The Best Private Schools in Rei, Washington
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Rei. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Overlake School
Independent School
The Overlake School is a highly regarded independent day school serving grades 5-12 with a strong college preparatory focus. Located just minutes from REI headquarters, the school features a 75-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts center, and athletic fields. Overlake emphasizes experiential learning with a robust STEM program, comprehensive arts curriculum, and competitive athletics. The school maintains small class sizes with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio and has a strong record of college placements at top universities.
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Eastside Preparatory School
Independent School
Eastside Preparatory School serves students in grades 5-12 with a progressive, innovative approach to education. Located in nearby Kirkland, the school emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving through project-based learning and technology integration. The curriculum features advanced STEM courses, comprehensive humanities, and extensive arts programs. The school boasts modern facilities including dedicated science labs, maker spaces, and collaborative learning environments. Eastside Prep is known for its strong college counseling and high acceptance rates at selective colleges.
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The Bear Creek School
Christian School
The Bear Creek School is a prestigious classical Christian school serving preschool through grade 12 with campuses in Redmond. The school combines rigorous academic preparation with character development through a classical education model. Features include comprehensive college preparatory curriculum, extensive fine arts programs, competitive athletics, and advanced placement courses. The Redmond campus offers modern facilities including science laboratories, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. Bear Creek maintains small class sizes and has a strong reputation for academic excellence and college placements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Rei, Washington
What are the primary private school options available in Redmond, Washington, and what are their educational philosophies?
Redmond, WA, is home to several highly-regarded private schools, each with a distinct approach. The Overlake School is a secular, grades 5-12 college preparatory school known for its strong STEM programs and commitment to diversity and community service. Eastside Preparatory School (EPS), serving grades 6-12, emphasizes an innovative, discussion-based curriculum and interdisciplinary learning, preparing students for a rapidly changing world. The Bear Creek School, a Christian classical school with campuses in Redmond and Woodinville, serves grades K-12 and focuses on a rigorous liberal arts education integrated with a Christian worldview. Additionally, the area has other options like St. Jude School (Catholic, K-8) and specialized preschools. This variety allows Redmond parents to find a school that aligns closely with their educational values and their child's needs.
How does tuition for private schools in Redmond, WA, compare, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition in Redmond's top private schools is significant, reflecting the high cost of living and operational expenses in the greater Seattle area. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition ranges approximately from $25,000 to over $45,000 for upper grades. Schools like The Overlake School and Eastside Prep are at the higher end of this range, while The Bear Creek School may be slightly lower. Critically, all these schools are committed to socioeconomic diversity and offer robust need-based financial aid programs. For example, The Overlake School awards millions in aid annually to a substantial percentage of its student body. Washington State does not have tax-credit scholarship or voucher programs, so aid is primarily sourced from the schools' endowments and fundraising. Parents are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid during the admissions process, as packages can make these schools accessible to a wider range of families.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Redmond private schools offer that leverage the local tech industry?
Redmond's identity as the home of Microsoft and a major tech hub is directly reflected in its private school programs. Schools have cultivated deep connections with the local industry. The Overlake School features a renowned Applied Science and Engineering program, with students regularly engaging in projects mentored by local engineers. Eastside Prep has a cutting-edge "EPS Labs" program and computer science curriculum that starts in middle school, often incorporating guest speakers from neighboring tech campuses. These schools also emphasize robotics, competitive coding, and entrepreneurship, with many students securing internships at local startups or tech giants. This environment provides unparalleled access to innovation, making Redmond private schools particularly attractive for students interested in technology, engineering, and applied sciences.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in Redmond, Washington?
The admissions process for Redmond's top private schools is highly structured and begins early. The main intake years are for kindergarten, 5th, 6th, and 9th grades. The timeline generally runs from September to February. Key steps include: 1) Attending open houses and virtual tours (September-November). 2) Submitting an application, often via Ravenna, by early January. 3) Completing student assessments and interviews (January). 4) For middle and upper schools, submitting teacher recommendations and transcripts. 5) Admissions decisions and financial aid notifications are typically released in mid-March, with a common reply date of April 10th. Due to the competitive nature, especially for entry into Eastside Prep or The Overlake School, starting the process in the fall is crucial. Sibling and legacy applicants may have slight priority, but all candidates go through a comprehensive review.
How do the class sizes, community culture, and campus environments of Redmond private schools differ from the highly-rated public schools in the Lake Washington School District?
The key differentiators in Redmond are scale, specialization, and community ethos. While Lake Washington School District public schools like Redmond High are excellent and large (often 1,500+ students), private schools offer much smaller class sizes (12-18 students) and total student bodies (often 400-600), allowing for highly personalized attention. The community culture is more intentionally curated; for example, The Bear Creek School fosters a close-knit Christian community, while EPS promotes a culture of intellectual curiosity and open dialogue. Public schools offer broad, standard curricula with extensive AP options, whereas private schools provide mission-driven, often innovative curricula (like EPS's trimester system) with more flexibility. Campus environments also differ, with private schools like The Overlake School featuring expansive, collegiate-style campuses focused exclusively on their student population, unlike the shared public facilities. The choice often comes down to whether a family prioritizes the diversity and resources of a large public system or the tailored, specific community of a private institution.
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