The 10 Best Private Elementary Schools Seattle
Parents want the best education for their children. Public schools provide the basics, some far above others, but to ensure your child learns certain values in a smaller, individualized setting, many parents choose to send their children to private schools. These can be religiously based or non-denominational.
There are 96 Seattle private elementary schools area serving more than 20,000 students. Nearly half of them are religious, but many are not. Some are only for lower school students, while others cover up to 12th grade. Some also include aftercare programs to accommodate your work schedule. Tuition fees vary, but the average annual fee is $18,945. The number of students varies from dozens to hundreds. Here are some of best elementary schools in Washington Seattle area:
1. Annie Wright Schools
Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serves students from age three through high school. Annie Wright Junior and Junior High School offers co-educational programs in grades Pre-K to Grade 8, while a separate Senior High School offers day and boarding options in Grades 9-12.
Five-day and seven-day boarding options attract students from all over the world. AWS is proud to be an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering IB programs in every division. Yearly tuition is $32,300 for the highest grade provided and may have changed for the current school year. Please contact the school for further information.
Annie Wright Schools is located in the beautiful North End community of Tacoma, Washington. This historic campus was named the most beautiful private school in Washington State by Architectural Digest. While their campus and buildings are certainly beautiful, what happens inside their buildings is pure magic.
2. Epiphany School
Epiphany School is an independent, non-parochial school for students from Kindergarten to Year 5. Provide a well-rounded education including academic excellence, values and character-based discovering in a caring, inclusive environment.
This school encourages parental involvement. There are 236 students and the annual tuition is $26,705. Established in 1958, it is a prestigious and established school.
The average student-teacher ratio is 7:1, about half the national average, so all students receive the attention they need. There are several extracurricular activities including Lego engineering, gymnastics and yoga.
3. Bush School
The Bush School is one of the oldest and largest private schools. Founded in 1924 by Helen Taylor Bush, the non-denominational school serves 660 students in preschool through 12th grade. The average class size is around 15 students, who come from a variety of backgrounds.
The school emphasizes independent and creative thinking, intercultural fluency and citizenship, and academic, artistic and athletic excellence. There is also an off-campus campus where students can participate in field activities.
The Bush School is selective in which students it chooses, and tuition ranges from $27,500 for the Lower School to $35,255 for the High School.
4. Charles Wright Academy
Founded in 1957, Charles Wright Academy is an independent day school in Tacoma that develops and challenges students in preschool through 12th grade, developing the character, creativity, and skills to navigate the future with confidence and success. CWA is an inclusive community that values integrity, respect, compassion, perseverance and excellence.
Small class sizes and talented, caring staff provide intellectual contest and support at every stage. CWA’s beautiful 107-acre campus provides active, experiential and joyful learning for all students, including art, music, science, world languages and physical education.
Extensive school bus service includes Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Olympia and South King counties. CWA is accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). Tuition for the highest grade provided is $29,320 per year, however this may have changed since last year.
5. Bright Water Waldorf School
Waldorf education originated in Germany in 1919. Since then, Waldorf schools and their ideas have spread all over the world. Bright Water Waldorf School opened in 1998, bringing this renowned educational experience to Seattle.
Serving 184 students in grade 8, students have access to a rich curriculum, innovative teaching methods, personal attention and a caring community. There is a wealth of educator experience and athletic opportunities.
Your students will build confidence and receive an outstanding education, with tuition ranging from $7,900 to $18,375 for the school year. Approximately 60 percent of students who apply for admission are admitted.
6. Hillside Student Community School
At Hillside, they are committed to developing students’ talents so they can share them with the world in meaningful ways. They offer a challenging college preparatory program centered on developing creative, compassionate, and critical-thinking individuals.
In their tiny, supportive classes, their students feel safe taking the risk of making mistakes – that’s how real learning is done. They learn the courage to fail, to forgive failure, to learn from failure, to correct, to move forward, and to try again. They learn self-awareness, recognizing strengths and limitations in themselves and others, and use those limitations to develop compassion.
7. Holy Rosary School
About 40 percent of Seattle’s private schools are run by the Catholic Church. Holy Rosary School is ranked in the top 20% of private schools in the entire state of Washington. From pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, 482 students receive a faith education centered on biblical teaching.
Faith and prayer are integrated into the curriculum and way of life. Additionally, Holy Rosary School integrates elements of STEM to provide students with a technical education that prepares them for the future. A band, chess club, LEGO robots and youth choir round out the student experience.
8. Bear Creek School
It provides a challenging Christian liberal arts education that develops student leaders through integrated instruction in STEM, arts, and humanities. Small class sizes create a safe and supportive environment (Fees Per Year of $25,450).
Bear Creek’s college preparatory curriculum includes Honors and Advanced Placement courses taught by dedicated faculty in a supportive Christian community. Our graduates qualify for admission to the best colleges and universities and are ready to take on the world with wisdom, compassion and courage.
