The Best Private Schools in Toronto, Ohio
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Toronto. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Catholic Central High School
Diocese of Steubenville
Catholic Central High School is a top-tier private Catholic high school located in nearby Steubenville, serving students from Toronto and the surrounding region. Established in 1950, it is renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum, which includes Advanced Placement courses and a strong emphasis on college readiness. The school boasts excellent facilities, such as science labs, a performing arts center, and athletic fields, and offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including competitive sports, clubs, and service projects. With high teacher quality and a track record of high graduation and college acceptance rates, parent reviews highlight its supportive environment and commitment to student development.
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St. Francis Central Catholic School
Diocese of Steubenville
St. Francis Central Catholic School is a highly-regarded private Catholic institution serving the Toronto area with a strong commitment to academic excellence and spiritual development. Founded in 1954, it offers a comprehensive K-8 education with a focus on small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and a supportive community environment. The school features modern facilities, including technology-enhanced classrooms, a library, and gymnasium, and provides robust extracurricular programs such as sports, music, and community service. Parents consistently praise the school for its safe, nurturing atmosphere and high parent satisfaction rates, with many students achieving academic success and transitioning well to high school.
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Holy Name School
Diocese of Steubenville
Holy Name School is a well-established private Catholic school in Steubenville that serves families in the Toronto area, offering education from preschool through 8th grade. Founded in 1955, it combines academic rigor with faith-based values, featuring dedicated educators, updated classrooms, and resources like computer labs and a playground. The school emphasizes holistic development through programs in arts, sports, and community engagement, and is praised for its strong parent-teacher collaboration and high satisfaction ratings. Its longevity and consistent performance make it a trusted choice for families seeking a quality private education in the region.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Toronto, Ohio
What are the primary private school options available for K-12 education in Toronto, Ohio?
In Toronto, Ohio, private education is primarily offered through Catholic institutions. The main options include St. Francis Central Catholic School (pre-K through 8th grade), Holy Name School (also pre-K through 8th grade), and Catholic Central High School (9th through 12th grade). These schools form a natural educational pathway for families seeking a faith-based education in the Toronto area. There are no large independent secular private schools within the city itself, so families looking for non-religious private education typically need to consider schools in nearby Steubenville or other parts of the Ohio Valley.
How does tuition at Toronto, Ohio's private Catholic schools compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition at Toronto's Catholic schools is generally below the state average for private schools in Ohio, reflecting the area's cost of living. For the 2024-2025 school year, elementary tuition at St. Francis or Holy Name is approximately $4,000-$5,000 per child, with discounts for parish members and multiple children. Catholic Central High School tuition is roughly $7,000-$8,000. All schools offer need-based financial aid, and Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship Program is a critical resource. Many Toronto families qualify for EdChoice Expansion (income-based) or Traditional EdChoice (based on resident public school district performance), which can significantly offset costs. School-specific parish subsidies and payment plans are also common.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Toronto, Ohio's private schools offer that leverage the local community?
Toronto's private schools integrate the community's strong sense of history and local identity. Catholic Central High School, for instance, offers robust STEM programs with partnerships at nearby Eastern Gateway Community College and connections to local industries like healthcare and energy. Given Toronto's location on the Ohio River, environmental science programs often include local river ecology studies. Extracurricularly, athletics are a major point of pride, with fierce yet community-oriented rivalries in sports like football and basketball against other small Ohio Valley schools. Service learning is deeply embedded, with students regularly engaging in projects supporting local Toronto charities, veterans' organizations, and community events.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for families new to Toronto, Ohio looking to secure a spot in a private school?
The enrollment process for Toronto's private schools begins in earnest each January for the following academic year. For St. Francis and Holy Name elementary schools, priority is typically given to active parish families and siblings of current students, so new families should contact the school office and schedule a tour as early as possible. Application deadlines are usually in March. For Catholic Central High School, 8th-grade students from feeder schools undergo a placement exam, often in January, and open houses for prospective families are held in the fall. A key local consideration is that spaces can be limited due to the small size of the schools, so early inquiry is strongly advised. Documentation of sacraments (for Catholic families) and previous academic records are required.
For a family deciding between Toronto City Schools (public) and the local private Catholic schools, what are the key differentiating factors specific to this community?
The decision in Toronto often centers on class size, religious education, and a specific community environment. Toronto City Schools offer a well-regarded public education with newer facilities. The private Catholic schools provide much smaller class sizes (often 15-20 students) and a consistent, values-based environment from pre-K through 12th grade. A major practical differentiator is Ohio's EdChoice scholarships, which make private school financially accessible for many Toronto families who wouldn't otherwise consider it. Furthermore, the private schools offer a continuous, tight-knit community for students who may otherwise transition between the separate Toronto Elementary, Middle, and High School buildings. The private school athletic programs, while smaller, often have a high participation rate and are a central community hub.
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