The Best Private Schools in South Floral Park, New York
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in South Floral Park. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Chaminade High School
Marianist Province of the United States
Chaminade High School is a premier Catholic college preparatory school for young men, consistently ranked among the top private schools in New York. Located just minutes from South Floral Park in Mineola, the school offers a rigorous academic program with 28 AP courses, extensive STEM facilities, and championship athletic programs. The school emphasizes character development through its Marianist tradition and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate with graduates attending top universities nationwide. The campus features state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic facilities.
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The Kew-Forest School
Independent
The Kew-Forest School is a highly-regarded independent day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. As one of the oldest independent schools in Queens, it offers both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. The school features small class sizes, individualized attention, and a diverse student body. Facilities include modern science laboratories, art studios, athletic spaces, and technology-enhanced classrooms. The school is easily accessible from South Floral Park and has a strong track record of college placements at selective institutions.
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Holy Child Academy
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Holy Child Academy is a Catholic independent school providing education from pre-school through eighth grade, with many graduates continuing to top regional high schools. The school offers a balanced curriculum emphasizing academic excellence, spiritual development, and character formation. Features include advanced STEM programs, comprehensive arts education, competitive athletics, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. The beautiful campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, art studios, and athletic facilities. Located in Old Westbury, the school serves families throughout Nassau County and Queens, including South Floral Park residents.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in South Floral Park, New York
What are the primary private school options available for families residing in South Floral Park, NY, and what are their core educational models?
South Floral Park itself is a small residential hamlet, so families typically look to excellent private schools in the surrounding Nassau County and Queens areas. The most prominent nearby options include Chaminade High School (a Catholic, all-boys college-preparatory school in Mineola), The Kew-Forest School (a secular, co-ed independent Pre-K through 12 school in Forest Hills, Queens), and Holy Child Academy (a Catholic, co-ed elementary school in Old Westbury). These represent the spectrum of religious and independent education accessible from South Floral Park, with each offering distinct philosophies, from single-gender to progressive, co-ed learning environments.
How does tuition for private schools near South Floral Park, NY, compare, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition in the New York metropolitan area is among the highest in the nation. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect a range of approximately $10,000 to $15,000 for elementary programs like Holy Child Academy, and $25,000 to $35,000+ for secondary schools like Chaminade and Kew-Forest. Critically, most established private schools in this region have robust financial aid programs based on demonstrated need. Parents must file applications through systems like the School and Student Service (SSS) and meet early deadlines, often concurrent with admissions applications. New York State also offers programs like the Child Safety Fund (vouchers) for qualifying families, which some area Catholic schools accept.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools accessible from South Floral Park that leverage the New York City area?
Schools in this region often utilize their proximity to New York City as an extended classroom. For example, The Kew-Forest School integrates city resources through its Urban Forest program, with regular trips to museums, cultural institutions, and professional venues. Chaminade High School offers extensive engineering and robotics programs that compete regionally and benefit from partnerships with local universities and firms. Additionally, many schools have strong language immersion programs, advanced STEM labs, and performing arts opportunities that connect students to professional productions and internships in the city, an advantage not as readily available in more remote suburbs.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in the South Floral Park vicinity, and how far in advance should parents plan?
The admissions process for top-tier Nassau and Queens private schools is highly structured and begins well over a year in advance. For entry points like Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 9th grade, the key timeline is: attend open houses in the fall (September-November), submit applications by December or January, complete student assessments/interviews in winter, and receive decisions in March. For schools like Chaminade, which requires the High School Placement Test (HSPT), specific test dates are critical. Parents in South Floral Park should start researching schools and attending tours when their child is two to three years prior to the desired entry year, as waitlists are common.
For a family in South Floral Park considering the choice between the local public school district (Sewanhaka Central High School District/Flower Hill UFSD) and private schools, what are the key differentiating factors?
The decision often hinges on educational philosophy, class size, and specific program offerings. South Floral Park public schools are part of well-regarded districts, but private options offer distinct alternatives. Private schools like Chaminade or Kew-Forest provide much smaller average class sizes (often 15-1 student-teacher ratios vs. 20+ in public), specialized college counseling, and a consistent educational mission (e.g., Catholic values or progressive independence). The trade-off is significant tuition cost versus no-cost public education. Furthermore, private schools offer continuity from elementary through high school in one community (like Kew-Forest), whereas public education involves transitions between different district schools. The daily commute is also a practical factor, as the private options require transportation to Mineola, Forest Hills, or Old Westbury.
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