The Best Private Schools in Phoenix, Oregon
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Phoenix. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary's School
Catholic Schools of Medford
St. Mary's School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Rogue Valley region including Phoenix. With over 75 years of educational excellence, the school offers comprehensive college preparatory programs from preschool through 8th grade. The curriculum emphasizes strong academic fundamentals, character development, and faith formation. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, art studios, and athletic facilities. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and offers extensive extracurricular activities including competitive sports, music programs, and community service opportunities.
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Cascade Christian Schools
Cascade Christian Schools
Cascade Christian Schools serves the entire Rogue Valley including Phoenix families with a comprehensive Christian education from preschool through high school. The institution is known for strong academic performance with AP course offerings, championship athletic programs, and outstanding fine arts. The school features modern campuses with state-of-the-art facilities including STEM labs, performing arts centers, and athletic complexes. With a focus on spiritual growth and academic excellence, Cascade Christian maintains a strong college acceptance rate and offers diverse extracurricular opportunities including robotics, theater, and competitive sports.
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The Siskiyou School
Waldorf Education
The Siskiyou School offers a unique Waldorf education that attracts families from throughout the Rogue Valley, including Phoenix. Serving grades 1-8, the school emphasizes developmental learning through arts-integrated academics, hands-on experiences, and outdoor education. The curriculum balances intellectual, artistic, and practical skills while fostering creativity and critical thinking. Located in nearby Ashland, the school features beautiful campus facilities including gardens, classrooms designed for hands-on learning, and access to natural spaces. The school community is known for its strong parent involvement and holistic approach to child development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Phoenix, Oregon
What are the main private school options available for families living in Phoenix, Oregon, and what are their educational approaches?
Phoenix, Oregon, is served by a few key private institutions, each with distinct philosophies. **St. Mary's School** (PreK-8) is a Catholic school offering a faith-based education with a traditional academic core. **Cascade Christian Schools** is a larger Protestant system; while its main campuses are in nearby Medford and Grants Pass, it serves many Phoenix families and offers a comprehensive K-12 Christ-centered education. **The Siskiyou School** (grades 1-8) in Ashland, just a short drive away, is a notable option for Phoenix residents seeking a Waldorf education, emphasizing arts, imagination, and holistic development. Given Phoenix's size, many families also consider private schools in the larger Medford area.
How does tuition for private schools in the Phoenix, Oregon, area compare, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition varies significantly by school and grade level. For the 2024-25 year, St. Mary's School tuition ranges approximately from $6,000 to $8,000. Cascade Christian Schools' tuition is typically higher, often ranging from $8,500 to $10,500 for elementary grades. The Siskiyou School's Waldorf education is generally in a similar premium range. A critical Oregon-specific financial consideration is the **"Opportunity Grant"** (formerly the Oregon Opportunity Grant), which is need-based state aid that can sometimes be applied to private K-12 education under certain conditions. More reliably, all these schools offer their own need-based financial aid and may participate in scholarship organizations like the **Archdiocese of Portland Tuition Assistance Program** (for St. Mary's) or **BASIC** (for Cascade Christian).
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools serving Phoenix, Oregon, offer that leverage the local environment?
Schools in the Rogue Valley capitalize on Southern Oregon's natural and cultural resources. **The Siskiyou School's** Waldorf curriculum deeply integrates outdoor education, gardening, and local ecology studies into its core program. **Cascade Christian Schools** often incorporate outdoor leadership and environmental science trips to places like Crater Lake, the Rogue River, or the nearby Cascade mountains. **St. Mary's School**, while more traditional, participates in regional academic competitions and community service projects that connect students to the broader Medford-Phoenix community. All benefit from proximity to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland for arts enrichment.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Phoenix, Oregon, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment cycle for Phoenix-area private schools generally begins in January or February for the following fall. **St. Mary's** and **Cascade Christian** often host open houses in early winter. The process typically involves an application, student assessment or shadow day, family interview, and submission of past records. Due to smaller class sizes, especially at St. Mary's in Phoenix itself and The Siskiyou School, popular grades can have waitlists by spring. It's highly advisable for Phoenix parents to initiate inquiries by December. Many schools offer rolling admissions if space remains, but priority is given to early applicants, siblings of current students, and active parishioners (for faith-based schools).
For a family in Phoenix, Oregon, what are the key considerations when comparing the local public school district (Phoenix-Talent School District) with area private schools?
The decision often hinges on several local factors. Following the 2020 Almeda Fire, which impacted the community, the **Phoenix-Talent School District** has been in a period of rebuilding and transformation, which some families see as a opportunity for community involvement, while others seek the perceived stability of private institutions. Private schools offer smaller class sizes (often 15-20 students vs. 25-30+ in public) and specific religious or pedagogical frameworks (Catholic, Protestant, Waldorf). Academically, Phoenix-Talent public schools offer standard curricula and electives, while private schools may have more focused tracks. A practical consideration is transportation; the public district provides buses, whereas private schools usually require parent-provided transportation, which can be a factor for commutes to Medford or Ashland.