Harborlight Montessori Photo

Best Essex County Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 65 private preschools serving 9,656 students in Essex County, MA.
The top-ranked private preschools in Essex County, MA include Brookwood School, St. John The Baptist School, and Beverly School For The Deaf.
The average tuition cost is $17,476, which is higher than the Massachusetts private preschool average tuition cost of $16,935.
29% of private preschools in Essex County, MA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top-Ranked Essex County Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Clark School
Clark School Photo - Clark School in Rowley, MA, is a private, co-ed day school for Preschool through Grade 12. We specialize in small class sizes and project-based learning, integrating technology and executive functioning skills into daily instruction. Our approach emphasizes social and emotional growth to support the development of the whole child. Discover more at clarkschool.com.
(18)
14 Forest Ridge Drive
Rowley, MA 01969
(978) 777-4699
Gr: NS-12 | 218 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 37 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Beverly School For The Deaf
Special Education School
6 Echo Ave
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-7070
Gr: PK-12 | 157 students
Brookwood School
Brookwood School Photo - Brookwood''s 30-acre Campus
(7)
One Brookwood Road
Manchester, MA 01944
(978) 526-4500
Gr: NS-8 | 295 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Covenant Christian Academy
Covenant Christian Academy Photo - Overhead view of campus
(Christian)
(7)
83 Pine Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 535-7100
Gr: PK-12 | 432 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition listed
Haverhill Day Care Center
Daycare / Preschool
367 S Main St
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 372-3901
Gr: PK-K | 57 students Tuition listed
The Islamic Academy For Peace
(Islamic)
125 Oakland Ave
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 975-7335
Gr: PK-8 | 123 students Avg. class size: 9 students Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Lawrence Catholic Academy
(Catholic)
(1)
101 Parker Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 683-5822
Gr: PK-8 | 410 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition listed
Little Theatre School Nursery And Kindergarten
Little Theatre School Nursery And Kindergarten Photo - Our School
Daycare / Preschool
503 Lynnfield St
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 595-3487
Gr: PK-K | 82 students Avg. class size: 8 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Our Lady Of Assumption School
Our Lady Of Assumption School Photo
(Catholic)
40 Grove St
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 599-4422
Gr: NS-8 | 346 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
The Pike School
The Pike School Photo - Combine support, encouragement, and inspiration, and the sky's the limit. That's the power of positive energy. That's The Pike School!
(1)
34 Sunset Rock Road
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 475-1197
Gr: PK-9 | 439 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Sacred Hearts School
(Catholic)
31 S Chestnut St
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 372-5451
Gr: PK-8 | 425 students
St. Ann's Home
Special Education School
100a Haverhill St
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 682-5276
Gr: PK-11 | 92 students Avg. class size: 12 students
St. Augustine Elementary School
Alternative School (Catholic)
26 Central Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 475-2414
Gr: PK-8 | 420 students
St. John The Baptist School
(Catholic)
19 Chestnut St
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 531-0444
Gr: PK-8 | 495 students
St. Michael Elementary School
(Catholic)
(1)
80 Maple Ave
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 686-1862
Gr: NS-8 | 532 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Pius V School
(Catholic)
28 Bowler St
Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 593-8292
Gr: PK-8 | 300 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
545 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
Gr: PK-8 | 323 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Tower School
Tower School Photo
75 West Shore Drive
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 631-5800
Gr: PK-8 | 243 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
Andover School Of Montessori
Andover School Of Montessori Photo - Lower Elementary math work
Montessori School
(1)
400 S Main St
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 475-2299
Gr: PK-8 | 130 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Annisquam Kindergarten Inc
Daycare / Preschool
1123 Washington Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-2814
Gr: NS-PK | 40 students
Bridge To Learning Childrens Center
Daycare / Preschool
567 Lowell St
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 535-2215
Gr: PK-K | 76 students
Bright Horizons at Beverly Cummings Center
Daycare / Preschool
100 Cummings Ctr
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 922-4252
Gr: NS-PK
The Chapel School
The Chapel School Photo
Daycare / Preschool
26 Pleasant Street
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 689-8414
Gr: PK | 120 students Avg. class size: 20 students
The Childrens Castle
Daycare / Preschool
694 Main St Ste 6
West Newbury, MA 01985
(978) 363-2919
Gr: PK-K | 10 students
Childrens Montessori Center
Montessori School
12 Bradstreet Ave. Danvers, MA 01923
Danvers, MA 01923
(978) 774-2144
Gr: PK-K | 50 students Avg. class size: 10 students
Childrens Workshop Montessori
Montessori School
53 Robert Rd
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 631-8687
Gr: PK-K | 24 students
Christ Church Parish Day School
Daycare / Preschool (Episcopal)
149 Asbury St
South Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-7892
Gr: PK-K | 55 students
Cuvilly Arts & Earth Center
Daycare / Preschool (Catholic)
10 Jeffreys Neck Rd
Ipswich, MA 01938
(978) 356-4288
Gr: PK-K | 89 students
Daniel Lucy Way KinderCare
Daniel Lucy Way KinderCare Photo - Daniel Lucy Way KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
1 Daniel Lucy Way
Newburyport, MA 01950
(978) 462-5649
Gr: NS-PK | 40 students
Devereux School
44 Smith St
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 631-0029
Gr: PK-5 | 105 students Tuition listed
Faith Christian School
(Baptist)
384 Washington St
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-8856
Gr: PK-8 | 31 students
Fellowship Christian Academy
(Christian)
(4)
1 Fellowship Way
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 686-9373
Gr: PK-12 | 112 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition listed
Glcac Child Care Center
Daycare / Preschool
581 Andover St
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 681-4910
Gr: K | 17 students
Glen Urquhart School
Glen Urquhart School Photo
(5)
74 Hart St
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1064
Gr: PK-8 | 214 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 6 Tuition listed
The Goddard School
The Goddard School Photo
Daycare / Preschool
248 Lynn Fells Parkway
Saugus, MA 01906
(781) 484-0600
Gr: NS-K | 12 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Show 30 more private schools in Essex County, MA (out of 65 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Essex County, Massachusetts

Essex County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
90 Broadway
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 688-5706
Gr: PK-K | 27 students
50 Blaney St
Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 595-5859
Gr: PK-K | 81 students
31 Trinity Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 686-3007
Gr: PK-8 | 170 students
Lakeside School (Closed 2006)
All-boys | Special Education School
629 Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 535-0250
Gr: 4-9 | 25 students
Messiah Lutheran Day School (Closed 2017)
Daycare / Preschool (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
708 Lowell Street
Lynnfield, MA 01940
(781) 334-6591
Gr: NS-PK | 30 students
526 Lowell Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
(978) 682-9761
Gr: K-8 | 177 students
84 Union Street
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 688-3040
Gr: K-8 | 181 students
209 Lawrence Street
Methuen, MA 01844
(978) 682-9391
Gr: 9-12 | 147 students Tuition listed
23 Hawley Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
(978) 682-8937
Gr: K-8 | 126 students
60 Prospect St
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-3455
Gr: PK-8 | 147 students
160 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-4773
Gr: PK-8 | 150 students
56 Oak Ter
Haverhill, MA 01832
(978) 521-4256
Gr: PK-8 | 217 students
301 Haverhill St
Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 685-2091
Gr: K-9 | 241 students
602 Loring Ave.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-5800
Gr: NS-PK | 64 students
4 Noel St.
Amesbury, MA 01913
(978) 388-5354
Gr: PK-12 | 152 students Avg. class size: 9 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed

Overview

This County (Essex County)
This State (MA)
# Schools
70 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
9,656 Students
77,744 Students
% Average Students of Color
28%
33%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
925 Teachers
7,846 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
56%
63%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
11 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1245
(Out of 1600)
1241
Average ACT score
30
(Out of 36)
30

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$17,476
$16,935
Average Summer Program Cost
$350
$543
Average % on Financial Aid
25%
30%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$8,000
$8,042
Average Acceptance Rate
82%
81%
Average Endowment Size
$34.78 million
$29.13 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.64
0.65
# American Indian Students
4 Students
74 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
311 Students
3,261 Students
% Asian Students
3%
4%
# Hispanic Students
975 Students
4,167 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
6%
# Black Students
321 Students
4,987 Students
% Black Students
4%
7%
# White Students
4,439 Students
33,729 Students
% White Students
47%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
16 Students
56 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
3,411 Students
28,873 Students
% of Others Students
36%
38%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Essex County, MA?
The top-ranked private preschools in Essex County, MA include Brookwood School, St. John The Baptist School, and Beverly School For The Deaf.
How many private preschools are located in Essex County?
65 private preschools are located in Essex County.
How much do private preschools cost in Essex County?
The average tuition cost is $17,476, which is higher than the Massachusetts private school average tuition cost of $16,935.
How diverse are private preschools in Essex County?
Essex County private preschools are approximately 28% minority students, which is lower than the Massachusetts private school average of 33%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Essex County?
29% of private preschools in Essex County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private preschools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

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