The Best Private Schools in Old Forge, New York
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Old Forge. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Town of Webb School
Town of Webb Union Free School District
The Town of Webb School is a unique public/private school serving the Old Forge community with exceptional academic programs. As a Union Free School District, it functions similarly to a private school for the remote Adirondack community. The school offers comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses, robust STEM programs, and extensive arts education. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, students receive personalized attention. The school features modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, and athletic facilities. Extracurricular programs include outdoor education taking advantage of the Adirondack setting, competitive sports, and community service opportunities.
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The Gow School
Independent Boarding School
The Gow School is a nationally recognized independent boarding school specializing in educating students with language-based learning differences, located approximately 3 hours from Old Forge but serving students from throughout New York. The school offers a structured, supportive college preparatory program specifically designed for bright students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. Gow's unique Reconstructive Language methodology helps students develop crucial reading, writing, and study skills. The school features comprehensive athletic facilities, arts programs, and technology-integrated classrooms. With a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students receive individualized attention and support. The school has an excellent college placement record and strong alumni network.
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Northwood School
Independent Boarding School
Northwood School is a prestigious independent boarding and day school located in Lake Placid, approximately 45 minutes from Old Forge. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with strong emphasis on character development and leadership. Northwood is renowned for its hockey program that has produced numerous professional and Olympic athletes. The academic program includes Advanced Placement courses, small seminar-style classes, and personalized college counseling. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including modern classrooms, science laboratories, athletic complexes, and arts studios. The school's Adirondack location provides unique outdoor education and environmental science opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Old Forge, New York
What are the specific private school options available for families residing in or near Old Forge, New York?
Old Forge, located in the Adirondack region, has a unique educational landscape. The primary local option is The Town of Webb School, a historic Pre-K through 12th grade institution that serves as the public school district but also accepts tuition-paying students from outside the district, functioning as a de facto private option. For more specialized private boarding schools, families commonly look to nearby Lake Placid for Northwood School (a college-prep boarding school) and to South Wales (near Buffalo) for The Gow School, which specializes in educating students with dyslexia and similar learning differences. The private school scene in Old Forge itself is limited, so families often consider these regional boarding schools or the unique "tuition-in" model at Town of Webb.
How does the "tuition-in" model at The Town of Webb School in Old Forge work, and what are the costs for non-resident families?
The Town of Webb Union Free School District operates a "tuition-in" program, allowing students from outside the district to enroll by paying tuition. This is a distinctive feature in the Old Forge area. For the 2024-2025 school year, tuition rates are set by the school board and are typically around $12,000 - $16,000 for K-12 students, which is significantly lower than traditional private boarding schools. This model provides a small, community-oriented, public-school education in a private-school style setting due to its size and location. Families must apply directly to the district superintendent's office, and acceptance is based on space availability and a review of the student's records.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do schools in the Old Forge, NY area offer that leverage the Adirondack environment?
Schools in and serving the Old Forge area heavily integrate the Adirondack wilderness into their programs. The Town of Webb School emphasizes environmental science, forestry, and outdoor education, with direct access to trails and waterways. Northwood School, while in Lake Placid, attracts many Old Forge-area students for its elite "Northwood School Hockey Program" and its "Adirondack Leadership Semester," which combines academics with wilderness expeditions. This regional focus means private education here often includes unparalleled access to outdoor leadership, environmental studies, and winter sports training, making it ideal for students passionate about nature, sustainability, or competitive skiing and hockey.
What is the enrollment timeline and process for regional private boarding schools like Northwood School that serve Old Forge, NY families?
For boarding schools like Northwood School or The Gow School, which are common choices for Old Forge families seeking a traditional private education, the process is national and competitive. Key deadlines are typically in January or February for the following fall semester. The process involves submitting an application (SAO or Gateway), standardized test scores (SSAT/ISEE), teacher recommendations, transcripts, and often a campus interview. Due to Old Forge's remote location, interviews may be conducted via Zoom. Financial aid applications (like SSS) are due concurrently. It's crucial for local families to start this process 12-18 months in advance, as spaces, especially in specialized programs, are limited.
For a family in Old Forge, what are the major practical considerations when choosing between the local Town of Webb School (tuition-in) and a private boarding school further away?
The decision hinges on several location-specific factors. Choosing the local Town of Webb School means your child remains at home, benefits from a very low student-teacher ratio in a familiar community, and pays a fraction of boarding school tuition. However, academic and extracurricular offerings, while solid, are more limited than at a specialized boarding institution. Opting for a boarding school like Northwood or Gow offers specialized academics, elite sports programs, and a diverse, global peer group, but at a cost of $70,000+ per year and being away from home. For Old Forge families, travel logistics to distant schools (a 5+ hour drive to The Gow School) and the value placed on the tight-knit, outdoor-focused local community versus specialized college-prep are the central considerations.