The Best Private Schools in Orrington, Maine
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Orrington. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
John Bapst Memorial High School
Independent Catholic School
John Bapst Memorial High School is a highly-regarded independent Catholic school serving the Greater Bangor area, including Orrington. Founded in 1928, the school offers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with over 20 Advanced Placement courses. The school features modern facilities including science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic facilities. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and a comprehensive extracurricular program including championship athletic teams, music ensembles, and academic clubs. The school consistently achieves high college acceptance rates and maintains strong academic performance metrics.
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All Saints Catholic School
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
All Saints Catholic School serves students from Orrington and surrounding communities with a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education. The school combines strong academic fundamentals with Catholic values and character development. Facilities include modern classrooms, technology labs, and dedicated spaces for art and music. The curriculum emphasizes literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies while incorporating technology integration and STEM activities. The school maintains small class sizes and offers before/after school care, making it accessible for working families in the Orrington area.
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Bangor Christian Schools
Independent Christian School
Bangor Christian Schools has served the Greater Bangor area, including Orrington families, since 1973. The school offers a comprehensive K-12 education grounded in Christian principles with a strong academic focus. The college-preparatory high school program includes advanced coursework and dual enrollment opportunities. Facilities include science laboratories, computer labs, gymnasium, and athletic fields. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities including sports, music, drama, and academic competitions. Parent satisfaction remains high due to the school's commitment to individual student attention and strong community atmosphere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Orrington, Maine
Are there any private schools physically located within Orrington, Maine, or do families typically look to neighboring areas?
There are no private schools physically located within the town limits of Orrington. Families seeking private education typically look to schools in the greater Bangor area, which is directly adjacent and easily accessible. The top options, as you noted, include John Bapst Memorial High School (a non-denominational, independent college-prep school in Bangor), All Saints Catholic School (a Pre-K through 8 Catholic school in Bangor), and Bangor Christian Schools (a Pre-K through 12 Christian school in Bangor). Transportation to these schools is a key consideration for Orrington residents.
What is the average tuition range for private schools serving Orrington, ME, families, and are there any Maine-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition for the primary schools serving Orrington varies. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect ranges of approximately $8,000-$12,000 for elementary grades and $14,000-$18,000 for high school at the institutions mentioned. A critical Maine-specific resource is the "Maine Town Tuitioning" program, but it is not applicable in Orrington as the town maintains its own public school system. However, all major private schools offer need-based financial aid, and Maine residents may also be eligible for the state's "Educational Opportunity Tax Credit" for certain college savings used for K-12 tuition.
How do the academic and extracurricular programs at Bangor-area private schools complement the interests of Orrington's community?
Schools like John Bapst and Bangor Christian offer robust programs that align well with the interests of families in the Orrington and greater Bangor region. John Bapst has strong STEM, humanities, and a renowned music program, including competitive marching band, which draws from the entire area. Bangor Christian offers a comprehensive biblical worldview integration across subjects. Given Orrington's proximity to the Penobscot River and outdoor activities, many of these schools have active outdoor clubs and athletic programs that leverage Maine's natural environment. Their college counseling is particularly geared toward both in-state universities (like UMaine) and competitive New England liberal arts colleges.
What are the typical enrollment timelines and key deadlines for private schools in the Bangor/Orrington area?
Enrollment processes for schools like All Saints Catholic, Bangor Christian, and John Bapst generally begin in the fall or early winter for the following academic year. Key deadlines for financial aid applications (using platforms like FACTS) are often in February or March. John Bapst, for example, typically has its scholarship and admissions deadline in early spring. It is highly advisable for Orrington families to initiate inquiries by October or November, as some grades, especially kindergarten and 9th grade, can have waiting lists. Most schools host open houses from October through January.
For an Orrington family considering the local public school (Center Drive School/Orrington Elementary), what are the defining factors in choosing a Bangor-area private school instead?
The decision often hinges on several factors unique to the Orrington context. The local Center Drive School serves Pre-K through 8, after which students attend Brewer High School. Families may seek private options for a continuous Pre-K-12 pathway (like Bangor Christian), a specific religious education, or a specialized college-prep curriculum with different extracurricular breadth (like John Bapst). Some families also value the smaller average class sizes in the private settings compared to the regional public schools. The daily commute to Bangor (typically 10-20 minutes from Orrington) is a practical trade-off for the specific educational environment they desire.