The Best Seattle Private Schools – 2025

February 25, 2025

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

14050 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

College Admissions Highlights: The following colleges enrolled Lakeside grades over the last five years: Bowdoin, BC, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Claremont McKenna, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Occidental, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkley, UCLA, U Chicago, U Michigan, Penn, USC, Vassar, Washington U, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 17 students. 60% students self-identify as non-white. 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): $44,730
Enrollment (seniors): 146
50th percentile SAT Score: 1540
50th percentile ACT Score: 35

#2 The Best Seattle Private Schools

The Overlake School – Seattle

20301 NE 108th St, Redmond, WA 98053

College Admissions Highlights: Colleges attended by Overlake graduates over the past 5 years include Amherst, Bard, Bowdoin, Brown, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, GaTech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Marquette, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pomona, Purdue, SMU, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, US Military Acad, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Michigan, Notre Dame, UNC Chapel Hill, USC, Vassar, Villanova, Washington U, Wellesley, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is 14 students. 72% students of color. 19 AP courses available. 92% of AP exam takers earned a 4 or 5. 31 seniors recognized by National Merit. 75%+ students participate in at least one sport. A distinguished Lecturer program enrich students, families and community.

Tuition (9-12): $45,530
Enrollment (seniors): 74
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1300-1500
Mid-50% ACT Score: 29-34

#3 The Best Seattle Private Schools

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, BC, BU, Brown, Bryn Mawr, CalPoly, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pitzer, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Chicago, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vassar, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 17 students with a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 44% identify as students of color. 70 zip codes are represented and 43 languages are spoken at home. 25 honors & advanced 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): $48,480
Enrollment (seniors): 185
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#4 The Best Seattle Private Schools

University Prep – Seattle

8000 25th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, University Prep students have matriculated to these colleges & universities: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Cal Poly, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, George Washington, Ga Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pitzer, Princeton, RIT, Santa Clara, Swarthmore, Tufts, UCLA, UChicago, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 16 students. 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 50% identify as students of color. 76% of AP test-takers scored a 4 or above. 50% of the graduating class participated in signature global & outdoor leadership experiences. 63% athletic participation in the 24 teams. Intensive periods are held twice yearly to offer an academically immersive experience.

Tuition (9-12): $46,150
Enrollment (seniors): 90
Average SAT Score: 1340
Average ACT Score: 29

#5 The Best Seattle Private Schools

Eastside Preparatory School – Seattle

10613 NE 38th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98033

College Admissions Highlights: Over the past 5 years, Eastside Prep students have enrolled in the following schools: BC, BU, Brown, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Pomona, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Penn, USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, WashingtonU, Wesleyan, WPI, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of 16 students. 82% of faculty members hold advanced degrees. Recently, 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): $44,000
Enrollment (5-12): 530
Average SAT Score: 1360-1530
Average ACT Score: 31-35

#6 The Best Seattle Private Schools

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: American, BC, Brown, Bucknell, CalPoly, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, 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. 95% scored 3 or high on their AP tests. 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): $36,630
Enrollment (seniors): 46
Average SAT Score: 1343
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#7 The Best Seattle Private Schools

The Bush School – Seattle

3400 E Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98112

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, Bush graduate matriculations included Barnard, BC, Bowdoin, Brandeis, Brown, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, George Washington, Haverford, Hamilton, Harvard, Howard, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pitzer, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, UT Austin, Tufts, UCLA, UChicago, Michigan, Penn, USC, UWashington, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: With a campus in the Methow Valley, students get an opportunity for immersive experiences. 24 Interdisciplinary Immersive cascades. 87% of 11th graders participated in the Junior Internship Cascade Program. 56 student-led clubs & affinity groups. Bush offers music, visual arts, & theater. 19 advanced level courses. 1245 original songs produced by Bush record label: Broken Records. 73% of students participate in Blazer Athletics.

Tuition (9-12): $47,700
Enrollment (seniors): 78
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#8 The Best Seattle Private Schools

Charles Wright Academy – Seattle

7723 Chambers Creek Rd W, Tacoma, WA 98467

College Admissions Highlights: A recent 4 year list of student matriculation included: Baylor, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Drexel, Georgetown, GaTech, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Stanford, Trinity, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Penn, USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, WashingtonU, Wellesley, & William & Mary.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 12 students with a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 67% of faculty hold advanced degrees. 55% students self-report as people of color. 16 AP courses are offered. 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): $32,655
Enrollment (seniors): 52
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1160-1450
Mid-50% ACT Score: Not Reported

#9 The Best Seattle Private Schools

The Northwest School – Seattle

1415 Summit Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

College Admissions Highlights: A recent four year sample of matriculation from Northwest graduates include: American, Barnard, Belmont, BC, Brown, Bryn Mawr, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Howard, Kenyon, Loyola, Macalester, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Oberlin, Occidental, Pepperdine, Pitzer, Princeton, RIT, Skidmore, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, UMass, USC, Washington, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Washington U, Wellesley, and Williams.

Academic Highlights: 15 students on average in each class with a student to teacher ratio of 7:1. 44% identify as students of color. 11% international students. 43 boarding students out of 419. 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): $47,875 (Day); $73,435 (Boarding)
Enrollment (6-12): 419
Average SAT Score: 1300
Average ACT Score: 30

#10 The Best Seattle Private Schools

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, BU, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Emory, Georgetown, Ga Tech, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Rice, Stanford, Trinity, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UMiami, UMich, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Washington U, 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. 15 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): $36,250 (day); $77,225 (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.

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High School Success

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).