The Best Private Schools in Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Shepherdstown. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Evergreen Academy
Independent
Evergreen Academy is a highly-regarded Montessori school serving the Eastern Panhandle region including Shepherdstown. The school offers authentic Montessori education for children ages 3-12, focusing on individualized learning and hands-on experiences. With small class sizes and certified Montessori teachers, the school emphasizes academic excellence while nurturing independence and creativity. The campus features well-equipped classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, and a comprehensive STEAM program that integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
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St. Joseph School
Catholic Schools of West Virginia
St. Joseph School is a premier Catholic private school serving the Eastern Panhandle, including Shepherdstown families. The school provides a rigorous academic curriculum rooted in Catholic values, with strong emphasis on core subjects, character development, and community service. Features include modern technology integration, comprehensive fine arts programs, competitive sports teams, and small class sizes ensuring personalized attention. The school maintains high academic standards with graduates consistently accepted into top regional high schools.
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The Wildwood Middle School
Independent
The Wildwood Middle School offers a unique progressive education model serving students from Shepherdstown and surrounding communities. The school focuses on project-based learning, critical thinking, and real-world applications across all subjects. With an emphasis on environmental science and sustainability, students engage in hands-on learning through the school's extensive outdoor classroom and garden programs. The intimate learning environment features multi-age classrooms, individualized learning plans, and strong emphasis on social-emotional development alongside academic excellence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Shepherdstown, West Virginia
What are the primary private school options available for K-12 education in Shepherdstown, WV, and what are their educational approaches?
Shepherdstown offers a few distinct private school options, each with a unique approach. Evergreen Academy is a private, secular school offering a progressive, project-based education with a focus on environmental stewardship and the arts. St. Joseph School is a Catholic parochial school providing a faith-based, traditional academic curriculum from Pre-K through 8th grade, emphasizing moral development and community service. The Wildwood Middle School offers a specialized, experiential education for middle school students, often with a focus on outdoor and place-based learning. It's important to note that Shepherdstown does not have a private high school, so families often look at options in nearby Charles Town, Martinsburg, or even Maryland for secondary education.
How does tuition for private schools in Shepherdstown, WV, compare to the state average, and are there financial aid options specific to West Virginia?
Tuition in Shepherdstown is generally competitive but can vary. For the 2024-2025 academic year, St. Joseph School's tuition is approximately $5,000-$7,000, while Evergreen Academy and Wildwood Middle School, as smaller independent schools, may have tuition ranging from $8,000 to $12,000. These figures are often below the national average for private schools but may be slightly above the West Virginia state average due to Shepherdstown's proximity to the higher-cost Washington D.C. metro area. West Virginia offers the Hope Scholarship, a state-funded Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which provides eligible families with funds that can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses. All local private schools can provide information on their own need-based financial aid and payment plans.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Shepherdstown private schools offer that leverage the local history and environment?
Shepherdstown's rich history and natural setting along the Potomac River directly influence local private school programs. Evergreen Academy and Wildwood Middle School heavily integrate the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the C&O Canal, and the Appalachian Trail into their science and humanities curricula through frequent field studies. St. Joseph School incorporates local history, such as the founding of Shepherdstown and the Battle of Antietam, into social studies units. It's common for these schools to partner with Shepherd University for special programs or to use the town's historic districts and the Potomac River for hands-on learning in ecology, history, and the arts, offering an education deeply connected to the local community and landscape.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Shepherdstown, and are there waiting lists?
The enrollment process in Shepherdstown typically begins in the winter (January-February) for the following fall, with application deadlines often in March. St. Joseph School, as a parish school, may give priority to registered parishioners and siblings of current students. Evergreen Academy and Wildwood Middle School usually require a campus tour, application, student visit day, and often an educational assessment or interview. Due to their small sizes—often with only one class per grade level—these schools can have limited space and waiting lists, particularly for entry-grade levels like Kindergarten or 6th grade. It is highly recommended to initiate inquiries a full year in advance. Rolling admissions may be available if spots remain open after the primary cycle.
For families considering both options, how do the private schools in Shepherdstown compare academically and socially to the public Jefferson County Schools?
The key differences lie in class size, educational philosophy, and specific program offerings. Jefferson County public schools, like Shepherdstown Elementary, offer a robust, standards-based education with a wider array of specialized staff and extracurriculars due to larger scale. Private schools in Shepherdstown offer significantly smaller class sizes (often 10-15 students), allowing for highly individualized instruction. Academically, private schools like Evergreen offer a less standardized, more holistic curriculum, while St. Joseph provides structured learning within a faith-based framework. Socially, the private schools foster tight-knit, community-oriented environments. The choice often comes down to a family's preference for a specific pedagogical approach (progressive vs. traditional), desire for religious education, and the value placed on very small, personalized learning communities versus the resources and diversity of a larger public school system.
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