The Best Private Schools in Brunswick, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Brunswick. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Grace Academy
Independent Christian School
Grace Academy is a highly-rated Christian school located approximately 20 miles from Brunswick in Hagerstown, serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade. The school is known for its rigorous college preparatory curriculum with strong emphasis on STEM education, advanced placement courses, and comprehensive fine arts programs. Grace Academy features state-of-the-art facilities including modern science labs, technology centers, and extensive athletic facilities. The school maintains small class sizes and offers a wide range of extracurricular activities including competitive sports teams, music ensembles, and community service opportunities. Parents consistently rate the school highly for academic excellence, dedicated faculty, and strong college placement records.
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St. John's Regional Catholic School
Archdiocese of Baltimore
St. John's Regional Catholic School is a highly-regarded Catholic elementary and middle school serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Located approximately 15 miles from Brunswick in Frederick, the school offers a comprehensive academic program rooted in Catholic values with strong emphasis on both faith formation and academic excellence. The school features modern facilities, small class sizes, and a robust curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, fine arts, and comprehensive extracurricular activities. Parents consistently praise the dedicated faculty, strong community atmosphere, and the school's ability to prepare students for success in high school and beyond.
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Brunswick Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
Brunswick Christian Academy is a local private school serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade right in Brunswick. The school provides a Christ-centered education with a strong academic foundation and college preparatory focus. With small class sizes and individualized attention, BCA offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes advanced placement courses, music and arts programs, and competitive athletics. The school emphasizes character development alongside academic achievement and has built a reputation for its family-like atmosphere and dedicated teaching staff who are committed to student success.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Brunswick, Maryland
What are the primary private school options available directly in Brunswick, Maryland, and what are their core educational philosophies?
Brunswick, MD, offers a few key private school options, each with a distinct focus. St. John's Regional Catholic School provides a faith-based, traditional Pre-K through 8th-grade education integrating Catholic values. Brunswick Christian Academy offers a Protestant, Bible-centered curriculum for grades K-12, emphasizing a conservative Christian worldview. Grace Academy, located just across the river in Hagerstown but serving many Brunswick families, is an independent Christian school for grades 6-12 with a college-preparatory focus and a strong arts and athletics program. The direct in-town options are limited, so many Brunswick parents also consider schools in the broader Frederick and Washington County areas.
How does tuition for private schools in the Brunswick, MD, area compare, and are there state-specific financial aid programs available to Maryland residents?
Tuition in the Brunswick area varies by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, St. John's Regional Catholic School tuition ranges approximately from $7,500 for parishioners to $9,500 for non-parishioners. Brunswick Christian Academy's tuition is typically lower, often around $6,000-$7,000 annually. Grace Academy's tuition is higher, around $10,000-$12,000, reflecting its secondary-level programs. Maryland residents should explore the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Scholarship Program, a state-funded initiative that provides vouchers for eligible K-12 students to attend private schools, which can significantly offset costs for qualifying families.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Brunswick area offer that leverage the local community or environment?
Brunswick's location along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal offers unique educational opportunities. St. John's Regional Catholic School often incorporates local history and environmental science into its curriculum, with potential field trips to the Brunswick Railroad Museum and the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Brunswick Christian Academy's structure allows for flexible, family-involved education. Grace Academy, with its secondary focus, offers robust STEM programs and competitive athletics that compete in the Mason Dixon Christian Conference, providing a small-school competitive environment not always available in Brunswick's public schools.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Brunswick, MD, and are there waitlists?
Enrollment timelines for Brunswick-area private schools generally begin in January or February for the following fall, with priority often given to current families and parish members (for St. John's). The process typically involves an application, student assessment or records review, family interview, and registration fee. Due to the limited number of seats, especially in the popular early grades at St. John's, waitlists are common. Brunswick Christian Academy may have more rolling admissions due to its smaller size. It's highly advisable for parents to attend open houses in the fall, often held between October and December, and to submit applications early in the new year.
For families in Brunswick, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public schools (Brunswick Elementary/Middle/High) and the available private options?
Key considerations include class size, educational approach, and transportation. Brunswick public schools offer a no-tuition option with diverse programs and are integrated into the community. Private options offer smaller class sizes (often 15-20 students vs. 25+ in public) and a specific values-based education (Catholic or Evangelical Christian). A major practical difference is transportation; Frederick County Public Schools do not provide busing to private schools, so parents must arrange their own transportation to and from Brunswick, Hagerstown, or Frederick. Academically, parents must decide if they prefer the standardized curriculum and resources of a public system or the specialized, often more rigid, curricular focus of the local private schools.
Private Education Insights
Discover Top-Rated Private Schools Near Brunswick, MD: A Parent's Guide
As a parent in Brunswick, Maryland, the search for "good private schools near me" is about more than just academic rankings. It’s about finding a community that aligns with your family’s values and provides a nurturing, challenging environment for your child right here in our corner of Frederick County. The good news is that Brunswick and its surrounding areas offer a distinctive blend of private educational options, each with its own character, allowing you to find a fit that feels just right. Your search is not just about proximity, but about partnership in your child’s development.
When considering local options, you’ll find schools that deeply understand our community’s fabric. For families seeking a faith-based education rooted in local tradition, St. John’s Regional Catholic School offers a Pre-K through 8th grade program that emphasizes service, academic rigor, and a close-knit parish community. Its established presence provides a structured, values-driven foundation that many Brunswick families have trusted for generations. Alternatively, Brunswick Christian Academy provides a Protestant Christian environment with a strong biblical worldview integrated into every subject. This option appeals to parents looking for a personalized, spiritually-centered education that can adapt to individual student needs within a smaller setting.
For those willing to look just a short drive beyond the city limits into Washington County, Grace Academy in Hagerstown presents a compelling option for students in grades 6-12. It attracts many families from the Brunswick area seeking a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum coupled with a Christian perspective for the middle and high school years. This highlights an important local consideration: the private school landscape for Brunswick residents often includes excellent schools in nearby Hagerstown and Frederick, expanding your definition of "near me" to encompass a manageable commute with rich rewards. The journey along I-70 or Route 340 becomes a pathway to specialized programs, from STEM to the arts, that might not be available hyper-locally.
Your evaluation should go beyond the curriculum. Think about the daily rhythm of life in Brunswick. Consider commute times against Brunswick’s railroad schedules and traffic patterns, especially if looking at schools in Frederick or Hagerstown. Visit the schools and feel the atmosphere; does it mirror the supportive, community-oriented spirit we value here? Talk to other Brunswick parents at the Farmers Market or the library about their experiences. The right school will feel like an extension of the safe, engaged environment we cherish in our own town. Ultimately, finding good private schools near you in Brunswick, MD, is a deeply personal journey. It’s about matching your child’s unique learning style and your family’s core principles with a school’s mission, creating a partnership that will guide them from our local parks and Potomac River views toward a bright and confident future.
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