Private & Charter School Options Near Celebration, FL
Montessori Academy, Creation Village, and the independent school landscape in Osceola County
Celebration, Florida has two private schools within its community boundaries: Montessori Academy of Celebration (901 Begonia Rd, ages 2.5–17, ~118 students, tuition ~$12,745/year) and Creation Village World School (599 Celebration Pl, PreK–10th grade, IB-authorized, ~345 students, tuition ~$12,000/year). Both operate independently of the Osceola County School District's public schools, Celebration K-8 and Celebration High School. Across Osceola County, approximately 86% of private schools are religiously affiliated, with additional options in nearby Kissimmee including Trinity Lutheran, Heritage Christian, and Holy Redeemer Catholic.
Here's something that surprises many families relocating to Celebration: the community already has an excellent public school pipeline built right in — Celebration K-8 and Celebration High School sit within walking distance for most residents. So why look beyond those options?
Because one size doesn't fit all in education. Some families want Montessori philosophy from age three. Others want a faith-integrated school day with IB rigor. Some need a smaller setting where every teacher knows their child's name. The good news? Celebration gives families real private school choices — and two of them are literally in your backyard.
The Two Private Schools Inside Celebration's Boundaries
Before we venture out into broader Osceola County, let's cover the two private schools that call Celebration home. These are distinct from the district public schools and operate entirely on tuition and private funding.
Montessori Academy of Celebration (The MAC)
If you've ever driven along Begonia Road in Celebration, you've passed The MAC — the Montessori Academy of Celebration at 901 Begonia Rd. The school serves children from ages 2.5 all the way through 17, making it one of the most complete Montessori pipelines in Central Florida. With roughly 118 students and a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, this is about as far from the anonymous big-school experience as you can get.
The Montessori method is built on self-directed learning, hands-on materials, and multi-age classrooms where older kids mentor younger ones and everyone moves at their own developmental pace — not a standardized curriculum calendar. For families who've done Montessori before, The MAC carries that philosophy authentically through the upper grades rather than dropping it after elementary. Annual tuition runs approximately $12,745 for the highest grade level.
Creation Village World School
Down the road at 599 Celebration Pl sits one of the area's most distinctive private school environments: Creation Village World School (CVWS). If you're looking for a school that blends academic rigor with Christian faith formation and international-level curriculum, this is a genuinely unusual combination to find at a single campus.
Creation Village is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School — covering the PYP (Primary Years Programme), MYP (Middle Years Programme), and CP (Career-related Programme) — a full IB continuum from early childhood through high school as the school expands toward 11th grade. The Christian foundation is central, not incidental: daily chapel, service-learning projects, and the CREATION Life model of whole-person development shape the culture alongside IB inquiry.
The campus itself is worth mentioning — 6.7 acres with a working farm and garden, chickens, goats, and permaculture gardens that students tend as part of daily learning. For families who want their kids learning outdoors alongside their textbooks, there's nothing quite like it near Kissimmee or Celebration. The school has approximately 345 students with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and tuition runs roughly $12,000 per year.
A Note on the "Charter School" Question
It's worth being clear here because parents frequently ask: neither The MAC nor Creation Village is a charter school. Charter schools in Florida are public schools — they receive state funding, charge no tuition, and follow state academic standards, though they operate with more flexibility than traditional public schools. The two Celebration-area schools above are private schools: tuition applies, they set their own admissions criteria, and they operate independently of the Osceola County School District.
For families specifically looking for tuition-free public charter options, the Osceola County School District does include charter schools within its system — but those operate under different admissions processes (typically a lottery) and are separate from the private schools covered here. For detailed school ratings and educational resources, visit our comprehensive Celebration schools and education guide.
Private Schools in Nearby Kissimmee
Once you're willing to drive 15–25 minutes, the private school landscape in Kissimmee opens up considerably. Osceola County has a well-developed private school ecosystem — approximately 86% of private schools here are religiously affiliated, so faith-based education is the dominant model. A few worth knowing:
Trinity Lutheran School (3016 West Vine St, Kissimmee) is a PreK–8 school with a faith-based environment and small class sizes. Under recent new leadership, it has built a reputation for individualized attention and a family-oriented community atmosphere, with an approximately 9:1 student-teacher ratio.
Heritage Christian School (1500 East Vine St, Kissimmee) serves PreK through 12th grade with over 550 students — one of the larger private options in the area, appealing for families who want a single campus through high school graduation.
Holy Redeemer Catholic School (1800 W Columbia Ave, Kissimmee) covers PreK through 8th grade with about 280 students and serves families seeking traditional Catholic education with sacramental preparation integrated into the curriculum.
Osceola Christian Preparatory School in Kissimmee offers a college-preparatory curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade, consistently ranking among the top private high schools in the county.
Pros and Cons of Private School Near Celebration
Pros
- Two private schools are inside Celebration itself — no significant commute required
- IB World School authorization at Creation Village is rare for a private Christian school
- Smaller class sizes and stronger teacher-student relationships across the board
- Montessori pipeline through high school at The MAC is uncommon statewide
- Faith-based options span Catholic, Lutheran, non-denominational Christian, and IB Christian traditions
Cons
- Tuition at Celebration's two private schools runs approximately $12,000–$12,745/year per child
- Florida's Step Up For Students scholarship program may offset costs for qualifying families — worth researching
- Celebration's public schools (K-8 and CHS) are strong and include an IB program at the high school level, so private isn't automatically "better" for every student
- Kissimmee private school options require a 15–25 minute drive from most Celebration neighborhoods
What the Locals Know
Celebration is genuinely unusual among Florida communities because families here have authentic choices at every tier — strong public schools inside the neighborhood, two private schools on-site, and a full menu of faith-based private options a short drive away in Kissimmee. That's not something every master-planned community can offer.
The families we see gravitate toward The MAC are typically those already committed to Montessori philosophy and looking for continuity beyond the early grades. Families drawn to Creation Village tend to prioritize Christian faith formation alongside IB academic rigor — and the farm campus is genuinely its own selling point. For those who go farther afield, the Kissimmee corridor offers real variety in mission, grade span, and cost.
Our honest take: if you're relocating to Celebration with school-age children, tour all your options before committing. Celebration K-8 and Celebration High School are well above average — but The MAC and Creation Village are genuinely distinctive schools, not just "alternatives." The right fit depends entirely on your family's values, learning philosophy, and budget. 🎒
For more information and to explore Creation Village World School, visit the official Creation Village World School website. To learn more about Montessori Academy of Celebration, visit Montessori Academy of Celebration directly.
Exploring education options as part of your move to Central Florida? Browse our complete Celebration schools and education guide or check out nearby Kissimmee and Osceola County community pages. Ready to find the right neighborhood? Browse Celebration homes for sale or contact us for personalized relocation guidance!
