The Best Private Schools in North Salt Lake, Utah
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in North Salt Lake. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Rowland Hall
Independent School
Rowland Hall is a premier independent school consistently ranked among Utah's top private schools. Serving students from beginner through 12th grade, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with exceptional academic outcomes. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, Rowland Hall emphasizes critical thinking, character development, and comprehensive education. The school serves families throughout the Salt Lake Valley, including North Salt Lake residents.
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The Waterford School
Independent School
The Waterford School is a highly respected independent day school serving students from preschool through high school. Located in Sandy, the school serves families across the Salt Lake metropolitan area, including North Salt Lake. Waterford offers a comprehensive liberal arts education with strong emphasis on academic excellence, arts integration, and character development. The 43-acre campus features exceptional facilities including science centers, art studios, performance venues, and athletic fields. The school is known for its rigorous academic program and high college acceptance rates to selective universities.
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The Madeleine Choir School
Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City
The Madeleine Choir School provides an exceptional private education combining rigorous academics with comprehensive choral music training. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, this Catholic school offers a classical education model with strong emphasis on humanities, STEM, and character formation. The school's unique choral program includes regular performances at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and international touring opportunities. Located in downtown Salt Lake City, the school serves families from throughout the valley, including North Salt Lake, and is known for its strong community and academic excellence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in North Salt Lake, Utah
What are the primary private school options for families residing in North Salt Lake, UT, and what are their key characteristics?
While North Salt Lake itself has a limited number of private schools, families in the area typically consider several prestigious institutions in the broader Salt Lake Valley. The most notable are Rowland Hall (in Salt Lake City), known for its rigorous college-prep curriculum and inclusive community; The Waterford School (in Sandy), renowned for its holistic liberal arts education and expansive campus; and The Madeleine Choir School (in Salt Lake City), a unique Catholic school integrated with the Cathedral of the Madeleine, offering a strong academic program with daily choral music training. Many North Salt Lake families commute to these schools, which are generally a 20-30 minute drive. It's also worth exploring smaller local religious academies and Montessori schools in nearby Davis County.
How does Utah's unique school voucher program, the Utah Fits All Scholarship, affect private school tuition for North Salt Lake residents?
The Utah Fits All Scholarship is a significant financial consideration for North Salt Lake families. This state-funded education savings account provides approximately $8,000 per student per year for qualifying families, which can be used for private school tuition, fees, and other educational expenses. Eligibility is based on income, with priority given to lower-income households, but funds are available to a broad range of families. This program can substantially offset the cost of schools like Waterford or Rowland Hall, making private education more accessible. Parents should apply directly through the state program as soon as applications open, as funds are limited and awarded via lottery.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs are uniquely available at private schools accessible from North Salt Lake?
The top private schools near North Salt Lake offer distinct specializations. The Madeleine Choir School provides an unparalleled daily choral curriculum where students sing at cathedral masses and undertake concert tours. The Waterford School emphasizes a classical education with exceptional arts and outdoor programs, utilizing its 40-acre campus. Rowland Hall has a strong focus on innovation, ethics, and STEM, with notable robotics and debate teams. For North Salt Lake families interested in outdoor education, several schools incorporate Utah's natural landscape into their programs, with regular field trips to the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake. These are offerings typically not found in the local public school curriculum to the same depth.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools like Rowland Hall or Waterford when applying from North Salt Lake?
The timeline is critical and requires early planning. For schools like Rowland Hall and Waterford, the application process for the following academic year typically begins in August or September, with deadlines for financial aid and application submissions falling between January and February. The process usually includes a campus tour, parent interviews, student assessments/visits, and submission of records and recommendations. Given the competitive nature and limited seats, especially in entry-level grades (Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th, and 9th), North Salt Lake families are advised to initiate contact 12-18 months in advance. Many families also apply to multiple schools to increase their options. Sibling and legacy applicants often receive priority.
How do the class sizes and student-teacher ratios in North Salt Lake's area private schools compare to the highly-rated public schools in the Davis School District?
This is a key differentiator. While the Davis School District public schools in North Salt Lake (like Foxboro Elementary) are well-regarded, they often have class sizes of 25-30 students. In contrast, the premier private schools in the region maintain significantly lower ratios. For example, Rowland Hall and Waterford typically have student-teacher ratios between 8:1 and 12:1, with average class sizes of 15-18 students. This allows for more individualized instruction, deeper student-teacher relationships, and increased participation. For parents seeking a highly personalized learning environment where their child is known intimately by faculty, the private schools offer a distinct advantage, albeit at a financial cost that can be mitigated by state scholarships.