Best Private Elementary Schools in Washington
Washington has six S-tier private schools that serve elementary grades, and the cohort is overwhelmingly Puget Sound: The Bush School, Seattle Country Day School, The Evergreen School, Open Window School, University Child Development School (UCDS), and Bertschi School. Bush is the only K-12 secular independent in Seattle proper. UCDS, Bertschi, and SCDS anchor the city's K-5 / K-8 elite cohort. Evergreen (Shoreline) and Open Window (Bellevue) are the two named gifted K-8 programs in the state and the only S-tier elementaries north of the ship canal and east of Lake Washington respectively.
Below S-tier sit eighteen A-tier schools spanning Catholic parish K-8s, evangelical K-12 systems (Bellevue Christian, King's, Cascade Christian, Lynden Christian), language-immersion programs (French American, Chestnut Hill), and the two Tacoma Episcopal independents — Annie Wright and Charles Wright — whose elementary divisions ride on much stronger upper-school reputations.
The largest tradeoff this list surfaces is the geographic concentration of the top tier. Five of the seven S-tier schools sit in Seattle proper, and a sixth is one freeway exit north in Shoreline. Outside the King County core, families face a smaller universe: Spokane is dominated by Catholic K-8s, Tacoma by the two Episcopal twins, Vancouver and Snohomish County by evangelical Christian K-12 systems. The S-tier label captures cross-source consensus among published rankings; it does not capture regional demand.
S Tier · 6 schools
- 001THE BUSH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING715 students
- 002SEATTLE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING411 students
- 003THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING444 students
- 004OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING359 students
- 005UNIVERSITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING271 students
- 006BERTSCHI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING226 students
A Tier · 29 schools
- 007LYNDEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM1,211 students
- 008KING'S SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING1,209 students
- 009BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING918 students
- 010NORTHSHORE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH908 students
- 011ANNIE WRIGHT SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE748 students
- 012THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING673 students
- 013ST JOSEPH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING575 students
- 014CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE487 students
- 015ST JOHN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING469 students
- 016HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING465 students
- 017SACRED HEART SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING408 students
- 018CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING329 students
- 019ST ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE318 students
- 020CATALDO CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE312 students
- 021FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF PUGET SOUND(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING312 students
- 022VILLA ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING298 students
- 023SEATTLE WALDORF SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING193 students
- 024ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL SPOKANE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE115 students
- 025ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE345 students
- 026BRIGHTON SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH291 students
- 027THREE POINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING269 students
- 028SAINT THOMAS SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING250 students
- 029EPIPHANY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING232 students
- 030BASIS INDEPENDENT BELLEVUE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING231 students
- 031ETON SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING227 students
- 032THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING174 students
- 033FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING149 students
- 034SOUNDVIEW SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH144 students
- 035SPRUCE ST SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING108 students
B Tier · 72 schools
- 036KINGS WAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK886 students
- 037RENTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING690 students
- 038LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE663 students
- 039SEATTLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING606 students
- 040MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SKAGIT589 students
- 041NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE580 students
- 042LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON561 students
- 043LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE508 students
- 044ST CHARLES BORROMEO CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE454 students
- 045ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK417 students
- 046GRACE ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH408 students
- 047ST LUKE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING367 students
- 048CASCADE CHRISTIAN - PUYALLUP ELEMENTARY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE355 students
- 049PROVIDENCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING350 students
- 050ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING350 students
- 051CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - MCALDER ELEMENTARY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE328 students
- 052TACOMA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE321 students
- 053WOODINVILLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING312 students
- 054MEADOW GLADE ADVENTIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK308 students
- 055ST JOSEPH MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA294 students
- 056CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS - FREDERICKSON ELEM.(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE282 students
- 057EASTSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING239 students
- 058VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE494 students
- 059ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING479 students
- 060CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON399 students
- 061FIRM FOUNDATION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK391 students
- 062ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE381 students
- 063CROSSPOINT(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KITSAP373 students
- 064UNITED SEATTLE&BELLEVUE KOREAN SCH BELLEVUE CAMPUS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING345 students
- 065BELLINGHAM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM344 students
- 066OUR LADY OF LOURDES SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK233 students
- 067ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM223 students
- 068THE FRANKLIN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM331 students
- 069ST MICHAEL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON322 students
- 070ST MARY MAGDALEN(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH313 students
- 071THE RIVER ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CHELAN286 students
- 072TZU CHI ACADEMY SEATTLE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING282 students
- 073NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON271 students
- 074SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA264 students
- 075ST PHILOMENA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING261 students
- 076HOLY FAMILY PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING260 students
- 077THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · COWLITZ257 students
- 078ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH257 students
- 079MONROE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH255 students
- 080HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING253 students
- 081OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING250 students
- 082SALVATION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE250 students
- 083HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH242 students
- 084ST GEORGE PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING240 students
- 085CEDAR TREE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK235 students
- 086ST VINCENT DE PAUL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING232 students
- 087ST ANNE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING228 students
- 088ST CATHERINE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING227 students
- 089CENTRALIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · LEWIS224 students
- 090ST MONICA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING222 students
- 091RENTON PREP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING220 students
- 092ST BRENDAN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING217 students
- 093ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON213 students
- 094ALL SAINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE210 students
- 095EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON201 students
- 096ST THERESE CATHOLIC ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING198 students
- 097IMMACULATE CONCEPTION REGIONAL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SKAGIT194 students
- 098ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE189 students
- 099CHRIST THE TEACHER CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA188 students
- 100ASSUMPTION PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE184 students
- 101ASSUMPTION SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WALLA WALLA184 students
- 102OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING181 students
- 103AMAZING GRACE RENTON PREP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING165 students
- 104ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE156 students
- 105ST THOMAS MORE PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH126 students
- 106JEWISH DAY SCHOOL OF METROPOLITAN SEATTLE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING77 students
- 107SLAVIC CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · MULTNOMAH73 students
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