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Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027

Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO · Maryland

📖 2,631 words🗓️ Published Aug 26, 2026

Direct Answer

The 10 best private high schools in seattle are ranked below on measured performance, build quality, price, and how each one actually holds up in daily use rather than how it reads on a spec sheet. Each pick lists what it costs, who it suits, and what it gives up against the one above it, so the list can be read straight down without doubling back.

1. Lakeside School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 1

Lakeside School ranks first for 2027 because of its unmatched academic rigor and elite college pipeline, with average SAT scores above 1400 and a student-teacher ratio near 9:1. Tuition is approximately $44,000 per year, and the school enrolls roughly 850 students across grades 5 through 12. Matriculation is near-universal to four-year colleges, with heavy concentration at Ivy League schools, Stanford, and MIT.

This school is for families who prioritize maximum academic challenge and a dense network of elite college admissions connections above all else. It trades away affordability, with a sticker price roughly double that of Seattle Prep, and a larger, more competitive environment than smaller independents. Compared to Seattle Prep, the gap in raw outcomes is smaller than the price gap, but the smaller seminar-style classes and established counseling relationships justify the premium for families targeting highly selective research universities.

2. Seattle Preparatory School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 2

Seattle Preparatory School ranks second because it delivers the best value in Seattle, with tuition around $23,000 per year—about half the cost of secular independents—while maintaining a graduation rate near 99% and average SAT scores near 1280. The Jesuit framework adds service-learning requirements and faith formation, and need-based aid from parish and donor sources can lower effective tuition further. Class sizes are larger than small independents, closer to conventional high school sections.

This school is for families who want a values-anchored, college-prep education at a price a two-income Seattle household can absorb without restructuring finances. It trades away the smaller seminar-style classes and elite-college pipeline of Lakeside, but the $84,000 four-year savings can be redirected into a college fund.

3. The Bush School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 3

The Bush School ranks third for its progressive, inquiry-based model that excels at developing critical thinking, with a student-teacher ratio around 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1350. Tuition is approximately $42,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 650 students across grades K through 12. Discussion-driven classes, experiential learning, and outdoor programs define its approach. It is the right answer for a student who thrives when asked to construct an argument.

This school is for students who do well in unstructured, discussion-based environments and want a close-knit community in Madison Valley. It trades away structure and clear rubrics, making it a poor fit for students who prefer explicit guidelines and conventional grading. Compared to Lakeside, it offers a similar price point but a less selective admit pool and a smaller, more intimate setting, with a stronger focus on progressive pedagogy rather than elite college placement.

4. Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 4

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences ranks fourth for its strong academics combined with the city's strongest performing and visual arts programs, plus competitive athletics. Average SAT scores sit near 1320, and the student-teacher ratio is around 8:1, with enrollment of about 800 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is roughly $43,000 per year. The urban Capitol Hill campus limits outdoor space, which matters for field-sport athletes.

This school is for students who want a balanced experience with serious arts and athletics alongside solid college-prep academics. It trades away the progressive pedagogy of Bush and the elite pipeline of Lakeside, but offers a more well-rounded environment. Compared to The Northwest School, it has a larger student body and stronger athletics, while the urban campus is a shared constraint for both.

5. University Prep

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 5

University Prep ranks fifth for its exceptional advising density and global travel programs, with a student-teacher ratio near 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1330. Tuition is approximately $43,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 600 students in grades 6 through 12. The advising model ensures individualized attention throughout the high school years. Athletics offerings are thinner than at SAAS or the Catholic schools.

This school is for families who prioritize strong mentorship and international experiences over athletic programs. It trades away the arts and athletics breadth of SAAS, but offers a more personalized academic journey. Compared to The Bush School, it provides a more structured environment while still maintaining a progressive ethos, and its smaller size allows for deeper faculty-student relationships.

6. The Northwest School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 6

The Northwest School ranks sixth for its globally oriented, environmentally focused, and arts-rich curriculum, with a genuinely international student community. Average SAT scores are near 1300, and the student-teacher ratio is around 8:1, with enrollment of about 500 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is roughly $42,000 per year. The downtown location offers unique urban learning opportunities.

This school is for students who want a specific global and environmental lens on their education, with a strong arts component. It trades away a big athletics program and the larger student body of SAAS. Compared to University Prep, it offers a more distinctive philosophical focus but less individualized advising, making it a better fit for self-directed learners who value diversity and sustainability.

7. Holy Names Academy

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 7

Holy Names Academy ranks seventh for its strong STEM and leadership programming, high AP participation, and average SAT scores near 1290, with a graduation rate near 99%. Tuition is approximately $21,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 700 girls in grades 9 through 12 on Capitol Hill. As Seattle's oldest continuously operating school, it has a long tradition of academic excellence. It is an all-girls Catholic school in the Holy Names tradition.

This school is for families who want a single-gender, faith-based education with strong academics at a moderate price. It trades away the coed environment and the smaller class sizes of secular independents. Compared to Seattle Prep, it offers a similar price point and Catholic values but with a single-gender setting and a strong focus on STEM and leadership for girls, making it a distinct choice for families prioritizing those elements.

8. O'Dea High School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 8

O'Dea High School ranks eighth for its strong athletics and solid academics in the Christian Brothers tradition, with a graduation rate near 98% and solid AP participation. Tuition is approximately $20,000 per year, making it the most affordable option on this list, and the school enrolls about 500 boys in grades 9 through 12 on First Hill. The all-boys environment fosters a brotherhood and focused academic culture. It is a Catholic school that welcomes non-Catholic students.

This school is for families who want an affordable, single-gender Catholic education with a strong athletic program. It trades away the coed environment and the higher average SAT scores of Holy Names. Compared to Holy Names, it offers a similar price and faith-based values but with a boys-only setting and a slightly lower academic profile, making it the right choice for families prioritizing athletics and brotherhood.

9. Eastside Catholic School

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 9

Eastside Catholic School ranks ninth for its strong academics and competitive athletics, with a graduation rate near 99% and enrollment of about 900 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is approximately $22,000 per year, and the school is located in Sammamish. It is a coed Catholic school with a broad range of programs. It is the practical choice for Eastside families who do not want a daily cross-lake commute.

This school is for families living on the Eastside who want a Catholic, coed education with strong athletics and a large student body. It trades away the urban Seattle location and the single-gender options of O'Dea and Holy Names. Compared to Seattle Prep, it offers a similar price and faith-based values but with a larger, more suburban campus and a stronger athletics program, making it the best fit for Eastside residents prioritizing convenience and community.

10. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 10

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart ranks tenth for its unique access to the global Sacred Heart network of affiliated schools, with a student-teacher ratio near 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1300. Tuition is approximately $38,000 per year, priced like an independent rather than a parish school, and the school enrolls about 400 girls across grades 5 through 12 in Bellevue. It is an all-girls Catholic school with an independent governance structure.

This school is for families who want a single-gender, faith-based education with a global perspective and are willing to pay a premium for it. It trades away the affordability of other Catholic schools and the coed environment. Compared to Holy Names, it offers a smaller, more intimate setting and a global network, but at nearly double the tuition, making it a choice for families who value international connections and a tight-knit community over cost.

How we ranked these

This ranking measured academic rigor via average SAT scores and student-teacher ratios, college outcomes via matriculation data, and value via net cost after need-based aid. These factors were weighted most heavily because they directly predict a student's post-secondary options and a family's financial exposure.

Brand reputation and facilities were deliberately ignored because they are lagging indicators that reflect past performance or capital investment, not current teaching quality. A school's name or a new science wing says little about the daily classroom experience or the likelihood of a specific student thriving there.

What to look for

When choosing between these schools, the real differentiators are net cost after aid, class size, and program fit. A family earning $150,000 may find Lakeside's aid brings its net cost close to Seattle Prep's sticker. The mistake most buyers make is anchoring on the $44,000 sticker price and eliminating a school before running the aid estimator, or choosing on brand name alone.

The larger mistake is ignoring the $86,000 cost difference between the independent and Catholic bands. For many students, that money redirected into a college fund is a better allocation than a 60-to-120-point SAT advantage. Families who compare net cost against measurable return, not prestige, consistently make better choices.

FAQ

Which private high school in Seattle is the strongest overall for 2027?

Lakeside School, on the combined strength of its rigor, its near-9:1 student-teacher ratio, average SAT scores above 1400, and near-universal matriculation to four-year colleges with heavy representation at the most selective universities. It is also the hardest admit in the region, so treat acceptance as genuinely uncertain.

Which one delivers the best value?

Seattle Preparatory School. A graduation rate near 99%, strong AP participation, and average SAT scores near 1280 at roughly $23,000 per year — about half the secular independent band — plus need-based aid drawn from parish and donor sources. Over four years the difference against a $44,000 school approaches $84,000.

What does private high school actually cost in Seattle?

Secular independents run about $42,000 to $44,000 per year; Catholic schools run about $20,000 to $23,000; Forest Ridge sits between at about $38,000. All figures are before aid. Add 5% to 10% for books, technology, athletic fees, and trips to reach a realistic all-in number.

Which schools are strongest for the arts?

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences leads on performing and visual arts, with programs among the strongest in the city's independent sector. The Northwest School offers an arts-rich curriculum inside a globally focused, environmentally oriented program — a different flavor of the same strength.

What single-gender options exist in the Seattle area?

O'Dea High School is all-boys in the Christian Brothers tradition at about $20,000. Holy Names Academy is all-girls at about $21,000 with strong STEM and leadership programming. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue is all-girls at about $38,000 with access to a global affiliated network.

When should a family start the application process?

September of eighth grade. Open houses run October through November, ISEE or SSAT testing runs fall through early winter, applications close December or January, financial aid deadlines often fall earlier than admissions deadlines, and decisions with aid awards arrive in early to mid-March.

How does financial aid work at these schools?

Aid is need-based rather than merit-based as a rule, running on documented financial position. Lakeside supports roughly a quarter of its students; Catholic schools draw from parish and donor funds. File early, file complete, and apply to more schools than you think you need — awards vary meaningfully between schools for identical financials.

What is the student-teacher ratio at the top schools?

Lakeside runs near 9:1, while the small independents like Bush, SAAS, University Prep, and Northwest School sit around 8:1. The Catholic schools have larger class sizes, closer to a conventional high school section than a twelve-person seminar.

Sources

flowchart TD S["Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle"] S --> N0["1. Lakeside School"] N0 --> N1["2. Seattle Preparatory School"] N1 --> N2["3. The Bush School"] N2 --> N3["4. Seattle Academy of Arts and Science"]

flowchart LR C["Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle"] C --> H0["9. Eastside Catholic School"] C --> H1["10. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred "] C --> H2["How we ranked these"] C --> H3["What to look for"]

Related on PULSE

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## Direct Answer

The 10 best private high schools in seattle are ranked below on measured performance, build quality, price, and how each one actually holds up in daily use rather than how it reads on a spec sheet. Each pick lists what it costs, who it suits, and what it gives up against the one above it, so the list can be read straight down without doubling back.

## 1. Lakeside School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 1](/assets/qa/sc0166-b1.jpg)


```mermaid
flowchart TD
  S["Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle"]
  S --> N0["1. Lakeside School"]
  N0 --> N1["2. Seattle Preparatory School"]
  N1 --> N2["3. The Bush School"]
  N2 --> N3["4. Seattle Academy of Arts and Science"]
```


Lakeside School ranks first for 2027 because of its unmatched academic rigor and elite college pipeline, with average SAT scores above 1400 and a student-teacher ratio near 9:1. Tuition is approximately $44,000 per year, and the school enrolls roughly 850 students across grades 5 through 12. Matriculation is near-universal to four-year colleges, with heavy concentration at Ivy League schools, Stanford, and MIT.

This school is for families who prioritize maximum academic challenge and a dense network of elite college admissions connections above all else. It trades away affordability, with a sticker price roughly double that of Seattle Prep, and a larger, more competitive environment than smaller independents. Compared to Seattle Prep, the gap in raw outcomes is smaller than the price gap, but the smaller seminar-style classes and established counseling relationships justify the premium for families targeting highly selective research universities.


## 2. Seattle Preparatory School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 2](/assets/qa/sc0166-b2.jpg)


```mermaid
flowchart LR
  C["Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle"]
  C --> H0["9. Eastside Catholic School"]
  C --> H1["10. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred "]
  C --> H2["How we ranked these"]
  C --> H3["What to look for"]
```


Seattle Preparatory School ranks second because it delivers the best value in Seattle, with tuition around $23,000 per year—about half the cost of secular independents—while maintaining a graduation rate near 99% and average SAT scores near 1280. The Jesuit framework adds service-learning requirements and faith formation, and need-based aid from parish and donor sources can lower effective tuition further. Class sizes are larger than small independents, closer to conventional high school sections.

This school is for families who want a values-anchored, college-prep education at a price a two-income Seattle household can absorb without restructuring finances. It trades away the smaller seminar-style classes and elite-college pipeline of Lakeside, but the $84,000 four-year savings can be redirected into a college fund.


## 3. The Bush School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 3](/assets/qa/sc0166-b3.jpg)


The Bush School ranks third for its progressive, inquiry-based model that excels at developing critical thinking, with a student-teacher ratio around 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1350. Tuition is approximately $42,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 650 students across grades K through 12. Discussion-driven classes, experiential learning, and outdoor programs define its approach. It is the right answer for a student who thrives when asked to construct an argument.

This school is for students who do well in unstructured, discussion-based environments and want a close-knit community in Madison Valley. It trades away structure and clear rubrics, making it a poor fit for students who prefer explicit guidelines and conventional grading. Compared to Lakeside, it offers a similar price point but a less selective admit pool and a smaller, more intimate setting, with a stronger focus on progressive pedagogy rather than elite college placement.

## 4. Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 4](/assets/qa/sc0166-b4.jpg)


Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences ranks fourth for its strong academics combined with the city's strongest performing and visual arts programs, plus competitive athletics. Average SAT scores sit near 1320, and the student-teacher ratio is around 8:1, with enrollment of about 800 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is roughly $43,000 per year. The urban Capitol Hill campus limits outdoor space, which matters for field-sport athletes.


This school is for students who want a balanced experience with serious arts and athletics alongside solid college-prep academics. It trades away the progressive pedagogy of Bush and the elite pipeline of Lakeside, but offers a more well-rounded environment. Compared to The Northwest School, it has a larger student body and stronger athletics, while the urban campus is a shared constraint for both.

## 5. University Prep

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 5](/assets/qa/sc0166-b5.jpg)


University Prep ranks fifth for its exceptional advising density and global travel programs, with a student-teacher ratio near 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1330. Tuition is approximately $43,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 600 students in grades 6 through 12. The advising model ensures individualized attention throughout the high school years. Athletics offerings are thinner than at SAAS or the Catholic schools.


This school is for families who prioritize strong mentorship and international experiences over athletic programs. It trades away the arts and athletics breadth of SAAS, but offers a more personalized academic journey. Compared to The Bush School, it provides a more structured environment while still maintaining a progressive ethos, and its smaller size allows for deeper faculty-student relationships.

## 6. The Northwest School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 6](/assets/qa/sc0166-b6.jpg)


The Northwest School ranks sixth for its globally oriented, environmentally focused, and arts-rich curriculum, with a genuinely international student community. Average SAT scores are near 1300, and the student-teacher ratio is around 8:1, with enrollment of about 500 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is roughly $42,000 per year. The downtown location offers unique urban learning opportunities.


This school is for students who want a specific global and environmental lens on their education, with a strong arts component. It trades away a big athletics program and the larger student body of SAAS. Compared to University Prep, it offers a more distinctive philosophical focus but less individualized advising, making it a better fit for self-directed learners who value diversity and sustainability.

## 7. Holy Names Academy

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 7](/assets/qa/sc0166-b7.jpg)


Holy Names Academy ranks seventh for its strong STEM and leadership programming, high AP participation, and average SAT scores near 1290, with a graduation rate near 99%. Tuition is approximately $21,000 per year, and the school enrolls about 700 girls in grades 9 through 12 on Capitol Hill. As Seattle's oldest continuously operating school, it has a long tradition of academic excellence. It is an all-girls Catholic school in the Holy Names tradition.


This school is for families who want a single-gender, faith-based education with strong academics at a moderate price. It trades away the coed environment and the smaller class sizes of secular independents. Compared to Seattle Prep, it offers a similar price point and Catholic values but with a single-gender setting and a strong focus on STEM and leadership for girls, making it a distinct choice for families prioritizing those elements.

## 8. O'Dea High School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 8](/assets/qa/sc0166-b8.jpg)


O'Dea High School ranks eighth for its strong athletics and solid academics in the Christian Brothers tradition, with a graduation rate near 98% and solid AP participation. Tuition is approximately $20,000 per year, making it the most affordable option on this list, and the school enrolls about 500 boys in grades 9 through 12 on First Hill. The all-boys environment fosters a brotherhood and focused academic culture. It is a Catholic school that welcomes non-Catholic students.


This school is for families who want an affordable, single-gender Catholic education with a strong athletic program. It trades away the coed environment and the higher average SAT scores of Holy Names. Compared to Holy Names, it offers a similar price and faith-based values but with a boys-only setting and a slightly lower academic profile, making it the right choice for families prioritizing athletics and brotherhood.

## 9. Eastside Catholic School

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 9](/assets/qa/sc0166-b9.jpg)


Eastside Catholic School ranks ninth for its strong academics and competitive athletics, with a graduation rate near 99% and enrollment of about 900 students across grades 6 through 12. Tuition is approximately $22,000 per year, and the school is located in Sammamish. It is a coed Catholic school with a broad range of programs. It is the practical choice for Eastside families who do not want a daily cross-lake commute.


This school is for families living on the Eastside who want a Catholic, coed education with strong athletics and a large student body. It trades away the urban Seattle location and the single-gender options of O'Dea and Holy Names. Compared to Seattle Prep, it offers a similar price and faith-based values but with a larger, more suburban campus and a stronger athletics program, making it the best fit for Eastside residents prioritizing convenience and community.

## 10. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

![Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027 — figure 10](/assets/qa/sc0166-b10.jpg)


Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart ranks tenth for its unique access to the global Sacred Heart network of affiliated schools, with a student-teacher ratio near 8:1 and average SAT scores near 1300. Tuition is approximately $38,000 per year, priced like an independent rather than a parish school, and the school enrolls about 400 girls across grades 5 through 12 in Bellevue. It is an all-girls Catholic school with an independent governance structure.

This school is for families who want a single-gender, faith-based education with a global perspective and are willing to pay a premium for it. It trades away the affordability of other Catholic schools and the coed environment. Compared to Holy Names, it offers a smaller, more intimate setting and a global network, but at nearly double the tuition, making it a choice for families who value international connections and a tight-knit community over cost.


## How we ranked these

This ranking measured academic rigor via average SAT scores and student-teacher ratios, college outcomes via matriculation data, and value via net cost after need-based aid. These factors were weighted most heavily because they directly predict a student's post-secondary options and a family's financial exposure.

Brand reputation and facilities were deliberately ignored because they are lagging indicators that reflect past performance or capital investment, not current teaching quality. A school's name or a new science wing says little about the daily classroom experience or the likelihood of a specific student thriving there.


## What to look for

When choosing between these schools, the real differentiators are net cost after aid, class size, and program fit. A family earning $150,000 may find Lakeside's aid brings its net cost close to Seattle Prep's sticker. The mistake most buyers make is anchoring on the $44,000 sticker price and eliminating a school before running the aid estimator, or choosing on brand name alone.

The larger mistake is ignoring the $86,000 cost difference between the independent and Catholic bands. For many students, that money redirected into a college fund is a better allocation than a 60-to-120-point SAT advantage. Families who compare net cost against measurable return, not prestige, consistently make better choices.

## Related questions

### Does attending Lakeside meaningfully improve Ivy League odds?

It correlates with higher elite-college enrollment, but Lakeside also admits an unusually strong applicant pool, so part of that outcome reflects selection rather than the school's added value. The established counseling relationships and recognized transcript are real advantages; they are not a guarantee.

### Can a family earning a middle income realistically afford Lakeside?

Possibly. Lakeside's need-based aid reaches roughly a quarter of students, and awards are calculated on documented financial position. The only way to know your number is to apply for aid. Do not self-eliminate on the $44,000 sticker before seeing an award.

### Is the Eastside worth considering for a Seattle family?

Only if the commute works. Eastside Catholic in Sammamish and Forest Ridge in Bellevue are strong schools, but a daily cross-lake commute from Seattle costs a student hours each week that would otherwise go to sleep, homework, or sport.

### How many schools should a student apply to?

Three to five is the practical range. Fewer leaves you without a net-cost comparison in March; more overloads teacher recommenders and the student's essay-writing capacity, and multiplies application fees without improving the odds meaningfully.

### Do Catholic schools require families to be Catholic?

Generally no. Seattle Prep, O'Dea, Holy Names, and Eastside Catholic enroll non-Catholic students. All students participate in the religious and service-learning components of the curriculum, which is the real question for a non-Catholic family to weigh.

### What is the difference in average SAT scores between Lakeside and Seattle Prep?

Lakeside's average SAT scores run well above 1400, while Seattle Prep's average is near 1280. That is a 120-point gap, but it is partly driven by the selectivity of each school's admissions, not just the education provided.

## FAQ

**Which private high school in Seattle is the strongest overall for 2027?**

Lakeside School, on the combined strength of its rigor, its near-9:1 student-teacher ratio, average SAT scores above 1400, and near-universal matriculation to four-year colleges with heavy representation at the most selective universities. It is also the hardest admit in the region, so treat acceptance as genuinely uncertain.

**Which one delivers the best value?**

Seattle Preparatory School. A graduation rate near 99%, strong AP participation, and average SAT scores near 1280 at roughly $23,000 per year — about half the secular independent band — plus need-based aid drawn from parish and donor sources. Over four years the difference against a $44,000 school approaches $84,000.

**What does private high school actually cost in Seattle?**

Secular independents run about $42,000 to $44,000 per year; Catholic schools run about $20,000 to $23,000; Forest Ridge sits between at about $38,000. All figures are before aid. Add 5% to 10% for books, technology, athletic fees, and trips to reach a realistic all-in number.

**Which schools are strongest for the arts?**

Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences leads on performing and visual arts, with programs among the strongest in the city's independent sector. The Northwest School offers an arts-rich curriculum inside a globally focused, environmentally oriented program — a different flavor of the same strength.

**What single-gender options exist in the Seattle area?**

O'Dea High School is all-boys in the Christian Brothers tradition at about $20,000. Holy Names Academy is all-girls at about $21,000 with strong STEM and leadership programming. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue is all-girls at about $38,000 with access to a global affiliated network.

**When should a family start the application process?**

September of eighth grade. Open houses run October through November, ISEE or SSAT testing runs fall through early winter, applications close December or January, financial aid deadlines often fall earlier than admissions deadlines, and decisions with aid awards arrive in early to mid-March.

**How does financial aid work at these schools?**

Aid is need-based rather than merit-based as a rule, running on documented financial position. Lakeside supports roughly a quarter of its students; Catholic schools draw from parish and donor funds. File early, file complete, and apply to more schools than you think you need — awards vary meaningfully between schools for identical financials.

**What is the student-teacher ratio at the top schools?**

Lakeside runs near 9:1, while the small independents like Bush, SAAS, University Prep, and Northwest School sit around 8:1. The Catholic schools have larger class sizes, closer to a conventional high school section than a twelve-person seminar.

## Sources

- https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/seattle-metro-area/
- https://www.privateschoolreview.com/washington
- https://www.usnews.com/education/k12
- https://www.lakesideschool.org/
- https://www.seaprep.org/
- https://www.bush.edu/
- https://www.seattleacademy.org/
- https://www.holynames-sea.org/
- https://www.eastsidecatholic.org/
- https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/

## Related on PULSE

- [More private high schools in seattle rankings and buying guides](/knowledge)
- [PULSE Tools and calculators](/tools)
- [Everything on PULSE RevOps](/)

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Kory White

Top 10 Private High Schools in Seattle in 2027

1. Lakeside School

2. Seattle Preparatory School

3. The Bush School

4. Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

5. University Prep

6. The Northwest School

7. Holy Names Academy

8. O'Dea High School

9. Eastside Catholic School

10. Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

How we ranked these

What to look for

Related questions

Does attending Lakeside meaningfully improve Ivy League odds?

Can a family earning a middle income realistically afford Lakeside?

Is the Eastside worth considering for a Seattle family?

How many schools should a student apply to?

Do Catholic schools require families to be Catholic?

What is the difference in average SAT scores between Lakeside and Seattle Prep?

FAQ

Sources

Related on PULSE

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