The Best Private Schools in Westbrookville, New York
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Westbrookville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Family School
Independent
The Family School is a highly-rated Montessori school serving families throughout Ulster County and the surrounding region, including Westbrookville. This independent school offers authentic Montessori education for children ages 3-12, emphasizing individualized learning, hands-on experiences, and community engagement. The school features beautiful campus facilities with outdoor classrooms, gardens, and nature trails that support their comprehensive outdoor education program. With exceptionally high parent satisfaction ratings, The Family School is known for its nurturing environment, experienced teachers, and commitment to developing independent, confident learners.
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John S. Burke Catholic High School
Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New York
John S. Burke Catholic High School is a highly-regarded Catholic college preparatory school serving students from Orange County and surrounding areas including Westbrookville. The school offers a rigorous academic program with 16 Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM education, and competitive athletic programs. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, Burke Catholic emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence. The school features modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, and athletic complexes, serving students in grades 9-12 with a focus on college readiness and spiritual formation.
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Chapel Field Christian School
Chapel Field Presbyterian Church
Chapel Field Christian School is a respected private Christian school serving students from Orange County and surrounding communities including Westbrookville. The school offers comprehensive education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with a strong college preparatory focus integrated with Christian values. Chapel Field features competitive athletic programs, particularly known for their successful basketball and soccer teams, along with robust fine arts and STEM programs. The campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, athletic facilities, and technology resources, providing a well-rounded education in a supportive Christian environment with small class sizes and dedicated faculty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Westbrookville, New York
What are the primary private school options available for families in Westbrookville, New York, and what are their core educational philosophies?
Westbrookville, located in Orange County, NY, offers a few distinct private school options, each with a different focus. John S. Burke Catholic High School in nearby Goshen is a co-educational, college-preparatory Catholic high school serving grades 9-12, emphasizing faith-based education and a rigorous academic curriculum. The Family School, affiliated with the Hasidic Jewish community, provides a private, religious education. Chapel Field Christian School in Pine Bush (serving the wider area including Westbrookville) offers a Protestant Christian, college-preparatory education for grades K-12. It's important to note that Westbrookville itself is a small hamlet, so these schools are located in the surrounding towns, representing the primary private options accessible to local families.
How does tuition for private schools in the Westbrookville, NY area compare, and are there New York State-specific financial aid programs available?
Tuition in the Westbrookville area varies significantly by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, John S. Burke Catholic High School tuition is approximately $9,500-$10,500 for parishioners and higher for non-parishioners. Chapel Field Christian School tuition ranges from around $6,500 for elementary to over $10,000 for high school. The Family School's tuition is set within its community. Critically for New York residents, the state's **Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)** is for college only, but families should investigate New York's **Child and Dependent Care Credit** and the **Educational Investment Tax Credit**, which can provide tax relief for tuition payments. Additionally, all these schools typically offer their own need-based financial aid and payment plans.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools serving Westbrookville, NY, that differentiate them from local public schools?
The private schools accessible to Westbrookville families often provide specialized programs not always available in smaller public school districts. John S. Burke Catholic emphasizes its STEM programs, theology curriculum, and a wide range of competitive sports in the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA). Chapel Field Christian School is known for its strong arts programs, competitive athletics, and distinctive outdoor education and environmental science opportunities, leveraging its rural campus setting. These schools often have smaller class sizes, which can allow for more individualized attention and unique electives, such as specific faith-based courses or specialized Advanced Placement (AP) tracks, that might be limited by resource constraints in the local public schools.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private high schools like John S. Burke Catholic or Chapel Field Christian for a student from Westbrookville?
The enrollment process for these schools usually begins a full year in advance. For fall admission, open houses and shadow days (where a prospective student spends a day at the school) are typically held in the prior October through January. Application deadlines are often in early winter (January/February), with acceptance notifications sent by March. Key steps include submitting an application, academic records, standardized test scores (like the HSPT for Burke Catholic), teacher recommendations, and often a family interview. As Westbrookville students would be coming from outside these schools' immediate towns, applying early is crucial, especially for competitive grades. It's recommended to contact the admissions office directly in the fall of your child's 7th or 8th grade year for high school placement.
For a family in Westbrookville considering the choice, what are the practical and logistical factors when comparing private schools to the local Tri-Valley Central School District?
The decision involves several location-specific factors. **Transportation:** New York State law mandates that local public school districts provide transportation to private schools within a 15-mile radius. The Tri-Valley Central School District is required to provide busing to schools like Burke Catholic and Chapel Field, which is a significant logistical and financial benefit. **Cost:** This is the most direct comparison, weighing annual private tuition against the tax-supported public system. **Community & Environment:** Westbrookville is part of a close-knit, rural community. Tri-Valley schools offer a comprehensive public education with local peers, while the private options offer religious education and potentially a wider geographic peer group drawn from multiple towns. **Academic Offerings:** Parents should compare specific program strengths, such as Tri-Valley's vocational (BOCES) access or arts programs, against the private schools' college-prep focus and religious components.
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