The Best Private Schools in Massey, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Massey. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Gunston School
Independent
The Gunston School is a premier co-educational, independent day school serving students in grades 9-12. Located just 15 miles from Massey in Centreville, Gunston offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes and personalized attention. The school features a beautiful 35-acre waterfront campus on the Corsica River, providing unique environmental science and marine biology opportunities. Gunston emphasizes leadership development, community service, and academic excellence with a 100% college acceptance rate. The school offers extensive athletic programs, visual and performing arts, and innovative STEM initiatives.
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Kent School
Independent
Kent School is an independent day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, located approximately 10 miles from Massey in Chestertown. The school provides a challenging academic program in a nurturing environment with small class sizes and individualized instruction. Kent School features a comprehensive curriculum that includes integrated technology, foreign language instruction starting in pre-K, and robust arts and athletic programs. The campus includes modern facilities, outdoor learning spaces, and emphasizes character education and community values. The school prepares students for success in secondary education and beyond.
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Saints Peter and Paul High School
Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Saints Peter and Paul High School is a Catholic college preparatory school serving students in grades 9-12, located approximately 20 miles from Massey in Easton. The school offers a comprehensive academic program with numerous Advanced Placement courses and a dedicated STEM Academy. As part of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, the school emphasizes faith formation, moral development, and service learning alongside academic excellence. The campus features modern science labs, technology-enhanced classrooms, athletic facilities, and fine arts spaces. The school maintains strong college placement records and offers diverse extracurricular activities including competitive sports teams and performing arts programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Massey, Maryland
What are the main private school options available for families in Massey, Maryland, and what grade levels do they serve?
Massey, located in Kent County, Maryland, is served by a few notable independent and parochial schools in the immediate and surrounding area. The top options include The Gunston School (co-ed, grades 9-12, day and boarding), Kent School (co-ed, grades PK-8), and Saints Peter and Paul High School (co-ed, grades 9-12, with a Catholic tradition). Given Massey's rural setting on the Eastern Shore, these schools draw from a wider regional area. Parents should note that for younger grades, Kent School is a primary option, while secondary education is provided by the two high schools. Exploring schools in nearby Chestertown or Easton may also be necessary depending on your child's age and needs.
How does tuition at private schools in the Massey, Maryland area compare, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition in the Massey area varies significantly by school type and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect a range. Kent School (PK-8) tuition may start around $10,000-$15,000 for lower grades and increase for middle school. The Gunston School, a college-preparatory day and boarding school, has a higher tuition, typically in the $30,000-$40,000 range for day students. Saints Peter and Paul High School, as a diocesan school, often has a lower tuition, potentially between $10,000-$15,000. All these schools offer financial aid and merit scholarships. Maryland also has the BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) scholarship program, which provides state-funded vouchers for eligible families to use at private schools, a crucial financial consideration for Maryland residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools near Massey, MD, that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in the Massey area uniquely capitalize on the Chesapeake Bay's resources. The Gunston School has a renowned Center for Environment & Society and a waterfront campus with robust marine science, environmental science, and sailing programs. Kent School emphasizes experiential learning with its location, often incorporating local ecology and history into its curriculum. Saints Peter and Paul High School offers strong college-prep academics with a values-based foundation and may have partnerships with local organizations. The rural Eastern Shore setting allows these schools to offer distinctive programs in environmental stewardship, agriculture, and maritime studies that are less common in urban private schools.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for private schools serving Massey, Maryland families?
The process generally begins 12-18 months before the desired start date. For schools like Kent School (PK-8), applications for the fall are often due in January or February, with admissions decisions communicated by March. For the high schools (Gunston and Saints Peter & Paul), deadlines can range from late January to February. Key steps include: 1) Attending open houses (often held in the fall), 2) Submitting an application with essays and recommendations, 3) Completing a student interview and/or shadow day, and 4) Taking standardized tests like the SSAT (for Gunston) or placement tests. Due to Massey's location, planning for transportation is a critical part of the enrollment decision, as some families may commute from a distance.
For families in Massey, what are the primary considerations when choosing between the local public schools (Kent County Public Schools) and the area private schools?
The decision hinges on several location-specific factors. Kent County Public Schools are small, rural district schools offering a community-based education. The area's private schools offer smaller class sizes, specialized programs (like Gunston's environmental focus), and often different educational philosophies (e.g., Kent School's progressive approach, SSPP's Catholic education). A major practical consideration is transportation; private schools do not provide district busing, so commuting to Chestertown (where Gunston and Kent School are located) or Easton (SSPP) is a daily commitment for Massey families. Academically, private schools may offer more AP/advanced course options and consistent extracurriculars, which can be a draw given the limited scale of the rural public system. The cost, offset by potential financial aid and BOOST scholarships, is the final, significant factor.
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