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Very Good

#54 of 381 private schools in WA

Top 14% of private schools

Northwest Montessori School

Elementary School

4910 PHINNEY AVE N, Seattle, WA 98103

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 33 schools in Seattle. Learn more

Enrollment

57

Student-Teacher

7.1:1

Score

7.6

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Seattle

#17 of 68

public schools

Washington elementary schools

#30 of 231

About Northwest Montessori School

Northwest Montessori School serves 57 students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood. This small elementary school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.1 to 1 with 8 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate learning environment where each child receives personalized attention. The school earns a solid 7.7 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks 158th out of 381 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 59th percentile among Washington schools.

This performance reflects steady academic achievement within the state's educational landscape. As a regular public school following the Montessori educational approach, Northwest Montessori offers families an alternative pedagogical method within the public school system. The small enrollment allows for close-knit classroom communities and individualized learning experiences that align with Montessori principles.

The school serves families in the affluent Phinney Ridge area, where the median household income reaches $122,656 and 77% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. With a low poverty rate of just 6.2% and median home values around $970,100, the neighborhood reflects Seattle's educated, professional community. Northwest Montessori School sits at the heart of this engaged, well-resourced area along Phinney Avenue North.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 57 students, Northwest Montessori School 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 7.1:1, Northwest Montessori School 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, Northwest Montessori School 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.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$47,090
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$44,843
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.95x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
92%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$1.2M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 57 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Northwest Montessori School compares to 104 public schools serving similar grades in Seattle, WA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
This School
vs
15.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
57
This School
vs
394
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.6
This School
vs
7.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 45.6% vs 0%
Asian 15.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 12.3% vs 0%
Black 1.8% vs 0%
Northwest Montessori School Seattle Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Northwest Montessori School (this school) 7.6
West Woodland Elementary School 8.8
B F Day Elementary School 8.2
Hamilton International Middle School 6.5
McDonald International School 8.2
Green Lake Elementary School 5.9
John Stanford International School 9.1
Salmon Bay K-8 School 7.8
Daniel Bagley Elementary School 7.6
Greenwood Elementary School 8.8
Whittier Elementary School 9.5
Frantz Coe Elementary School 9.2
Lawton Elementary School 7.3
Queen Anne Elementary 8.7
Adams Elementary School 9.0
McClure Middle School 6.1
Tops K-8 School 8.6
Licton Springs K-8 4.0
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School 8.2
John Hay Elementary School 5.5
Loyal Heights Elementary School 8.7

Showing 20 of 104 schools. View all schools in Seattle

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 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,176.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 70%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 57
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)

White 45.6%
Two or More 22.8%
Asian 15.8%
Hispanic 12.3%
Black 1.8%
Pacific Islander 1.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4910 PHINNEY AVE N, Seattle, WA 98103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwest Montessori School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Whittier Elementary School (rated 9.5/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Frantz Coe Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, West Woodland Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Seattle, see our Seattle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
KAPKA COOPERATIVE SCHOOL Seattle 0.1 mi 6.5
West Woodland Elementary School Seattle 0.6 mi 8.8
B F Day Elementary School Seattle 0.7 mi 8.2
PACIFIC CREST SCHOOL Seattle 0.6 mi 5.8
Lincoln High School Seattle 0.7 mi 7.3
WOODLAND PARK COOPERATIVE Seattle 1.0 mi
ST BENEDICT SCHOOL Seattle 0.8 mi 6.8
Hamilton International Middle School Seattle 0.9 mi 6.5
SEATTLE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Seattle 1.5 mi 8.8
ST JOHN SCHOOL Seattle 1.5 mi 5.6
THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL Seattle 1.0 mi 8.3
ST ALPHONSUS SCHOOL Seattle 1.1 mi 7.6
Greenwood Elementary School Seattle 1.6 mi 8.8
Ballard High School Seattle 1.3 mi 7.6
Daniel Bagley Elementary School Seattle 1.6 mi 7.6
Frantz Coe Elementary School Seattle 1.8 mi 9.2
Queen Anne Elementary Seattle 1.9 mi 8.7
McDonald International School Seattle 1.3 mi 8.2
Whittier Elementary School Seattle 1.6 mi 9.5
Green Lake Elementary School Seattle 1.4 mi 5.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,372

Median Home Value

$1,012,900

Median Rent

$2,006/mo

Population

51,988

College Educated

77.3%

Homeownership

45.2%

Avg Commute

25.9 min

Poverty Rate

6.2%

Median Age

34.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Northwest Montessori School has a median household income of $127,372. It is a well-educated community where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,012,900, with a median rent of $2,006/month. The local poverty rate of 6.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
NEWPORT CHILDREN'S SCHOOL, INC. Bellevue, WA 7.6
SEATTLE AMISTAD SCHOOL Seattle, WA 7.6
THE PARAMOUNT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY SCHOOL Lacey, WA 7.6
CHRYSALIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Woodinville, WA 7.5
NORTHERN LIGHTS MONTESSORI Redmond, WA 7.5
NORTHERN LIGHTS MONTESSORI - WILLOWS CAMPUS Redmond, WA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northwest Montessori School

What grades does Northwest Montessori School serve?

Northwest Montessori School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Northwest Montessori School?

Northwest Montessori School has an enrollment of approximately 57 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Montessori School?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Montessori School is 7.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Northwest Montessori School rank in WA?

Northwest Montessori School is ranked #54 out of 381 private schools in WA.

What is Northwest Montessori School's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwest Montessori School has a composite rating of 7.6 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 Northwest Montessori School a private school?

Yes, Northwest Montessori School 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 Northwest Montessori School a religious school?

No, Northwest Montessori School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Transit Score
55 Good Transit
Bike Score
84 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (5,803/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
57
Gender Split
39% M / 61% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.5 hours
Days Per Year
181 days
Setting
Large 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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