The Best Private Schools in Old Monroe, Missouri
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Old Monroe. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Dominic High School
Archdiocese of St. Louis
St. Dominic High School is a highly-regarded Catholic college preparatory school serving the broader St. Charles County area, including Old Monroe. The school offers a rigorous academic program with 18 Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM initiatives, and extensive extracurricular opportunities including championship athletic programs. The campus features modern facilities with state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and athletic complex. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, the school emphasizes individualized attention and character development.
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Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart School provides a comprehensive Catholic education serving Lincoln County and surrounding areas including Old Monroe. The school offers a balanced curriculum integrating faith formation with strong academic preparation, including STEM education and technology integration across all grade levels. Facilities include modern classrooms, computer lab, library, and gymnasium. The school maintains small class sizes and emphasizes community involvement, with strong parent satisfaction ratings for its family atmosphere and academic quality.
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St. Joseph Academy
Private Independent School
St. Joseph Academy is an independent classical school serving the St. Charles region and drawing students from surrounding communities including Old Monroe. The school employs the Socratic method and classical curriculum focused on developing critical thinking skills through the study of great books and Western tradition. The academy offers a rigorous college preparatory program with emphasis on writing, logic, and moral formation. The intimate learning environment features small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and a strong sense of community, preparing students for top colleges and universities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Old Monroe, Missouri
What are the private school options specifically within Old Monroe, Missouri, and are they all faith-based?
Within the city limits of Old Monroe, MO, private school options are exclusively faith-based institutions, reflecting the community's historical character. The primary options are Sacred Heart School (a K-8 Catholic school) and St. Joseph Academy. For high school, families typically look to nearby communities, with St. Dominic High School in O'Fallon being a major destination for Old Monroe graduates. There are currently no secular private independent day schools located directly in Old Monroe, so families seeking that model would need to commute to the greater St. Charles or St. Louis County areas.
How does Missouri's tax-credit scholarship program, MOScholars, impact tuition affordability for private schools serving Old Monroe families?
Missouri's MOScholars program is a crucial financial consideration for Old Monroe families. This program provides tax credits for donations to Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs), which then award scholarships to eligible students. Families with children in the City of St. Louis or counties like St. Charles (where Old Monroe is located) who meet income requirements (up to 200% of the Free and Reduced Lunch program) can apply. This can significantly offset tuition costs at participating schools like Sacred Heart School or St. Dominic High School. It's essential to check each school's financial aid office for their specific participation and application process.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Old Monroe area private schools offer that leverage their local setting or faith-based mission?
Private schools serving Old Monroe often integrate their rural/suburban setting and strong community values into their programs. For example, Sacred Heart School emphasizes agricultural and environmental science connections, while its faith-based curriculum includes community service projects supporting local Old Monroe organizations. St. Dominic High School offers robust theology programs and retreats, along with competitive athletics in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association. St. Joseph Academy focuses on classical education and character formation. These schools generally offer smaller class sizes than nearby public districts, allowing for personalized attention rooted in a specific value system.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for the primary private school in Old Monroe, Sacred Heart School?
For Sacred Heart School in Old Monroe, the enrollment process typically begins in January for the following academic year. Priority is often given to active parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, siblings of currently enrolled students, and then other Catholic families before opening to the general community. The process involves submitting an application, providing sacramental records (if applicable), academic records from previous schools, and often a family interview. Given the small size of the school, spaces can be limited, especially in certain grade levels, so early inquiry is strongly recommended. Open houses are usually held in the fall and winter.
How do the class sizes and community environment of Old Monroe's private schools compare to the larger Wentzville School District public schools?
The defining difference lies in scale and community intimacy. Old Monroe's private schools, like Sacred Heart, often have single-section classrooms with 15-25 students, fostering a tight-knit, family-like environment where every student is known. In contrast, the public schools in the assigned Wentzville School District are among the fastest-growing in Missouri, with elementary schools often having multiple classes per grade and much larger total populations. This can mean more extensive elective and facility offerings in the public system. The choice for Old Monroe parents often centers on whether they prioritize a specific faith-based education with small-scale familiarity or the broader resources and diversity of programs in the large public district, which may involve a longer bus ride.