The Best Private Schools in Amity, Oregon
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Amity. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Veritas School
Association of Classical Christian Schools
Veritas School is a highly-regarded classical Christian school located approximately 15 miles from Amity. The school offers a rigorous academic program rooted in the classical tradition with a Christian worldview. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes Latin, logic, rhetoric, and traditional academic disciplines. The school features strong arts programs, competitive athletics, and consistently high college acceptance rates. Families from Amity and surrounding communities appreciate the school's strong community atmosphere and academic excellence.
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St. Paul Catholic School
Archdiocese of Portland
St. Paul Catholic School is a well-established parochial school serving students from Amity and the wider Yamhill County area. Located just 8 miles from Amity, this school provides a faith-based education with strong academic fundamentals. The school features modern facilities, dedicated teachers, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes religion, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Extracurricular activities include sports teams, music programs, and community service opportunities. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment and strong sense of community.
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Blanchet Catholic School
Catholic Schools of Salem
Blanchet Catholic School is a comprehensive college-preparatory high school located in Salem, approximately 25 miles from Amity. The school serves students from throughout the Willamette Valley and offers a rigorous academic program with numerous Advanced Placement courses. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. The school emphasizes character development alongside academic achievement and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities including competitive sports, clubs, and community service programs. Many families from Amity choose Blanchet for its strong college preparation and comprehensive programming.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Amity, Oregon
What are the private school options for families living in Amity, Oregon, and are there any located directly in town?
Families in Amity, Oregon, have several private school options, though most are located in nearby communities. Directly in Amity, you will find St. Paul Catholic School, which serves grades K-8. For high school, the primary option is Blanchet Catholic School, located in Salem, approximately a 25-minute drive away. Another highly-regarded option is Veritas School, a classical Christian academy in Newberg, about a 20-minute drive from Amity. This means Amity residents typically commute for private secondary education, but benefit from a choice of religious and pedagogical approaches within a reasonable distance.
How does tuition at Amity-area private schools compare to the Oregon state average, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition for the schools serving Amity families is generally at or below the Oregon private school average. For the 2024-2025 school year, St. Paul Catholic School (in Amity) has tuition under $6,000, while Blanchet Catholic School and Veritas School have tuition ranging from approximately $10,000 to $14,000. All these schools offer need-based financial aid, and St. Paul and Blanchet participate in the Oregon's "Opportunity Grant" tax credit scholarship program for lower-income families. Additionally, Oregon does not have a statewide voucher program, but the above tax credit scholarships and individual school aid are the primary mechanisms for making tuition more accessible.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by the private schools accessible to Amity residents?
The schools accessible from Amity offer distinct specialized programs. Veritas School in Newberg provides a rigorous classical, Christian liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on rhetoric, logic, and Latin. Blanchet Catholic School in Salem offers robust STEM pathways, competitive athletics in the 3A classification, and distinctive programs like engineering and biomedical science. St. Paul Catholic School focuses on a faith-based foundation with character education and often leverages its small, community-centered environment for personalized projects. For Amity families, this means being able to choose a school based on a specific educational philosophy, from classical to college-prep STEM, within a short commute.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like St. Paul, Blanchet, and Veritas for an Amity family?
The enrollment process for these schools typically begins in the winter for the following fall. St. Paul Catholic School, being a local community school, may have rolling admissions but encourages applications by March. Both Blanchet Catholic School and Veritas School have more formalized timelines, with application deadlines often in January or February for first-round consideration. Key steps for Amity families include attending open houses (often held in fall and winter), submitting applications with transcripts and teacher recommendations, and for some, participating in entrance assessments or family interviews. It's crucial to contact each school directly, as spaces, especially in specific grades, can be limited.
For an Amity resident, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local Amity School District (public) and the available private school options?
The key considerations involve educational approach, cost, and community. The Amity School District offers a tuition-free, comprehensive K-12 education with local extracurriculars and a strong agricultural/FFA tradition. The private options (St. Paul, Blanchet, Veritas) provide specific religious foundations (Catholic or Christian) and distinct pedagogical models (classical or college-prep). Families must weigh the significant cost of private tuition against their educational priorities. Logistically, choosing Blanchet or Veritas means a daily commute to Salem or Newberg, impacting family schedules. The decision often comes down to whether a family seeks a particular faith-based or classical education or prefers the no-cost, community-anchored public system with its own strengths.