The Best Private Schools in Marlboro, New York
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Marlboro. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Oakwood Friends School
Independent Quaker School
Oakwood Friends School is one of the oldest co-educational college preparatory schools in the nation, serving students in grades 6-12. Located just 15 minutes from Marlboro, this Quaker school emphasizes academic excellence, community values, and individualized attention with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The school offers a rigorous academic program with Advanced Placement courses, extensive arts programs, competitive athletics, and a diverse international student community. The 63-acre campus features modern facilities including science labs, art studios, performance spaces, and athletic fields.
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The Kildonan School
Independent Specialized School
The Kildonan School specializes in educating students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences while maintaining high academic standards. Located approximately 30 minutes from Marlboro, the school serves day and boarding students in grades 2-12. Kildonan's unique approach includes one-on-one Orton-Gillingham tutoring daily, small class sizes, and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. The 450-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including specialized learning centers, science labs, art studios, and extensive athletic facilities.
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The Storm King School
Independent College Preparatory School
The Storm King School is a co-educational college preparatory school serving grades 8-12, located approximately 20 minutes from Marlboro. The school offers a rigorous academic program with small class sizes, Advanced Placement courses, and comprehensive college counseling. The 55-acre campus overlooking the Hudson River features modern academic buildings, science laboratories, art studios, athletic facilities, and dormitories for boarding students. The school emphasizes character development, leadership, and personalized education with a diverse student body representing multiple countries and states.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Marlboro, New York
What are the primary types of private schools available in and near Marlboro, NY, and how do they differ?
Marlboro, NY, and its immediate Hudson Valley region are known for a mix of prestigious private day and boarding schools. The top schools, like Oakwood Friends School (Poughkeepsie), The Kildonan School (Amenia), and The Storm King School (Cornwall-on-Hudson), offer distinct educational models. Oakwood is a Quaker-affiliated, college-preparatory school emphasizing community and consensus. The Kildonan School specializes exclusively in educating students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, using an Orton-Gillingham approach. The Storm King School is a college-prep boarding school with a strong focus on visual and performing arts and outdoor education. This variety means parents in Marlboro can seek highly specialized environments tailored to their child's academic and social needs.
How does the tuition for private schools in the Marlboro, NY, area compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for private day schools in the Marlboro area typically ranges from approximately $30,000 to $50,000 per year, with boarding schools costing more. These figures are generally at or above the New York State average for private schools, reflecting the region's high cost of living and the specialized programs offered. Importantly, most schools, including Oakwood Friends, Kildonan, and Storm King, have robust financial aid programs based on demonstrated need. New York State also offers programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for post-secondary education, but for K-12, parents should directly apply for aid through the school's financial aid office, often using the Clarity Application. Many families in the Hudson Valley utilize these need-based grants to make private education accessible.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools in the Marlboro, NY, region that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in the Marlboro area uniquely integrate the rich natural and cultural resources of the Hudson Valley into their curricula. The Storm King School, for example, uses its location on the mountain for its renowned Outdoor Leadership program, which includes hiking, climbing, and environmental science. Oakwood Friends School emphasizes sustainability and Quaker values through its farm-to-table program and community service partnerships in Poughkeepsie. The Kildonan School, while focused on dyslexia, also provides a traditional prep curriculum with arts and athletics. Furthermore, proximity to historic sites, world-class museums like Dia:Beacon, and the Hudson River itself provides unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning and field studies not commonly found in more urban settings.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Marlboro, NY, families, and when should we start?
The enrollment process for competitive private schools in the Hudson Valley region is similar to national independent school timelines and requires early planning. The process typically begins 12-18 months before the desired entry date. Key steps include: attending open houses (often in the fall), submitting applications by January or February deadlines, completing student visits and interviews (fall/winter), and receiving decisions in March. For schools like Kildonan, which specializes in learning differences, a comprehensive educational evaluation is a required part of the application. Given that these schools draw from a wide regional, national, and international pool, Marlboro-based families are advised to start research and tours in the spring or summer prior to the application year to ensure they meet all requirements and deadlines.
For a family living in the Marlboro Central School District, what are the key considerations when comparing local public schools to nearby private options?
Marlboro Central School District is well-regarded, so the decision often hinges on specific student needs and educational philosophy. Key considerations include: **Specialization:** Does your child require a specialized program, like the dyslexia-focused curriculum at Kildonan, that the public district may not provide as intensively? **Class Size:** Private schools in the area often have significantly smaller class sizes (e.g., 8-12 students) allowing for more individualized attention. **Boarding vs. Day:** Private boarding options offer a 24/7 immersive environment, which may be preferable for some families seeking independence or a global peer group. **Educational Approach:** Private schools like Oakwood offer a values-based (Quaker) education focused on peace and community, which differs from a standard public school curriculum. The trade-off, of course, is cost, as Marlboro residents already fund public schools through property taxes.
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