Private & alternative education options, sent annually on the second Monday of November
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Rochester KidsOutAndAbout
Private & Alternative Schools Newsletter 2025 |
Dear KidsOutAndabout.com readers: Are you or a friend considering private or alternative school for your kids? Our annual special-edition newsletter is here to help with the research!
KidsOutAndAbout has local lists of private and alternative schools and charter schools with options for different ages and educational philosophies. You'll find the list under "LEARN" on every page of KidsOutAndAbout.com: Just click LEARN, then PRIVATE SCHOOLS. We also give you
a sneak peek into what you'll find in these schools on our page showcasing local private school videos which provide a useful look at the schools' mission and culture. (If you know of a school that should be on these pages but is not yet there, please email me back to let us
know.)
So browse our list, check out each school's web site, watch some videos... and then pick up the phone or send an email to connect with the schools directly to learn more.
SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER for future reference or forward it to a friend!
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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Private schools and alternative schools in the greater Rochester, NY area: Rochesterians have dozens of options for educating their kids. This is KidsOutAndAbout's education highlight page, containing specially featured schools and also our master list of local schools. If your school is not on our list but should be, please email us at ross@kidsoutandabout.com.
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Private Schools in the Rochester, NY area: Try it before you buy it... and even before you visit! This is KidsOutAndAbout.com's video sneak peek into local private school experiences in the Rochester area. If your school should have a video on this page, please send a link to the school's video on YouTube or Vimeo to ross@kidsoutandabout.com.
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Allendale Columbia School is leading independent, diverse, co-ed school that prepares students 18 months through grade 12 for the world they will inherit. Our school is a thriving, diverse community of learners who engage locally and internationally to create opportunities to design, imagine, learn, and make a positive impact. Contact us to schedule a time to visit our 33-acre campus located at 519 Allens Creek Road in Pittsford.
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A highly personalized journey from Nursery to Grade 12, The Harley School empowers potential through inquiry and academic rigor. Our approach is intentionally student-centered, prioritizing deep, lasting engagement that can’t be replicated in large sections or within a standard curriculum. We are a diverse community where academic rigor meets intellectual playfulness. Your child won't just learn subjects; they will develop essential skills in the arts, STEM, civic engagement, and mindfulness. We focus on cultivating a genuine love for learning and for life. We invite you to experience the Harley difference!Join our "Inside Look" Virtual Information Sessions each Wednesday from noon–1 pm, register for our December 6 Open House, or call Renée at (585) 277-1113 to schedule a private consultation.
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At Hillel Community Day School, a personalized, innovative, and values-driven education empowers our students to become confident, compassionate leaders. As a candidate school in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), we also ensure that our students can become good citizens in today's world. Additionally, Hillel Community Day School is a place where every Jewish family feels at home! Regardless of background, denomination, or level of observance, we are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative environment. Our school celebrates the richness of the Jewish experience while building a shared identity rooted in values, tradition, and community. For more info, please find us at www.hillelschool.org!
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At Nazareth Elementary, students in Pre-K3 through Grade 6 thrive in an environment that blends rigorous academics with faith, character, and care. Rooted in the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth inspires students to learn with purpose and lead with kindness. Our small class sizes allow teachers to meet each child’s unique needs, ensuring every learner feels supported and challenged. From hands-on learning to student well-being, Nazareth’s safe, caring setting helps children grow confidently. With enrichment in STEM, reading, arts, and leadership, Nazareth provides the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, confidence, and love of learning! Learn more at www.nazarethschools.org.
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Welcome to Rochester Christian School! Your child will be uniquely known in our supportive, Christ-centered learning environment. Our school boasts a thriving Preschool to 8th grade campus that prepares students to use their heads, hearts, and hands for Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing world, through God’s Word and academic excellence. We have been partnering with parents in the Rochester area to provide high quality Christian education for over 100 years, and are the only elementary school in the state with dual accreditation from Christian Schools International and Middle States. Our dedicated, certified staff will strive to educate your whole child. Discover the RCS Difference: rochesterchristianschool.org or call 585-671-4910 to schedule a tour!
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At St. Ambrose Academy, faith, learning, and community come together to inspire young minds. Serving students from Preschool through Grade 5, we celebrate a diverse student body where every child is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Our programs for 3- and 4-year-olds offer half- and full-day options, providing a caring start to each child’s educational journey. Students thrive through experiences that nurture the whole child — spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually. From service projects and music to art, athletics, and after-school clubs, learning at St. Ambrose Academy is full of joy and purpose. Call 585-288-0580 to schedule your tour today!
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Providing a strongly academic, Christ-centered education since 1956, St. Paul Lutheran School has taught generations of children in a positive academic environment, while always keeping Christ at the center of students’ lives. In addition to the high academic standards and nurturing environment at St. Paul’s, our students benefit from: Smaller class sizes Safe and loving learning environment Qualified, professional, credentialed Christian teachers A focus on the whole child: academically, socially, physically, emotionally, creatively and spiritually Check us out at our STREAM Fair on Wednesday, January 28 from 6-7:30 pm at 158 East Ave. Hilton, NY or tour today!
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Hope Hall School is a private, non-sectarian, not-for-profit school, founded in 1994. Our unique educational program, The Dolce Method for Learning Mastery™, is designed for children with special learning needs who consistently experience frustration in traditional classroom settings. We believe that when students are given respect and enough time in a supportive, multi-sensory learning environment, they can become successful lifelong learners.Serving students in grades 3 through 12 from 17 school districts across Monroe County and beyond, Hope Hall’s nurturing, non-threatening, creative atmosphere helps them reverse the cycle of academic failure. At Hope Hall, we proudly boast a consistent 100% graduation rate. Our students graduate prepared for college, the workforce, post-secondary career training programs, and/or 18-21 transition programs.
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Founded in 1967, Trinity Montessori School in Rochester, New York is the largest private Montessori school in Western and Central New York for children ages 21-months to 12-years. The current school was built on eight acres of land in 2011 and designed specifically for Montessori education. Parents choose Trinity Montessori for its hands-on approach to learning. Here, the teachers guide children to discover and appreciate their own invaluable gifts and talents, instilling a deep sense of independence and a lifelong love for learning. Trinity Montessori students leave the school with the qualities of self-conviction, reverence, and peace, as they become all-embracing world citizens. Trinity Montessori School offers toddler, primary, and elementary programs with flexible schedules, an extended day and wrap-around care, and an International Summer Program called The World Wonder Workshops.
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Montessori School of Rochester (MSR), located at 1880 S Winton Rd., nurtures curiosity, independence, and confidence in children from 6 weeks to 6 years. Founded in 1965, MSR follows the Montessori philosophy—honoring each child's natural desire to learn through hands-on, individualized experiences. Programs include Nido (6 weeks–18 months), Toddler (18 months–3 years), and Children’s House (3–6 years). With a focus on grace, courtesy, and respect for self, others, and the earth, MSR helps children develop lifelong skills in problem-solving and critical thinking in a warm, supportive environment where wonder and self-discovery lead the way.
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Greece Montessori School at 751 Long Pond Rd., Rochester, NY 14612, invites children ages 6 weeks to 6 years into a nurturing Montessori‐based environment grounded in respect for the child and the learning process. Programs include Nido, Toddler Community, Primary Program, Extended Day for Kindergarten & First Grade, and Wrap‑Around Care. Accredited by Association Montessori Internationale, GMS emphasizes holistic growth—emotional, intellectual, physical, and social—while encouraging exploration, independence and optimism.
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Here's to seizing opportunities to learn wherever they appear!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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