The Best Private Schools in Telephone, Texas
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Telephone. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary's Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Dallas
St. Mary's Catholic School in nearby Sherman is a premier private institution serving families throughout Grayson County, including Telephone. The school offers comprehensive education from Pre-K through 8th grade with a rigorous academic curriculum grounded in Catholic values. Features include advanced STEM labs, competitive athletics programs, and extensive fine arts offerings. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1 and has consistently high academic achievement scores. Parents report exceptional teacher dedication and a nurturing environment that prepares students for high school success.
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Sivells Bend Elementary School
Sivells Bend Independent School District
Sivells Bend Elementary is a highly-regarded rural school serving the Telephone area with small class sizes and personalized attention. Despite being a public school district, it operates with private-school quality education in a tight-knit community setting. The school emphasizes hands-on agricultural education alongside strong core academics, with modern facilities including updated technology resources. Parents consistently praise the dedicated teachers and family-like atmosphere that provides individualized learning experiences for each student.
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Texoma Christian School
Independent Christian School
Texoma Christian School serves families throughout the Texoma region, including Telephone residents seeking quality Christian education. The school offers comprehensive programs from elementary through high school with a strong college preparatory focus. Academics are integrated with biblical worldview instruction, and the school features modern science labs, competitive sports teams, and extensive fine arts programs. The campus includes updated facilities with technology integration across all grade levels. Parents consistently praise the school's academic rigor, character development focus, and supportive community environment that prepares students for college and beyond.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Telephone, Texas
What are the specific private school options available for families living in or near Telephone, Texas?
Within the immediate Telephone, TX area, families have a few key private school options, though many also consider schools in nearby Grayson County communities. The primary local institutions include St. Mary's Catholic School (a Pre-K through 8th-grade parochial school) and Texoma Christian School (a Pre-K through 12th-grade interdenominational Christian school). It's important to note that Sivells Bend Elementary, while a highly-rated public school in a rural setting near Telephone, is not a private institution. For more variety, parents often look at private schools in Sherman or Denison, which are within a reasonable commuting distance.
How does the tuition for private schools in the Telephone, TX area compare to state averages, and are there financial aid options?
Tuition for private schools in the Telephone area is generally below the average for major metropolitan areas in Texas but is consistent with rural and small-town North Texas. For the 2023-2024 school year, schools like Texoma Christian School and St. Mary's Catholic School typically have annual tuition ranging from approximately $6,000 to $10,000 for elementary grades. Texas does not have state-funded voucher programs, but both schools offer need-based financial aid, sibling discounts, and may accept funds from the state's 529 plan (the Texas Tuition Promise Fund) for K-12 expenses. Additionally, many families utilize payment plans to manage costs.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Telephone area offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
Private schools in the Telephone area leverage their smaller size to offer specialized programs. Texoma Christian School, for example, emphasizes a college-preparatory curriculum integrated with biblical worldview teaching and may offer dual-credit courses through local colleges. St. Mary's Catholic School provides a strong foundation in faith and core academics, often with Spanish language instruction and sacramental preparation for Catholic students. A key differentiator is the low student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for individualized attention—a significant contrast to the larger class sizes in some regional public districts. These schools also often have more flexibility in curriculum, allowing for project-based and faith-integrated learning.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Telephone, Texas families?
The enrollment process for schools like Texoma Christian School and St. Mary's Catholic School typically begins in January or February for the following academic year. The process involves submitting an application, providing academic records from previous schools, and often a family interview or student assessment. Due to their small sizes, these schools have limited seats, and it is advisable for Telephone families to apply early. Many schools host open houses in the fall and winter. Rolling admissions may continue if spaces are available, but popular grades fill quickly. Unlike public schools, these private institutions are not bound by specific geographic zoning, so admission is based on application strength and mission fit.
For families in rural Telephone, what are the practical considerations regarding transportation and community when choosing a local private school?
A major practical consideration for Telephone families is transportation, as most private schools in the area do not provide extensive bus service. Parents are typically responsible for arranging daily transportation to schools in nearby towns like Sherman, which can be a 20-30 minute commute. This fosters carpool communities among families. The benefit is a tight-knit school community where families from Telephone, Southmayd, and other rural areas often form strong bonds through school events, church affiliations, and extracurricular activities. Choosing a local private school often means your child's peer group and social network will be closely aligned with the school's faith-based community, which can be a defining factor for families in this rural part of Texas.