Secular Schools
Are looking for a private school in the Greenville area that is not religiously affiliated? Here’s a list of secular private schools in and around Greenville. This list includes preschool through middle school, plus a school for kids with special needs!
For a full list of private schools in Greenville, check out our Ultimate Guide to Private Schools in Greenville and Upstate, SC.
Founded by Mallika Vejay in 1977 as a way to support working families with a quality educational program. With over 45 years of continued service, the Montessori School of Mauldin is the longest-running Montessori School in the Upstate. Montessori teachers are trained through the Association Montessori International, the organization founded by Dr. Maria Montessori.
- Ages: 6 weeks through Grade 6 (Infant/Toddler, Primary ages 3–6, Elementary grades 1–6)
- Schedule: Infant/Toddler: 12-month calendar | Primary and Elementary: 10-month school year | Full-time and part-time options available
- Tuition (2026-27): $840–$1,296.75/month depending on program and schedule.
Registration fees $200–$325.
3% discount available on annual payments. View the full tuition schedule here. - Also Offered: Afterschool and Summer Camp programs for ages 3–6 and grades 1–6
- Pro Tip: Schedule a tour to experience the authentic AMI Montessori environment. Enrollment is rolling and typically open year-round.
Top Questions Parents Ask About Montessori School of Mauldin:
What makes this school’s Montessori approach authentic? AMI-certified, with founder Mallika Vejay trained by trainers directly certified by Maria and Mario Montessori themselves, one of the most direct Montessori lineages in the Upstate.
Best For: Families seeking an authentic AMI Montessori education from infancy through middle elementary in Mauldin
Location: 205B East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC 29662
Website: mauldinmontessori.com
SCHOOL, REIMAGINED. Play-Based. Project-Driven. Personalized.
At WonderHere, we believe children deserve an education that nurtures their curiosity, creativity, confidence, and love of learning, without asking them to give up childhood along the way. Our small, multi-age Schoolhouse communities combine personalized academics with hands-on projects, purposeful play, outdoor exploration, and meaningful relationships.
- Ages: Minis (3.5-4), multi-age Elementary Schoolhouse
- Cost: Greenville Half-Day Schoolhouse: $5,000 annually plus a $450 registration fee, payable in full or 10 monthly installments; Anderson Half-Day Schoolhouse: $4,500 annually plus a $450 registration fee, payable in full or 10 monthly installments; additional fees for add-ons like After School and Friday School can be found on our website.
- Schedule: Greenville Half-Day Schoolhouse meets Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Anderson offers Schoolhouse plus After School and Friday School options - Standout: A Family-Style™ Schoolhouse model inspired by Finnish, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia approaches, blending core academics with project-based learning and purposeful play
- Pro Tip: Each location offers a different program mix; Greenville includes Schoolhouse, Enrichment, Parent & Me, Open Play, and Co-Op, while Anderson includes Schoolhouse, Friday School, Enrichment, and Co-Op
Top Questions Parents Ask About WonderHere:
What makes WonderHere different from a traditional school? Children lead their own learning, guided by teacher mentors rather than a fixed curriculum, with the flexibility to move at their own pace across academics, play, and hands-on projects.
Do both locations offer the same programs? Not exactly; Greenville includes options like Parent & Me and Open Play, while Anderson offers a Friday School option alongside Co-Op and Enrichment classes.
I had doubts for myself being the primary educator for my daughter, [so] we decided to look into WonderHere and we were immediately blown away. It’s like a homeschool away from home. She is able to move around as she pleases and be comfortable, and the play based/hands on learning style is exactly what we were looking for! The teachers are always so friendly and extremely communicative, even sending videos and photos of our daughter throughout the day. This is the future of learning for our children!
— WonderHere Greenville Parent
Best For: Families seeking a play-based, project-driven microschool community with small, multi-age classrooms
Location: Downtown Greenville, SC & Anderson, SC
Five Oaks Academy
SPONSORED 864.228.1881| | 1101 Jonesville Road, Simpsonville, SC
- Five Oaks Academy Website
- Five Oaks Academy Facebook
- Five Oaks Academy Map
- Five Oaks Academy Instagram
Five Oaks Academy is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) and is the only Montessori school in the area offering a cohesive program from primary through eighth grade. With over 36 countries represented, FOA’s global community and research-based approach give students an educational experience you won’t find anywhere else.
A low student-teacher ratio ensures each child receives a customized education, with students treated as individuals who develop problem-solving skills, time management, and a genuine love of learning.
- Ages: Primary (half-day) through 8th grade
- Tuition (2026-27):
Primary Half-Day (3K-4K) $8,325
Primary Full-Day (K5) $10,000
Elementary (1st-5th) $13,415
Middle School (6th-8th) $16,000.
Application fee $450-$550 | $500 tuition deposit | Materials fee $225-$650. - Schedule: Primary Half-Day 8:30-11:45 am | Primary Full-Day 8:30 am-2:45 pm | Elementary 8:30 am-3:00 pm | Middle School 8:30 am-3:15 pm
- Financial Aid: Need-based scholarships available for all current and prospective families; awards made in March for the following school year. Learn more here.
- Enrichments: Spanish | Art | Music | Garden and Wellness | Level Up Village | After School program
- Pro Tip: Request a campus tour to experience FOA firsthand – schedule here or call 864.228.1881.
Question Parents Ask About Five Oaks Academy:
What subjects do students explore? Mathematics, literature, history, science, geography, and the arts — all in a creative, research-based manner alongside Spanish, Music, Art, and Garden and Wellness.
Best For: Families seeking an authentic, internationally diverse Montessori education from toddler through middle school in Simpsonville
Location: 1101 Jonesville Road, Simpsonville, SC
Website: fiveoaksacademy.com
BEST Skills Academy is an affordable private middle school with a formal mentoring approach to education.
Offers: Montessori education for ages 3 – 6.
The Haynsworth School
864.235.3010 | 228 East Park Avenue, Greenville, SC
The Haynsworth School in Greenville offers a nurturing and stimulating educational environment for K-2 through 3rd grade.
Montessori Academy of Spartanburg
864.585.3046 | 384 South Spring Street, Spartanburg, SC
Montessori Academy of Spartanburg provides a developmentally appropriate environment for students ranging from 8 weeks through the 8th grade.
Spartanburg Day School
864.582.7539 | 1701 Skylyn Drive, Spartanburg, SC
Spartanburg Day School is a nationally-accredited independent school, offering curriculum and programming for 3K through 12th grade.
Camperdown Academy
864.244.8899 | 65 Verdae Commons Drive, Greenville, SC
Camperdown Academy is a special education school located in Greenville that offers education and support for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences in grades 1-8.
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