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) · KING703 students
- 002SEATTLE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING411 students
- 003THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING444 students
- 004OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING358 students
- 005UNIVERSITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING271 students
- 006BERTSCHI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING220 students
A Tier · 32 schools
- 007LYNDEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: ADMINISTRATION(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM1,201 students
- 008KING'S SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING1,097 students
- 009BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING918 students
- 010NORTHSHORE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH876 students
- 011BELLEVUE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING763 students
- 012THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING676 students
- 013ANNIE WRIGHT SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE619 students
- 014ST JOSEPH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING546 students
- 015CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE519 students
- 016ST JOHN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING469 students
- 017HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING452 students
- 018SACRED HEART SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING409 students
- 019FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF PUGET SOUND(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING342 students
- 020CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING329 students
- 021VILLA ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING308 students
- 022CATALDO CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE296 students
- 023ST ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE289 students
- 024ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL SPOKANE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE286 students
- 025ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE279 students
- 026SEATTLE WALDORF SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING278 students
- 027ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE304 students
- 028BRIGHTON SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH269 students
- 029THREE POINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING269 students
- 030SAINT THOMAS SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING250 students
- 031BASIS INDEPENDENT BELLEVUE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING231 students
- 032EPIPHANY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING230 students
- 033ETON SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING213 students
- 034THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING201 students
- 035SPRING STREET INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SAN JUAN150 students
- 036FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING135 students
- 037SOUNDVIEW SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH134 students
- 038SPRUCE ST SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING106 students
B Tier · 76 schools
- 039KINGS WAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK794 students
- 040LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE610 students
- 041RENTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING601 students
- 042NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE580 students
- 043LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE520 students
- 044SEATTLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING516 students
- 045MOUNT VERNON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SKAGIT514 students
- 046LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON503 students
- 047ST CHARLES BORROMEO CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE426 students
- 048ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK389 students
- 049GRACE ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH368 students
- 050ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING356 students
- 051ST JOSEPH MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA344 students
- 052CASCADE CHRISTIAN - PUYALLUP ELEMENTARY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE329 students
- 053WOODINVILLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING317 students
- 054ST LUKE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING316 students
- 055WOODINVILLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING312 students
- 056TACOMA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE309 students
- 057MEADOW GLADE ADVENTIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK307 students
- 058CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - MCALDER ELEMENTARY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE302 students
- 059PROVIDENCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING288 students
- 060CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS - FREDERICKSON ELEM.(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE275 students
- 061EASTSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING272 students
- 062ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING467 students
- 063VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE401 students
- 064FIRM FOUNDATION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK391 students
- 065CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON390 students
- 066ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE357 students
- 067UNITED SEATTLE&BELLEVUE KOREAN SCH BELLEVUE CAMPUS(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING345 students
- 068BELLINGHAM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM344 students
- 069CROSSPOINT(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KITSAP340 students
- 070TZU CHI ACADEMY SEATTLE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING272 students
- 071ST MARY MAGDALEN(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH271 students
- 072THE RIVER ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CHELAN271 students
- 073SOUND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE268 students
- 074ST PAUL'S ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM266 students
- 075THE FRANKLIN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM263 students
- 076ST PHILOMENA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING256 students
- 077OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING255 students
- 078THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · COWLITZ254 students
- 079CAMAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK249 students
- 080HOLY FAMILY PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING249 students
- 081ST GEORGE PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING243 students
- 082HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH242 students
- 083ST ANNE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING239 students
- 084ST MICHAEL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON237 students
- 085CENTRALIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · LEWIS236 students
- 086CEDAR TREE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK235 students
- 087SLAVIC CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK235 students
- 088SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA229 students
- 089ST CATHERINE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING225 students
- 090NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON221 students
- 091AMAZING GRACE RENTON PREP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING220 students
- 092RENTON PREP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING220 students
- 093ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH220 students
- 094HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING219 students
- 095ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE217 students
- 096ST BRENDAN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING216 students
- 097ST MONICA SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING216 students
- 098ALL SAINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE210 students
- 099MONROE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH207 students
- 100SALVATION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · PIERCE203 students
- 101ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · BENTON202 students
- 102EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · THURSTON201 students
- 103ST VINCENT DE PAUL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING201 students
- 104OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING198 students
- 105CHRIST THE TEACHER CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · YAKIMA197 students
- 106ASSUMPTION PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE193 students
- 107ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SPOKANE190 students
- 108ST THOMAS MORE PARISH SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SNOHOMISH189 students
- 109ASSUMPTION SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WALLA WALLA188 students
- 110IMMACULATE CONCEPTION REGIONAL SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · SKAGIT185 students
- 111ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · WHATCOM183 students
- 112OUR LADY OF LOURDES SCHOOL(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · CLARK180 students
- 113ST THERESE CATHOLIC ACADEMY(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING176 students
- 114JEWISH DAY SCHOOL OF METROPOLITAN SEATTLE(PRIVATE SCHOOL — INDEPENDENT) · KING67 students
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