The Best Private Schools in Durham, Oklahoma
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Durham. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Joseph Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma City
St. Joseph Catholic School is a highly-regarded private institution serving the broader northern Oklahoma region including Durham. As the premier Catholic school in the area, it offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education with strong emphasis on academic excellence, faith formation, and character development. The school features modern facilities, small class sizes, and a rigorous curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, comprehensive fine arts, and competitive athletics. With over six decades of educational excellence, it maintains high parent satisfaction and strong student outcomes, making it a top choice for families throughout Garfield County and surrounding areas.
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Emmanuel Christian School
Independent Christian School
Emmanuel Christian School has served the Enid and surrounding communities including Durham for four decades as a premier K-12 Christian educational institution. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum integrated with biblical worldview education. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, athletic facilities, and performing arts spaces. The school is known for its strong academic performance, dedicated faculty, and extensive extracurricular programs including competitive sports, fine arts, and community service opportunities. With a commitment to developing well-rounded students academically, spiritually, and socially, it maintains excellent parent satisfaction and student achievement records.
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Oklahoma Bible Academy
Mennonite Brethren Church
Oklahoma Bible Academy is a well-established Christian school serving families throughout northern Oklahoma, including the Durham area. With over 75 years of educational excellence, OBA provides a comprehensive Pre-K through 12th grade program emphasizing academic rigor within a Christian environment. The school offers Advanced Placement courses, robust fine arts programs, competitive athletics, and extensive extracurricular activities. Known for its strong community atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and excellent college preparation, OBA maintains high academic standards and strong parent satisfaction. The school's long history and proven track record make it a trusted educational choice for families seeking quality private education in the region.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Durham, Oklahoma
What are the private school options for families living in or near Durham, Oklahoma?
Durham itself is a very small community, so most private school options are located in nearby towns. The primary choices include St. Joseph Catholic School in nearby Enid (about 20 miles away), Emmanuel Christian School in Enid, and Oklahoma Bible Academy, a well-regarded PK-12 school in Meno (approximately 15 miles from Durham). For Durham residents, these schools typically involve a commute, but they offer structured, faith-based education environments that are popular alternatives to the local public school district. Transportation is usually the responsibility of the family.
How does tuition at private schools near Durham, OK, compare to the state average, and are there financial aid options?
Tuition for private schools in the Enid/Garfield County area surrounding Durham is generally below the national average, reflecting Oklahoma's lower cost of living. For example, area schools often have annual tuition ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 for elementary grades. Importantly, Oklahoma has the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act, which provides tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. This means many families at schools like Oklahoma Bible Academy or St. Joseph may qualify for income-based tuition assistance or scholarships funded through this state program, making private education more accessible.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Durham area offer that differentiate them from public schools?
Private schools near Durham often leverage their smaller size and specific missions to offer distinctive programs. Oklahoma Bible Academy, for instance, offers a strong agriculture program and competitive athletics at the Class 2A level. St. Joseph Catholic School provides a dedicated STEM lab and integrated Catholic faith curriculum. Emmanuel Christian School emphasizes a classical Christian education model. These schools can offer more specialized focus areas than what might be available in the very small, rural public school districts that serve Durham, which prioritize breadth with limited resources.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Durham, OK families?
Enrollment processes for schools like Oklahoma Bible Academy, St. Joseph, and Emmanuel Christian usually begin in January or February for the following fall semester. The process typically involves an application, submission of past academic records, a family interview, and often a placement assessment for the student. Due to their smaller class sizes, popular grades can fill up, so early inquiry is recommended. Unlike large urban private schools, the atmosphere is less intensely competitive, but demonstrating a fit with the school's religious mission and a commitment to the community are important factors in the admissions decision.
For a family in rural Durham, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school and a private school in a neighboring town?
The decision hinges on several local factors. The public school option for Durham students is likely a small, consolidated rural district, which offers close-knit community and potentially more individual attention but may have limited advanced coursework or extracurricular variety. Choosing a private school like those in Enid or Meno involves a daily commute but provides a specific faith-based environment, often more structured discipline, and sometimes broader academic or athletic opportunities through partnerships or larger student bodies. Parents should weigh the importance of religious education, daily travel logistics, extracurricular interests, and the desired classroom size and culture.