The Best Private Schools in Plymouth, Washington
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Plymouth. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Tri-Cities Prep
Jesuit Schools Network
Tri-Cities Prep is a highly-regarded Jesuit college preparatory school serving students throughout the Tri-Cities area, including Plymouth. The school offers a rigorous classical education with strong emphasis on critical thinking, character development, and academic excellence. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and comprehensive college counseling. The school features modern STEM labs, competitive athletics programs, and extensive extracurricular opportunities including robotics, debate, and community service initiatives.
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River View High School
Independent
River View High School serves the broader Tri-Cities region with a unique focus on environmental and outdoor education. Located in nearby Kennewick, the school draws students from Plymouth and surrounding communities. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning with specialized programs in environmental science, agricultural studies, and outdoor leadership. The campus features extensive outdoor learning spaces, modern science labs, and strong academic support systems. The school maintains small class sizes and has a reputation for strong teacher-student relationships.
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Liberty Christian School
Association of Christian Schools International
Liberty Christian School is a well-established private Christian institution serving families throughout the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, including Plymouth residents. The school offers a comprehensive K-12 education grounded in Christian values with strong academic preparation. Features include modern classrooms, science and computer labs, fine arts programs, and competitive sports teams. The school maintains high academic standards with college preparatory coursework and has a strong track record of graduates attending four-year universities. The community-oriented environment and dedicated faculty contribute to high parent satisfaction ratings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Plymouth, Washington
What are the primary private school options available for families in or near Plymouth, Washington?
Plymouth itself is a small, unincorporated community, so families typically look to nearby cities within a reasonable commute. The top private schools serving the Plymouth, WA area include Tri-Cities Prep (a Jesuit, college-preparatory school in Pasco), River View High School (a private alternative school in Kennewick), and Liberty Christian School (a K-12 Christian school in Richland). These schools are all located within a 15-25 minute drive from Plymouth in the Tri-Cities metro area. Given the rural nature of Plymouth, private schooling requires a commitment to transportation, but these institutions provide the main accredited private options.
How does tuition at private schools near Plymouth, WA compare, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition varies significantly by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Tri-Cities Prep's tuition is approximately $13,000-$14,000, Liberty Christian School is around $7,000-$9,000 for K-12, and River View High School, as a smaller private alternative, may have different pricing structures. Washington State does not have a voucher program, but it does offer the "Washington State Opportunity Scholarship" for eligible students pursuing certain STEM and healthcare fields, which can be used at private high schools. More commonly, families utilize need-based financial aid directly from the schools, payment plans, and tax-advantaged 529 plans (which in Washington can also be used for K-12 tuition up to $10,000 per year per beneficiary).
What unique academic or specialized programs do private schools near Plymouth offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
The private schools in the Tri-Cities area serving Plymouth families offer distinct educational approaches. Tri-Cities Prep is renowned for its rigorous Jesuit curriculum, emphasizing classical education, ethics, and a 100% college acceptance rate. Liberty Christian School integrates a biblical worldview across all subjects and offers smaller class sizes for personalized attention. River View High School provides an alternative, flexible environment often suited for students who may not thrive in a traditional setting. A key regional differentiator is their ability to offer specific religious education and often more robust advanced placement or college-in-the-high-school programs through partnerships with local colleges like Columbia Basin College, which are less uniformly available in the rural public districts surrounding Plymouth.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in the Plymouth/Tri-Cities area?
The enrollment process for these schools generally begins in the winter for the following fall. Key steps include: 1) Attending open houses (often held between January and March), 2) Submitting an application by late spring (some schools, like Tri-Cities Prep, have priority deadlines), 3) Completing entrance assessments or interviews (required for most), and 4) For faith-based schools, providing pastor references or statements of faith. Due to limited seats, especially in the upper grades at Tri-Cities Prep, early application is strongly advised. Unlike the automatic enrollment in your local Plymouth public district, admission to these private schools is selective and not guaranteed by residence.
For a family living in rural Plymouth, what are the major practical considerations when choosing a private school in the Tri-Cities?
The two most critical practical considerations are **commute and community**. The daily drive to Pasco, Kennewick, or Richland can be 20-45 minutes depending on your exact location in Plymouth and traffic on I-182. This requires planning for transportation, fuel costs, and after-school activity logistics. Secondly, your child will be joining a community where most students live in the cities, so fostering friendships and participating in events may require extra effort. On the positive side, these schools offer a wider range of extracurriculars (e.g., robotics, debate, specific sports) than might be available in a small rural public school. It's essential to visit, assess the drive during school hours, and talk to current families from outlying areas to understand the real-world fit.