The Best Private Schools in Ashville, Pennsylvania
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Ashville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School
Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School is a highly-regarded private Catholic school located approximately 15 miles from Ashville. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with strong emphasis on academic excellence, faith formation, and character development. Features include advanced placement courses, state-of-the-art science and technology labs, competitive athletic programs, and extensive extracurricular activities. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1 and has a strong track record of college acceptances to prestigious universities.
Programs:
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Holy Trinity Catholic School serves students from preschool through 8th grade and is located about 15 miles from Ashville in Altoona. The school provides a strong foundation in core academic subjects integrated with Catholic values and traditions. The curriculum includes comprehensive language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies programs complemented by specialized instruction in music, art, physical education, and technology. The school features modern classrooms, a well-equipped library, and offers various extracurricular activities including sports teams, choir, and community service opportunities.
Programs:
Bellwood-Antis School District (Private Academy Program)
Bellwood-Antis School District
While primarily a public school district, Bellwood-Antis offers exceptional educational programs that serve the Ashville community and is recognized for its academic excellence in the region. Located just 8 miles from Ashville, the district features rigorous academic programs, advanced placement courses, and strong athletic and arts programs. The district has received numerous awards for academic achievement and maintains high graduation rates with many students continuing to top colleges and universities. The school boasts modern facilities including updated science labs, technology centers, and comprehensive athletic facilities.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Ashville, Pennsylvania
What are the primary private school options available for families living in or near Ashville, Pennsylvania?
Ashville, PA, is served by a few key private institutions, primarily with a Catholic affiliation. The notable options include Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School in nearby Altoona, which serves grades 9-12, and Holy Trinity Catholic School in Altoona, covering pre-K through 8th grade. Additionally, the Bellwood-Antis School District offers a unique Private Academy Program, which is a public school district program that operates with some characteristics of a private academy, providing an alternative within the local educational landscape. For Ashville residents, these schools typically involve a short commute.
How does tuition for private schools in the Ashville, PA, area compare, and are there financial aid options specific to Pennsylvania?
Tuition for the Catholic schools serving Ashville varies by grade level and parish membership. For the 2023-2024 academic year, families could expect ranges from approximately $4,000-$5,000 for elementary grades at Holy Trinity to over $8,000 for high school at Bishop Guilfoyle, with discounted rates for active parishioners. Pennsylvania offers significant financial assistance programs that Ashville families can utilize, most notably the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. These provide scholarships for students attending participating private schools, and both Bishop Guilfoyle and Holy Trinity are eligible recipients.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools accessible to Ashville students?
Private schools accessible from Ashville provide distinctive programs that leverage their specific missions. Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School is known for its strong college-prep curriculum, a renowned robotics team, and a faith-based learning environment. Holy Trinity Catholic School emphasizes foundational education with integrated technology and religious formation. The Bellwood-Antis Private Academy Program is unique, often featuring smaller learning communities, project-based learning, and a focus on individual student pathways within a public school framework. These options offer Ashville parents choices between traditional parochial education and a public-district-run academy model.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like Bishop Guilfoyle or Holy Trinity for an Ashville resident?
The enrollment process for Ashville families typically begins in the winter or early spring for the following academic year. Both Bishop Guilfoyle and Holy Trinity have open enrollment periods, often starting in January. The process usually involves submitting an application, providing records from the previous school, a possible placement assessment (especially for middle/high school), and an interview or family meeting. For the Bellwood-Antis Private Academy Program, interested Ashville families should contact the district directly, as enrollment may involve an application and review process to ensure the program is a good fit, and it may have specific residency requirements within the district.
How do the private and parochial school options for Ashville compare to the local public school districts in terms of community and educational environment?
For Ashville residents, the comparison often centers on the close-knit, values-based community of the Catholic schools versus the comprehensive, tuition-free offerings of the public school districts (like the Penn Cambria School District, where Ashville is located). The private/parochial options offer smaller average class sizes, a consistent religious education component, and a tight-knit community of families who share that faith. The public districts provide a broader range of extracurriculars, specialized services (like extensive special education), and no tuition cost. The unique Bellwood-Antis Private Academy Program blurs these lines, offering a smaller, choice-based program within a public system. The decision for an Ashville family often hinges on the priority of faith integration, desired class size, and budget for tuition versus utilizing the local tax-supported public schools.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities