The Best Private Schools in Errol, New Hampshire
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Errol. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Patrick School
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
St. Patrick School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the North Country region including Errol. Located approximately 30 miles from Errol in Gorham, this school offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education with strong emphasis on faith-based values and academic excellence. The school features small class sizes with student-teacher ratios of 10:1, allowing for individualized attention. Curriculum includes advanced mathematics, comprehensive language arts, science with lab components, and religious education. Extracurricular activities include sports, music, art programs, and community service opportunities. The school maintains strong parent satisfaction ratings for its nurturing environment and academic rigor.
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The White Mountain School
Independent School
The White Mountain School is an elite independent college preparatory school located approximately 45 miles from Errol in Bethlehem. This prestigious boarding and day school serves students from throughout New England and internationally, with many local students from the North Country region. The school offers a rigorous academic program with 16 Advanced Placement courses, distinctive outdoor education components, and strong emphasis on environmental science and sustainability. Facilities include modern academic buildings, science laboratories, art studios, athletic facilities, and extensive outdoor spaces. The school maintains small class sizes with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio and has an excellent college acceptance record. Parent and student reviews consistently highlight the exceptional faculty mentorship and unique educational approach.
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White Mountains Regional High School
White Mountains Regional School District
While technically part of a public school district, White Mountains Regional High School serves multiple towns in the North Country region and offers comprehensive educational programs that attract students from surrounding areas including Errol. Located approximately 35 miles from Errol, the school provides robust college preparatory curriculum with multiple Advanced Placement courses, extensive career technical education programs, and strong arts and athletics departments. The school features modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. Parent reviews consistently praise the dedicated teaching staff and diverse extracurricular opportunities available to students.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Errol, New Hampshire
What are the realistic private school options for a family living in Errol, New Hampshire, given the remote location?
Due to Errol's remote location in the Great North Woods region, there are no private schools physically located within the town itself. Families typically look at schools in nearby towns or boarding options. The most accessible local private option is St. Patrick School, a Catholic K-8 school in nearby Berlin, NH, about a 45-minute drive. For high school, The White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH (approximately a 1-hour and 15-minute drive) is a notable independent college-preparatory boarding and day school that attracts students from the region, including Errol. White Mountains Regional High School is actually a public high school, not a private one. Many Errol families also consider boarding schools further afield in New Hampshire or Maine.
How does the tuition for private schools near Errol, NH, compare to the state average, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition for private day schools in the North Country region of New Hampshire can be below the state's urban average but is significant relative to local incomes. For example, St. Patrick School's tuition is typically several thousand dollars per year. The White Mountain School, as a boarding school, has a higher comprehensive tuition comparable to other New England boarding schools. New Hampshire offers the "Education Tax Credit" program, which provides scholarships for students to attend private schools. Eligible families can apply for these scholarships, which are funded by business donations, to help offset tuition costs. It's crucial to inquire directly with each school about their financial aid, scholarships, and your eligibility for state programs.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools serving the Errol area offer that leverage the local environment?
Schools in this region often integrate the unique North Woods and White Mountains environment into their curricula. The White Mountain School is particularly notable for its "Field Course" program, where academic learning is directly connected to the natural world through expeditions in ecology, sustainability, and outdoor leadership. This is a major draw for families in outdoor-oriented communities like Errol. While St. Patrick School offers a standard private curriculum with a Catholic foundation, its location also allows for local environmental and community studies. These programs provide hands-on learning that is deeply connected to the rural and mountainous character of Coos County.
What is the enrollment timeline and process like for private schools accessible from Errol, and how do transportation logistics work?
Enrollment timelines vary. For a day school like St. Patrick School, the process often begins in the prior winter/spring for fall admission, but rolling admission may be possible. For a boarding school like The White Mountain School, applications are typically due in January or February for the following fall. The most critical consideration for Errol families is transportation. There are no public school buses for private schools. Attending a day school requires a substantial daily commute by family vehicle. For boarding schools, the distance makes weekly commuting impractical, so most students board full-time, returning home for holidays and breaks. This logistics factor is a primary decision point for North Country families.
For a family in Errol, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Errol Consolidated School) and a private school option?
The key considerations are educational philosophy, logistics, and cost. Errol Consolidated School is a tiny, K-8 public school that offers a close-knit community environment but may have limited advanced coursework or extracurricular offerings. After 8th grade, Errol students are tuitioned to a designated public high school (like Gorham High School). Private options offer different curricula (e.g., religious education at St. Patrick or experiential college-prep at The White Mountain School) and potentially smaller class sizes. The decision heavily weighs the desire for a specific educational approach against the reality of a long daily commute or boarding separation, plus the significant financial investment of private tuition versus free public education.
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