The Best Private Schools in Cleveland, Missouri
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Cleveland. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Peter's Catholic School
Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
St. Peter's Catholic School provides a comprehensive Catholic education serving families in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, including Cleveland and surrounding communities. The school offers a rigorous academic program grounded in Catholic values, with small class sizes and individualized attention. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, a dedicated art studio, and athletic fields. The school emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence, with strong parent involvement and community support.
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Summit Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
Summit Christian Academy is a highly-regarded private Christian school serving the greater Kansas City region, including Cleveland area families. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum integrated with Biblical worldview. Features include state-of-the-art facilities, competitive athletics programs, extensive fine arts offerings, and Advanced Placement courses. The school maintains small class sizes and emphasizes both academic excellence and spiritual development, with strong college acceptance rates and active parent community.
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St. Sabina Catholic School
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
St. Sabina Catholic School has served the southern Kansas City metropolitan area for decades, drawing students from Cleveland and surrounding communities. The school provides a faith-based education with strong academic foundations, featuring modern technology integration, comprehensive Spanish language instruction, and robust extracurricular programs. The campus includes well-equipped classrooms, science facilities, music rooms, and athletic spaces. The school community is known for its strong parent involvement and commitment to developing well-rounded students.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Cleveland, Missouri
What are the primary private school options available for families in Cleveland, Missouri, and what are their core affiliations?
In Cleveland, Missouri, families have a few key private school options, all with religious affiliations. St. Peter's Catholic School offers a traditional Catholic education from preschool through 8th grade. Summit Christian Academy provides a non-denominational Christian education. St. Sabina Catholic School, located in nearby Belton but serving the broader area including Cleveland, is another Catholic elementary option. Given Cleveland's smaller size and rural setting in Cass County, these schools represent the core of private education locally, and many families also consider private schools in larger neighboring communities like Harrisonville or Raymore for additional options.
How does tuition at private schools in the Cleveland, Missouri, area typically compare to state averages, and what financial aid might be available?
Tuition for private schools in the Cleveland area is generally below the average for Missouri's major metropolitan areas but is a significant consideration for local family budgets. For the 2024-2025 academic year, area Catholic elementary schools like St. Peter's or St. Sabina often have tuition ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 annually for parishioners, with higher rates for non-parishioners. Summit Christian Academy may have a slightly different fee structure. Importantly, Missouri offers several state-sponsored financial aid programs that Cleveland families can access, such as tax-credit scholarships for lower-income families (MOScholars) and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for students with disabilities. All local schools typically offer their own need-based aid and parish subsidies for member families.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in Cleveland, Missouri, offer that leverage the local community or environment?
Private schools in the Cleveland area often integrate their rural and faith-based settings into their programs. For instance, agricultural science or nature-based learning may be components of science curricula, taking advantage of the surrounding farmland. Faith formation and service learning are central, with projects often supporting local Cleveland community organizations. Due to smaller class sizes, schools like St. Peter's or Summit Christian Academy can offer personalized learning plans. While extensive specialized high school-level AP courses or athletics are more limited due to school size, they often participate in cooperative sports leagues with other small private schools in Cass and Jackson counties.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Cleveland, Missouri, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment process for Cleveland-area private schools usually begins in January or February for the following fall. St. Peter's Catholic School and St. Sabina typically give priority to active parish members and siblings of current students before opening enrollment to the broader community. Summit Christian Academy may have its own application and interview process. Given the limited number of seats in these small schools, it is common for popular grades to have waitlists, especially in early elementary and kindergarten. We strongly recommend contacting the school office directly in the fall prior to your desired enrollment year to schedule a tour and receive specific application materials. Missouri's open enrollment laws for public schools do not apply to private institutions.
For a family living in Cleveland, Missouri, what are the key considerations when deciding between the local public school (Sherwood Cass R-VIII) and a private school?
The decision often centers on educational philosophy, class size, and cost. The Sherwood Cass R-VIII School District offers a comprehensive K-12 education with no tuition, potentially more diverse extracurriculars, and specialized district resources. Private schools in Cleveland provide a specific faith-based environment integrated throughout the curriculum, typically with much smaller class sizes (often 15-20 students or fewer), which allows for highly individualized attention. Transportation is a key practical consideration; while the public district provides busing, private school families are usually responsible for their own transportation, which can be a factor in rural Cass County. Many families value the close-knit community feel of the local private schools, which can be a defining characteristic in a smaller town like Cleveland.