The Best Private Schools in Hollandale, Wisconsin
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Hollandale. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Ignatius Catholic School
Diocese of Madison Catholic Schools
St. Ignatius Catholic School serves students from pre-K through 8th grade and draws families from Hollandale and surrounding communities. The school offers a rigorous academic curriculum integrated with Catholic faith formation, featuring small class sizes and individualized attention. Notable programs include comprehensive STEM education, fine arts, competitive athletics, and community service initiatives. The school maintains strong parent involvement and high academic standards, with graduates consistently well-prepared for area high schools. Facilities include modern classrooms, technology labs, a library, and gymnasium.
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Iowa-Grant Elementary & Middle School
Iowa-Grant School District
Iowa-Grant Elementary & Middle School serves students from pre-K through 8th grade, including families from the Hollandale area. The school emphasizes project-based learning and hands-on education, particularly strong in agricultural sciences and technology integration. The curriculum includes comprehensive literacy and mathematics programs, STEM initiatives, and arts education. The school features modern facilities with updated technology resources, science labs, and agricultural learning spaces. Parent satisfaction is high due to strong teacher-student relationships and community-oriented approach.
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St. Joseph's School
Diocese of Madison Catholic Schools
St. Joseph's School serves students from pre-K through 8th grade and attracts families from Hollandale and surrounding rural communities. The school provides a faith-based education with strong academic foundations, particularly noted for its advanced mathematics program and comprehensive language arts curriculum. Extracurricular offerings include competitive sports teams, music programs, and various clubs. The school maintains small class sizes and emphasizes character development alongside academic achievement. Facilities include recently renovated classrooms, a dedicated STEM lab, library resources, and athletic facilities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Hollandale, Wisconsin
What are the private school options available specifically within or very near Hollandale, Wisconsin?
Hollandale itself is a small village, so private school options within the village limits are limited. The primary local option is St. Ignatius Catholic School, which serves students in the Hollandale area. For a broader selection, families often look at schools in nearby communities. For example, St. Joseph's School in nearby Dodgeville and Iowa-Grant Elementary & Middle School (a public school in the Iowa-Grant district, not a private school) are sometimes considered alongside private options. Many families in rural areas like Hollandale also consider private schools in larger regional hubs such as Madison, Mineral Point, or Platteville, which may involve a longer commute.
How does tuition at a private school like St. Ignatius in Hollandale compare to the Wisconsin state average, and are there financial aid options?
Tuition at a small parochial school like St. Ignatius Catholic School in Hollandale is typically below the state average for private schools in Wisconsin, which can range significantly. For the 2023-2024 academic year, similar rural Catholic elementary schools in Wisconsin often have tuition between $2,500 and $4,500 per student, with discounts for parish members and multiple children. Most Wisconsin private schools, including those in the Hollandale area, offer financial aid through the school itself or diocesan programs. Critically, Wisconsin also has the nationally recognized Parental Choice Program, which allows eligible families to receive a state-funded voucher to attend participating private schools, potentially covering all or most of the tuition.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools serving Hollandale students offer, given the rural setting?
Private schools in the Hollandale area, such as St. Ignatius, often leverage their small size and community focus to provide unique experiences. Academically, they typically offer a strong core curriculum infused with faith-based values (in the case of parochial schools). Their small class sizes allow for highly individualized attention, which is a significant draw. Extracurricular offerings may be more limited than in large urban schools but are often community-centered. These might include participation in local and diocesan academic fairs, sports teams that cooperate with other small schools (like in the Dairyland Conference), and agriculture or community service projects that connect with the local farming and rural lifestyle of Iowa County.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for a private school like St. Ignatius Catholic School in Hollandale?
The enrollment process for St. Ignatius Catholic School generally begins in the winter or early spring for the following fall semester, often with an open house event. The timeline is crucial as space in small rural schools can be limited. The process typically involves: 1) Submitting an application form by a stated deadline (often in March or April), 2) Providing records from a previous school (if applicable), 3) A family meeting or interview with the principal, and 4) Registration and tuition agreement completion. For families new to the area or considering a mid-year transfer, it's essential to contact the school office directly, as they may have rolling admission depending on availability. Early inquiry is always recommended.
For a family in Hollandale, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Iowa-Grant) and a private school option?
The decision between Iowa-Grant Public Schools and a private school like St. Ignatius involves several Hollandale-specific factors. **Iowa-Grant** offers a comprehensive K-12 pathway within the same district, broader extracurricular options, and no tuition. **Private school** considerations include: a specific religious education (if choosing a parochial school), often smaller class sizes, and a particular educational philosophy. Practically, transportation is a major factor; the public district provides busing, while private school families often must arrange their own transportation to Hollandale or beyond. Additionally, the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program can make private school tuition more comparable to the "free" public option. The sense of community is strong in both settings, but the private school may offer a more tightly-knit, values-aligned environment that some families seek.
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