2019 Best Private Schools in the Portland AreaAbout this List

Catlin Gabel School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 64

Senior: Catlin Gabel is an outstanding school. It has prepared me well for a college in the top 20 of the country, and provided me with outstanding academic, athletic and extracurricular opportunities, rich experiential experiences, and lots of support in every facet of my life as a high school student. I am a current senior in the Upper School and while tuition is high, the value truly is there. Recently, the administration and the heads of the different academic departments have been making big changes to the curriculum and increasing the quality of the programs with feedback from parents, students, and faculty alike.
Catlin Gabel is a truly special place!
Read 64 Reviews

• A+

• 763 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oregon Episcopal School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 78

Senior: OES is a place where you will be a big fish in a small pond. Your teachers know and care for you, the students look out for each other, and by senior year, you'll feel a confidence in yourself and your abilities that you can really attribute to this education. I think there's a few aspects of this school which the students take advantage of, like the large efforts for cultural competency and the deliberate activities which we engage in to promote understanding. No place is perfect, however, but I have noticed that in times of strife the student body and the faculty will hold one another accountable. It's been a great high school experience overall.
Read 78 Reviews

• A+

• 868 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jesuit High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 204

Senior: Amazing community and challenging academics! I loved my time and Jesuit and would never change my decision to attend. However, as much as I love my experience there are few things to note. First, the dress code. While it may not be as strict as other schools, it still significantly irks me because, dress code, is inherently sexist and sometime the degree to which it is enforced can be annoying -seriously, the half inch above the knee is still modest. The community at Jesuit is amazing and welcoming regardless of race, background, identity etc. Sometimes there is the first-world-problems vibe. And, Jesuit is very accepting of other faiths, which is great! However, the mandatory 4 years of religion is a little much, especially sophomore year Hebrew & Christian Scripture, despite having an amazing teacher, is the one class I wish I didn't take. Overall, I loved my experience at Jesuit and I couldn't have asked for anything else.
Read 204 Reviews

• A+

• 1,292 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Mary's Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 278

Senior: St. Mary's has been an overall amazing experience. The school is filled with the most qualified educators along with an intense course rigor. There are tons of different ways for students to be supported academically as they adjust to the class load and the challenges which come along with it. Teachers offer study session, Nation Honor Society students offer to tutor, as well as a learning specialist located in the schools learning center. St. Mary's prepares students inside the classroom for success in the real world. There is an amazing group of students there who work to motivate, support and love each other, it is a true sisterhood. The school is very politically active as many students are aware and vocal about current events. These conversations are fostered by teachers and supported. The only problem though is the student body as a whole is very liberal, making it harder for students with differing opinions to share without feeling isolated or ashamed.
Read 278 Reviews

• A+

• 700 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Valley Catholic School

• Private School
• Beaverton, OR
• PK, K-12
• 59

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 59 Reviews

• A+

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

Northwest Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 6-12
• 10

Alum: Northwest Academy is unparalleled. I considered other top-rated schools, but their students seemed to be running on rails, given only a pre fixe menu of opportunities. In contrast, NWA's sui generis curriculum and culture cultivates individuality, training the value of uniqueness in person and thought. Kids aren't conditioned to be a "kind" of person, either by classmates or institutionally.

NWA is often described as an arts school. I would argue that this is underfitting. The arts are amalgamated within academics, steeping a creative flavor of critical thinking into students as they grow. The artistic response assignments instill active learning, where kids are given the opportunity to analyze subjects through distinct lenses, but in a way completely their own. This is where "outside the box" thinking comes from: teaching with blank canvases. While other schools invest in framing students to look good on paper, NWA animates unscripted adults who write their own stories.
Read 10 Reviews

• A+

• 221 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Central Catholic High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 213

Junior: Central Catholic High School is a college prep high school in the city of Portland, Oregon. Offering competitive sports programs, a diverse culture, multiple clubs, Advanced Placement classes and caring teachers/administration. What sets Central Catholic High School apartment from others is their involvement in the community requiring each student to perform service, giving back to society. This year I am going to the Dominican Republic to help empower young girls and this time is applicable to my required service hours for my senior year. I would recommend CCHS to any high school student wanting to be challenged and stretched to be the best person you can be in all areas from academics to sports.
Read 213 Reviews

• A

• 881 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Christian Jr/Sr High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 6-12
• 35

Freshman: I have found PCS to have been eye-opening. I admire the staff and how much they care about your academic achievement and well being. The academics and resources at PCS are also wonderful. I would recommend PCS to many. Spiritually, the school is outstanding. Many "uncomfortable" topics ignored by other private schools are discussed here. It feels like home and they include parents so much. One thing I would change about PCS is the tuition.
Read 35 Reviews

• A

• 276 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Veritas School

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

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

La Salle Catholic College Preparatory

• Private School
• Milwaukie, OR
• 9-12
• 184

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 184 Reviews

• A

• 700 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Westside Christian High School

• Private School
• Tigard, OR
• 9-12
• 35

Senior: I have been attending WCHS all four years of high school now and I consider it to be an average school. The small class sizes make it easy to make connections and have personal interactions with your teachers. It is also nice being in a smaller school environment because it makes it easy to be involved in sports or other extra curricular activities. Our school facilities are also amazing!
However, the one thing that I have consistently been disappointed with is the administration. Some of the times staff/teachers behave in a manner I would describe as unprofessional (bringing their personal life to their job/favoritism/laziness).
Read 35 Reviews

• A

• 240 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Stephen's Academy

• Private School
• Beaverton, OR
• PK, K-12
• 26

Parent: Initially, we chose this school because it was within walking distance. Our child is in Kindergarten and has completely blossomed this year. I have been overwhelmed by the quality of this school. Not only are the teachers exceptional, but they genuinely care about your child's success, you can tell that they love God. The environment is structured, caring, and they make learning really fun. They are continually improving and asking for feedback. I have not interacted with all of the staff, but the ones that I have met and worked with have consistently exemplified such respect and care towards their students that I have been very impressed. Their art program is award winning as well! I like that there is the ability to volunteer, it makes it feel like a family where everyone pitches in. I would highly recommend this school to anyone.
Read 26 Reviews

• A

• 271 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School

• Private School
• Vancouver, WA
• 9-12
• 10

Alum: The small, tight knit community at Seton really helped me become a better person in life. The administration is terrible, bully their faculty into doing things they don’t want to do, like teaching subjects they aren’t qualified in, which in turn adds unneeded stress to our teachers.
Read 10 Reviews

• A

• 170 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Faith Bible High School

• Private School
• Hillsboro, OR
• 9-12
• 43

Parent: A wonderful school with caring teachers, small class sizes, excellent extra curricular activities and academically rigorous courses. It well prepared our son for the SAT and the rigors of college academics. The kids learn to give loving service to the community who are in need. A well rounded education is what we all want for our kids and Faith Bible provides that beautifully, with the heart of Jesus in the center.
Read 43 Reviews

• A-

• 114 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Waldorf School

• Private School
• Milwaukie, OR
• PK, K-12
• 10

• A-

• 277 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

City Christian Schools

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 17

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 17 Reviews

• A-

• 510 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Portland Adventist Academy

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 52

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 52 Reviews

• B+

• 285 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Horizon Christian High School

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

Senior: My experience at Horizon Christian High School have been great! The teachers care about the students and want to see them succeed. They make sure to make themselves available to the students that might need extra help.
Read 9 Reviews

• B+

• 151 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

De La Salle North Catholic High School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• 9-12
• 108

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 108 Reviews

• B+

• 330 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

C.S. Lewis Academy

• Private School
• Newberg, OR
• K-12
• 30

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 30 Reviews

• B+

• 130 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

North Clackamas Christian School

• Private School
• Oregon City, OR
• PK, K-12
• 18

Parent: My child has been at NCCS since 2nd grade and his experience has been outstanding, both academically and spiritually. Because of the small classes and family atmosphere, he has grown and developed socially, as well as academically and spiritually. I love the warmth and nurturing of the teachers, who are all highly qualified and trained. The majority have master degrees with many years of experience. The experience for most students is very well rounded. With a strong athletic, music, drama and art program, students have opportunities to do it all. It is a safe, nurturing and loving academic environment, and all students are well prepared for college, should they choose to go on.
Read 18 Reviews

• B+

• 255 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Columbia Christian School

• Private School
• Portland, OR
• PK, K-12
• 31

Parent: Columbia Christian has been a great school for my kids. We have been at the school for 3 years and made the switch when my kids were in Middle School and High School, which is a hard time to switch schools. The students and faculty have been very accepting and inviting. Both of my kids feel like Columbia is now their family school. Academically it has been challenging, but not overwhelming. Great School!
Read 31 Reviews

• B+

• 317 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Pacific Crest Community School

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

Parent: Pacific Crest has proven to be an excellent school for our son. The teachers are excellent, committed, interesting. The classes are a "narrow, deep slice" of the subject (like Folklore & Pop Culture, Climate Change, and Cells Genes and Evolution ) rather than the standard "English 2", making for a more interesting curriculum. While there is a well-rounded focus on science, social science, and writing, the importance of the arts is exemplified in their extensive offerings which include Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media, Ceramics, Photography, Acting for the Stage, Script Writing, Stage Design, African Drumming, and Improv. Languages include Spanish and Japanese; other opportunities include SAT Prep, Bike Repair, Coding, and Rock Climbing. Quite extensive for a school of 85 students! This school is a gem.
Read 12 Reviews

• B+

• 93 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Columbia Adventist Academy

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

Senior: My high school experience at Columbia Adventist Academy has been an amazing one. The staff are genuinely care about their students success, and the school provides amazing, once in a life time opportunities to travel the world and while giving back, and giving us students a lifetime of experiences.
Read 9 Reviews

• B+

• 101 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Life Christian School

• Private School
• Aloha, OR
• PK, K-12
• 21

Freshman: At Life Christian School, I found a vibrant and thriving community; a safe space where I felt free to be myself and share my opinions with others. The faculty is very welcoming and encouraging; the diverse student body is also very accommodating to new and transferred students. Overall, I would say that I absolutely love the unique atmosphere of this school!
Read 21 Reviews

• B

• 415 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio