The Best Private Schools in Cashton, Wisconsin
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Cashton. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Brookwood School
Independent
Brookwood School is an independent private school serving students from multiple counties including western Wisconsin. The school emphasizes progressive education through project-based learning and individualized instruction. Features include extensive outdoor education programs on their 40-acre campus, integrated arts curriculum, STEM labs, and small class sizes with student-teacher ratios of 8:1. The school focuses on developing critical thinking skills and creativity while maintaining strong academic standards. Transportation options and financial aid make it accessible to Cashton-area families seeking alternative educational approaches.
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Aquinas Catholic Schools - La Crosse
Aquinas Catholic Schools
Aquinas Catholic Schools serves the greater La Crosse area including Cashton with a comprehensive K-12 Catholic education system. The system includes multiple elementary campuses and Aquinas High School, known for its strong college preparatory curriculum with 98% of graduates attending college. Features include Advanced Placement courses, state-of-the-art STEM labs, championship athletic programs, and extensive fine arts offerings. The school emphasizes character development and community service while maintaining small class sizes and personalized attention.
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St. Patrick's School - Sparta
Diocese of La Crosse
St. Patrick's School provides a faith-based education serving families in Monroe County including Cashton. The school offers preschool through 8th grade with a strong emphasis on academic excellence integrated with Catholic values. Features include modern technology integration with 1:1 device program, comprehensive music and art programs, competitive sports teams, and before/after school care. The school maintains small class sizes with dedicated teachers and strong parent community involvement, consistently achieving above-average standardized test scores.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Cashton, Wisconsin
Are there any private schools located directly within Cashton, Wisconsin, or do families typically look to neighboring towns?
There are no private K-12 schools physically located within the village limits of Cashton. Families seeking private education typically look to schools in nearby communities. The most common options include Aquinas Catholic Schools in La Crosse (about a 30-minute drive), St. Patrick's School in Sparta (about a 20-minute drive), and Brookwood School, a private special education school in Viroqua. Transportation is a key consideration, and many families form carpools or utilize provided bus services from designated pickup points in the Cashton area.
What is the average annual tuition for private elementary schools serving Cashton, WI, families, and are there financial aid options specific to Wisconsin?
For the private schools Cashton families commonly consider, annual tuition for elementary grades typically ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 per child for parishioners of supporting Catholic churches, and slightly higher for non-parishioners. A significant financial resource unique to Wisconsin is the Parental Choice Program (voucher program). While income and prior public school attendance requirements apply, this program can allow eligible families to attend participating private schools, like those in the Aquinas system, at little to no direct tuition cost. It's crucial to check each school's specific participation status and application deadlines.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Cashton offer that might not be available in the local public district?
Private schools in the region offer distinct programs tailored to their missions. Aquinas Catholic Schools provide a comprehensive, faith-based K-12 system with strong college-prep curricula, world language programs starting in elementary grades, and access to specialized facilities in La Crosse. St. Patrick's in Sparta offers a tight-knit, community-focused environment with individualized attention. Brookwood School provides a highly specialized, therapeutic approach for students with unique learning, emotional, or behavioral needs—a program not replicated in the standard public school setting. For Cashton families, these represent specialized alternatives to the offerings of the Cashton Public School District.
What are the key enrollment timelines and application steps for private schools that serve Cashton, WI, especially regarding the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program?
Timelines are critical, especially for voucher funding. For the following academic year, the application period for the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program typically opens in February and closes in April. However, individual school applications (like for Aquinas or St. Patrick's) often open even earlier, in the fall or winter. The process is two-fold: 1) Apply directly to your chosen private school(s), and 2) Submit a separate application for the state voucher through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website during the open period. Cashton families should initiate inquiries by October or November to ensure they meet all deadlines for testing, shadow days, and financial aid paperwork.
How does the community and educational environment of a private school in a larger town like La Crosse compare to the rural Cashton public school experience?
This is a fundamental consideration. The Cashton Public School District offers a quintessential rural Wisconsin experience with small class sizes, strong community identity centered around local events, and renowned agricultural and FFA programs. In contrast, commuting to a private school like Aquinas in La Crosse provides a more urban/suburban environment with a broader demographic, extensive extracurricular and athletic options (like hockey or larger music programs), and facilities like science labs and theaters. The choice often hinges on whether a family prioritizes the deep local integration and specific programs of the rural public school or the distinct mission, religious education, and expanded resources of a private institution in a neighboring hub city.
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