The Best Private Schools in Saint Leonard, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Saint Leonard. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Calverton School
Independent
Calverton School is a highly-regarded independent private school located just minutes from Saint Leonard in Huntingtown. Serving students from preschool through 12th grade, Calverton offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes and individualized attention. The school features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, art studios, and athletic complexes. With a strong emphasis on character development and community engagement, Calverton has maintained an excellent reputation for academic excellence and student success for nearly five decades. The school's beautiful 43-acre campus provides an ideal learning environment with extensive extracurricular opportunities.
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Indian Creek School
Independent
Indian Creek School is a prestigious independent school serving students from preschool through 12th grade, drawing families from Saint Leonard and surrounding Southern Maryland communities. The school offers a challenging academic program with numerous Advanced Placement courses and a comprehensive STEM curriculum. Indian Creek features exceptional facilities including modern science laboratories, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic facilities. The school emphasizes global citizenship and leadership development, with a diverse student body and strong college placement record. With nearly 50 years of educational excellence, Indian Creek maintains small class sizes and personalized learning approaches.
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St. Mary's Elementary School
Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools
St. Mary's Elementary School is a highly-rated Catholic private school serving Saint Leonard and the broader Southern Maryland region. As part of the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools system, St. Mary's provides a faith-based education combined with strong academic foundations. The school offers comprehensive programs from early childhood through 8th grade, featuring modern STEAM curriculum integration, technology-enhanced classrooms, and strong community partnerships. With nearly 70 years of operation, St. Mary's has established a reputation for academic excellence, character formation, and family engagement. The school maintains small class sizes and offers extensive extracurricular activities including sports, music, and community service programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Saint Leonard, Maryland
What are the primary private school options available for families in Saint Leonard, Maryland, and what grade levels do they serve?
Saint Leonard, located in Calvert County, is served by a few notable private institutions, though many families also consider schools in the broader Southern Maryland region. Within close proximity, the top options include Calverton School (Pre-K through 12th grade) in Huntingtown, Indian Creek School (Pre-K through 12th) in Crownsville, and St. Mary's Elementary School (Pre-K through 8th) in Leonardtown. While Saint Leonard itself has limited on-site private schools, these highly-regarded institutions are a short commute away and represent the core private options for local families, offering continuity from early childhood through high school graduation.
How does tuition for private schools in the Saint Leonard, MD area compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for day schools in the Saint Leonard/Calvert County area is generally competitive with the Maryland private school average. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect ranges such as approximately $15,000-$25,000 for lower schools and $25,000-$35,000 for upper schools at institutions like Calverton and Indian Creek. Maryland offers several state-specific aid programs, including the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Scholarship, which provides vouchers for eligible families to use at private schools. Additionally, most schools have substantial need-based financial aid programs and payment plans. It's crucial to apply for aid simultaneously with admission.
Given Saint Leonard's proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River, do local private schools offer specialized programs in environmental science or maritime studies?
Yes, the unique coastal environment of Southern Maryland directly influences several private school curricula. The Calverton School, for instance, leverages its location with a strong environmental science program and outdoor education. Many schools in the region, including those accessible to Saint Leonard families, incorporate Chesapeake Bay ecology, marine biology, and sustainability into their science curricula through field trips, lab work, and partnerships with local organizations like the Calvert Marine Museum or the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. This provides a distinctive, place-based learning advantage not always found in inland private schools.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like Calverton or Indian Creek for a family residing in Saint Leonard?
The enrollment process for competitive private schools in the Saint Leonard area begins early. The standard timeline opens applications in September for the following fall, with deadlines typically between January and February. Key steps include: 1) Attending fall open houses or virtual tours, 2) Submitting an application with essays and recommendations by the deadline, 3) Scheduling student visits and assessments (often in January-February), and 4) Receiving admission decisions in March. For schools with rolling admission, applying early is still strongly advised. Given that these schools draw from a wide region, Saint Leonard residents are not at a geographic disadvantage, but demonstrating genuine interest is important.
How do the class sizes and student-teacher ratios in Saint Leonard-area private schools compare to those in Calvert County Public Schools?
This is a key differentiator. Calvert County Public Schools are highly rated, but average class sizes in middle and high school can often reach 25-30 students. In contrast, private schools like Calverton and Indian Creek maintain significantly lower ratios, typically between 8:1 and 12:1. This allows for more personalized instruction, individualized attention, and greater student participation. For families in Saint Leonard seeking a more intimate educational setting with tailored learning plans, the area's private schools offer a distinct advantage in this metric, though it comes with the trade-off of tuition versus free public education.
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