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2020 Best Private Schools in the Seattle AreaAbout this List

Explore the best private schools in your area based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 341
Best Schools
341 results

  1. Lakeside School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 5-12
    • 88 reviews
    #1 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: You'll find opportunities like no other at Lakeside with plenty of unique extracurriculars (such as crew or wrestling), service opportunities (esp. Global Service Learning where you spend a month abroad in another country), dedicated teachers and staff, and quality people.

    Being an ultra-competitive school, it isn't rare for students to be sleeping after midnight. Teachers be like "we don't want you to be stressed" but also assign hours of homework each night… (you have been warned!)

    On the bright side, colleges know about the rigor here, so a 4.0 GPA is really not the norm. Also we don't have AP courses, but we can take "Honors" classes which are usually at or above the AP level. Classes can be challenging so my one piece of advice would be: set good study habits, prioritize school starting freshman year!

    Although I did have my ups and downs through my 7 years at Lakeside, in retrospect, if I were to go back in time to 5th grade, I would still choose to attend :)
    Read 88 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 838 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  2. The Overlake School

    • Private School
    • Redmond, WA
    • 5-12
    • 77 reviews
    #2 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: I cannot imagine a better school for my son. The faculty is amazing, the campus is beautiful and the administration shows how much they really care.

    Matt Horvat has brought an incredible energy to the school and Mike Davidson does an amazing job in the middle school. Megan Waddle engages with the students and has personally encouraged my son to continue to come out of his shell. Thank you, Megan!

    Most of all, Overlake guides the students in their journey to become intellectually curious, well-rounded global citizens. I could not ask for more.
    Read 77 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 529 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  3. Eastside Preparatory School

    • Private School
    • Kirkland, WA
    • 5-12
    • 14 reviews
    #3 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: Eastside Preparatory School has rigorous academics that prepare students for college and push them beyond their comfort zones. Eastside Preparatory School has great faculty and a community. It is a small school but the benefits of a small school like Eastside Preparatory School are beyond compare.
    Read 14 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 428 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  4. The Bush School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • K-12
    • 71 reviews
    #4 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Sophomore: I have been going to bush for quite a few years now, and being at the school makes me happy. I love that all my classes are interesting and offer new perspectives. The STEM classes are challenging but come with good teachers to help you through it. I will say that the diversity at bush isn't very well but the new kindergarten class has so much diversity! This gives me hope that bush will continue to be an excellent school for students who want to be the best, kindest, smartest, and happiest versions of themselves.
    Read 71 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 629 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. The Bear Creek School

    • Private School
    • Redmond, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 62 reviews
    #5 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: Love this school. You might not. This school is for people that are Christians, that love philosophy, that are either Asian or White, and that doesn’t love to party or be “lit”. Sure, it welcomes Christians and non-Christians and I have a bunch of atheist friends that goes to this school, but some non-Christians say that they don’t feel as welcomed. The majority race of the school is Asians and Whites, so if you’re a minority, you might not feel as comfortable, but I haven’t heard any negative comments about the school from any of my few Bear Creek black friends. If you don’t love philosophy or liberal arts education, don’t come here. If you like to party hard during Friday nights, don’t come here. It’s true that there are a lot of nerds here, but it’s not true that we are all nerds. People here are very nice and welcoming. It’s a small school, you will make friends here. It’s also nice to get to know literally everybody.
    Read 62 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 831 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. University Prep

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 6-12
    • 50 reviews
    #6 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: I am a UPrep alumna who graduated in the mid-1990s and my daughter will be going into 7th grade at UPrep this fall – her second year at the school. I had hoped that my daughter would experience the same rigorous academics and caring community that I did and this has definitely proved to be the case! UPrep is a place where teachers really get to know each student and have insights into their individual strengths; as a result, they help steer students toward electives and leadership positions in their areas of interest that they might not otherwise have considered. It is a place where students feel safe to branch out and try new things - my daughter started her own art club with a friend in 6th grade, dabbled in playing the cello and took her first foray into learning Mandarin Chinese, all on a gorgeous campus in a residential neighborhood where several of the teachers I had 20+ years ago are still teaching (no doubt a testament to how much they themselves love the school!).
    Read 50 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 604 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  9. Seattle Academy

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 6-12
    • 90 reviews
    #7 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Junior: I am a junior at SAAS and I love it. I have been at SAAS since middle school. The amazing science and arts electives are something that is unique to here. I can take neuroscience right after ceramics right after psychology if I want! Theater and visual arts are particularly strong. All academic classes have different levels to them so that each student can choose how much they would like to challenge themselves. The most challenging classes are American Studies (joint Honors English/Honors History) and Advanced Chemistry. The teachers are great and have diverse teaching styles, so there's always someone who teaches the way you learn. While SAAS has excellent sports teams (soccer, volleyball, golf, and ultimate frisbee are the strongest), the school doesn't revolve around sports like a traditional high school. The college prep is amazing, they have answered all of my questions incredibly well and I have total faith in them going into college applications. I've enjoyed my time at SAAS!
    Read 90 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 729 Students
    • — Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. The Northwest School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 6-12
    • 43 reviews
    #8 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: What a unique place! The school year is broken up into five sections, called "Quints" (rather than semesters or trimesters). This follows the natural breaks caused by holidays anyway, so the result is just that you never have to pick back up the exact same material after a long vacation. And it allows the teachers to cover a lot more ground in less time. Amazing arts programs, small class sizes, kick-ass teachers who care a lot about making the world a better place.
    Read 43 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 506 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

    • Private School
    • Bellevue, WA
    • 5-12
    • 47 reviews
    #9 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: Forest Ridge is a great school to attend, the academics are very challenging and the teachers know how to push students to create the best work possible. Since the academics are quite rigorous, there is a slightly stressed and competitive environment at the school. However, this does not mean that the student community is not strong. From my personal experience, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, especially new student entering the high school. I would recommend this school to prepare for college readiness as some of the courses mimic college level work. Athletics is also another fun part of the Forest Ridge experience, there is a no-cut policy that ensure that all students can participate in any sports; this is a great place to meet new people in other grades and where I made some of my best friendships!
    Read 47 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 300 Students
    • 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Annie Wright Schools

    • Private School
    • Tacoma, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 81 reviews
    #10 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: My children both graduated from AWS, and I am compelled to write this review because they are so wonderfully prepared for college. Thank you Annie Wright! The care and professionalism demonstrated by the teachers is amazing. My kids are not only academically prepared, they know how to advocate for themselves, and build relationships with their professors at college. They have started the boys school now I hear, and although I had some reservations initially, I do agree that this extraordinary IB education should be available to all kids in the South Sound. This school is making a difference in the lives of kids, families and helping the development of the region.
    Read 81 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 574 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  13. Charles Wright Academy

    • Private School
    • Tacoma, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 66 reviews
    #11 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Niche User: I am a current 6th grader at Charles Wight Academy, and I love it. All of the teachers are super nice, the students are super welcoming, and the activities are awesome. I think that everyone is super nice, and the application process is super easy and fun. No complaints!
    Read 66 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 657 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. Seattle Preparatory School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 9-12
    • 89 reviews
    #12 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: Seattle Prep is a welcoming school with faculty and students that are eager to learn! There are many great opportunities for students that are introduced through the school, allowing for a wide range of experiences for all.
    Read 89 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 720 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. Eastside Catholic School

    • Private School
    • Sammamish, WA
    • 6-12
    • 94 reviews
    #13 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: My daughter just started middle school at Eastside Catholic and I only have good things to say! She was accepted with open arms from the students and has become very involved in the school even though it is only a few months into the school year. The academics far exceed those in our local public school. We, as parents, feel that we made the best decision for our child.
    Read 94 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 865 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  16. Holy Names Academy

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 9-12
    • 232 reviews
    #14 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: Holy Names is such a wonderful school. It has helped shape me into a strong young woman. The environment of the school promotes women empowerment. Holy Names is a college preparatory school and has helped me prepare for my future in college. The teachers there are the some of the best of the best. They genuinely want the students succeed, and will make time out of their schedules to help students when needed. Assemblies and events create a great sense of school spirit and community. Volunteer/Service work is an important aspect of the school that promotes the school's core values of following the teachings of Jesus. I am honestly glad that they incorporate this in the curriculum because the place I had volunteered at has helped further my interests in pursuing a career of International Relations/Affairs. Holy Names is one of the best things that has ever happened in my life
    Read 232 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 660 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  17. Bellarmine Preparatory School

    • Private School
    • Tacoma, WA
    • 9-12
    • 161 reviews
    #15 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Sophomore: Good school. Has problems with allowing students to pursue higher levels of education. Students cannot challenge themselves academically, without being recommended by a teacher. This recommendation is usually bias. Also, if a student does not do well in placement exams they are locked into a system that does not allow them to take honors or AP classes. If said student does manage to take such classes, they must work 2x as hard as those already placed in those classes. School environment could be better, with more activities voted on by students. ASB could do more to improve school events (dances, celebrations, etc.) Efforts are being made to improve diversity, inclusion, and overall school culture, but has a long road ahead. Thank you!
    Read 161 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 850 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  18. Hillside Student Community School

    • Private School
    • Bellevue, WA
    • 5-12
    • 37 reviews
    #16 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: I attended Hillside from 8th to 12th grade. What an exceptional experience! I have never encountered teachers who care more about their students' education, growth and development than at Hillside. The family values upon which the school was founded shine through the curriculum at every opportunity. Hillside challenged me in so many ways from college-level history papers starting in ninth grade to an emotional understanding of myself and my peers, something I wouldn't understand the importance of until much later. After graduating in 2009, I obtained an engineering degree at Stanford University and now work in the medical industry. Nearly 10 years later the academic and life lessons Hillside provided me are still some of the most important I have gained throughout all my education, and the campus and staff hold a very dear place in my heart. I highly recommend your child spend as much time there as possible.
    Read 37 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 39 Students
    • 3:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Bellevue Christian School

    • Private School
    • Clyde Hill, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 58 reviews
    #17 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: Bellevue Christian School has been a wonderful place for our family. We have had three children graduate and our youngest is a senior this year. The community at Bellevue Christian has been awesome! All our kids have been well prepared for College and our oldest two have graduated from college and have blossoming careers in the accounting field. Bellevue Christian is small enough for my kids to know all their teachers personally but not too small to be able to offer a rigorous academic program, athletics, arts, and so much more!
    Read 58 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,050 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. Kennedy Catholic High School

    • Private School
    • Burien, WA
    • 9-12
    • 145 reviews
    #18 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: Kennedy Catholic offered me many opportunities to grow as an individual through retreats, extra curricular activities, and in the classroom. The school cares about individual needs and creates a strong community aspect for all to participate in. Throughout my four years at this high school I learned many lessons both inside the classroom and outside. This school has provided me the skills to succeed outside of high school and grow as an independent thinker, interested in real world problems and interdisciplinary learning. Moreover, this school encourages students to serve others and teaches individuals to become better human beings.
    Read 145 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 852 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  23. West Sound Academy

    • Private School
    • Poulsbo, WA
    • 6-12
    • 16 reviews
    #19 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Senior: West Sound Academy is a very comfortable environment to learn in. The teachers are generally good and administration is more than willing to work with students to problem solve when issues arise. The culture of the school is caring and open-minded. One issue that I notice at West Sound Academy is the startling lack of diversity for an International Baccalaureate school. The student body is overwhelmingly caucasian. Despite this lack in diversity, West Sound Academy does a good job encouraging exchange students to share their culture and to not merely adopt the culture of the United States but to create more of an equal trade between their own culture and the culture they are surrounded by in the Pacific Northwest.
    Read 16 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 115 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  24. Bishop Blanchet High School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • 9-12
    • 187 reviews
    #20 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: I love how at Bishop Blanchet there is a broad diversity of students, activities, and arts. It seems like everyone can find themselves at BBHS -- it's not just for academic high achievers, jocks, etc. You can find students representing a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, genders and interest areas. The teachers and administration are really passionate about the school and the students. It is a collaborative, supportive environment. While all the kids are motivated to succeed in their own way - it's not the same sort of pressure cooker you can find in other school environments. The school also places a high priority on technology in the classrooms which is important for college and career readiness.
    Read 187 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 850 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  25. Shoreline Christian School

    • Private School
    • Shoreline, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 12 reviews
    #21 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: Shoreline Christian is a fabulous school! My son started at SCS in kindergarten. I wasn't totally sure about private school when we started, but now that he is there, I can't imagine him anywhere else. He is on the autism spectrum, and the teachers and staff have been so caring and encouraging of him. They take the time to do what is needed to provide support in the areas that are challenging for him, but they always see him from the viewpoint of recognizing and nurturing his strengths. The smaller class sizes make it possible for teachers to really individualize their teaching to meet each kid where they are, whether needing extra support or extra challenge. The parent community is hard-working, kind, and honestly accepting--I feel like we care about one another's kids and their well-being as we care about our own. It's a wonderful community for students and their families!
    Read 12 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 215 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  26. Archbishop Murphy High School

    • Private School
    • Everett, WA
    • 9-12
    • 72 reviews
    #22 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: We couldn't be happier with the experience our kids have had at AMHS! Our oldest graduated last Spring, our twins are currently Freshmen, and our daughter will start in the Fall. Each of our students is completely different and has completely different needs both academic, and social. AMHS has taken the time to know them as individuals and support each of them in the most proactive way possible. It's expensive, but sending our kids through AMHS is the best money we'll ever spend. You can't have a do over of those high school years and I can't imagine a more supportive, caring environment for our kids.
    Read 72 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 521 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  27. Cedar Park Christian School - Mountlake Terrace Campus

    • Private School
    • Mountlake Terrace, WA
    • 7-12
    • 13 reviews
    #23 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Alum: I have such great memories from this place and feel like I was prepared for college very well. The school had strong academic rigor and was big into sports. The teachers made an effort to connect with the students and continue to be some of my greatest life mentors to this day.
    Read 13 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 115 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  28. Northwest Yeshiva High School

    • Private School
    • Mercer Island, WA
    • 9-12
    • 13 reviews
    #24 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: We are thrilled with this school. The teachers and administrators truly care about the students here. It is small and that means that teachers and students develop close relationships and students are in a supportive environment. Kids are given many, many opportunities to lead and learn to manage change. I am a parent and visit a lot. I was so impressed with the high level of discourse at the last town hall. It was student led and it is very apparent that they respect one another.

    Academics are very high level and the students are very well prepared for college. My child is a senior this year and has already received multiple college acceptances as have the other kids.
    This is a full-time Jewish school and Judaism is infused with all. Lots of emphasis on developing good character along with the good academics. Lots of emphasis on service to others. This school is a great antidote to the typical 'me' focus of teens.
    Read 13 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 44 Students
    • 2:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  29. Seattle Waldorf School

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 21 reviews
    #25 Best Private High Schools in Seattle Area

    Parent: Extraordinary learning environment, unlike anything else I've experienced. It's hard to create a synopsis for this type of education due to it's unique sophistication. Words I would use to describe this school and it's curriculum are: intentional, holistic, meaningful, dynamic, integrative, beautiful, kind, wise. The children who come through the length of the program are noticeably confident, inquisitive, and prepared to set forth on their next step in life. They have strong foundations in learning and a sense of who they are. If you are at all curious about this school I would encourage you to take a tour, speak to some of the parents, and meet the kids. We happily commute from West Seattle to Seattle Waldorf each day because for us it's THAT remarkable of a school!!
    Read 21 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 370 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  30. Sponsored

    King's Schools

    • Private School
    • Seattle, WA
    • PK, K-12
    • 126 reviews

    Middle School Student: I am currently in 8th grade and I am new to King's this year. I absolutely love people and teachers here at King's!
    Not to mention, but the food here is great as well.
    I love all my classes because it is a lot smaller!
    I also really like our gender separation system for our core classes.
    Love the diverse electives we have here!
    come to King's! you guys will love it here:)
    Read 126 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,346 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  35. Sponsored

    Evergreen Lutheran High School

    • Private School
    • Tacoma, WA
    • 9-12
    • 29 reviews

    Works Here: Evergreen is a great close knit school. The smaller school size is great for more individual time between students and teachers. It also allows students to participate in many extra-curriculars they maybe wouldn't have been able to at bigger school. This allows for establishing great for friendships, team/school unity, and teaching great time management skills for the future. Evergreen offers busing from Kitsap and Federal Way. I love working with the school families. We have many parents that have attended and now send their own kids here. I would recommend looking into sending your kids to this school.
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 82 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  36. Sponsored

    Northshore Christian Academy

    • Private School
    • Everett, WA
    • PK, K-8
    • 11 reviews

    Parent: I have been involved with Northshore as a parent for 4 years now. Our family has been blessed in so many ways by the teachers, administrators and families that are part of this wonderful organization. We expected that our children would receive a great education, dedicated teachers in a supportive environment: we didn't expect that Northshore would become like extended family. Northshore grows families in more ways than just educationally. We are a tribe and I couldn't imagine sending my kids anywhere else.
    Read 11 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 813 Students
    • 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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