Bergen Moms is excited to bring you our first ever Private School & Preschool Guide, a comprehensive list of some of the best schools in the county for all ages! We know investing in your child’s education and finding the right fit is such an important decision- one that can be overwhelming! Luckily, we’ve done the work for you.
Learn more about these amazing schools in Bergen County!
Ability School of Englewood has been educating children in Pre-K through eighth grade for nearly 40 years! Our 100% proficiency-based curriculum focuses on students as individuals and empowers them with the study tools they need for success. With small classes and a true sense of community, students enjoy hands-on, self-paced learning.
The school has rolling enrollment throughout the school year. It also has an engaging summer program that runs in July and August. Tours are available by appointment. 201-871-8808
What makes your school unique?
“Ability School uses a proficiency-based learning model. Instead of following the typical time-based school model which places children in classrooms based solely on age or birthday cut off, students are placed based on ability. Their academic programs are tailored to their own unique interests and skills. Instead of expecting students to enter a particular grade at a designated age or progress at relatively the same rate as their fellow classmates throughout the school year, students at Ability School progress at their own pace and are graduated to the next level only after 100% mastery. By focusing on competence rather than time spent in class, we strive to empower students with the tools they need to succeed wherever their educational journey may lead.”
CONTACT
Our Mission: To inspire young women to cultivate a life-long love of learning while empowering them to navigate the challenges of adolescence, find their voice, and share their unique gifts with others.
AHA is poised to offer young women a Catholic Middle School experience and work with families to provide the strong foundation young women need to enjoy success in high school. Our personalized programs will help students close the gaps they may have experienced due to the disruptions in the educational process due to the COVID pandemic.
AHA’s Middle School provides young women in Grades 6, 7, and 8 with leadership opportunities which foster collaboration and personal growth. Students will receive an individually designed educational program. They will define themselves and their potential as they pursue familiar interests and explore new educational pathways. Every student will receive a solid foundation to prepare them for High School while developing a moral compass in the tradition of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
What makes your school unique?
“AHA provides our students with an environment where they will flourish and grow as independent young women. Research shows that the all-girls advantage contributes to academic achievement and builds self-confidence, helping our Angels develop leadership skills while preparing them for the real world.”
CONTACT
315 Hillside Ave, Demarest, NJ 07627
Email: [email protected] or [email protected] for Middle School Dean, Traci Koval
Barnstable Academy is a college prep school serving children from Grade 6 to Grade 12. We pride ourselves on our warm and supportive environment where students are seen as individuals with different learning approaches. We specialize in working with students who will benefit from a relationship-based teaching approach in a small classroom setting that provides social and emotional support to bolster and enhance our academic success. At Barnstable Academy, we understand how important it is to create space for students to cultivate their own interests, develop their character, and make long-lasting friendships, all while supporting their academic pursuits. We provide a learning experience to help students engage in, discover, and cultivate the skills they need for intellectual growth.
What is the number one question parents should ask when looking for a school?
“How does your school get to know my child, as a learner and as a person, and how is that information used to best support my child and allow them to thrive, both academically and socially/emotionally?”
CONTACT
8 Wright Way, Oakland, NJ 07436
Email: [email protected] for Director of Admissions & Outreach, Carlton Tanis
Inspiring the Innovators, Thinkers and Leaders of Tomorrow
Under the leadership of Head of School Jalaj Desai, Saddle River Day School provides a robust curriculum and inspires students to achieve personal and academic excellence. The Lower School (Pre-K3 to Grade 4) engages in yearlong project-based learning programs. The Middle School (Grades 5–8) undertakes a yearlong Capstone Research project that is student directed under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The nationally acclaimed Gateway Honors Diploma Program is an elective program that is offered to Upper School students (grades 9–12) that combines independent study and research along with a rigorous academic program and leadership/internship experience. Saddle River Day also offers 27 advanced placement courses in the Upper School and advanced science and math courses in the Middle School as well.
“We provide the type of curriculum that sets our students apart when applying to colleges,” says Director of Admissions Geoff Bowman.
What is your school’s mission statement or philosophy?
“We inspire each child to achieve personal and academic excellence and to become a caring and ethical contributor to society.”
CONTACT
147 Chestnut Ridge Road, Saddle River, NJ 07458
Email: [email protected] for Director of Admissions, Geoffrey Bowman
What makes your school unique?
“In addition to our belief in the importance of small class sizes, personalized learning experiences, and opportunities for extracurricular activities, we believe Family engagement is fundamental to a child’s overall development, so we embrace active involvement from our parents and families. Examples of family engagement include family fun nights, family service night, pizza Fridays, family STEM night, parent run fundraisers, parent mystery readers, and more.”
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Founded in 1975, we are the longest established Montessori school in Ridgewood for children from toddler through age 5, serving families of Ridgewood and the surrounding townships for more than three decades. We have an esteemed reputation for our commitment to the principles and methods of a Montessori education and the caring support devoted to students and parents.
True to the Montessori method, our programs are based on a child-centered, hands-on approach to learning that encourages self-development and full expression of one’s potential beginning at an early age. Children interact in a carefully planned, warm and sunny classroom with sensory-rich materials designed to stimulate learning and retention.
Our school offers an air-conditioned environment, state of the art security system, a beautiful, enclosed playground, before and after care, and a student valet drop-off and pick-up system for parents.
What is your school’s mission statement or philosophy?
““What the hand does, the mind remembers.” -Maria Montessori