The Best Private Schools in Highland, Wisconsin
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Highland. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Mary's Catholic School
Diocese of Madison Catholic Schools
St. Mary's Catholic School serves students from Highland and surrounding communities with a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education. The school emphasizes faith-based learning combined with strong academic foundations, featuring small class sizes and individualized attention. Their curriculum includes advanced math and reading programs, technology integration, and comprehensive arts education. The school maintains strong community partnerships and offers extensive extracurricular activities including sports teams, choir, and community service opportunities. Parents consistently praise the dedicated teachers and nurturing environment that prepares students for high school success.
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St. John's Lutheran School
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Serving families from Highland and the broader tri-state area, St. John's Lutheran School provides Christ-centered education for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. The school features a rigorous academic program with strong emphasis on literacy, mathematics, and science. Their comprehensive curriculum includes daily religious instruction, foreign language exposure, music programs, and competitive sports. The campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, and athletic facilities. The school is known for its strong parent-teacher partnerships and consistently high academic achievement scores, with many graduates excelling in regional high schools.
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Edgewood College of the Sacred Heart
Edgewood Campus School
While located in Madison, Edgewood College of the Sacred Heart serves students from throughout southern Wisconsin, including Highland families seeking premier college preparatory education. The school offers an International Baccalaureate program alongside Advanced Placement courses, providing one of the most rigorous academic curricula in the region. Students benefit from state-of-the-art science laboratories, extensive athletic facilities, and comprehensive arts programs. The school emphasizes global citizenship and community service, with numerous international exchange programs and local outreach initiatives. With small class sizes and exceptional college placement records, Edgewood consistently ranks among Wisconsin's top private schools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Highland, Wisconsin
What are the primary private school options available for K-12 education in Highland, Wisconsin, and what are their core affiliations?
Highland, WI, offers a few key private school options, primarily faith-based institutions. St. Mary's Catholic School provides a Catholic education, while St. John's Lutheran School offers a Lutheran-based curriculum. It's important to note that Edgewood College of the Sacred Heart is actually located in Madison, WI, not Highland; it is a private college and not a local K-12 option. For secondary education, families in Highland often look at private schools in nearby larger communities like Dodgeville or Mineral Point, or consider the local public Highland School District. The private school landscape in Highland itself is characterized by small, community-oriented parochial schools.
How does tuition at private schools in Highland, WI, compare to state averages, and are there any Wisconsin-specific financial aid programs available?
Tuition at private schools in Highland, such as St. Mary's or St. John's Lutheran, is typically below the state average for private schools due to their rural setting and parish subsidies for member families. Annual tuition often ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per student, but rates vary based on parish membership and grade level. Wisconsin offers specific financial aid options, most notably the Parental Choice Program (School Choice), which provides state-funded vouchers for eligible families to attend participating private schools. However, eligibility and participation depend on the school's program status, family income, and residency. It's crucial to contact each school directly to understand their specific tuition structure and available aid.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in Highland, WI, offer that leverage the local community and environment?
Private schools in Highland capitalize on the town's rural character and tight-knit community. Programs often emphasize agricultural science, environmental stewardship, and local history, potentially incorporating field trips to nearby farms or the Iowa County Historical Society. Given the small class sizes, a hallmark of schools like St. Mary's, there is a strong focus on individualized learning and multi-age classroom activities. Extracurriculars are frequently community-based, such as participation in local 4-H events, church choirs, or service projects supporting Highland-area organizations. These schools often integrate their religious curriculum with practical community service, a significant aspect of education in this small town.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Highland, Wisconsin, and are there considerations for families moving to the area?
Enrollment for the fall semester at Highland's private schools often begins in January or February, with priority typically given to registered parishioners and siblings of current students. Due to the small size of these schools, spaces can be limited, so early inquiry is recommended. The process usually involves submitting an application, providing records from a previous school, and often a family interview. For families moving to the Highland area outside the standard timeline, it's essential to contact the school office directly, as they may have mid-year openings. Unlike in larger districts, the process in Highland is very personal, and administrators are usually flexible and eager to accommodate new community members.
For families considering both options, what are the key differences between the Highland School District (public) and the private schools in Highland, Wisconsin?
The primary differences lie in scale, curriculum, and cost. The **Highland School District** is a public K-12 district offering a broader range of elective courses, sports teams, and standardized programming funded by taxpayers, with no tuition. **Private schools in Highland** (St. Mary's and St. John's) are much smaller, fostering a close-knit, faith-based environment with religious education integrated throughout the day. They charge tuition but may offer a lower student-to-teacher ratio. A key consideration is transportation; the public district provides busing, while private school families often must arrange their own. Academically, both types of schools in this rural area perform well, but the choice largely hinges on a family's desire for a specific religious foundation versus a secular, comprehensive public education.
Private Education Insights
Understanding K-12 Private Academy Costs in Highland, WI: A Parent's Financial Guide
For families in Highland, Wisconsin, considering a private K-12 education for their children, understanding the full scope of k12 private academy cost is a crucial first step. It’s more than just tuition; it’s an investment in a child’s future within the unique fabric of our community. Here, your options include faith-based institutions like St. Mary’s Catholic School and St. John’s Lutheran School, which offer a values-centered education from early grades, and the broader preparatory environment of Edgewood College of the Sacred Heart in nearby Madison for high school. Each path comes with its own financial considerations, but there are common local factors that every Highland parent should explore.
When you begin to research k12 private academy cost in our area, you’ll find that tuition can vary significantly. Local parish-supported schools often have a different fee structure designed to support congregational families, while independent academies operate on a comprehensive tuition model. It is essential to contact each school directly for the most current figures, as these can change annually. For a family in Highland, budgeting for this expense requires looking at the long-term picture—from kindergarten through senior year—and understanding that costs typically increase in the higher grades, especially if considering a boarding or extensive college-prep program like those offered at some regional academies.
However, the listed tuition is rarely the final story. The true k12 private academy cost includes additional fees for technology, textbooks, lab supplies, and extracurricular activities like sports or arts programs. For families in a rural community like ours, transportation can also be a factor, as some schools may not provide bus service from Highland, adding potential fuel and time costs to your annual budget. It’s also wise to consider the investment in uniforms, which are common at many private academies, and any costs associated with mandatory community service or field trips that enrich the curriculum.
The encouraging news for Wisconsin families is that financial assistance is more accessible than many realize. Most private schools, including those in and serving Highland, offer need-based scholarships and tuition payment plans. Critically, Wisconsin’s Parental Choice Programs can significantly offset the k12 private academy cost for qualifying families. Programs like the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) and the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) allow students to attend participating private schools, including religious ones, with state-funded vouchers. Eligibility depends on income and residency, making it vital to check each school’s participation status and application deadlines. Additionally, local scholarships from community foundations or the schools’ own endowment funds can provide further support.
Ultimately, evaluating the k12 private academy cost is about measuring value against investment. For parents in Highland, this means considering the small class sizes, personalized attention, and strong moral foundation that local private schools provide, often fostering a close-knit environment reminiscent of our town itself. By thoroughly investigating tuition, all ancillary fees, and the robust financial aid landscape in Wisconsin, you can make an informed decision that aligns your child’s educational journey with your family’s financial planning. The initial research is a meaningful step toward securing an educational experience that can shape your child’s path for years to come.