The Best Private Schools in Broadway, Ohio
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Broadway. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Francis de Sales School
Catholic Diocese of Columbus
St. Francis de Sales School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Broadway area and surrounding Licking County. The school offers comprehensive education from preschool through 8th grade with a strong emphasis on faith-based learning combined with rigorous academics. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, and athletic facilities. The school is known for its dedicated faculty, strong community involvement, and excellent student-teacher ratios that ensure personalized attention.
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The Graham School
Graham Family of Schools
The Graham School is an acclaimed independent school serving students from Broadway and throughout central Ohio. Known for its innovative expeditionary learning approach, the school emphasizes hands-on, project-based education that prepares students for college and beyond. The campus features modern learning spaces, technology labs, and collaborative environments. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, the school consistently achieves high college acceptance rates and strong academic outcomes.
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St. Leonard School
Catholic Diocese of Columbus
St. Leonard School is a well-established Catholic private school conveniently located to serve the Broadway community. The school provides comprehensive education from preschool through 8th grade with a balanced curriculum that includes strong academic foundations, religious education, and diverse extracurricular activities. The campus features updated facilities including technology-enhanced classrooms, library resources, and athletic fields. The school is particularly noted for its strong parent community and commitment to developing well-rounded students.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Broadway, Ohio
What are the primary private school options available for families in Broadway, Ohio, and what are their educational approaches?
Broadway, Ohio, and its surrounding Madison County area are served by a few key private institutions, each with distinct characteristics. St. Francis de Sales School in Newark (a common choice for Broadway residents) is a Catholic, parish-based school offering a faith-based education from preschool through 8th grade. The Graham School, located in Columbus but accessible to families in the region, is an independent, project-based high school focusing on experiential learning. St. Leonard School, a Catholic school in nearby Heath, serves students in preschool through 8th grade. For Broadway families, these schools often involve a commute, as most private options are in neighboring communities. Exploring each school's mission—parochial versus independent—is a crucial first step.
How does tuition for private schools near Broadway, Ohio, typically compare to state averages, and what financial aid options exist?
Tuition for private schools in the Central Ohio region surrounding Broadway is generally below the national private school average but varies significantly by institution and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, area Catholic elementary schools like St. Francis de Sales or St. Leonard often have tuition ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 per year for parishioners, with higher rates for non-parishioners. The Graham School, as an independent high school, has a higher tuition, typically aligning more closely with independent school norms. Ohio offers the EdChoice Scholarship Program, a vital financial resource for eligible families, which can significantly offset costs based on income or the assigned public school's performance rating. Additionally, most schools offer parish subsidies, need-based aid, and multi-child discounts.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools serving Broadway, Ohio, offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
Private schools in the Broadway area provide specialized programs that cater to diverse learning philosophies. The Graham School is renowned for its immersive, project-based curriculum where students engage in long-term, real-world projects, a stark contrast to traditional public school models. The Catholic schools (St. Francis de Sales and St. Leonard) integrate religious education and character formation throughout the day and often maintain smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized attention. Many also offer strong foundational programs in STEM and the arts. A key differentiator for Broadway-area families is the ability to choose an environment aligned with specific values or pedagogical approaches, such as faith-based learning or student-driven inquiry, which may not be as pronounced in the local public school district.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools near Broadway, Ohio, and when should parents start planning?
The enrollment process for private schools serving Broadway families typically begins in the winter for the following academic year. For Catholic schools like St. Francis de Sales or St. Leonard, open houses and registration often occur between January and March, with priority given to parish members and siblings of current students. The Graham School, as an independent high school, may have a more structured application process including essays, interviews, and shadow days, with deadlines in early spring. Parents should start researching and visiting schools in the fall, a full year before desired enrollment. It's critical to contact the school directly, as some may have waiting lists for certain grades. For families relying on Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship, understanding the application window (usually opening in February) is equally important.
For a family living in Broadway, Ohio, what are the key considerations when comparing the local public school district (Madison-Plains) to nearby private school options?
The primary comparison for Broadway residents is between the Madison-Plains Local School District and the private schools in neighboring communities. Key considerations include: **Educational Approach:** Madison-Plarks offers a comprehensive, traditional public education, while private options provide faith-based (Catholic) or progressive (project-based) models. **Class Size:** Private schools often boast significantly smaller student-to-teacher ratios. **Cost:** Public school is tax-funded and free, whereas private school requires tuition, though scholarships can help. **Community & Convenience:** Madison-Plains schools are centrally located within the community, while private options require commuting to Newark, Heath, or Columbus, impacting daily logistics and extracurricular participation. **Special Services:** Public schools are mandated to provide a wider array of special education and intervention services. The decision often hinges on the value a family places on specific religious, pedagogical, or community environments versus the convenience and broad resources of the local public system.
Private Education Insights
Finding the Right Private Special Education School in Broadway, Ohio: A Parent's Guide
If you're a parent in Broadway, Ohio, searching for "private special education schools near me," you are navigating a journey that requires both heart and careful research. Finding the right educational environment for a child with unique learning needs is a deeply personal quest, and in our close-knit community, the options can feel both intimate and limited. While Broadway itself is home to several excellent private institutions, understanding the landscape for specialized support is the first crucial step. It's important to recognize that many traditional private schools in the area, such as St. Francis de Sales School, St. Leonard School, and The Graham School, each have their own mission and capacity for supporting diverse learners. Your search will likely involve looking at their specific student support services and, very often, expanding your view to include specialized schools within a reasonable commute from our Madison County area.
The phrase "private special education schools near me" often leads parents to consider schools that are specifically designed with therapeutic and individualized academic frameworks. While Broadway offers wonderful community-focused education, for more intensive needs, families frequently look toward the broader Columbus metropolitan region, which is accessible from our location. This might include schools specializing in autism spectrum disorders, language-based learning differences, or social-emotional challenges. The key is to match your child's specific Individualized Education Program (IEP) or learning plan with a school’s expertise. When evaluating any school, whether local or a short drive away, ask detailed questions about student-to-teacher ratios, the credentials of their intervention specialists, and their approach to integrating therapy with academics. A visit is indispensable; you'll want to feel the school's culture and see if it’s a place where your child can thrive with confidence.
For Broadway parents, this search also involves practical local considerations. Think about transportation logistics for a school that might be in Columbus, Dublin, or Westerville. Many specialized private schools offer transportation zones or have families carpool. Additionally, connecting with other local parents can be invaluable. Reach out to networks within our Broadway community or through your child’s current therapists; personal recommendations in a smaller area like ours are gold. Don't overlook the possibility that your local private school might be able to create a supportive environment with outside resources. Some families successfully partner with a Broadway-area school while supplementing with private tutors or occupational therapy in nearby Plain City or London. Your search for "private special education schools near me" is ultimately about building a team and a plan that centers your child. It’s about finding not just a school, but a supportive community that extends from the classroom right back to our hometown. Remember, you are your child's best advocate, and taking the time to explore all options—both the gems within Broadway and the specialized resources in the wider region—will lead you to the best possible decision for your family’s unique journey.