The Best Private Schools in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Sturgeon Bay. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame Schools
Notre Dame Academy is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving families throughout Northeast Wisconsin, including Sturgeon Bay. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM programs, and outstanding fine arts offerings. Facilities include state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and extensive athletic complex. The school maintains a strong Catholic identity while welcoming students of all faiths, with transportation options available for Door County families.
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Bay View Middle School
Howard-Suamico School District
Bay View Middle School offers an exceptional private education option for families in the broader Green Bay area, serving students from Sturgeon Bay and surrounding communities. The school features an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, advanced STEM curriculum, and comprehensive gifted and talented services. Modern facilities include technology-rich classrooms, science and innovation labs, and extensive athletic amenities. The school is particularly noted for its strong academic performance and diverse extracurricular opportunities that attract families from throughout the region.
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Gibraltar Area Schools
Gibraltar School District
Gibraltar Area Schools serves the Door County peninsula including Sturgeon Bay with a comprehensive K-12 private education program. The school emphasizes personalized learning with small class sizes and strong college preparatory curriculum. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. The school is known for its robust STEM programs, competitive athletics, and outdoor education opportunities leveraging Door County's natural environment. Parent satisfaction is high due to strong teacher-student relationships and academic outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
What are the primary private school options available for K-12 students in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and how do they differ?
Sturgeon Bay, WI, offers a few distinct private school options, though it's important to note that some are located in nearby communities. Within the immediate area, **Notre Dame Academy** is a prominent Catholic school offering a faith-based education from pre-K through 12th grade. **Gibraltar Area Schools** is actually a public school district serving the Door Peninsula, not a private institution. For private options, parents often also consider schools in neighboring Green Bay, such as the Bay Port area schools, which are public. The most direct local private option is Notre Dame Academy, which provides a continuous educational pathway, a focus on community service, and college preparatory curriculum rooted in Catholic values, making it a distinct choice from the public system.
How does tuition at Notre Dame Academy in Sturgeon Bay compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are available for Wisconsin families?
Tuition at Notre Dame Academy in Sturgeon Bay is generally below the average for private high schools in Wisconsin, which often exceed $10,000 annually. Specific rates vary by grade level and parish membership, but it is designed to be accessible for families in the Door County community. Like many Wisconsin private schools, it offers financial aid through need-based scholarships, often funded by the parish, the Green Bay Diocese, and local charitable foundations. Wisconsin also offers the **Parental Choice Program**, a statewide voucher system that may allow eligible families to use public funds for tuition at participating private schools, including religious ones. It's crucial to check Notre Dame Academy's specific participation status and application deadlines for both institutional aid and state programs.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Sturgeon Bay area private schools offer that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in the Sturgeon Bay area, like Notre Dame Academy, often integrate the unique Door County environment into their programs. This can include specialized courses or projects in **environmental science and marine biology**, leveraging proximity to the bay, wetlands, and the Door Peninsula's ecosystems. Extracurriculars may emphasize **outdoor education**, sailing, or environmental stewardship clubs. Furthermore, the strong local arts and maritime heritage community can lead to partnerships for programs in visual arts, music, or vocational tech related to boat building and trades. These localized offerings provide an education deeply connected to the community's character and economic drivers, which is a significant draw for families.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and are there waitlists?
For Notre Dame Academy in Sturgeon Bay, the enrollment process typically begins in the winter (January-February) for the following academic year, with re-registration for current families taking priority. Open houses are often held during this period. The process involves submitting an application, academic records, and possibly a family interview. Due to the smaller size of the Sturgeon Bay community and being the primary local private option, certain grade levels can have waitlists, especially in early elementary grades. It's highly advisable to initiate contact by early winter. For families considering Catholic education, baptismal certificates and parish verification are part of the process. Timelines for Wisconsin's Parental Choice Program, if applicable, have strict state-mandated deadlines, usually in the spring.
For families considering both sectors, what are the key practical differences between attending Sturgeon Bay public schools (like Gibraltar) and a private school like Notre Dame Academy?
The key differences lie in curriculum, environment, and cost. The **Sturgeon Bay Public School District** (which includes Sturgeon Bay High School) and the **Gibraltar Area School District** (a public district in Fish Creek) are tuition-free, funded by taxes, and offer a broad curriculum with diverse extracurriculars. **Notre Dame Academy** (private) offers a faith-based education with required religion classes, liturgical participation, and a values-integrated curriculum. Class sizes at Notre Dame are typically smaller. Financially, public schools have no tuition, while Notre Dame charges tuition, though with financial aid options. Geographically, public school assignment is based on residence, while private school is a choice regardless of address. For Sturgeon Bay families, this often comes down to prioritizing a specific religious education and community versus the comprehensive, secular offerings of the public system.
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