The Best Private Schools in Waverly, Pennsylvania
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Waverly. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Scranton Preparatory School
Jesuit Schools Network
Scranton Preparatory School is a highly-regarded Jesuit college preparatory school serving the greater Scranton area, including Waverly. The school offers a rigorous academic program with 22 Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM education, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Known for its strong community values and emphasis on character development, the school maintains a 100% college acceptance rate. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. The student-teacher ratio of 12:1 ensures personalized attention and academic support.
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Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School
Diocese of Scranton
Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School provides a comprehensive Catholic education serving students from throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Waverly area. The school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum with honors and advanced courses, a dedicated STEM academy, and robust athletic programs. The campus features modern classrooms, science laboratories, and athletic facilities. With a focus on faith-based education and academic excellence, the school maintains strong college placement records and offers numerous extracurricular activities including robotics, theater, and community service programs.
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All Saints Academy
Diocese of Scranton
All Saints Academy is a well-established Catholic school serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, drawing families from Waverly and surrounding communities. The school provides a strong foundation in core academic subjects while integrating technology and faith-based education. Features include dedicated STEM labs, art and music programs, and comprehensive athletic opportunities. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, ensuring individualized attention. The curriculum emphasizes character development and academic preparation for high school, with graduates consistently placing in top regional high schools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Waverly, Pennsylvania
What are the primary private school options for families residing in Waverly, Pennsylvania, and are they located within the borough itself?
While Waverly itself is a small borough, families have access to several highly-regarded private schools in the immediate Scranton area. The most prominent options include Scranton Preparatory School (a Jesuit, college-preparatory school in Scranton), Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School (a Diocesan Catholic school in East Stroudsburg, serving the regional area), and All Saints Academy (a private, independent school in Scranton). It's important to note that these schools are not located within Waverly's boundaries, so daily transportation is a key consideration. Many families in Waverly commute to these schools, which often provide bus service or have established carpool networks.
How does the tuition for private schools near Waverly, PA, compare, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition varies significantly among the top schools near Waverly. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Scranton Preparatory School's tuition is approximately $19,000, Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School is around $10,000-$12,000 for parishioners, and All Saints Academy is roughly $9,000-$11,000 for lower grades. All these schools offer need-based financial aid, and Pennsylvania-specific programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) are crucial. These state programs provide scholarships to eligible students, often significantly reducing the net cost. Parents should apply for financial aid directly through the schools and investigate these state tax credit scholarships early in the application process.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Waverly/Scranton area offer that distinguish them from local public schools?
Schools in this region offer distinct programs leveraging their institutional identities. Scranton Prep is renowned for its rigorous Jesuit curriculum, emphasizing humanities, ethics, and service, with extensive Advanced Placement (AP) offerings and a strong robotics team. Notre Dame provides a comprehensive Catholic education with a focus on character development and offers a variety of sports and arts programs through the Diocese of Scranton. All Saints Academy offers a smaller, independent environment with a project-based learning approach in its earlier grades. A common differentiator for these private schools is their ability to maintain specialized religion, philosophy, and classical language programs that are not typically found in the public school curriculum of the Abington Heights School District, which serves Waverly.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Waverly, PA, and when should parents start?
The process is highly structured and begins early. For fall admission, most schools like Scranton Prep, Notre Dame, and All Saints Academy open applications in August or September of the prior year. Key deadlines for entrance exams (such as the HSPT) are usually in November or December. Admissions decisions and financial aid awards are typically communicated in February or March. Given the competitive nature and limited seats, especially at Scranton Prep, parents in Waverly are advised to start attending open houses in the fall, a full year before desired enrollment. It is also critical to coordinate with your local public school district regarding intent to enroll privately, as this can affect transportation arrangements.
For a family in Waverly, what are the practical considerations when choosing between the high-performing Abington Heights public schools and a private school in the area?
This is a central decision for Waverly families. The Abington Heights School District is consistently ranked among the top public districts in Pennsylvania, offering strong academics, sports, and activities at no direct tuition cost. The choice often hinges on values, class size, and specific educational approach. Private options offer smaller class sizes, a specific religious or value-based foundation (Jesuit or Catholic), and a different peer environment. The trade-offs include cost, the daily commute to Scranton or East Stroudsburg, and potentially fewer extracurricular offerings compared to the large public high school. Many families weigh the desire for a faith-based education or a particular pedagogical style against the convenience, cost, and comprehensive offerings of the excellent local public system.
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