The Best Private Schools in Garfield, Kansas
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Garfield. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. John's Academy
Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
St. John's Academy is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Garfield area and surrounding Pawnee County region. The school offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education with strong emphasis on faith-based learning and academic excellence. Their curriculum includes advanced STEM programs, fine arts, and competitive athletics. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, ensuring personalized attention. Facilities include modern classrooms, a dedicated science lab, and gymnasium. Parents consistently praise the school's strong community atmosphere and rigorous academic preparation.
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Central Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
Central Christian Academy is a respected private Christian school serving families throughout central Kansas, including the Garfield community. The school offers Pre-K through 12th grade education with a strong college preparatory focus. Academic programs include Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive technology integration, and extensive fine arts offerings. The school features modern facilities including science laboratories, computer labs, and athletic complexes. With a commitment to developing students spiritually, academically, and socially, CCA maintains high academic standards and has a track record of graduates attending competitive colleges and universities.
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St. Rose of Lima Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School has been serving the educational needs of central Kansas families for over six decades, including those in Garfield. The school provides Pre-K through 8th grade education with a strong foundation in Catholic values and academic excellence. Their program emphasizes early childhood development, comprehensive literacy, mathematics, and religious education. The school features updated classrooms, a dedicated library, music room, and playground facilities. Known for its tight-knit community and dedicated faculty, St. Rose prepares students well for high school with a focus on character development and academic achievement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Garfield, Kansas
What are the private school options available specifically in Garfield, Kansas, and what are their educational affiliations?
Garfield, Kansas, is served by three primary private schools, each with distinct affiliations. St. John's Academy and St. Rose of Lima Catholic School are both Catholic institutions, often providing a faith-based education integrated with a standard academic curriculum. Central Christian Academy is typically associated with a Protestant Christian tradition. Given Garfield's small size, these schools represent the core of private education in the immediate area, with many families from surrounding Pawnee County communities also attending. It's important to visit each, as their size, specific religious emphasis, and community feel can differ significantly.
How does tuition at private schools in Garfield, KS, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for private schools in rural communities like Garfield is often lower than the Kansas state average for private education, frequently ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per year for parishioners at the Catholic schools. Non-member families may pay slightly higher rates. Financial assistance is commonly available through need-based scholarships, parish subsidies for active church members, and diocesan aid programs for Catholic schools. Central Christian Academy may offer similar congregational support. Additionally, Kansas has a Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships for eligible families to use at participating private schools, though not all schools may participate.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Garfield's private schools offer that leverage their small, rural setting?
Private schools in Garfield, like St. John's Academy and St. Rose of Lima, often capitalize on their small class sizes to provide highly individualized attention. A unique aspect of their programming can include strong community-based projects, agricultural science components relevant to rural Kansas life, and close-knit extracurricular activities where participation rates are high. For example, students might have opportunities in local history projects focused on Pawnee County or collaborative events with the broader church community. Their small size generally means fewer specialized elective tracks compared to large urban schools, but the trade-off is a personalized learning environment and strong student-teacher relationships.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for families new to Garfield looking to join a private school mid-year?
For Garfield's private schools, enrollment is generally rolling and family-oriented due to their small size. The primary intake period is in the spring for the following fall, but mid-year enrollment is often accommodated if space is available. The process typically involves contacting the school office directly, submitting an application, providing academic records, and often a family interview or meeting with the principal. For the Catholic schools, baptismal records may be required. A key local consideration is that these schools have limited seats per grade, so contacting them as soon as possible upon moving to the Garfield area is crucial. They may also require a placement assessment to ensure the student is aligned with their current curriculum.
For families in Garfield, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Garfield Elementary, part of USD 496) and the available private options?
The decision in Garfield often centers on educational philosophy, class size, and cost. The public school, Garfield Elementary, provides a tuition-free education with standardized state resources and programs. The private schools offer a faith-based education, typically with even smaller class sizes (often 10-15 students), which can allow for more individualized instruction. A major practical consideration is transportation, as USD 496 provides busing, while private schools usually require parents to arrange transport. Furthermore, the private schools' curricula integrate religious teachings, which is a defining factor for many families. For continuity, parents should consider that Garfield public students feed into Larned for middle/high school, while private school students may need to transition to a Catholic school in Larned or Great Bend after elementary grades.