The Best Private Schools in Montgomery, Pennsylvania
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Montgomery. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. John Neumann Regional Academy
Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton
St. John Neumann Regional Academy is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Montgomery area and broader Lycoming County region. The academy offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 12th grade education with a strong emphasis on college preparation and character development. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and a robust curriculum that includes Advanced Placement courses, extensive STEM programs, and competitive athletics. The school maintains modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, and athletic complexes. Parent reviews consistently praise the school's nurturing environment, academic rigor, and strong community values.
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Lycoming Valley Baptist School
Lycoming Valley Baptist Church
Lycoming Valley Baptist School provides a comprehensive Christian education for students from preschool through high school, serving families in Montgomery and the surrounding communities. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a faith-based environment, offering a rigorous curriculum that includes college preparatory courses, biblical studies, and character development programs. Facilities include modern classrooms, computer labs, science laboratories, and athletic fields. The school is particularly noted for its strong sense of community, dedicated teachers, and well-rounded educational approach that balances academics with spiritual growth and extracurricular activities.
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New Covenant Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
New Covenant Christian Academy offers a classical Christian education for students in grades K-12, serving the Montgomery area and greater Williamsport region. The school employs the time-tested classical education model combined with a biblical worldview, focusing on developing critical thinking skills, rhetorical abilities, and moral character. The curriculum includes rigorous academics, Latin instruction, logic, rhetoric, and extensive fine arts programs. The school maintains small class sizes with highly qualified teachers and features well-equipped classrooms, science labs, and performance spaces. Parents consistently report high satisfaction with the school's academic standards, caring faculty, and strong community atmosphere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Montgomery, Pennsylvania
What are the primary private school options available for families in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, and what are their core educational approaches?
Montgomery, PA, and the surrounding Lycoming County area offer a few key private school options, each with a distinct mission. St. John Neumann Regional Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory school serving grades Pre-K through 12, offering a traditional academic curriculum integrated with faith formation. Lycoming Valley Baptist School provides a Baptist Christian education emphasizing biblical principles across its academic program. New Covenant Christian Academy offers an independent Christian education focused on a classical, discipleship-based model. Given the rural setting, these are the primary dedicated private institutions, and some families may also consider private schools in the larger Williamsport area, approximately a 15-20 minute drive away.
How does tuition at private schools in Montgomery, PA, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for private schools in the Montgomery area is generally below the statewide average for Pennsylvania private schools, reflecting the region's lower cost of living. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition at these schools often ranges from approximately $5,000 to $9,000 for elementary grades, with higher rates for secondary levels. All the major schools offer need-based financial aid, and importantly, Pennsylvania state programs can significantly offset costs. Families should actively apply for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, which provide tuition assistance through scholarship organizations. Additionally, St. John Neumann participates in the Diocese of Scranton's aid programs.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Montgomery-area private schools offer that leverage the local community and environment?
Private schools in Montgomery, PA, often integrate the region's rural character and community values into their programs. St. John Neumann Regional Academy features strong agricultural and environmental science programs, with potential for hands-on learning linked to local farming. Its campus ministry program organizes community service throughout Lycoming County. New Covenant Christian Academy emphasizes classical education with rhetoric and logic, often incorporating local history and civics. Given the smaller size of these schools, extracurriculars like sports often involve cooperative agreements with other small schools or public districts, and many activities are closely tied to the school's religious identity, such as mission trips and choir performances at local churches.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, and are there waitlists?
The enrollment process for Montgomery's private schools usually begins in January or February for the following fall, with priority given to re-enrolling students and siblings. Applications typically require submission of records, teacher recommendations, a family interview, and an entrance assessment. Due to the small size of these schools—often with single sections per grade—space is limited, and popular grades can have waitlists, particularly in the early elementary and kindergarten years. It is highly advisable for parents to attend open houses, often held in the fall, and to submit applications by March. Some schools, like Lycoming Valley Baptist, may have rolling admission if space permits, but early action is strongly recommended.
For families considering both sectors, what are the key practical differences between the Montgomery Area School District (public) and the local private schools?
The key differences center on class size, curriculum focus, transportation, and cost. The Montgomery Area School District provides free education with a broader range of elective courses and specialized public funding for services like special education and extensive sports facilities. In contrast, private schools like St. John Neumann, Lycoming Valley Baptist, and New Covenant offer much smaller class sizes (often 15:1 or lower), a specific religious and value-based education integrated throughout the day, and a more uniform college-prep or classical curriculum. A major practical consideration is transportation; while the public district provides buses, private school families in Pennsylvania are eligible for transportation services only if the district offers it to non-public students, which may involve specific pick-up points or mileage limits. The trade-off is the annual tuition cost versus the tailored, faith-based environment.
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