How Independent Schooling Is Regulated in Vermont

Vermont does not run private schools through one licensing counter. The State Board of Education and the Vermont Agency of Education sort independent schools into categories under Title 16 of the Vermont Statutes, and the category decides what a school may do. Our directory lists 107 schools and related programs, from day schools in the Burlington suburbs to small programs in the Northeast Kingdom. This page explains the rules behind those listings so you know what a name on the list actually means.

Schooling is compulsory in Vermont from age 6 to 16. A family can meet that requirement through a public school, an approved or recognized independent school, or a home study program. Home study is a separate legal pathway. Parents file an enrollment notice with the Agency of Education, and those children are not counted as private school students. Keep that distinction in mind when you compare options.

Approved and recognized independent schools

Two categories matter most in practice. An approved independent school has been reviewed against state standards covering its educational program, staff qualifications, facilities and finances. Approval is what allows a Vermont school district to pay tuition for a student at that school. A recognized independent school operates lawfully and satisfies the attendance requirement, but it has not gone through approval and cannot receive public tuition.

Approved schools that serve students with disabilities face additional requirements. If a school's website or brochure uses the word "approved," ask which Agency of Education approval it holds and for which grades and programs. A school can be approved for some ages and not for others.

Tuition towns and the town academies

Many Vermont towns do not operate a public school at every grade level. Under the tuition provisions of Title 16, those districts pay for their students to attend another public school or an approved independent school. That is why historic academies such as St. Johnsbury Academy and Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester serve as the main high school for surrounding towns while staying independent. Not every academy appears under this category in our listings, so search by town as well.

In those arrangements the district writes the check, subject to limits in state law. Rules differ from town to town. Some districts offer school choice, while others name one designated school. Your school board or supervisory union office can tell you which applies to your address before you apply anywhere.

Outside tuition towns, families generally pay private school costs themselves. Vermont does not run a statewide voucher program for private schools, so the tuition-town system is the main route to public payment.

Private Schools Across Vermont's Regions

Vermont has roughly 650,000 residents spread across 14 counties, so schools follow the towns and valleys rather than one metro area. Our listings reach into 12 counties, and their character changes as you move around the state. Winter snow and spring mud season also affect how far families are willing to commute.

Chittenden County and the Burlington area

Chittenden County holds the densest cluster. South Burlington alone has seven listings, including the Augmentative Learning/Movement Center at 72 Ethan Allen Drive (802-658-9175). Williston lists Brownell Mountain School on Saint George Road, Burlington lists Rock Point School on Rock Point Road, and Essex Junction lists Bellcate School on Corporate Drive. Families here can compare several schools within a short drive of each other.

Several of these names point to specialized or therapeutic programs rather than general day schools. Read each school's own description or call to learn which students it serves.

Southern Vermont: Windham and Bennington counties

Windham County is the second-largest cluster, led by Brattleboro with six listings. Greenwood School at 14 Greenwood Lane in Putney (802-387-4545) is one of them. Austine School For The Deaf on Austine Drive in Brattleboro (802-258-9521) is another. Some older entries in any directory describe programs that have since changed or closed, so confirm current status by phone before you drive out.

In Bennington County, the listings include Hiland Hall School on Harwood Hill Road in Woodford, Manchester Village School in Manchester, and The School of Sacred Heart on School Street in Bennington. Woodford sits high on Route 9 between Bennington and Wilmington, so winter travel can add real time to a trip.

Central Vermont, the Northeast Kingdom and the west

Caledonia County has listings in St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, Lyndonville and East Burke. They include Cornerstone School on Portland Street in St. Johnsbury, Cornerstone Christian School on Cornerstone Lane in Lyndon, the Lyndon Educational Alternative Resources Network, and Burke Mountain Academy on Alpine Lane in East Burke, a ski-racing school. That range, from faith-based to alternative education to competitive skiing, is typical of rural Vermont.

Around the capital, Washington County lists Central Vermont Academy on Vine Street in Barre, River Rock School on Barre Street in Montpelier, and Montpelier Montessori School on Karl Circle in Berlin. Middlebury, in Addison County, has five listings, among them Mary Johnson Children's Center on Water Street (802-388-2853), while Ark Preschool/Kindergarten is in Vergennes. Rutland and Rutland County add Easter Seals of Vermont and Camp E-Wen-Akee in Benson.

Not every listing is a classroom school. Camps, early-childhood programs and service organizations appear in the category too, so match the listing to what you actually need.

Checking a Vermont School Before You Apply

A few practical steps will save you wasted trips, particularly in a state where the next school over can be a long drive.

When you visit, bring your child's most recent report card, any evaluation or IEP, and the immunization record. Schools commonly ask for transcripts and teacher recommendations as well.

Once you have a short list, compare it with your local public school's offerings and your district's tuition arrangements before you decide. The county pages linked above can help you narrow the list by area. The school's own admissions office remains the best source for current deadlines and costs.

Private schools in Vermont are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Vermont may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 61 cities across Vermont. They are spread across 12 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include South Burlington, Brattleboro, Middlebury, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Vermont exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Vermont comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Vermont hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Vermont to find the nearest location.

Choosing a School in Vermont's Small Towns

Vermont's size shapes every school decision. Most towns are small, and the closest independent school may be in the next valley or across a mountain road. Families in Orleans County will find St Paul Catholic School on Eastern Avenue in Barton (802-525-6578) among our listings, while families farther south look to Hartford, where Mid Vermont Christian School sits at 399 West Gilson Avenue (802-295-6700).

Weather matters here more than in most states. Snow from December through March and mud season in spring can close back roads, so ask any school how it handles delays and where students who live far away are picked up. If you plan a visit in winter, confirm the day before and allow extra time.

Families along the Connecticut River, in towns such as Bradford and Brattleboro, sometimes consider schools across the river in New Hampshire. District tuition payments follow Vermont rules about which schools qualify, so ask your supervisory union before you assume a school outside the state is covered. Connecticut River Academy in Bradford is one local example, and it lists only a PO Box, so call first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Schools in Vermont

Independent schools answer to the State Board of Education and the Vermont Agency of Education, which is based in Montpelier. Title 16 of the Vermont Statutes, including section 166, sets out how a school becomes approved or recognized. Approval involves a review of the school's program, staff, facilities and finances. Local fire and building codes still apply to school buildings, and state health rules such as immunization requirements apply to students. For a status question or a complaint, start with the Agency of Education's staff who handle independent schools, then contact the school's own governing board.

Only in specific cases. A tuition district, meaning one that does not operate a school for your child's grade, pays tuition to another public school or to an approved independent school. Depending on the district, the family chooses the school or the district designates one. Districts that do run a school for that grade generally do not pay for private school, unless the school board places a student there to provide special education services. Recognized schools cannot receive public tuition. Call your supervisory union or school board office with your address and your child's grade, and get the answer in writing before enrolling.

Home study is a separate pathway under Vermont law. Parents file an enrollment notice with the Agency of Education, outline the course of study, and take responsibility for the instruction. The child is not enrolled in a private school, and no school approval is involved. A private school, by contrast, is approved or recognized, employs its own teachers and sets its own calendar. If you want a blend of the two, ask each school whether it offers any part-time options. The Agency's home study staff can explain the forms and deadlines for the current school year.

Yes. Greenwood School in Putney, which serves students with language-based learning differences, and Burke Mountain Academy in East Burke, a ski-racing academy, are two names in our listings with residential components. Putney is also home to the well-known Putney School. Residential programs usually charge room and board on top of tuition and often enroll students from other states and countries. Their application timelines tend to run earlier than those of day schools. Ask about visiting days, health services, weekend policies and how students travel home at holidays.

Your child's rights run through the public school district even when you consider a private placement. The district's special education team writes the IEP under federal law and Vermont rules. Some independent schools focus on particular needs. The names Augmentative Learning/Movement Center in South Burlington and Brookhaven Treatment & Learning Center in Chelsea suggest specialized programs, but confirm each school's mission by phone. Ask whether the school can carry out your child's IEP, whether the district will fund the placement, and what happens if the placement ends mid-year.

Several listings, including Easter Seals of Vermont in Rutland, Manchester Village School, Ark Preschool/Kindergarten in Vergennes, Connecticut River Academy in Bradford and Brookhaven Treatment & Learning Center in Chelsea, give a PO Box instead of a street address. Call the listed number first and ask for the physical location, hours and enrollment status. If no one answers, ask the Agency of Education whether the school is currently approved or recognized. The town clerk may also know which local organizations are active. Do not send deposits or records until you have spoken with a person.