The Best Private Schools in Harrisville, West Virginia
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Harrisville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Margaret Mary School
Catholic Schools of Parkersburg
St. Margaret Mary School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the broader region including Harrisville. With over six decades of educational excellence, the school offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade program emphasizing academic rigor within a faith-based environment. The school features modern facilities, dedicated faculty with low student-teacher ratios, and strong extracurricular programs including sports, music, and art. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment and strong community values, with many families commuting from surrounding areas for the quality education.
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Williamstown Christian School
Independent Christian School
Williamstown Christian School serves students from Harrisville and surrounding communities with a comprehensive K-12 Christian education program. The school maintains strong academic standards with college preparatory focus while integrating biblical principles throughout the curriculum. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, athletic fields, and dedicated art and music spaces. The school is known for its strong community atmosphere, experienced faculty, and successful college placement record. Extracurricular offerings include competitive sports, drama productions, and community service programs.
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Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School
Parkersburg Catholic Schools
Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School provides quality private education to students from Harrisville and the wider regional area. Serving Pre-K through 5th grade, the school focuses on building strong academic foundations while fostering spiritual growth. The experienced faculty maintains small class sizes to ensure individualized attention. The campus features updated facilities including technology-enhanced classrooms, library resources, and play areas. The school offers various enrichment programs and maintains strong parent involvement, with many families choosing the school for its safe, values-based learning environment and proven academic outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Harrisville, West Virginia
What are the private school options for families living in Harrisville, West Virginia, and are there any located directly in town?
Harrisville itself is a small town, so there are no private schools physically located within its city limits. However, families in Harrisville typically look to neighboring communities for excellent private options. The closest and most popular schools include St. Margaret Mary School in Parkersburg (Pre-K-8, Catholic), Williamstown Christian School in Williamstown (K-12, interdenominational Christian), and Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School in Parkersburg. These schools are within a 30-45 minute commute from Harrisville, leveraging the regional network of Route 50 and I-77. Many families in Ritchie County form carpools for this daily commute.
How does tuition at private schools near Harrisville, WV, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition for the private schools serving Harrisville families is generally below the national private school average, reflecting West Virginia's cost of living. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect ranges from approximately $4,500 to $7,500 for elementary grades. Most schools, like St. Margaret Mary and Parkersburg Catholic, offer parish subsidies for active Catholic families, reducing the cost. Williamstown Christian School and others typically have need-based financial aid programs and may offer discounts for multiple siblings. Importantly, West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program provides state-funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to eligible students leaving public school, which can be applied to private school tuition, making these options more accessible for Harrisville residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Harrisville, WV, region offer that might not be available in local public schools?
The private schools in this region often provide specialized programs that leverage their smaller class sizes and specific missions. For example, Williamstown Christian School offers a comprehensive Bible-integrated curriculum and dual-enrollment opportunities with nearby universities for high school students. St. Margaret Mary and Parkersburg Catholic Elementary provide strong sacramental preparation and daily religion classes alongside STEM initiatives. A notable advantage for rural families in Harrisville is that these schools often have more consistent access to specialized arts, music, and foreign language instruction at the elementary level, which can be challenging for smaller public school districts in Ritchie County to maintain.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving Harrisville, WV, and when should we apply?
The enrollment process for schools like Williamstown Christian, St. Margaret Mary, and Parkersburg Catholic usually begins in January or February for the following fall. Priority is often given to re-enrolling students and siblings, so it's crucial for Harrisville families to initiate applications by early spring. The process typically involves submitting an application, academic records from your current school (which may be Ritchie County public schools), a pastoral reference (for faith-based schools), and a family interview. Due to the limited seats and specific community draw, we recommend contacting admissions offices by December to schedule tours and understand specific requirements, especially if you are applying for the Hope Scholarship, which has its own state deadline.
For a family in Harrisville, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public schools and a private school commute?
The decision hinges on several factors unique to living in rural West Virginia. The primary consideration is the daily commute of 30+ minutes to a private school, which involves time, cost, and weather-related challenges on mountain roads. Academically, private options offer smaller, consistent class sizes and often a broader curriculum in the arts and languages. Culturally, faith-based education is a major draw. Conversely, Ritchie County public schools offer proximity, strong community ties, and no tuition. Utilizing the West Virginia Hope Scholarship can offset tuition, making private school financially feasible. Many Harrisville families value the private school community as an extension of their regional, rather than purely local, network.
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