The Best Private Schools in Kenmore, Washington
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Kenmore. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Bear Creek School
The Bear Creek School
The Bear Creek School is a highly-regarded Christian private school serving the greater Eastside area including Kenmore. With a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and small class sizes, the school emphasizes academic excellence while integrating faith and learning. The 50-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts center, and athletic fields. Students benefit from comprehensive extracurricular programs including competitive athletics, robotics, and fine arts. The school maintains a 100% college acceptance rate with graduates attending top universities nationwide.
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St. Thomas School
St. Thomas School
St. Thomas School is an independent, coeducational day school serving students from preschool through middle school, with many families commuting from Kenmore. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme, providing a globally-focused education. Their innovative STEM program includes dedicated makerspaces and technology integration across all grade levels. The campus features modern learning environments, outdoor education spaces, and specialized facilities for arts and sciences. The school is known for its strong community values and emphasis on developing well-rounded, compassionate leaders.
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The Overlake School
The Overlake School
The Overlake School is a prestigious independent day school located in Redmond that serves students from Kenmore and throughout the greater Seattle area. The school offers a challenging academic program with extensive Advanced Placement course options and maintains a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The 75-acre campus includes extensive athletic facilities, science laboratories, art studios, and a modern performing arts center. Overlake emphasizes experiential learning through outdoor education, community service requirements, and global travel opportunities. The school is particularly recognized for its strong STEM programs and commitment to environmental sustainability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Kenmore, Washington
What are the primary private school options available for families residing in Kenmore, Washington, and are there any located directly within the city limits?
While Kenmore itself has a limited number of standalone private campuses, it is part of a rich educational corridor on the Eastside of Seattle. The most prominent nearby options include The Bear Creek School (Redmond), St. Thomas School (Medina), and The Overlake School (Redmond). These schools actively draw students from Kenmore and the surrounding Northshore area. Within Kenmore, private options are primarily smaller, faith-based academies or preschools. Therefore, most Kenmore families considering private education look to these highly-regarded institutions in neighboring communities, which are typically a 15-25 minute commute.
How does the tuition for top private schools near Kenmore, WA, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are commonly available?
Tuition for the leading private schools in the Greater Seattle area, including those serving Kenmore families, is significantly above the national and state averages. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition for these schools often ranges from approximately $35,000 to $45,000 for the upper grades. Washington State does not offer tax-credit scholarships or vouchers. However, these schools typically have substantial financial aid budgets funded through endowments. It is crucial to apply for aid simultaneously with admission, as schools like Bear Creek, Overlake, and St. Thomas use tools like the Clarity Application to assess need and offer grants (not loans) to make attendance feasible for qualified students.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do the private schools accessible from Kenmore, WA, offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
Schools in this region emphasize distinctive programs leveraging their resources and location. The Overlake School has a renowned experiential education program and a strong focus on computer science and entrepreneurship. The Bear Creek School offers a classical Christian education model, integrating humanities and faith with advanced STEM offerings. St. Thomas School is noted for its innovation lab and deep commitment to inquiry-based, global learning from a young age. All three provide extensive outdoor and environmental education opportunities, taking advantage of Washington's landscape. These specialized curricular approaches, combined with low student-to-teacher ratios, are key differentiators from the Northshore Public School District.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools near Kenmore, and when should Kenmore parents begin planning?
The admission process for schools like Bear Creek, Overlake, and St. Thomas is highly structured and begins over a year in advance. The cycle typically opens in September for entry the following fall. Key steps include attending open houses (often in the fall), submitting applications by January, completing student assessments and interviews in winter, and receiving decisions in March. For Kenmore parents, planning should start 18-24 months prior to desired entry, especially for middle or high school grades where spaces are most limited. Visiting schools is essential to gauge the commute. It's also wise to engage with the Northshore public school choice process as a parallel option, as deadlines can differ.
For a family living in Kenmore, what are the practical considerations when choosing between the highly-rated Northshore Public School District and a private school on the Eastside?
This decision hinges on several local factors. The Northshore School District (serving Kenmore) is consistently top-ranked in Washington, offering robust Advanced Placement and IB programs. Choosing it means no tuition and involvement in the local community. Opting for a private Eastside school involves a significant financial investment and daily commute, but offers smaller class sizes, distinct educational philosophies (e.g., classical or progressive), and often more specialized college counseling. For Kenmore families, the commute to Redmond or Medina can be impacted by 520 bridge traffic, making transportation logistics a real consideration. The choice often comes down to seeking a specific pedagogical approach or community fit not found in the excellent, but larger, public system.
Private Education Insights
Discover Top Independent Secondary Schools in Kenmore, WA: A Parent's Guide
For families in Kenmore, the search for the right educational environment for your teenager is both exciting and significant. When you begin looking for "independent secondary schools near me," you're not just seeking a location on a map; you're exploring communities that will shape your child's critical high school years. Kenmore’s unique position, nestled between Lake Washington and the Sammamish River, offers a serene suburban setting with surprisingly convenient access to some of the Puget Sound region's most respected independent schools. This means your search can extend beyond immediate city limits to include institutions that align with your family's values and your student's aspirations, all within a manageable commute.
The landscape of independent secondary schools accessible from Kenmore is wonderfully diverse, catering to different educational philosophies and strengths. For instance, The Bear Creek School, with its campuses in nearby Redmond, offers a rigorous, college-preparatory program rooted in a Christian worldview. It’s a popular choice for Kenmore families seeking an education that integrates faith, reason, and academic excellence. Just a bit farther, in the Medina area, you’ll find The Overlake School, renowned for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, community engagement, and a robust STEM curriculum within a non-sectarian framework. Its sprawling campus provides an environment where innovative thinking is encouraged. Meanwhile, St. Thomas School in Medina focuses on the critical middle school years with a forward-thinking approach, often serving as a feeder to top-area high schools and emphasizing leadership and global competency from a young age.
Your search should consider the daily rhythm of life in Kenmore. The commute to these schools typically involves routes like State Route 522 or crossing one of the lake bridges. It’s wise to factor in traffic patterns during school drop-off and pick-up times. Many families find carpooling with other Kenmore-based students to be an excellent solution, fostering community even before the school day begins. Additionally, most of these schools offer bus transportation or shuttle services from key locations, which can be a significant logistical benefit. When visiting schools, take the drive yourself during the actual times you would be traveling to get a real sense of the journey.
Ultimately, finding the right independent secondary school near Kenmore is about matching your child’s unique needs with a school’s culture and offerings. We encourage you to move beyond the initial online search for "independent secondary schools near me" and immerse yourself in the experience. Attend open houses, schedule shadow days for your student, and have candid conversations with admissions directors about how their school supports students from our community. The investment of time in this process is invaluable, as the right fit will provide your teenager with not just an outstanding education, but a supportive community that feels like a second home, all within the beautiful Pacific Northwest context we are fortunate to call home.
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