The 5 Best Private Schools Around Harrisonburg

High-quality education starts with more than curriculum—it depends on intentional environments that foster ethics, critical thinking, and community values. In this year’s Best of the Valley readers’ choice contest, voters recognized private schools that balance rigorous academics, character development, and a supportive atmosphere. These institutions prioritize forming thoughtful learners and compassionate leaders.

Bridgewater Christian School (BRC) emphasizes academic excellence within a faith-based framework. Small class sizes mean individualized attention while Chapel time and service projects help build character. Students graduate grounded in both knowledge and moral responsibility—a hallmark of BRC’s mission-focused approach.

Eastern Mennonite School integrates peace-building, cultural diversity, and sustainability into its educational model. From early childhood through high school, students explore academics, music, and global engagement. Families appreciate how the school intentionally nurtures both intellectual and moral development.

Leake’s Chapel Preschool & Daycare offers early learning rooted in faith and creativity. Children explore letters, numbers, music, and play in a hands-on environment. Teachers value building each child’s confidence and empathy—foundations that lay groundwork for lifelong learning.

Christian Community School brings innovative learning to elementary and middle-grade students. With project-based classes and small-group instruction, CCS encourages curiosity and collaboration. Parents praise the school for integrating faith and scholarship in thoughtful balance.

Redeemer Classical Academy follows a classical curriculum with Latin, logic, and rhetoric at its core. Latin complements history and literature, while logic and debate sharpen students’ analytical skills. Graduates leave with strong communication habits and habits of intellectual rigor.

These private schools reflect what Best of the Valley voters value most: academic strength, character formation, and community-rooted education—settings where intellect and discipline grow hand in hand.

Thanks, ChatGPT.