The Best Private Schools in Gildford, Montana
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Gildford. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Jude Thaddeus School
Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings
St. Jude Thaddeus School is a highly-rated Catholic private school located in Havre, approximately 30 miles from Gildford. This established institution offers a comprehensive PreK-8 education rooted in Catholic values and traditions. The school features small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and a strong academic foundation with integrated faith formation. Programs include rigorous core curriculum, early STEM education, music and arts programs, and community service opportunities. The school maintains excellent parent satisfaction ratings and serves families from throughout the Hi-Line region, including Gildford residents seeking faith-based education.
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Great Falls Central Catholic High School
Great Falls Central Catholic Foundation
Great Falls Central Catholic High School is a premier Catholic college preparatory school serving students from throughout north-central Montana, including the Gildford area. Located approximately 100 miles from Gildford in Great Falls, this respected institution offers a rigorous academic program with multiple Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive college counseling, and competitive athletic programs. The school features modern facilities including science laboratories, technology-enhanced classrooms, and extensive athletic facilities. With a strong tradition of academic excellence and character development, Central Catholic prepares students for success in college and beyond while maintaining a supportive faith-based community.
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North Star School
North Star School District
North Star School is a highly-regarded rural K-12 institution serving the Gildford community and surrounding areas. Located approximately 15 miles from Gildford in Rudyard, this public school with private-like quality offers small class sizes and personalized attention. The school features strong academic programs with college preparatory coursework, comprehensive agricultural education reflecting the region's farming heritage, and robust athletic programs. With modern facilities including updated classrooms, science labs, and sports complexes, North Star provides a close-knit educational environment that emphasizes both academic excellence and character development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Gildford, Montana
What are the private school options available for families living in or near Gildford, Montana?
Gildford itself is a very small community, so local private school options within the town are limited. The primary option is **North Star School**, a K-12 public school district that is noteworthy in this context because it operates as a "public school of choice" with a unique, project-based learning model that attracts families from a wide area, functioning similarly to a charter or specialized public academy. For traditional private, faith-based education, families in Gildford often look to nearby communities. **St. Jude Thaddeus School** (K-8) in Havre, about 30 miles away, and **Great Falls Central Catholic High School** in Great Falls, approximately 90 miles away, are the closest Catholic options. Many rural Montana families consider a combination of local public schools, homeschooling, and longer commutes for specific private high school programs.
How does the rural setting of Gildford, Montana, impact tuition and financial aid at area private schools?
The rural nature of Gildford significantly impacts the financial calculus for private education. First, while tuition at Montana private schools like St. Jude Thaddeus or Great Falls Central Catholic is often lower than national urban averages, families must factor in substantial transportation costs, including fuel and time for daily commutes of 30-90 miles one way. Some schools may offer multi-child discounts or parish subsidies for affiliated Catholic families. Secondly, Montana has a **Tax Credit for Contributions to Student Scholarship Organizations** program. This allows donors to receive a tax credit for contributions that fund scholarships for students to attend private schools, which can increase financial aid availability. It's crucial to inquire directly with each school about aid packages and any carpool networks established for rural families.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by schools serving Gildford-area students, like North Star School?
**North Star School**, while public, is a standout choice for families seeking an alternative educational model. Its defining program is a **comprehensive project-based learning (PBL) curriculum** for all grades K-12. This hands-on, interdisciplinary approach is unique in the region and integrates Montana-centric studies, agriculture, and technology. For extracurriculars, North Star emphasizes activities feasible in a rural setting, such as FFA, volleyball, basketball, and track. For families considering the longer commute to a traditional private high school like **Great Falls Central Catholic**, they would find programs like theology, college-prep honors courses, and sports like football and wrestling that may not be available at very small local schools.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for private schools accessible from Gildford, MT?
Enrollment processes must account for the planning required for long-distance logistics. For **St. Jude Thaddeus School** in Havre, open houses and registration often occur in early spring (February-March) for the following fall. Priority is typically given to active parishioners and siblings of current students. **Great Falls Central Catholic High School** usually has an application deadline in the winter, with acceptance letters sent by spring. A key step for Gildford families is arranging transportation; discussing this with the school administration early is essential. For **North Star School**, as a public district of choice, it has an open enrollment period with specific deadlines, and out-of-district families must apply for a transfer, which is commonly granted due to its specialized model.
How do the private and public school environments in the Gildford area differ, particularly regarding community and class size?
The community and class size experience in Gildford-area schools is defined by extreme rurality. The local public school environment, exemplified by **North Star School**, offers very small class sizes (often 10-15 students per grade) and a tight-knit, multi-age community where everyone knows each other. Choosing a private school like St. Jude Thaddeus or Great Falls Central Catholic means joining a slightly larger, but still small, faith-based community with a shared value system, but it comes with the trade-off of your child being part of a dispersed, commuter student body from across the region. The private school choice often centers on a desire for specific religious education or a traditional college-prep curriculum that may be more structured than the project-based model at North Star.