Private Schools, Charter Schools, and Alternative Schools in the Rochester, NY Area
Rochesterians have dozens of options for educating their kids. This is our private / charter / alternative education highlight page.
Click here to view all upcoming open houses in our area.
NEW VIDEO SNEAK PEEK! Click here to check out our compilation of videos created by local private and alternative schools. You'll get a great sense of what each offers!
View our Special Edition Rochester Private School Newsletter sent in November 2024.
If there is a private school that we have missed, please email us to let us know, and we'll add it promptly. Thank you!
The Harley School
Powerful Learning Moments. Every Day.The Harley School is a highly personalized, college preparatory program for our 515 students in Nursery-Grade 12.
Our classes are student-centered and inquiry-based, an approach which can’t be replicated in large sections or within the confines of the Common Core. We feature extraordinary strengths in the arts, in STEM, in civic and global engagement, mindfulness and empathy, and education for a sustainable future. We are a diverse community that celebrates academic seriousness and intellectual playfulness, care for the world and the self, a love for learning and for life.
Join us for a virtual “Inside Look: Information Sessions” held on Wednesdays during the school year from 12–1, highlighting a different division each time. There will be an opportunity to discuss the application process, financial aid, and answer any questions you may have.
Allendale Columbia School
At Allendale Columbia School, we prepare students for the world they will inherit. In our trusting and responsive environment, students in nursery through grade 12 grow in confidence and develop scholastic independence. Together, our students and teachers imagine, design, and create in order to make a positive impact locally and globally. We focus on building foundational skills while providing real-world, authentic learning opportunities. We value and foster these core values: making connections that matter; mastering strategies for learning; inspiring curious and creative learners; sparking resilient spirits; and daring to take risks.
Contact our Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid, Shelby Riter, at sriter@allendalecolumbia.org today to learn more!
Nazareth Elementary – Where Faith, Love and Learning Thrive!
Grade PreK3 - Grade 6In 2021, Nazareth Elementary celebrated 150 years of quality education! Combine academic excellence in a faith-filled environment with our dedicated, caring teaching staff and your child’s early educational journey will flourish! Our goal is for every child to thrive as a confident learner. Since the pandemic, Nazareth has grown its Academic Intervention program to provide extra support in reading and math. There are also enrichment opportunities at various levels. We are bringing back some pre-pandemic extracurricular activities such as Children’s Choir and Science Club. Nazareth could be the experience you have been searching for! Set your child up for bright future with a Nazareth education today.
Reach out today to join the Nazareth family! Call 585-458-3786 to schedule a tour. For more information on our Preschool to Grade 6 program, please visit us at www.nazarethschools.org.
Rochester Christian School
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!
St. Ambrose Academy
St. Ambrose Academy is a private, Catholic, coed, elementary school providing academic excellence for students in Preschool through grade 5. We offer Preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, including specialized instruction in physical education and music, with the option of full day wraparound extended care. Additionally, we offer full day Kindergarten, flexible Before and After School Care, a new playground, hot lunch program, and extensive academic enrichment programs including F.I.R.S.T LEGO robotics teams, Odyssey of the Mind teams, Spanish, and CYO Sports. Music, Art, Technology, Physical Education and Library time is part of the K-6 comprehensive curriculum. Financial aid is available. Explore your options and consider this affordable, neighborhood choice for your family! We invite you to contact our office to arrange for your personal tour. 585-288-0580
Hillel Community Day School
Hillel Community Day School fosters independent and critical thinking, self-awareness, and compassion in our students. Through our inquiry-driven Judaic and General Studies curriculum, integrated Hebrew-English language instruction, and our commitment to academic excellence, students develop a lifelong love of learning; a strong connection to Israel, Jewish texts and traditions; and the tools to become ethical and informed citizens. Hillel school is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme, emphasizing a student-centered approach and a nurturing environment for lifelong learning.
Join our warm community where every student's unique journey is valued, preparing graduates to thrive in an interconnected world. We offer a full-day program for Kindergarten through 6th grade. Our nine-acre campus is located in Brighton.
Hope Hall School
Connecting Children. Creating Community. Changing Lives.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.
Seton Catholic School and Preschool
Seton Catholic School welcomes students in preschool through grade six with its rich assortment of learning programs. Our students are challenged with our rigorous curriculum and extracurricular activities. Our dedicated staff and teachers are committed to the development of the whole child focusing on the academic, emotional, and spiritual needs of our students. Our school is rich in student-centered technology and standard-based instruction with diverse extracurricular activities ranging from Spanish instruction to chess club to a variety of sport teams and instruction, to name a few.
Seton Catholic School was named Best Pre-School and Best Private School by the Rochester Business Journal in 2023. Please visit our website at www.setondcs.org or call us at 585-473-6604 for more information or to schedule a tour. We are ready to welcome you to the Seton School community.
Rochester Prep Charter School
Families, did you know that last year our Rochester Prep Charter School seniors received over 2 million dollars in scholarship money? Do you know of anyone looking for a spot at the top-performing schools in Rochester? Our elementary schools have immediate openings: Take 90 seconds to apply and join us on the K-12 journey today!
Our 2025-2026 Kindergarten application opens December 2nd!
To learn more about Rochester Prep Charter School, locations and how you can join us visit https://rochesterprep.uncommonschools.org or call (585) 470-8245.
