The Best Private Schools in Grand Isle, Vermont
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Grand Isle. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Rock Point School
Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
Rock Point School is a distinguished independent boarding and day school located in Burlington, approximately 25 minutes from Grand Isle. Serving students in grades 9-12, the school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum in a supportive, close-knit community environment. The school's 130-acre campus on Lake Champlain provides exceptional facilities including modern classrooms, science labs, art studios, and extensive athletic fields. With a student-teacher ratio of 4:1, the school provides highly individualized attention and academic support. The comprehensive program includes advanced coursework, extensive arts offerings, competitive athletics, and unique outdoor education opportunities. The school has strong college placement records and serves students from Grand Isle and throughout the region.
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The Schoolhouse
Independent
The Schoolhouse is a highly-rated independent progressive school located in South Burlington, approximately 30 minutes from Grand Isle. Serving students from junior kindergarten through 8th grade, the school emphasizes project-based learning, critical thinking, and community engagement. The innovative curriculum integrates traditional academic subjects with hands-on learning experiences and real-world applications. The school features modern classroom facilities, dedicated science and art spaces, and utilizes nearby natural areas for outdoor education. With a strong focus on social-emotional learning and individualized instruction, the school maintains small class sizes and highly qualified faculty. The Schoolhouse has earned recognition for its academic excellence and serves families throughout Chittenden County, including Grand Isle residents seeking alternative educational approaches.
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Lake Champlain Waldorf School
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
Lake Champlain Waldorf School is a highly-regarded independent school located approximately 30 minutes from Grand Isle. Serving students from preschool through 8th grade, the school offers a comprehensive Waldorf curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning, artistic expression, and academic excellence. The school features beautiful campus facilities including classrooms, art studios, and extensive outdoor learning spaces. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, the school provides personalized attention and fosters critical thinking skills. The integrated curriculum connects academic subjects through thematic learning, and the strong arts program includes music, theater, and visual arts. The school serves families throughout the Lake Champlain region, including Grand Isle residents.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Grand Isle, Vermont
What are the private school options for families living on Grand Isle, Vermont, and are there any located directly on the island?
Families on Grand Isle have a few distinctive private school options, though none are physically located on the island itself. The closest and most accessible are in the greater Burlington area, reachable via the causeway or ferry. Notable schools include the **Lake Champlain Waldorf School** in Shelburne (K-8), which emphasizes arts-integrated, developmental education; **Rock Point School** in Burlington, a small, supportive boarding and day school for grades 9-12; and **The Schoolhouse** in South Burlington, a progressive, project-based K-8 school. The commute is a key consideration, but these schools are chosen by island families for their unique educational philosophies.
How does Vermont's Town Tuitioning Program affect private school options for Grand Isle residents?
Vermont's unique Town Tuitioning Program is a critical financial consideration. Grand Isle is a "tuitioning town," meaning the district does not operate its own high school. Instead, it provides a tuition payment to an approved public or independent school of the family's choice. For grades 9-12, this payment can be applied to approved private schools like **Rock Point School**. However, for elementary and middle school, the program typically only applies if the local public school is unavailable. Parents should confirm directly with the Grand Isle Supervisory Union and the specific private school about current approval status and any tuition gap they would be responsible for covering.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Grand Isle-area private schools offer that leverage the local Vermont environment?
Schools in this region deeply integrate the Lake Champlain basin and Vermont landscape into their curricula. The **Lake Champlain Waldorf School** has a strong outdoor education program with gardening, farming, and nature immersion. **Rock Point School** utilizes its 130-acre campus on Lake Champlain for environmental science, hiking, kayaking, and a renowned maple sugaring program. **The Schoolhouse** often uses the lake and local farms as extensions of the classroom for project-based learning. This focus on place-based, experiential education is a hallmark of private schools accessible to Grand Isle families, fostering a strong connection to the local ecology and community.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools near Grand Isle, Vermont, and how early should parents apply?
Given the limited number of seats in these small schools, planning ahead is essential. Most schools near Grand Isle (like Rock Point, Lake Champlain Waldorf, and The Schoolhouse) follow an annual cycle with key deadlines in **January or February** for the following fall. The process usually involves an inquiry, campus visit/open house (highly recommended), application submission, student assessment or visit day, and financial aid application if needed. For boarding spots at Rock Point, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis but fill quickly. Grand Isle parents should initiate research and visits in the fall, a full year before desired enrollment, especially for middle or high school grades.
For a family on Grand Isle, what are the practical and philosophical trade-offs between the local public schools and commuting to a private school?
The primary trade-off involves community proximity versus specialized education. Grand Isle Central School is a well-regarded K-8 public school within the island community, offering convenience and strong local ties. Choosing a private school involves a significant commute (20-45 minutes to Burlington-area schools) but provides distinct alternatives: a specific pedagogical approach (Waldorf or progressive), smaller class sizes, or specialized support for high school students (as at Rock Point). For high school, the town tuitioning system somewhat equalizes cost, making the decision more about the school's fit. Families must weigh the daily logistics of travel against their desire for an educational philosophy that may not be available in the public system.
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