2020 Best Private Schools in the Portland AreaAbout this List

Catlin Gabel School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 67 reviews

Alum: I started Catlin Gabel in 7th grade, with deficient skills, and at this remove, it is clear that I was dyslexic. However, the small class size with excellent teaching, taught me that effort could changes the game, and learning is great fun! I was graduated 54 years ago, and have enjoyed this pleasure, learning next at a fine college and on throughout my life (so far). What mattered was that Catlin’s culture respected learning and this applied to everyone at the school; the teachers in 7th and 8th grade changed my life. By graduation we could to recognize when there was a question, ask the question, pursue the answer and then sit back and reflect critically on the process – maybe try again. I still draw on this and the important core knowledge in mathematics, science, and humanities offered us at Catlin Gabel.
Read 67 Reviews

• A+

• 769 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oregon Episcopal School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 82 reviews

Freshman: OES is a flourishing high school with an excellent facility and incredible teachers. The OES community adequate steps to make sure that all students, parents, families, and visitors feel welcome and accepted. The learning based attitude at OES is what makes it so unique. Often, when visiting or attending, students experience a particular disliking of the school process and overall hated of learning. OES is very different, through comprehensive strategies, they have created an inspiring and pro-learning community that deserves all (and more) of the compliments it receives.
Read 82 Reviews

• A+

• 870 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jesuit High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 224 reviews

Parent: Jesuit HS is not a school, it is an outstanding environment where my daughter thrived and roundly developed over the last 3.5 years. My work colleague, a Jesuit alumni highly recommended JHS, and we applied. My child has excellent academic results thanks to a combination between her work, teacher's ability to adapt their teaching style to the student, and the learning environment. The school culture is one of inclusion, flexibility and firmness packaged into an complex amalgam which allows the teenagers to amazingly develop within some guidelines - and only a teen parent knows how difficult is to do so... well, Jesuit does this successfully for 1,200+ children! You can find a sport or a club for any passion as they vary from ukulele and drama to swimming or cross country... Last, we are not catholic and English is our second language, but we felt home at JHS, and we are proud to be part of the JHS community. I hope that my other child (she is 10) will also become a JHS student.
Read 224 Reviews

• A+

• 1,255 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Valley Catholic School

• Private School
• Beaverton, OR
• PK, K-12
• 62 reviews

Senior: Vallet Catholic has brought me up to be a mature, young individual who is ready to conquer the professional world. The Sisters, staff, and students all support each other to achieve greatness. The small school environment allows each student to have an education tailored to their needs. Teachers are all very understanding and helpful and the small class sizes make it easier to connect with them. Furthermore, the athletics at Valley are competitive and fun. Even though it is a lower classification, many accommodations are made to ensure that students are being challenged in their sports. I would highly recommend an education at Valley Catholic.
Read 62 Reviews

• A+

• 1,055 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Mary's Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 292 reviews

Junior: St. Mary's is such an incredible place! I have met my very best friends here, and have encountered some of the most amazing teachers that have helped me so much in my journey not only as a student but a person. There are so many activities for students to get involved in, and there is a large amount of pressure to be involved in leadership and to be a perfect student. While the stress culture at St. Mary's is intense and can be very unhealthy mentally, the environment is a lovely place that I would recommend to anyone looking for an academic high school experience. I will say that while the administration is certainly very religious and Catholic, the actual student body does not seem very respectful to Christian beliefs. However, this school is a great place to prepare yourself for college and to gain an academic, exciting, and full high school experience.
Read 292 Reviews

• A+

• 700 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Northwest Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 6-12
• 11 reviews

Senior: Really, really incredible. The only downside for me is the slightly lower-than-ideal racial and wealth diversity. Otherwise, this school has put me in a place I never could have imagined without it; I consider my teachers to be my friends, mentors, and sometimes even colleagues. I am applying to college right now, and I feel not only incredibly prepared, but excited! Julia, our college counselor, is the most incredible and helpful person you'll meet. This school may not be right for everyone, but please consider it. Without it I would be a much lesser person.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• 221 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Central Catholic High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 221 reviews

Alum: I absolutely loved my time at Central Catholic! I transferred to this school after my first semester of my freshman year and this was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Academically, it is extremely challenging which is rough at the time, but once I started college I was beyond prepared. The Central Catholic community is so strong and I have made friends that will last a lifetime. I keep in contact with many of my high school buddies to this day (4 years later). Their athletics program is second to none and the overall environment teaches students valuable lessons about life. Although this is a Catholic school, the teachers are very open to hearing differing opinions about religion and are accepting of all students regardless of their beliefs. Such a wonderful experience, I would choose it again in a heartbeat.
Read 221 Reviews

• A

• 881 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School

• Private School
• Vancouver, WA
• 9-12
• 16 reviews

Senior: Seton is an amazing community. The rigor of academics is well balanced by the foundation of a family-like support system. When you come to Seton, you and your family are immediately welcomed with open arms. The well-versed staff and experienced administration make sure that they themselves live by the pillars as they strive to instill higher learning, deeper faith, and stronger character into each and everyone of their students. I can confidently say that when I graduate from Seton and head off to college this year, I am very prepared for college.
Read 16 Reviews

• A

• 188 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Westside Christian High School

• Private School
• Tigard, OR
• 9-12
• 42 reviews

Parent: After an extensive high school search, Westside Christian was a clear choice. This school has been a profound blessing to our family! Our daughter is a Westside graduate and our son is currently a junior there. We have watched both our children thrive in this loving environment filled with gifted teachers and administrators who have found their calling. Westside is certainly strong academically and our daughter found herself extremely well-prepared for college, having taken advantage of Westside’s numerous concurrent credit classes. Yet, Westside offers so much more. The student body is kind, the art and music programs are strong and the athletic program is filled with opportunities. But perhaps our favorite thing about Westside is their commitment to putting their mission statement into action. If your child attends this school they will definitely be prayed for, guided with love and grace and ultimately shown the love of Christ.
Read 42 Reviews

• A

• 185 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Stephen's Academy

• Private School
• Beaverton, OR
• PK, K-12
• 32 reviews

Parent: SSA is a great school. We have seen the seeds of biblical truth which SSA has sown into our daughter’s lives. The school education and curriculum is great, and the students learn all about godly characters like respect, honor and integrity. One area which is not as efficient in the school is extracurriculars. You won’t find as many as public school, but nevertheless, SSA is a great school with wonderful teachers, curriculum and lots of parent involvement. We are proud to be an SSA family!
Read 32 Reviews

• A

• 271 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Veritas School

• Private School
• Newberg, OR
• PK, K-12
• 12 reviews

High School Senior: Veritas is a little pricey, but it has an unparalleled classical liberal arts curriculum, though only decent in STEM. The small size of the school allows for a great student-teacher ratio and discussion-based classes. However, I wish it were slightly larger, so that it could offer electives, which it currently doesn't under its rigid, but good, curriculum. The students are kind and helpful, and engage in various extracurriculars. School spirit is relatively weak. Students mostly like their teachers, and in-class trouble is practically non-existent. Christianity is well woven into the material, and is effectively reinforced without it feeling forced or overly conspicuous.
Read 12 Reviews

• A

• 230 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Christian Jr/Sr High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 6-12
• 47 reviews

Parent: Portland Christian is a school where my child feels safe, and free to share opinions. My child is challenged academically and is known by staff by name rather than just a number. My child has access to sports, drama and a religious education that is modeled by teachers, administrators and office staff. There are plenty opportunities to be involved in volunteering activities and take an interest in your child’s life and education!
Read 47 Reviews

• A

• 276 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

La Salle Catholic College Preparatory

• Private School
• Milwaukie, OR
• 9-12
• 190 reviews

Alum: Overall, I really enjoyed my time at La Salle. I think the best aspects of the school are its teachers and its community. Being a small school, everyone gets to know each other, and there were no distinct cliches in the students, which I was accustomed to having being in public schools before attending La Salle. Furthermore, having a small school also means La Salle doesn't have to hire a lot of teachers, so they can be picky when hiring; I enjoyed all of my teachers, and they all had really good values that they give to their students. In contrast, the only thing I would probably change about the school is students don't have a lot of freedom. Students are pretty restricted when it comes to what they can do, when they can do something, how they can do something, even what they can wear, etc. Being in a college and knowing the freedom that a college campus gives you is something I wish La Salle could practice a little more.
Read 190 Reviews

• A

• 700 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Faith Bible High School

• Private School
• Hillsboro, OR
• 9-12
• 46 reviews

Alum: Excellent teachers! They prepare you in every way to achieve your dreams in the university setting. They are relational that adds to communication skills and job readiness.
Read 46 Reviews

• A-

• 161 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Adventist Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 53 reviews

Alum: It was very Christ-centered and they offered many extracurricular activities, ranging from afterschool athletics to choirs. I especially enjoyed the extracurricular activities as I partook in most of them. They provided many opportunities which allowed us to further our education, offering college classes and Advanced Placement classes, some teachers went even further, taking classes to onsite learning areas. The teachers were kind, welcoming, and inclusive, I always felt at home there. It was a great school to attend and I hope someday my children will be able to attend Portland Adventist Academy as I did.
Read 53 Reviews

• A-

• 285 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Waldorf School

• Private School
• Milwaukie, OR
• PK, K-12
• 11 reviews

• A-

• 277 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cedar Tree Christian Classical School

• Private School
• Ridgefield, WA
• K-12
• 9 reviews

Senior: Cedar Tree provides a Christian-liberal arts-based curriculum that prepares you for life after high school. It is categorized as a college preparatory school, and shows this through its many courses students are required to take. Rhetoric, Physics, Chemistry, Greek, Spanish, Philosophy, and United States History are examples of the classes. The school is very small, only being about 200 students, but this makes it so that there is a sense of having a well-rounded community among the attendees and staff.
Read 9 Reviews

• A-

• 179 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Horizon Christian High School

• Private School
• Tualatin, OR
• 9-12
• 12 reviews

Senior: Horizon Christian High School is an amazing school that focuses on preparing the students for college by offering many dual credit classes which can allow you to start college as a sophomore if you take most of the college classes they offer! They also help prepare students for the real world experiences by acknowledging who they are and that they're worth something at the school. Overall, the teachers are there to fully help and you have a close relationship with them. The community of Horizon is very welcoming and choosing Horizon is a great decision for education.
Read 12 Reviews

• A-

• 151 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Columbia Christian School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 32 reviews

Parent: My son is going into his 5th year at Columbia and we love this school. What stands out most to me is the feeling of community that is apparent at Columbia. The loving teachers, the involved parents, the small classes, the fact that faith is infused in all aspects of learning. I am grateful we found Columbia and look forward to my son being able to stay here, at the same school, from preschool through the end of High School.
Read 32 Reviews

• B+

• 264 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

C.S. Lewis Academy

• Private School
• Newberg, OR
• K-12
• 37 reviews

Parent: Our boys love CSLA! The classes are challenging and teachers strive to prepare students for the next grade or step in life. The school community feels like family, parents encourage each others children. Current students do a wonderful job of including new students and making them feel welcome and helping them to adjust. We feel blessed to be a part of C.S. Lewis Academy!
Read 37 Reviews

• B+

• 130 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

City Christian Schools

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 20 reviews

Parent: I've had 4 children attend City Christian and I would say that some of the best things I have seen instilled into my children is their level of respect, care and honor for those in authority over them and those around them. Currently 3 of my children have graduated from City Christian and have become excellent employees in the workforce with an outstanding work ethic. They were prepared well for college and maintain close relationships with the students they once went to school and were in sports with. It becomes like a family environment. My children were in an immersion school before coming here because I wanted my children to have an understanding of other cultures. There is a lot of diversity and many different cultures represented at City Christian which has been a huge blessing to our family. The biblical perspective that the children are taught and that the staff model is another great aspect of the school!
Read 20 Reviews

• B+

• 510 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Faith Bible Christian School

• Private School
• Aloha, OR
• PK, K-12
• 1 review

Senior: Faith Bible provides an atmosphere that encourages academic, personal, and spiritual growth. The school pushes students to reach their full potential by setting high bars but also providing them with the resources they require to meet them.
Read 1 Review

• B+

• 299 Students
• 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

North Clackamas Christian School

• Private School
• Oregon City, OR
• PK, K-12
• 22 reviews

Senior: I love the family feel that this school brings, the constant support from the community. They have a strong athletic program and coaches. Being able to not only play sports, but also witnessing our programs receive state titles. Teachers at this school not only teach their students, but they also mentor them to become strong Christian Leaders in their communities. They have great resources that help students excel, such as AP/Honor programs, college courses and one-on-one tutoring.
Read 22 Reviews

• B+

• 267 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Columbia Adventist Academy

• Private School
• Battle Ground, WA
• 9-12
• 11 reviews

Alum: I .ostly enjoyed my time at Columbia. Although it could feel sort of close-minded at times and the administration could use some editing, I enjoyed my classes, had good resources, enjoyed trips, small class sizes, and met a lot of great people
Read 11 Reviews

• B+

• 101 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

De La Salle North Catholic High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 112 reviews

Alum: De La Salle North Catholic High School was great in preparing me to find a job and applying to colleges. It stands close to its value of educating students, and that is shown through challenging students in their academics, whether it may be in AP classes or afterschool activities such as Poetry club, Art club, and Philosophy club. Also, in aspects of challenging students, De La Salle grants opportunities for students to reach out to the community by participating in community service on Founder's Day or volunteering as waiters or kitchen bussers at homeless diners such as St. Francis Dining Hall or Blanche House.
Read 112 Reviews

• B+

• 330 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio