The Best Private Schools in Redmond, Washington
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Redmond. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Overlake School
Independent
The Overlake School is a highly respected independent college preparatory school serving grades 5-12. Known for its rigorous academic program and beautiful 75-acre campus, Overlake offers a balanced education with strong emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and character development. The school features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts center, and athletic complexes. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, students receive personalized attention while participating in diverse extracurricular activities including robotics, debate, and championship athletics programs.
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Eastside Preparatory School
Independent
Eastside Preparatory School serves students in grades 5-12 with a progressive, innovative approach to education. Located in nearby Kirkland, EPS is particularly renowned for its strong STEM programs and project-based learning methodology. The school emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving through its unique curriculum. Facilities include modern science labs, maker spaces, and collaborative learning environments. EPS maintains small class sizes and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities including competitive robotics, athletics, and arts programs, serving many families from the Redmond area.
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The Bear Creek School
Independent Christian
The Bear Creek School is a prestigious classical Christian school serving students from preschool through high school. With its main campus in Redmond, the school offers a rigorous liberal arts education grounded in the classical tradition. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, writing proficiency, and moral character development. Bear Creek features excellent facilities including science laboratories, performing arts spaces, and athletic fields. The school maintains strong college placement records and offers a wide range of extracurricular activities including competitive sports, music ensembles, and academic clubs, making it a popular choice for Redmond families seeking faith-based education.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Redmond, Washington
What are the main types of private schools available in Redmond, WA, and how do they differ?
Redmond offers a diverse range of private schools, primarily falling into three categories. The top tier includes prestigious independent college-preparatory schools like The Overlake School and Eastside Preparatory School, known for rigorous academics, innovation, and strong arts/athletics. There are also faith-based institutions, such as The Bear Creek School (Christian, interdenominational), offering a classical curriculum within a religious framework. Additionally, Redmond hosts several smaller progressive and Montessori schools focusing on individualized, experiential learning. The key differences lie in educational philosophy, religious affiliation, campus culture, and selectivity, with the college-prep schools being highly competitive.
How does the tuition for private schools in Redmond, WA, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition at Redmond's leading private schools is among the highest in Washington State, often exceeding the state average for private education. For the 2024-2025 academic year, day school tuition at schools like Overlake and Eastside Prep ranges from approximately $45,000 to $48,000. The Bear Creek School is slightly lower but still significant. However, these institutions are committed to socioeconomic diversity and offer robust need-based financial aid programs. It's common for 20-30% of the student body to receive aid, with packages that can cover a substantial portion of costs. Washington also has the "Washington State Opportunity Scholarship" for eligible students, though it's primarily for college. Parents should apply for financial aid simultaneously with admissions.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are signature offerings at Redmond's top private schools, leveraging the local tech environment?
Redmond's private schools uniquely integrate the region's technology and innovation culture into their programs. The Overlake School features a renowned Applied Science and Engineering program with robotics and maker labs. Eastside Preparatory School emphasizes interdisciplinary, project-based learning with a cutting-edge technology curriculum, including computer science from middle school. Given Redmond's status as the home of Microsoft, many schools have strong partnerships with tech companies for internships, guest lectures, and resources. Additionally, environmental science programs often utilize the nearby Cascade Mountains and Puget Sound for fieldwork. This creates an educational environment deeply connected to the local STEM ecosystem.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private high schools in Redmond, and how far in advance should parents plan?
The enrollment process for Redmond's competitive private high schools like Overlake, Eastside Prep, and Bear Creek is extensive and begins well over a year in advance. The timeline typically starts in the summer or early fall before the desired entry year (e.g., start planning for Fall 2026 in Summer/Fall 2025). Key steps include: attending open houses (September-November), submitting applications by early January (often including essays, recommendations, and grades), student interviews and testing (January-February), and admission decisions released in March. For middle and elementary school entry, timelines may vary but are similarly structured. Due to limited seats and high demand, especially for 9th grade, early planning and engagement are critical.
For families considering both options, how do the academic outcomes and environments of top Redmond private schools compare to the highly-rated Redmond public schools (like Lake Washington School District)?
Redmond is served by the highly-regarded Lake Washington School District (LWSD), which includes top-rated public schools. The choice often comes down to environment and specific needs. Academically, both sectors produce high-achieving students. However, Redmond's top private schools offer much smaller class sizes (often 12-16 students vs. 25-30+ in public), highly individualized attention, and more flexibility in curriculum innovation. Private schools often have more extensive arts, athletics, and club offerings per capita and a distinct community culture. Public schools offer greater demographic and socioeconomic diversity by nature. For families seeking a specific pedagogical approach (e.g., progressive, classical), religious education, or a more intensive college-prep environment with extensive resources, private schools are a compelling choice despite the cost.
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