The Best Private Schools in Exeter, Rhode Island
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Exeter. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Wheeler School
The Wheeler School
The Wheeler School is a highly respected independent day school serving students from nursery through grade 12. Located just 20 minutes from Exeter, Wheeler offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with exceptional arts integration and STEM programs. The school features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts centers, and athletic complexes. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, Wheeler emphasizes individualized learning and character development. The school has a strong track record of college placements at top-tier universities and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities.
Programs:
Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School
Moses Brown School is one of New England's oldest and most prestigious independent schools, located approximately 25 minutes from Exeter. This Friends school offers a challenging academic program grounded in Quaker values, serving students from preschool through high school. The campus features modern science and technology labs, extensive athletic facilities, and beautiful historic buildings. The school offers a comprehensive Advanced Placement curriculum, competitive athletics, and outstanding arts programs. With a focus on community, integrity, and intellectual curiosity, Moses Brown prepares students for success in college and beyond.
Programs:
Lincoln School
Lincoln School
Lincoln School is Rhode Island's only independent school for girls, serving students from preschool through grade 12 and located about 25 minutes from Exeter. The school offers the International Baccalaureate program alongside Advanced Placement courses, providing a globally-focused education. Lincoln emphasizes leadership development, STEM education for girls, and personalized learning. The campus features modern academic buildings, science laboratories, art studios, and athletic facilities. With a strong sense of community and focus on empowering young women, Lincoln School consistently produces graduates who attend selective colleges and universities nationwide.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Exeter, Rhode Island
What are the primary private school options available for families residing in Exeter, Rhode Island, and are there any located directly in the town?
While Exeter itself is a more rural town without a major private school campus within its borders, families in Exeter commonly consider several prestigious independent schools in nearby Providence and the greater East Bay area. The top schools, as you noted, include The Wheeler School (Providence), Moses Brown School (Providence), and Lincoln School (Providence). Additionally, families may look at Portsmouth Abbey School (in neighboring Portsmouth) and St. George's School (in nearby Middletown) for boarding/day options. The commute to Providence, typically 30-45 minutes from Exeter, is standard for Exeter families seeking a robust private education.
How does the tuition for top private schools near Exeter, RI, compare to state averages, and what financial aid resources are specifically available for Rhode Island residents?
Tuition for the leading Providence-area day schools like Wheeler, Moses Brown, and Lincoln ranges approximately from $40,000 to $50,000+ per year for the upper grades, which is above the national private school average but competitive for elite New England institutions. Rhode Island offers specific financial resources to assist residents. The most notable is the Rhode Island Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships funded by donations from businesses that receive a tax credit. All major schools in the area participate. Additionally, each school has its own substantial need-based financial aid endowment. It's crucial for Exeter families to apply for aid directly through the school and investigate the state tax credit scholarship early in the application process.
For a child interested in agriculture, environmental science, or outdoor education, are there unique private school programs near Exeter, RI, that leverage the local landscape?
Yes, Exeter's rural character and proximity to Narragansett Bay and forests are leveraged by several schools. Portsmouth Abbey School, located very close to Exeter, has a renowned campus with extensive waterfront and land used for environmental science and sustainability programs. The Wheeler School's nearby Farm in Seekonk, MA, is a 120-acre outdoor classroom used for immersive science, agriculture, and sustainability studies across all grades. Moses Brown School emphasizes environmental stewardship and offers related clubs and coursework. These programs provide a unique blend of rigorous academics with hands-on learning that directly connects to Exeter's own environment.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and key deadlines for applying to competitive private schools in the Providence area from Exeter, RI?
The admission process for schools like Wheeler, Moses Brown, and Lincoln follows a standard independent school timeline. Key steps include: attending open houses (typically September-November), submitting applications by January (often January 1st to January 15th), completing student visits and interviews (fall/winter), and taking standardized tests like the ISEE or SSAT (by January). Notification dates are universally March 10th, with reply deadlines around April 10th. For Exeter families, planning for transportation and scheduling visits around the commute is an important early step. It's highly recommended to begin research and campus visits in the fall of the year before desired enrollment.
How do the educational offerings and community environments of private schools near Exeter compare to the public Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District?
The Exeter-West Greenwich (EWG) Regional School District provides a solid public education with a notably strong agricultural science program at the high school level, reflecting the local community. The primary differences with nearby private options are scale, resources, and specialization. Private schools offer much smaller class sizes, extensive extracurricular offerings, and specialized facilities (like state-of-the-art labs, arts centers, and athletics complexes). They often have a more geographically diverse student body drawn from across RI and MA, whereas EWG is intensely community-focused. The choice often hinges on a family's priority for specific academic philosophies (e.g., Quaker at Moses Brown, progressive at Lincoln), seeking a particular focus like intensive arts or robotics, or desiring a college-preparatory environment with a very low student-to-teacher ratio, balanced against the value of a tuition-free local community school.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities