classical college-prep curriculum with a required theology component and often smaller class sizes than regional public high schools. TMP provides specific programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, which is a notable distinction in the region. For younger students, St. Mary's and Holy Family integrate religious education daily. A key consideration for Bushton families is that these private schools may offer different athletic conferences (like the Mid-Continent League) and arts programs, but may have fewer vocational/technical offerings compared to the public Central Plains High School, which benefits from being part of a unified public district.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Bushton, Kansas families?
Enrollment for the schools in Russell and Hays typically opens in January or February for the following fall, with priority often given to current families and parish members of the associated Catholic churches. For Bushton residents, it's crucial to initiate contact early—often a full year in advance—as spaces, particularly in the smaller elementary grades, can be limited. The process usually involves submitting an application, providing records from the current school (like Central Plains Elementary), and often a family interview. Many schools host open houses in the fall; attending these from Bushton requires planning for the drive to Hays or Russell.
For a family in Bushton, what are the major practical factors when choosing between the local public school and a private school in Hays or Russell?
The decision hinges on several location-specific factors. First is the daily commute: attending a private school means a 20-45 minute drive each way, which impacts family logistics, fuel costs, and student participation in after-school activities. Second is community connection: students at Central Plains USD 112 will be with peers from their immediate community, while private school peers will be drawn from a wider regional area. Third is cost versus mission: families must weigh the tuition and commute against the desire for a faith-based education or specific programs like IB at TMP. Finally, sports and activities: the private schools offer different athletic teams, which may involve even longer travel for games than the public school schedule.