The Best Private Schools in Rockville, Rhode Island
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Rockville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Moses Brown School
Independent School
Moses Brown School is one of New England's most respected independent schools with a Quaker educational philosophy. Serving students from nursery through grade 12, the school offers a challenging academic program with extensive Advanced Placement options. The 33-acre campus features modern science and technology centers, athletic facilities, and performing arts spaces. The school is known for its strong sense of community, ethical leadership development, and exceptional college placement record. Many families from the Rockville area commute for the school's outstanding reputation and comprehensive programs.
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Rocky Hill School
Independent School
Rocky Hill School is a prestigious independent day school serving students from preschool through grade 12. Located just 20 minutes from Rockville, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes and personalized attention. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, art studios, and athletic complexes. Notable programs include their marine science curriculum utilizing their coastal location, comprehensive STEM initiatives, and extensive arts programs. The school emphasizes global citizenship and community engagement.
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Portsmouth Abbey School
Benedictine Monastery
Portsmouth Abbey School is a coeducational Catholic boarding and day school serving students in grades 9-12. Located on a beautiful 500-acre campus overlooking Narragansett Bay, the school combines rigorous college preparatory academics with Benedictine values. The curriculum includes extensive Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive arts programs, and competitive athletics. As a day school option for Rockville families, it offers small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and exceptional college counseling. The school's historic campus features modern academic facilities alongside traditional architecture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Rockville, Rhode Island
What are the primary private school options available for families in or near Rockville, Rhode Island?
While Rockville itself is a small village, families in the area typically look to prestigious independent schools within a reasonable commute in Washington County and beyond. The most notable include Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth (a co-ed Catholic Benedictine boarding and day school), Moses Brown School in Providence (a Quaker college-prep day school), and Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich. Given Rockville's rural setting in southern Rhode Island, parents should also consider schools in nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts, factoring in commute times. Transportation services vary by school, so this is a key question for local families.
How does the tuition for top private schools near Rockville, RI, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition for the leading schools near Rockville is generally above the Rhode Island private school average. For the 2024-25 academic year, day student tuition at these schools often ranges from approximately $40,000 to $55,000. Rhode Island offers the Rhode Island School Choice Tax Credit, which allows businesses to receive tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations that fund need-based scholarships for private school students. Additionally, all major schools like Portsmouth Abbey, Moses Brown, and Rocky Hill have substantial endowment-funded financial aid programs. It is crucial to apply for 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 Rockville, RI, that leverage the local environment?
Schools in this region often capitalize on Rhode Island's coastal and rural geography. Portsmouth Abbey School, for instance, has a renowned marine science program utilizing its location on Narragansett Bay. Rocky Hill School features its "Wickford" campus, a 70-acre waterfront property used for experiential environmental science. Moses Brown School, while more urban, has strong engineering and robotics programs connected to Providence's innovation ecosystem. For a Rockville family, these programs offer distinctive hands-on learning that integrates with the local Rhode Island landscape, from aquaculture studies to sailing.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private day and boarding schools near Rockville, Rhode Island?
The process for schools like Moses Brown, Portsmouth Abbey, and Rocky Hill is highly structured and begins well over a year in advance. Key steps include: attending open houses (often in the fall), submitting applications by January (with deadlines as early as December 1st for some schools), completing student interviews and assessments in January or February, and receiving decisions in March. For Rockville families specifically, it's important to inquire about flexible visit days, as the commute to these schools can be significant. Applying for financial aid (using the SSS/Clarity application) has a concurrent deadline. We recommend starting research and visits in the spring or summer before the desired enrollment year.
For a family in rural Rockville, what are the key considerations when comparing the local public school options (like Chariho Regional School District) to the private schools in the wider region?
The Chariho Regional School District (serving Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton, which includes Rockville) is a well-regarded public district. The primary considerations for comparison are: **program breadth vs. specialization** (private schools offer distinct pedagogical approaches like Quaker at Moses Brown or monastic at Portsmouth Abbey), **class size** (private schools often have significantly smaller student-to-teacher ratios), **commute** (a long daily drive to a private school vs. a bus to Chariho), and **cost** (significant tuition vs. no tuition). Families in Rockville should also consider the social and community aspect—attending a regional private school means building networks across the state, while Chariho offers a tight-knit, local community.
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