Private Schools

Highlights

January 31 bulletin: Update your information, approval application

All previous bulletins

Contact: privateschools@k12.wa.us

A private school is a non-public school that conducts a program of kindergarten and at least one grade, or a program of any or all grades one through twelve. Approximately five hundred private schools operate in Washington, serving over 80,000 students.

Washington private schools are approved annually by the State Board of Education. Approval indicates the school has met the minimum requirements to insure the health and safety of students, and that the school offers a sufficient program of basic education to meet usual graduation requirements. Approval by the Board does not carry with it an endorsement of the school or its programs.

Below you will find general information concerning:

Private School Enrollment Data
Lists of Approved Private Schools
Online-Only Private Schools
Information and Resources
How to Update Private School Information
Private School Laws

More information for schools:

Private School Enrollment

The Washington State Board of Education annually collects private school enrollment data. Participation in enrollment reporting is not required for private school approval, although enrollment data may be used to verify information used in the approval process. Enrollment data is used in distribution of federal funds.

Private schools are encouraged to submit enrollment information. Enrollment numbers are self-reported and are not verified by the State Board. However, the State Board is continually working to improve the process and seeks to report private school enrollment as accurately as possible.

Private Schools	School Year	PreK	KG	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total
487 Schools	2019-20	8338	6031	5457	5165	5157	5086	5050	5596	5432	5146	4493	4413	4053	4191	73608
449 Schools	2020-21	7209	6466	5625	5599	5426	5245	5427	5564	5396	5473	4555	4548	4254	4069	74856
495 Schools	2021-22	10340	7976	7209	6635	6369	6230	6135	6531	6078	6012	5233	4668	4416	4253	88058
538 Schools	2022-23	12437	8099	7542	7211	6684	6634	6624	6742	6638	6206	5367	5084	4345	4259	81959

Enrollment Data by School:

Lists of Approved Private Schools

Note that approval by the State Board of Education is mandatory for private schools in Washington, while accreditation is voluntary. Accreditation is a well-defined process to grant public recognition to educational institutions that meet specific external standards of quality by an external accrediting organization. State law does not require public or private schools in Washington to be accredited.

Approved Private Schools

2022-2023 (updated February 24, 2023)
2021-2022
2020-2021

Approval Certificates

Online-Only Private Schools

Per RCW 28A.195.090, an approved Washington private school may have an online program. A completely online school, or a school with physical facilities located only outside of the state, may not be an approved Washington private school. Washington private school law assumes a physical facility in the state of Washington where students are enrolled and regularly attend (RCW 28A.195.010(6)).

Annual Reporting Requirements

Private schools are required to submit reports each year to comply with Washington state law. Two reports are required by the Washington State Board of Education:

Enrollment Reporting. The official count day for private school enrollment is typically on or around October 1, and reports are due in mid-November.
Private School Approval. All private schools are approved annually each spring by the State Board of Education.
Several other reports are required by separate state agencies, including the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Health.

How to Update Private School Information

Alerting the State Board of Education of changes at your school ensures continuity of communication from state agencies. Please use the Private School Change of Information Form if your Head of School, location, or additional contact has changed since you submitted your previous year’s Private School Approval Application.

Private schools that are closing must complete a closure form. Please ensure that records from the closing private school are transferred to a reliable person or entity for storage and that students and parents/guardians understand how to request their records.

Information Links and Resources

Depending on the topic, various offices in different state agencies may be the most appropriate to provide information and support to private schools. The following is a list of topics with links to resources within state agencies, as well as with other organizations that work with private schools:

Resources