The Best Private Schools in Harrisville, Michigan
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Harrisville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Alpena Montessori
Montessori Education
Alpena Montessori provides authentic Montessori education for children ages 3-12, serving the Northeast Michigan region including Harrisville. The school features individualized learning plans, hands-on Montessori materials, and a child-centered approach that fosters independence and critical thinking. With small class sizes and AMI-trained teachers, the school emphasizes whole-child development through practical life activities, sensorial education, and academic foundation building. The campus includes specialized Montessori classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, and a peaceful learning environment that has earned high parent satisfaction ratings.
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St. Anne School
Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
St. Anne School is a Catholic elementary school serving students from preschool through 8th grade, drawing families from throughout Northeast Michigan including Harrisville. The school combines rigorous academic instruction with Catholic faith formation, offering a comprehensive curriculum that includes advanced math and reading programs, science labs, technology integration, and arts education. With dedicated certified teachers and small class sizes, St. Anne provides a nurturing environment focused on academic excellence and character development. The school features modern facilities, updated technology resources, and extensive extracurricular opportunities.
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Tawas Area St. Joseph School
Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
St. Joseph School in Tawas City serves students from preschool through 8th grade from throughout the Iosco County and surrounding regions, including Harrisville families. The school offers a faith-based education with strong academic foundations, featuring technology-integrated classrooms, comprehensive literacy programs, and hands-on science instruction. With a focus on developing well-rounded students, the curriculum includes music, art, physical education, and community service opportunities. The school maintains small class sizes with certified teachers and has built a reputation for academic excellence and strong parent-teacher partnerships over five decades of operation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Harrisville, Michigan
What are the private school options for families living in Harrisville, Michigan, and how accessible are they?
Harrisville itself is a small village, so most private school options are located in nearby communities, requiring a commute. The top schools in the broader Northeast Michigan region include Alpena Montessori (in Alpena, ~45 min drive), St. Anne School (in Alpena), and Tawas Area St. Joseph School (in East Tawas, ~30 min drive). These represent the primary models available: Montessori and Catholic parochial education. For Harrisville residents, accessibility is a key consideration, as daily transportation to Alpena or East Tawas is typically a parent's responsibility, as these schools may not offer district-wide busing.
How does tuition at private schools near Harrisville, MI, compare to state averages, and are there any Michigan-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition for the schools serving the Harrisville area is generally below the state average for private schools, reflecting the region's cost of living. For the 2023-24 school year, area Catholic schools like St. Anne and St. Joseph often have tuition in the $4,000-$6,000 range per child, with discounts for parish members and multiple children. Alpena Montessori may have a higher tuition reflective of its specialized model. Michigan-specific aid includes the **Tuition Tax Credit**, which allows a deduction for contributions to certain nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations. Additionally, some schools participate in the **Michigan ECE** (Early Childhood Education) program for qualifying preschoolers.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Harrisville offer that leverage the local environment?
Schools in this region often integrate the unique natural resources of Northeast Michigan into their programs. For instance, **Alpena Montessori** emphasizes hands-on, nature-based learning that can align with local forestry, lake ecology (Lake Huron), and geology. **St. Joseph School** in Tawas and **St. Anne School** in Alpena may participate in outdoor education programs tied to the Huron National Forest, Thunder Bay River, or Lake Huron shoreline. Extracurriculars are often community-focused and may include skiing/snowboarding (utilizing local hills), fishing clubs, or environmental stewardship projects, which are distinctive advantages of the area.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Harrisville families, and how does it differ from public school enrollment?
Unlike Harrisville's public schools, which have continuous enrollment for resident students, private schools in the area have defined enrollment periods and processes. Critical timelines are often in the winter and spring (January-March) for the following fall, with some schools offering rolling admission if space permits. The process typically requires an application, family interview, and submission of past academic records. For Catholic schools, proof of baptism and parish registration may be needed. It's crucial to contact schools like St. Joseph or Alpena Montessori early, as some grades have limited seats and sibling/parishioner priority can fill classes quickly.
For a Harrisville resident, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Harrisville Community Schools) and a private school a commute away?
The decision hinges on several location-specific factors. The local public school offers the convenience of a very short commute, strong community integration, and no tuition. Choosing a private school like those in Alpena or Tawas involves a significant daily commute (30-45+ minutes each way) and tuition costs, but may offer specific educational philosophies (Montessori, faith-based), potentially smaller class sizes, and specialized programs not available in a small rural district. Parents must weigh the value of the preferred educational model against the logistical and financial investment of the commute, especially during harsh Northeast Michigan winters.