The Best Private Schools in Bay Shore, New York
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Bay Shore. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Patrick School
Diocese of Rockville Centre Catholic Schools
St. Patrick School is a highly-regarded Catholic elementary school serving Bay Shore families for over six decades. The school offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education with strong emphasis on faith-based values and academic excellence. Their curriculum includes advanced STEM programs, integrated arts education, and technology integration across all grade levels. The school maintains small class sizes with dedicated certified teachers and features modern facilities including science labs, computer labs, and extensive athletic programs. Parent satisfaction is exceptionally high with families appreciating the strong community atmosphere and rigorous academic preparation for high school.
Programs:
Our Lady of Mercy Academy
Catholic High School
Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a highly-regarded all-girls Catholic high school serving students from Bay Shore and throughout Long Island. The school offers an exceptional college preparatory program with 100% of graduates accepted to four-year colleges. Their curriculum includes extensive Advanced Placement offerings, a specialized STEM Academy, and comprehensive arts programs. The 30-acre campus features modern science and technology labs, performing arts centers, and athletic facilities. OLMA emphasizes leadership development, community service, and academic excellence within a supportive all-girls environment. The school provides transportation services for Bay Shore area students and maintains a strong reputation for preparing young women for college success and leadership roles.
Programs:
The Knox School
Independent Private School
Located just minutes from Bay Shore in St. James, The Knox School is a prestigious independent college preparatory school serving day and boarding students from Pre-K through 12th grade. With over a century of educational excellence, the school offers a rigorous academic program featuring Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM education, and outstanding visual and performing arts programs. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science laboratories, athletic complexes, and dedicated arts spaces. Knox emphasizes personalized learning with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio and provides extensive college counseling with graduates consistently accepted to top-tier universities. The school serves many Bay Shore families seeking a challenging academic environment.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Bay Shore, New York
What are the primary types of private schools available in Bay Shore, NY, and how do they differ?
Bay Shore, NY, offers a few distinct types of private schools. You'll find parochial schools like St. Patrick School (Catholic, Pre-K-8) and Our Lady of Mercy Academy (all-girls, Catholic, 9-12), which integrate faith-based education with academics. There is also an independent college-preparatory school, The Knox School (co-ed, boarding & day, 6-12), which offers a more secular, rigorous curriculum with boarding options. This mix allows parents to choose between religious education with strong community ties or a traditional independent school experience, all within the Bay Shore area.
How does tuition for Bay Shore, NY private schools compare to the Long Island average, and what financial aid options are typical?
Tuition in Bay Shore varies significantly by school type and grade level. Parochial schools like St. Patrick are generally more affordable, often ranging from $6,000-$10,000 annually for elementary grades, which is below the Long Island private school average. Our Lady of Mercy Academy and The Knox School have higher tuitions, more aligned with the regional average of $20,000-$40,000+ for high school, with Knox's boarding program being a premium option. All these schools typically offer need-based financial aid, and the Catholic schools may have parish subsidy programs. New York State also offers programs like the STEM Incentive Program or scholarships for eligible students, which some families utilize.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Bay Shore private schools offer that leverage the local environment?
Bay Shore's location on the South Shore of Long Island influences its programs. The Knox School, with its campus near the Great South Bay, has historically emphasized marine biology and environmental science, leveraging proximity to the water. Our Lady of Mercy Academy offers strong STEM and leadership programs, including robotics and women-in-science initiatives, reflecting a focus on preparing young women for competitive fields. St. Patrick School incorporates community service projects specific to the Bay Shore area, connecting students to local needs. None of the schools are large, allowing for personalized attention that can tailor projects to local history and ecology.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Bay Shore, NY, and are there waitlists?
The timeline for Bay Shore private schools generally begins in the fall (September-October) for the following academic year. Open houses are held in the fall and winter. Application deadlines for schools like Our Lady of Mercy Academy and The Knox School are often in January or February, with admission decisions released in March. St. Patrick School may have a more rolling admission but encourages early application. Due to the limited number of seats, especially in the popular high schools, waitlists are common. Siblings and parishioners (for Catholic schools) often receive priority. It's crucial to contact schools directly in the early fall to get specific dates and requirements.
For families considering both options, what are the key differences between Bay Shore public schools and the local private schools?
The Bay Shore Union Free School District is a large, diverse public district, while the private options are much smaller. The key differences include class size (private schools often have 15-20 students vs. larger public classes), religious education (offered at St. Patrick and OLMA), and specialized pedagogical approaches (like Knox's college-prep focus). Public schools offer a vast array of extracurriculars and AP courses due to scale, while private schools offer niche programs and more uniform college counseling. For high school, a family might choose Our Lady of Mercy for a single-gender environment or Knox for a boarding option, which the public system does not provide. The decision often hinges on values, desired community size, and specific student needs.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities