The Best Private Schools in Newport, Kentucky
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Newport. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Xavier High School
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
St. Xavier High School is a highly-regarded Jesuit college preparatory school serving the Greater Cincinnati area, including Northern Kentucky. With a rigorous academic program that includes 28 AP courses and extensive STEM offerings, the school consistently produces National Merit Scholars and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate. The 55-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science and innovation labs, performing arts center, and extensive athletic facilities. The school emphasizes character formation and service learning through its Jesuit Catholic tradition.
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The Summit Country Day School
Independent Catholic School
The Summit Country Day School offers a comprehensive educational experience from Montessori preschool through high school, serving families throughout the Cincinnati metropolitan area including Newport. The school is known for its International Baccalaureate program, extensive arts curriculum, and competitive athletic programs. With small class sizes and individualized attention, students benefit from a nurturing environment that emphasizes academic excellence, character development, and leadership. The campus features modern academic facilities, arts centers, and athletic complexes.
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Covington Catholic High School
Diocese of Covington
Located just minutes from Newport in neighboring Park Hills, Covington Catholic High School is an all-male Catholic college preparatory school serving Northern Kentucky communities. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with 19 AP courses, robust STEM programs, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Known for its strong sense of community and tradition, Covington Catholic maintains high academic standards with a 100% college acceptance rate. The school features modern academic facilities, recently renovated science labs, and competitive athletic programs that regularly compete at state levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Newport, Kentucky
What are the primary private school options available for families living in Newport, Kentucky, and are there any located directly in the city?
While Newport, KY itself has a limited number of standalone private elementary/middle schools, families commonly look to the broader Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati metro area for top-tier options. Notable nearby schools include Covington Catholic High School (just across the Licking River in Covington), St. Xavier High School (in Cincinnati), and The Summit Country Day School (also in Cincinnati). For younger grades, many Newport families consider parish-based Catholic schools like St. Joseph School in Cold Spring or St. Catherine of Siena in Fort Thomas. The unique aspect for Newport residents is the easy access to both Kentucky's and Ohio's leading private institutions, often within a 15-20 minute drive.
How does Kentucky's tax credit scholarship program, like the Education Opportunity Account (EOA), affect private school tuition for Newport families?
Kentucky's Education Opportunity Account Act provides tax credits for donations to account-granting organizations, which in turn fund EOAs for eligible students. For Newport families, this can significantly offset private school tuition at participating schools. Eligibility is primarily based on household income (up to 175% of the reduced-price lunch level) and residency in counties with populations over 90,000, which includes Campbell County where Newport is located. It's crucial to check with your chosen school (e.g., Covington Catholic) to confirm their participation. This state-specific aid, combined with individual school financial aid, makes private education more accessible for many Newport residents.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs are notable at the private schools accessible from Newport, KY?
The leading private schools near Newport offer distinct specializations. St. Xavier High School is renowned for its STEM programs and extensive robotics teams. The Summit Country Day School offers a renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from preschool through high school, a rare program in the region. Covington Catholic High School emphasizes a strong college-prep curriculum alongside distinctive traditions in athletics and community service rooted in its Northern Kentucky identity. For Newport families interested in the arts, several Cincinnati-area schools provide robust programs. The proximity to a major city allows these schools to leverage partnerships with Cincinnati's cultural and scientific institutions.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private high schools like Covington Catholic or St. Xavier for a student from Newport?
The process for Newport students is highly structured and often begins over a year in advance. For schools like Covington Catholic (all-boys) and its sister school, Notre Dame Academy (all-girls), the application for 9th grade typically opens in the summer before 8th grade, with entrance exams (like the High School Placement Test) held in the fall. St. Xavier and other Cincinnati-based schools follow similar timelines. Key steps include open houses (often in the fall), submitting applications by December or January, and financial aid applications due early in the new year. Admissions decisions are usually released in February. Newport families should note that while residency isn't a barrier, transportation planning is a critical early consideration.
How do the culture and community of a Northern Kentucky private school like Covington Catholic differ from a larger Cincinnati-based school for a Newport resident?
This is a key consideration for Newport families. A school like Covington Catholic offers a deeply rooted Northern Kentucky community feel, with many students coming from similar river cities and a strong emphasis on local rivalries and traditions. Your child's peers and social network would be primarily from the Kentucky side of the metro. In contrast, a Cincinnati-based school like St. Xavier or Summit provides a more geographically diverse student body from across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, offering wider networking opportunities but potentially a longer commute across the bridge. The choice often comes down to whether a family wants a tightly-knit, local identity or a larger, metropolitan experience, both of which are easily accessible from Newport.
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