The Best Private Schools in Derry, New Hampshire
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Derry. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Derryfield School
The Derryfield School
The Derryfield School is a highly selective independent college preparatory school serving students from Derry and throughout Southern New Hampshire. Located just 15 minutes from Derry in Manchester, Derryfield offers a rigorous academic program with 18 Advanced Placement courses and a 100% college acceptance rate. The school emphasizes character development and community engagement through its honor code and extensive service learning programs. Campus facilities include modern science laboratories, art studios, performance spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, Derryfield provides personalized attention and strong faculty-student relationships. The school offers comprehensive arts programs and competitive athletics in the NEPSAC conference.
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Austin Preparatory School
Austin Preparatory School
Austin Preparatory School is a coeducational independent Catholic school serving students from Derry and throughout Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. Located approximately 30 minutes from Derry in Reading, Massachusetts, Austin Prep offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum rooted in Augustinian values of truth, unity, and love. The school features a 40-acre campus with modern academic buildings, science and technology labs, performing arts center, and athletic facilities. Academic programs include 19 Advanced Placement courses, honors tracks across all disciplines, and specialized programs in STEM and performing arts. With a student-teacher ratio of 12:1 and average class size of 18, the school provides individualized attention and strong college counseling. Extracurricular offerings include over 40 clubs and 23 athletic teams.
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Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy is one of New England's largest and most respected independent academies, serving as the designated high school for Derry and surrounding communities. With over 200 years of educational excellence, Pinkerton offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum alongside extensive career and technical education programs. The 160-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science laboratories, performing arts centers, athletic complexes, and specialized career training spaces. The academy maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1 and offers over 200 courses, including 23 AP classes and numerous honors courses. Extracurricular opportunities include 50+ clubs and 30 athletic teams.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Derry, New Hampshire
What are the primary private school options available for Derry, NH residents, and are they located within the town?
Derry residents have several highly-regarded private school options, though it's important to note that the most prominent are located in neighboring towns. Pinkerton Academy, while often considered a private academy, operates as the designated public high school for Derry and several other towns, but also accepts private tuition-paying students from outside its sending districts. For independent private day schools, families often look to The Derryfield School in Manchester (approximately 25 minutes away) and Austin Preparatory School in Reading, MA (approximately 30 minutes away). There are also smaller parochial and independent schools within a reasonable commuting distance. Derry itself has a limited number of standalone private elementary schools, making the surrounding Southern NH and Merrimack Valley area the primary market for private education.
How does tuition for private schools in the Derry, NH area compare, and are there state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition in the Derry area varies significantly by school type and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, day school tuition at institutions like The Derryfield School can range from approximately $40,000 to $50,000. As a New Hampshire resident, you may be eligible for the state's "Education Tax Credit" program, which provides scholarships for students to attend non-public schools. This program, administered by approved scholarship organizations, offers financial aid based on income eligibility. Additionally, most private schools offer their own substantial need-based financial aid. It's crucial to apply for aid directly through the school's financial aid service (like SSS) and to investigate the NH Education Tax Credit scholarships well ahead of admission deadlines.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools accessible to Derry families?
Private schools in the greater Derry region offer distinctive programs that leverage their resources and missions. For example, The Derryfield School emphasizes a personalized "Derryfield Plan" with strong arts, athletics, and a renowned global studies program. Austin Preparatory School, a Augustinian Catholic school, offers a comprehensive classical curriculum with a focus on rhetoric and debate. Pinkerton Academy, due to its large size, provides an unparalleled breadth of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, a working farm, and over 100 clubs and activities that rival many private institutions. Many of these schools also have robust partnerships with local businesses and colleges in Southern New Hampshire and Boston, providing unique internship and advanced research opportunities.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private day schools near Derry, NH?
The enrollment process for top private schools like Derryfield and Austin Prep is highly structured and begins early. The timeline typically starts in the fall (September-October) a full year before desired entry with open houses and tours. Application deadlines are often in January or February for the following fall. The process almost always includes a standardized test (like the SSAT or ISEE), a student interview, teacher recommendations, and a school transcript review. For Derry families, it's essential to plan for potential travel to these schools for visits and interviews. We strongly recommend initiating inquiries in the fall of your child's year prior to entry and noting that financial aid applications are usually due concurrently with admission applications.
How do the educational environments at Derry's public schools, like Pinkerton Academy, compare to nearby private independent schools?
This is a key consideration for Derry parents. Pinkerton Academy is unique: as a large (over 3,000 students) independent academy serving as the public high school for Derry, it offers vast resources, diverse programs, and a comprehensive public school experience at no tuition cost to residents. In contrast, private independent schools like Derryfield and Austin Prep offer much smaller class sizes (often 12-15 students), a more uniform student culture aligned with a specific mission, and a typically more condensed geographic community. The choice often comes down to a family's priority on individualized attention and a specific educational philosophy versus the scale, diversity, and cost-free advantage of Pinkerton. Many Derry families also consider the social and logistical aspects of their child commuting to a school outside their immediate public school network.
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