The Best Private Schools in Riverside, Rhode Island
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Riverside. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary Academy - Bay View
Catholic Independent School
St. Mary Academy - Bay View is a highly-regarded Catholic independent school serving students from preschool through grade 12. Located directly in Riverside, the school offers a comprehensive International Baccalaureate curriculum with strong emphasis on academic excellence, character development, and community service. The campus features modern STEM labs, extensive athletic facilities, and dedicated arts spaces. With small class sizes and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, Bay View provides personalized attention and has a strong track record of college placements at competitive universities.
Programs:
The Wheeler School
Independent School
The Wheeler School is a prestigious independent school located just minutes from Riverside in Providence's East Side. Serving students from nursery through 12th grade, Wheeler offers a rigorous academic program with extensive Advanced Placement options and a renowned arts conservatory. The school features state-of-the-art facilities including science centers, athletic complexes, and performing arts spaces. With a diverse student body and emphasis on innovative teaching, Wheeler consistently ranks among Rhode Island's top private schools and maintains strong college matriculation rates.
Programs:
Moses Brown School
Friends School
Moses Brown School is a distinguished Quaker independent school serving students from toddler programs through 12th grade. Located in Providence just a short drive from Riverside, the school combines academic rigor with Quaker values of community, simplicity, and service. The campus features extensive facilities including innovation labs, athletic fields, and arts centers. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with strong STEM programs, competitive athletics, and vibrant arts offerings. With a commitment to developing the whole child, Moses Brown maintains small class sizes and has a long history of educational excellence in Southern New England.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Riverside, Rhode Island
What are the primary private school options available for families residing in Riverside, Rhode Island?
While Riverside itself is a smaller coastal village in the East Bay, families have access to several top-tier private schools in the greater Providence area, a short commute away. The most prominent include St. Mary Academy - Bay View (an all-girls, Catholic, college-prep school in Riverside's neighboring city of East Providence), The Wheeler School (a co-educational, independent day school in Providence's East Side with a strong arts and innovation focus), and Moses Brown School (a Quaker-based, co-educational independent school in Providence known for its rigorous academics and character education). Riverside residents also frequently consider other nearby options like Providence Country Day School. Transportation via carpool or school-provided buses is a common consideration for Riverside families.
How does tuition for private schools near Riverside, RI, compare, and are there state-specific financial aid resources?
Tuition for the leading private schools in the Providence area typically ranges from approximately $30,000 to $45,000+ per year for upper school. Rhode Island offers specific financial aid opportunities that Riverside parents should explore. The most significant is the Rhode Island Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which provides need-based scholarships to students attending private schools, funded by donations from Rhode Island businesses. Additionally, all major schools like Bay View, Wheeler, and Moses Brown have substantial institutional financial aid and endowment-based grant programs. It's crucial to apply for financial aid simultaneously with admission, as deadlines are strict and funds are limited.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools accessible from Riverside, RI?
Schools in this region offer distinctive programs leveraging Rhode Island's coastal and cultural resources. St. Mary Academy - Bay View features a renowned STEM Center for Innovation and a comprehensive engineering program. The Wheeler School's "Aerie" program emphasizes design thinking, entrepreneurship, and hands-on making. Moses Brown School's "Farm & Forest" outdoor education program and its strong Quaker-inspired service learning are notable. Given Riverside's location on Narragansett Bay, several schools incorporate marine biology and environmental science into their curricula, with potential for fieldwork and sailing. The proximity to Providence also provides unparalleled access to arts institutions like RISD and the Providence Performing Arts Center for collaborations.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in the Riverside, RI, area?
The admission process for schools like Wheeler, Moses Brown, and Bay View is highly coordinated and follows a similar timeline across the region. Prospective families should begin researching in the fall, a year before desired enrollment (e.g., Fall 2024 for Fall 2025). Key steps include: attending open houses (often September-November), submitting applications by early January (with standardized testing like the ISEE or SSAT), completing student visits and interviews in January/February, and receiving decisions in mid-March. For kindergarten and lower school entry, some schools have earlier deadlines or lotteries. Riverside families should note that while these schools draw from a wide area, demonstrating a genuine connection to the school's mission and planning for the commute are important aspects of the application.
For a Riverside family, what are the key considerations when comparing local public schools to nearby private options?
The decision often centers on academic programming, class size, and educational philosophy. Riverside is part of the East Providence School District. Key comparisons include: Private schools offer significantly smaller class sizes (often 12-18 students) and more individualized attention compared to larger public school classrooms. They provide thematic curricular continuities (like International Baccalaureate at some privates) that aren't available in the specific public district. However, this comes at a high financial cost. The commute to Providence-area privates (15-30 minutes) is a daily factor versus walking or a short bus ride to local public schools. Additionally, private schools offer extensive extracurricular and athletic options, but families must weigh this against the strong community and no-cost education provided by East Providence's public schools, which may involve program-specific transfers within the district.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities