The Best Private Schools in Roselle, New Jersey
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Roselle. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Kent Place School
Independent
Kent Place School is a highly regarded independent all-girls school serving the Roselle area from nearby Summit. Founded in 1894, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with exceptional STEM programs, comprehensive arts education, and competitive athletics. The 26-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science laboratories, performing arts centers, and athletic complexes. Kent Place is known for its strong academic reputation, with graduates consistently attending top-tier universities. The school emphasizes leadership development and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities.
Programs:
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
Independent Catholic
Oak Knoll School is a prestigious independent Catholic school serving students from Roselle and surrounding communities. The school offers coeducational elementary programs and all-girls middle and high school education. With a strong college preparatory curriculum rooted in Holy Child educational philosophy, Oak Knoll provides rigorous academics combined with character development. The campus features modern classrooms, science labs, art studios, and athletic facilities. The school is particularly noted for its strong community atmosphere, individualized attention, and comprehensive college counseling program that prepares students for top universities.
Programs:
The Wardlaw+Hartridge School
Independent
The Wardlaw+Hartridge School is an esteemed independent school located in nearby Edison that serves families from Roselle and the broader Central New Jersey region. As an International Baccalaureate World School, it offers both the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement courses. The 36-acre campus features modern academic buildings, science and technology labs, athletic fields, and arts facilities. The school emphasizes global education and character development while maintaining small class sizes for personalized learning. Wardlaw+Hartridge has a strong track record of college placements and offers extensive extracurricular programs including competitive athletics, robotics, and performing arts.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Roselle, New Jersey
What are the primary private school options for families living in Roselle, NJ, and are they located within the borough?
While Roselle itself has a limited number of standalone private schools, families in Roselle have exceptional access to some of New Jersey's top-rated independent and parochial schools in neighboring towns. The most prominent include Kent Place School (all-girls, K-12) in Summit, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child (co-ed K-6, all-girls 7-12) in Summit, and The Wardlaw+Hartridge School (co-ed, PreK-12) in Edison. Roselle's location in Union County, with major highways like the Garden State Parkway nearby, makes these schools a feasible commute. Within Roselle, options are primarily faith-based, such as St. Joseph the Carpenter School (PreK-8, Catholic).
How does tuition for top private schools near Roselle, NJ, compare to state averages, and what financial aid is typically available?
Tuition for the premier day schools near Roselle is above the New Jersey private school average. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect upper school tuition at Kent Place, Oak Knoll, and Wardlaw+Hartridge to range from approximately $45,000 to $55,000. New Jersey's average private high school tuition is roughly $25,000, highlighting the premium for these highly selective institutions. Crucially, all these schools offer robust need-based financial aid programs. It is essential to apply for aid simultaneously with admission, as they have substantial endowments dedicated to making attendance possible for qualified students from Roselle and surrounding communities.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do the leading private schools near Roselle, NJ, offer that differentiate them?
Schools in this region emphasize global perspectives and STEM. The Wardlaw+Hartridge School features a renowned Global Scholars program and a dedicated STEM Center. Kent Place School has a nationally recognized Ethics Institute and a strong focus on women's leadership in science and technology. Oak Knoll integrates its Holy Child educational philosophy with innovative makerspaces and extensive service-learning projects. For Roselle families, these programs offer specialized opportunities that may not be available in standard curricula, including advanced research facilities, competitive robotics teams, and extensive language offerings, all within a 20-30 minute drive.
What is the enrollment timeline and process like for competitive private schools near Roselle, NJ, and when should we start?
The process for schools like Kent Place, Oak Knoll, and Wardlaw+Hartridge is highly structured and begins over a year in advance. Families in Roselle should start researching in the spring before the desired enrollment year (e.g., Spring 2024 for Fall 2025). Key steps include: attending open houses (typically September-November), submitting applications by early January (with standardized testing for some grades), and completing student visits/interviews by February. Admission decisions are released in March. It's critical to plan for this timeline, as spaces, especially in entry grades (Pre-K, K, 6, and 9), are limited and competitive.
For a Roselle, NJ resident, what are the key considerations when comparing the local public school district to nearby private options?
The key considerations involve academic environment, resources, and community. Roselle Public Schools serve a diverse population but face budgetary constraints common in New Jersey's smaller boroughs. Opting for a private school in Summit or Edison often means smaller class sizes, more individualized attention, and significantly greater per-pupil spending on facilities and faculty. The trade-off is the high tuition cost and commute. Parents must weigh the value of the specific programs (like those mentioned above) against the no-cost, community-based education of Roselle's public schools, which may require more proactive advocacy for advanced or specialized tracks for their child.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities