The Best Private Schools in Forbes, North Dakota
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Forbes. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Oak Grove Lutheran School
Independent Lutheran
Oak Grove Lutheran School is a highly-regarded private Christian school serving eastern North Dakota with a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum. The school offers small class sizes, advanced placement courses, and robust STEM programs. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. The school serves students from across the region and provides transportation options for families in surrounding communities.
Programs:
Shanley High School
Fargo Catholic Schools Network
Shanley High School is a premier Catholic college-preparatory school known for academic excellence and strong community values. The school offers a rigorous curriculum with numerous AP courses, championship athletic programs, and comprehensive fine arts offerings. With a focus on character development and service learning, Shanley serves families throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and surrounding regions, including families from eastern North Dakota communities.
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Sacred Heart School
Independent Catholic
Sacred Heart School provides a comprehensive Catholic education from preschool through high school, serving families in the Red River Valley region including eastern North Dakota. The school features modern technology integration, strong academic foundations, and character development programs. Located just across the border in Minnesota, Sacred Heart serves as a regional private school option with transportation available for students from nearby North Dakota communities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Forbes, North Dakota
What are the realistic private school options for families living in Forbes, North Dakota, given its small size?
While Forbes itself is a very small community, families typically look to nearby Fargo, approximately 25 miles away, for private school options. The schools you mentioned—Oak Grove Lutheran School (grades 6-12), Shanley High School (9-12), and Sacred Heart School (K-8)—are all located in Fargo. For Forbes residents, this means commuting is a necessary part of the private school choice. Some families form carpools. It's important to contact these schools directly to confirm they accept students from outside the Fargo Public Schools district boundaries and to understand any transportation services or considerations.
How does North Dakota's unique tax climate and the lack of a state income tax impact financing private school tuition for Forbes families?
North Dakota's lack of a state income tax can free up family income, potentially making private school tuition more manageable. However, it's crucial to note that North Dakota does not currently have a private school voucher or tax-credit scholarship program. This means Forbes families cannot use state funds to offset tuition costs directly. Financial aid is primarily offered through the individual schools' need-based programs and occasional diocesan assistance for Catholic schools. When budgeting, Forbes parents should factor in both tuition and the recurring cost of commuting to Fargo.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs do the Fargo-area private schools offer that might justify the commute from Forbes?
The Fargo private schools offer programs that may not be available in smaller public school districts. Oak Grove Lutheran provides a strong college-prep curriculum with distinctive global studies and music programs. Shanley High School, as a Catholic institution, emphasizes a faith-based education alongside competitive athletics and advanced placement courses. Sacred Heart School offers a continuous K-8 education in a faith-based environment. For Forbes families, the draw is often these specialized environments—rigorous college prep, specific religious education, or particular arts/athletics—that provide a different scale of opportunity compared to very small rural public schools.
What is the enrollment timeline and process like for a Forbes family applying to a Fargo private school, and are there geographic priorities?
The enrollment process for Forbes residents requires proactive planning. Fargo-area private schools like Oak Grove, Shanley, and Sacred Heart typically open applications in the winter (January-February) for the following fall. Admission is generally first-come, first-served, with priority given to siblings of current students and members of the supporting church parishes (for the religious schools). As a family from outside the primary service area (Forbes), it is essential to apply early. You should directly inquire if the school has a cap on out-of-district enrollments. Most processes involve an application form, records request, student/parent interview, and possibly an entrance exam for higher grades.
Beyond religion, what are the notable characteristics of the private school community and environment that attract families from small towns like Forbes?
Families from Forbes are often attracted to the distinct community and environment of Fargo's private schools, which offer a midpoint between a very small rural school and a large urban public school. These schools typically have smaller class sizes than Fargo's public high schools, fostering close student-teacher relationships. They also cultivate a strong, defined community ethos—whether faith-based or mission-driven—that can provide a consistent social and values-based framework. For students commuting from Forbes, this can create a tight-knit "school family" that is separate from their hometown, offering a broader but still structured peer network and access to a wider array of clubs, sports, and academic resources.
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