The Best Private Schools in Nortonville, Kansas
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Nortonville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. James Academy
Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
St. James Academy is a highly-rated co-ed Catholic high school offering a challenging college preparatory curriculum with emphasis on STEM, arts, and athletics. It features state-of-the-art facilities, a supportive community, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. Serving the broader Kansas City metro area, including Nortonville families, it is praised for its academic excellence, strong parent satisfaction, and vibrant faith-based environment.
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St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a premier Catholic institution known for its academic rigor, offering Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. It provides a well-rounded education with robust athletics, performing arts, and service opportunities. Serving students from Nortonville and the Kansas City region, the school is acclaimed for its dedicated teachers, modern facilities, and high college acceptance rates, making it a top choice for families seeking quality private education.
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Maur Hill - Mount Academy
Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Maur Hill - Mount Academy is a co-ed Catholic boarding and day school serving grades 9-12, known for its rigorous academic programs including International Baccalaureate and college prep. With a focus on character development and faith formation, the school offers extensive extracurriculars like sports, fine arts, and community service. It has a strong reputation in the Atchison County area, attracting students from Nortonville and surrounding regions due to its dedicated faculty and comprehensive student support.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Nortonville, Kansas
What are the primary private school options available for families in Nortonville, Kansas, and are they located directly in town?
Nortonville itself is a small community, so most of the prominent private school options are located in nearby cities but serve the Nortonville area. The top schools include Maur Hill - Mount Academy in Atchison (a Catholic, co-ed boarding and day school), St. James Academy in Lenexa (a Catholic college-prep high school), and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park (a large Catholic diocesan high school). For Nortonville families, this means commuting is a standard consideration, with drives ranging from 20 minutes to over an hour to the Kansas City metro area. There are also typically smaller parochial elementary schools in surrounding towns that feed into these high schools.
How does tuition for private high schools near Nortonville, KS, typically work, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition for the major private schools serving Nortonville varies significantly. For the 2024-25 school year, day student tuition at Maur Hill - Mount Academy is approximately $10,000-$12,000, while St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High School are in the $12,000-$15,000 range. Kansas does not have a statewide voucher or tax-credit scholarship program, so financial aid is primarily offered directly by the schools through need-based grants and merit scholarships. Many families also utilize the Kansas Educational Savings Plan (a 529 plan) for tax-advantaged savings. Additionally, parishes often provide subsidized tuition for active members of their affiliated Catholic churches.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Nortonville offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
Private schools in the Nortonville region often provide specialized programs not always available in smaller public districts. Maur Hill - Mount Academy offers a unique International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and a boarding program that brings global perspectives. St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas have extensive Advanced Placement (AP) course catalogs, elite athletic programs competing in the Eastern Kansas League, and robust faith-based service learning requirements. These schools also typically have smaller average class sizes than the larger regional public high schools, allowing for more individualized attention.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private high schools serving Nortonville, Kansas students?
The process is centralized and competitive, especially for the metro-area schools. Critical deadlines usually fall between December and February for the following academic year. The process involves: 1) Attending open houses (often in the fall), 2) Completing an online application with essays and recommendations, 3) Taking a placement exam (like the HSPT), and 4) A family interview. For St. James and St. Thomas Aquinas, priority is often given to students from their feeder Catholic elementary schools. It is crucial for Nortonville families to plan early due to commute logistics and limited space. Financial aid applications run concurrently with admissions applications.
For a family in Nortonville, what are the key factors in choosing between the local public school (USD 279) and a private school option?
The decision hinges on several Nortonville-specific factors. Jefferson County North USD 279 offers a close-knit, community-based K-12 education with no tuition and minimal commute. Choosing a private school like Maur Hill - Mount Academy or a Kansas City metro school involves a significant investment in tuition, time, and transportation. Key differentiators are religious education (if desired), specific academic rigor (IB/AP), and access to a wider array of extracurricular activities and facilities. The private school path often requires a family commitment to a 30-60 minute commute each way, which impacts daily schedules and involvement. Many families blend options, using local public elementary schools before transitioning to private high schools.