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Very Good

#65 of 381 private schools in WA

Top 17% of private schools

Northern Lights Montessori

Elementary School

8460 160TH AVE NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 20 schools in Redmond. Learn more

Enrollment

50

Student-Teacher

8.3:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Pre-K – 1st

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Redmond

#4 of 7

public schools

Washington elementary schools

#38 of 231

Academic performance

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Northern Lights Montessori

Northern Lights Montessori serves 50 students in prekindergarten through first grade in Redmond, Washington. This small elementary school maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1 with six full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention in its early childhood program. The school has earned a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #123 out of 381 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 68th percentile among Washington schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education during these foundational years when children are developing core academic and social skills. As a regular public school, Northern Lights Montessori offers families an alternative educational approach within the traditional public school system. The intimate school environment, with fewer than 60 students total, creates opportunities for close relationships between educators, students, and families during these crucial early learning years.

The school is situated in Redmond's 98052 ZIP code area, a prosperous community where 74% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income reaches $158,457. This highly educated, affluent neighborhood provides a supportive environment for academic achievement, with low poverty rates of just 5.7% and strong community resources that benefit local schools.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 50 students, Northern Lights Montessori is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1, Northern Lights Montessori offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Northern Lights Montessori operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Northern Lights Montessori compares to 15 public schools serving similar grades in Redmond, WA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.3:1
This School
vs
18.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
50
This School
vs
398
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.5
This School
vs
7.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Asian 50% vs 0%
White 44% vs 0%
Northern Lights Montessori Redmond Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Northern Lights Montessori (this school) 7.5
Old Redmond Schoolhouse 6.2
Contractual Schools
Redmond Elementary 6.9
Horace Mann Elementary 8.8
Benjamin Rush Elementary 7.8
Norman Rockwell Elementary 6.4
Albert Einstein Elementary 8.5
Clara Barton Elementary School 9.0
John J. Audubon Elementary 8.4
Emily Dickinson Elementary 8.9
Explorer Community School 6.7
Sunrise Elementary 8.9
Rosa Parks Elementary 8.2
Louisa May Alcott Elementary 8.6
Ella Baker Elementary School 7.4

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in WA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,456
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 7.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 55%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 3.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 50
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in WA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Asian 50.0%
White 44.0%
Two or More 6.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

8460 160TH AVE NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northern Lights Montessori may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Clara Barton Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Horace Mann Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Albert Einstein Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Redmond, see our Redmond schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Contractual Schools Redmond 0.5 mi
Old Redmond Schoolhouse Redmond 0.4 mi 6.2
BRIGHTMONT ACADEMY - REDMOND CAMPUS Redmond 0.6 mi 6.9
Redmond Elementary Redmond 0.5 mi 6.9
Redmond Middle School Redmond 1.0 mi 6.7
NORTHERN LIGHTS MONTESSORI - WILLOWS CAMPUS Redmond 0.9 mi 7.4
Horace Mann Elementary Redmond 1.1 mi 8.8
Benjamin Rush Elementary Redmond 1.3 mi 7.8
Norman Rockwell Elementary Redmond 1.5 mi 6.4
THE SAMMAMISH MONTESSORI SCHOOL Redmond 1.3 mi
Redmond High School Redmond 1.5 mi 7.6
CEDAR CREST ACADEMY Redmond 1.4 mi
EATON ARROWSMITH SCHOOL Redmond 1.5 mi
CASCADIA SCHOOL Redmond 2.0 mi 4.9
WILLOWS PREPARATORY SCHOOL Redmond 2.2 mi 8.2
Clara Barton Elementary School Redmond 2.2 mi 9.0
Rose Hill Middle School Redmond 1.6 mi 6.8
Stella Schola Redmond 1.6 mi 6.0
Albert Einstein Elementary Redmond 2.1 mi 8.5
Ardmore Elementary School Bellevue 2.7 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98052 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$164,848

Median Home Value

$1,107,900

Median Rent

$2,339/mo

Population

79,074

College Educated

74.8%

Homeownership

46.8%

Avg Commute

23.3 min

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Median Age

35.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Northern Lights Montessori has a median household income of $164,848. It is a well-educated community where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,107,900, with a median rent of $2,339/month. The local poverty rate of 5.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northern Lights Montessori

What grades does Northern Lights Montessori serve?

Northern Lights Montessori serves students in grades Pre-K through 1st.

How many students attend Northern Lights Montessori?

Northern Lights Montessori has an enrollment of approximately 50 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Montessori?

The student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Montessori is 8.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Northern Lights Montessori rank in WA?

Northern Lights Montessori is ranked #65 out of 381 private schools in WA.

What is Northern Lights Montessori's MySchoolScout rating?

Northern Lights Montessori has a composite rating of 7.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Northern Lights Montessori a private school?

Yes, Northern Lights Montessori is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Northern Lights Montessori a religious school?

No, Northern Lights Montessori is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
55 Good Transit
Bike Score
91 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (2,884/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Redmond). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 1st
Enrollment
50
Gender Split
50% M / 50% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
208 days
Setting
Small City
County
KING
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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