The Best Seattle Private Schools – 2024

February 5, 2024

seattle private schools

Parents in the Emerald City and surrounding suburbs are fortunate to have a number of excellent private school options within commuting distance. Of course, with a bevy of choices comes information overload and a challenging decision-making process ahead. There are a multitude of considerations guiding your selection of which private schools in Seattle will be best for your child. You will need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations.  Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child’s high school to have a religious affiliation? However, College Transitions’ list of the Best Seattle Private Schools will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools does at sending their graduates on to the region/nation’s premier 4-year schools.

Best Private Schools in Seattle

Here’s a quick preview of the high schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Lakeside School

2) The Overlake School

3) Seattle Academy

4) University Prep

5) Eastside Preparatory School

6) The Bear Creek School

7) The Bush School

8) Charles Wright Academy

9) The Northwest School

10) Annie Wright Schools

Please note that inclusion on our Best Seattle Private Schools list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource. All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For each of our highlighted institutions, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

  • Location
  • Tuition (9-12)
  • Enrollment (9-12)
  • Average SAT Score
  • Average ACT Score
  • Senior Class Size
  • College Admissions Highlights
  • Academic Highlights

Now, let’s dive in and examine the profiled high schools.

 

#1 The Best Seattle Private Schools
Lakeside School – Seattle

Lakeside School – Seattle

  • 14050 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

College Admissions Highlights:  The following colleges enrolled 10+ Lakeside grades over the last five years: Bowdoin, Brown, Case Western, Claremont McKenna, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Occidental, Stanford, Tufts, UCLA, Penn, USC, Univ of Wash – Seattle, WashU, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  The average class size is 17 students. 60% students self-identify as non-white.  The Class of 2023 included 28 National Merit Semifinalists.  80%+ participate in the arts programs. 23 varsity teams for the 80% who participate in sports.  There are 130+ courses offered.  Global Online Academy gives students an opportunity to learn Arabic, global health, and other worldly studies.

    • Tuition (9-12): $42,000
    • Enrollment (seniors): 146
    • 50th percentile SAT Score: 1550
    • 50th percentile ACT Score: 35


#2 The Best Seattle Private Schools
The Overlake School – Seattle

The Overlake School – Seattle

  • 20301 NE 108th St, Redmond, WA 98053

College Admissions Highlights:  Colleges attended by graduates over the past 5 years include Amherst, Barnard, Bowdoin, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pomona, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMichigan, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.  The average class size is 14 students.  72% students of color. 70% of faculty members have master’s degrees and 6 have doctoral degrees. There are 17 AP courses available. 92% of AP exam takers earned a 4 or 5. 30 seniors recognized by National Merit. 80-85% students participate in athletics. A distinguished Lecturer program enrich students, families and community.

    • Tuition (9-12): $42,160
    • Enrollment (seniors): 76
    • Mid-50% SAT Score: 1320-1540
    • Mid-50% ACT Score: 28-33


#3 The Best Seattle Private Schools
Seattle Academy – Seattle

Seattle Academy – Seattle

  • 1201 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122

College Admissions Highlights:  In the last five years, large numbers of students have matriculated into Barnard (11), BC (8), BU (9), Carnegie Mellon (4), Dartmouth (6), Johns Hopkins (4), NYU (22), Northeastern (23), Occidental (15), Pitzer (13), Scripps (10), SCU (25), Stanford (5), Tufts (6), UCLA (6), USC (12), UW Seattle (33), WashU (6), and Yale (4).

Academic Highlights:  The average class size is 18-20 students with a 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio.  43% identify as students of color.  67 zip codes are represented and 43 languages are spoken at home.  15 honors level courses. Students participate in a service-learning program. 15 sports, school musical, robotics, ensembles and productions are great ways for students to get involved after school.

    • Tuition (9-12): $46,392
    • Enrollment (seniors): 174
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#4 The Best Seattle Private Schools
University Prep – Seattle

University Prep – Seattle

  • 8000 25th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115

College Admissions Highlights:  Over the last five years, multiple students have enrolled in BC (4), Brown (3), Colorado College (9), Columbia (2), Cornell (3), Dartmouth (5), Emory (5), Middlebury (2), Northeastern (5) NYU (7), Pitzer (9), SCU (21), Swarthmore (2), UCLA (5), UChicago (3), UMich (6), USC (9), UW Seattle (36), WashU(9), and Yale (3).

Academic Highlights:  The average class size is 18 students.  9:1 student-to-faculty ratio.  44% identify as students of color.  75% of AP test-takers scored a 4 or above.  16% of 2019-2023 grads recognized by National Merit. 50% of the graduating class participated in signature global & outdoor leadership experiences. 62% athletic participation in the 26 teams.

    • Tuition (9-12): $43,950
    • Enrollment (seniors): 86
    • Average SAT Score: 1340
    • Average ACT Score: 29


#5 The Best Seattle Private Schools
Eastside Preparatory School – Seattle

Eastside Preparatory School – Seattle

  • 10613 NE 38th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98033

College Admissions Highlights:  Over the past 5 years, multiple students have enrolled in the following schools: Bowdoin (3), Brandeis (2), CalTech (2), Carnegie Mellon (4), Case Western (3), Columbia (1), Cornell (5), Emory (2), Harvard (2), John Hopkins, (2), MIT (2), NYU (3), Tufts (5), UC Berkeley (5), UCLA (6), UChicago (4), WashingtonU (2), and Yale (2).

Academic Highlights:  8:1 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of 16 students.  82% of faculty members hold advanced degrees.  Class of 2024 had 12 Semi-Finalists and 21 commended National Merit Scholarship recipients. Students have opportunities to pursue an independent study/project or senior thesis.  Roughly 75% of students participate in sports each year.

    • Tuition (9-12): $42,500
    • Enrollment (5-12): 530
    • Average SAT Score: 1330-1520
    • Average ACT Score: 30-34


#6 The Best Seattle Private Schools
The Bear Creek School – Seattle

The Bear Creek School – Seattle

  • 8905 208th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98053

College Admissions Highlights:  Recent graduates have been accepted into a number of prestigious institutions including: BC, Bowdoin, Brown, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Julliard, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Princeton, Rice, UCLA, UMichigan, Penn, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Wesleyan,  and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.  The typical class size is 18 students.  74% of faculty possess advanced degrees.  The school offers 13 AP classes.  87% scored 3 or high on their AP tests.  22% of the class of 2024 were National Merit recognized.  22 varsity athletic teams where 75% of the students play at least one sport.  20 arts electives in visual arts and performance.

    • Tuition (9-12): $34,550
    • Enrollment (seniors): 50
    • Average SAT Score: 1362
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#7 The Best Seattle Private Schools
The Bush School – Seattle

The Bush School – Seattle

  • 3400 E Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98112

College Admissions Highlights:  Class of 2023 matriculations included Barnard, BC, Bowdoin, Brandeis, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Hamilton, Harvard, Middlebury, NYU, Pitzer, Pomona, Purdue, Swarthmore, Tufts, UCLA, UChicago, USC, UWashington, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Wake Forest, WashU, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  48% BIPOC students.  7:1 Student to teacher ratio. With a campus in the Methow Valley, students get an opportunity for immersive experiences. 19 advanced level courses. 73% of middle & upper students participate in athletics with 22 teams in the upper school.  10 student-led affinity groups. Bush offers music, visual arts, & theater.

    • Tuition (9-12): $43,475
    • Enrollment (seniors): 71
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#8 The Best Seattle Private Schools
Charles Wright Academy – Seattle

Charles Wright Academy – Seattle

  • 7723 Chambers Creek Rd W, Tacoma, WA 98467

College Admissions Highlights:  From 2018-2022, students matriculated into Baylor, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Carnegie Mellon, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Stanford, UC Berkeley, U of British Columbia, UChicago, Penn, UW Seattle, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.

Academic Highlights:  The average class size is 12 students with a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio.  67% of faculty hold advanced degrees. 46% students self-report as people of color.  16 AP courses are offered.46% of the class of 2022 was recognized as an AP Scholar.  25+ middle & upper school clubs & affinity groups. 70% of upper school students play on one of the 28 team sports. 18 art classes offered in the upper school.

    • Tuition (9-12): $31,100
    • Enrollment (9-12): 154
    • Mid-50% SAT Score: 1100-1520
    • Mid-50% ACT Score: Not Reported


#9 The Best Seattle Private Schools
The Northwest School – Seattle

The Northwest School – Seattle

  • 1415 Summit Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

College Admissions Highlights:  Class of 2023 grads matriculated into American, Barnard, Brown, Bryn Mawr, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Macalester, NYU, Northeastern, Oberlin, Occidental, Pitzer, Pomona, RIT, Scripps, Skidmore, Tufts, UC Boulder, USC, UMass, Washington, Vassar, WashingtonU, and Wellesley.

Academic Highlights: 15 students on average in each class.  45% identify as students of color.  11% international students. 40 boarding students out of 443. Northwest has a signature humanities program and an environment study component that all students complete.  Students are required to take a minimum of 6 arts courses.  7 sports with 13 teams in the upper school.

    • Tuition (9-12): $44,950 (Day); $68,950 (Boarding)
    • Enrollment (6-12): 443
    • Average SAT Score: 1300
    • Average ACT Score: 30


#10 The Best Seattle Private Schools
Annie Wright Schools – Seattle

Annie Wright Schools – Seattle

  • 827 N Tacoma Ave, Tacoma, WA 98403

College Admissions Highlights:  Recent graduates have gone on to matriculate into highly-selective schools such as: Amherst, Bates, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, Emory, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Rice, UChicago, UCLA, UMiami, UMich, UVA, Vanderbilt, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  Separate Upper Schools for Boys and Girls together make up one of best Seattle private schools.  5 or 7 day boarding opportunity.  13 countries of citizenship. 5:1 student to faculty ratio, with an average class size of 17. Offer an IB Diploma Programme with on average an 88% pass rate.  14 HS sports programs.

    • Tuition (K-12): $34,850 (day); $73,900 (Boarding)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 65
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


Final Thoughts – Best Seattle Private Schools

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Seattle to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our Dataverse, Blog, and List-Building Tool.