The Best Private Schools in Cedarville, West Virginia
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Cedarville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Patrick School
Catholic Schools of West Virginia
St. Patrick School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Cedarville and surrounding Lewis County area. Established in 1957, the school provides comprehensive education from Pre-K through 8th grade with a strong emphasis on faith-based learning and academic excellence. The school features modern classrooms, dedicated faculty with low student-teacher ratios, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, music and arts education, and competitive athletics. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment, strong community values, and excellent preparation for high school.
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Elkins Mountain School
Universal Health Services
Elkins Mountain School is a premier private therapeutic boarding school serving students from Cedarville and throughout West Virginia. Founded in 1989, the school specializes in providing comprehensive education alongside therapeutic support for students with emotional and behavioral challenges. The campus features state-of-the-art academic facilities, residential accommodations, and extensive outdoor recreational areas. The school offers college preparatory curriculum, individualized learning plans, and specialized therapeutic programs with a strong track record of student success and high parent satisfaction ratings.
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Notre Dame High School
Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Notre Dame High School is a distinguished Catholic college preparatory school serving the Cedarville region and surrounding counties. Established in 1954, the school has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and character development. The school features modern science labs, technology-enhanced classrooms, comprehensive athletic facilities, and a robust fine arts program. Notre Dame offers advanced placement courses, dual enrollment opportunities with local colleges, and a dedicated STEM academy. The school maintains small class sizes and has consistently high college acceptance rates, with strong parent and alumni satisfaction.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Cedarville, West Virginia
What are the specific private school options available for families residing in or near Cedarville, West Virginia?
Cedarville, WV, is a small, rural community, so most private school options are located in nearby towns. The primary schools serving the area include St. Patrick School (pre-K through 8) in Weston, approximately 20 miles away, which is a Catholic diocesan school. For high school, Notre Dame High School, a Catholic college-preparatory school, is located in Clarksburg, about 30 miles from Cedarville. Additionally, Elkins Mountain School, a therapeutic boarding school in Elkins (roughly 45 miles away), serves students with specific behavioral or emotional needs. Given the distances, transportation is a key consideration for Cedarville families, and carpooling is common.
How does tuition at private schools near Cedarville, WV, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for day schools in this region of West Virginia is generally below the national private school average but must be evaluated relative to local household incomes. For the 2024-2025 academic year, St. Patrick School tuition is approximately $5,000-$6,000, while Notre Dame High School is around $8,000-$9,000. Most schools offer need-based financial aid, and critically, West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program provides state-funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to eligible students leaving the public system, which can be applied to private school tuition. Diocesean schools also often have parish subsidy programs and multi-child discounts. It's essential to inquire directly with each school about their specific aid packages and the ESA application process.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Cedarville, WV, area offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
The private schools accessible to Cedarville families often provide specialized environments and curricula. Notre Dame High School emphasizes a college-prep curriculum with a required theology program and offers dual-credit courses through partnerships with local colleges. St. Patrick School provides a faith-based education with small class sizes, a benefit in a rural setting. While local public schools may have limited advanced coursework or arts programs due to budget constraints, these private institutions can offer more consistent programming in these areas. Notably, none of these schools are large, which allows for personalized attention but may mean fewer niche extracurriculars (like certain sports or clubs) compared to larger regional public high schools.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like St. Patrick or Notre Dame that serve Cedarville students?
Enrollment for the following academic year typically opens in January or February, with priority often given to siblings of current students and parishioners (for diocesan schools). The process involves submitting an application, academic records, teacher recommendations, and usually a family interview or student assessment. For Cedarville families, it's crucial to apply early due to limited seats, especially in the younger grades. Many schools host open houses in the fall. Given the commuting distance, part of the enrollment conversation should include discussions about transportation logistics and after-school care, as bus service from Cedarville is usually not provided by the private schools.
For a family in Cedarville, what are the primary practical and philosophical considerations when choosing between the local public school and a private school a significant drive away?
The decision hinges on several Cedarville-specific factors. Practically, commuting 20-45 minutes each way to a private school involves significant time, fuel costs, and coordination, especially in winter weather. Philosophically, families may seek the faith-based education and consistent discipline of St. Patrick or Notre Dame, or the specialized therapeutic environment of Elkins Mountain School. Academically, private schools may offer a more structured environment with potentially fewer combined-grade classrooms than what might be found in a very small rural public school. It's highly recommended to schedule visits to both the local Ritchie County public schools and the private options to compare culture, class sizes, and program offerings firsthand, weighing them against the daily commute.
Private Education Insights
Discover the Best Private Schools in Cedarville, WV: A Parent's Guide
If you’re a parent in Cedarville, West Virginia, typing “private schools near me” into a search bar, you’re likely looking for more than just a list of names. You’re seeking an educational environment that aligns with your family’s values, meets your child’s unique needs, and feels like an extension of our close-knit community. The good news is that Cedarville and the surrounding Randolph County area offer a handful of distinctive private institutions, each with its own character and strengths, providing meaningful alternatives to the public school system.
Your search will likely lead you to three primary options: St. Patrick School, Elkins Mountain School, and Notre Dame High School. It’s important to understand that “near me” in our region often means a short commute, as these schools serve families from across the county and beyond. St. Patrick School, a cherished local institution, offers a faith-based, K-8 education rooted in Catholic values. For many Cedarville families, it represents a continuity of community and tradition, providing a structured, nurturing environment with an emphasis on moral development alongside academic fundamentals. The small class sizes here ensure personalized attention, a common thread among our local private options.
For families seeking a specialized environment, particularly for a son benefiting from a structured, outdoor-oriented program, Elkins Mountain School presents a unique and valuable option. Located just a short drive from Cedarville, this therapeutic boarding school focuses on experiential learning, leadership, and personal growth within the context of West Virginia’s natural landscape. While it’s a residential program, it serves local day students as well, offering an alternative for young men who might thrive with a more hands-on, adventure-based curriculum and therapeutic support. It’s a reminder that “private schools near me” can include highly specialized approaches not typically found in traditional settings.
When considering the transition to high school, Notre Dame High School in nearby Clarksburg becomes a natural point of consideration for many Cedarville families committed to private, Catholic education. The decision often involves planning for the commute, but parents value the rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, strong athletic programs, and the cohesive community it fosters. The pathway from St. Patrick to Notre Dame is a common one, creating a seamless, values-aligned education from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Ultimately, researching “private schools near me” in Cedarville is less about proximity and more about fit. We encourage you to look beyond the search results and visit these campuses. Talk to administrators, ask about transportation options or carpool networks with other local families, and get a feel for the culture. In a community like ours, these schools are more than just buildings; they are partnerships in raising resilient, educated, and grounded young people. The investment is significant, but for many parents here, the return—measured in individualized attention, shared values, and a strong sense of belonging—is found in the unique environments these local private schools provide.
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