Private Schools and Homeschooling Near Puyallup

Most families in the Puyallup area use the public schools. A meaningful number choose something else: a private school, home-based instruction, or a public program that blends the two.

If you are in that group, your home search works differently. You are not tied to an attendance boundary. You are tied to a drive, a schedule, and sometimes a need for extra space at home.

Here is what is available and how the rules work. As with public schools, I do not rank or recommend schools. I will tell you what exists and where to verify it.

Private schools in and near Puyallup

What is here

The private schools located in the Puyallup area are mostly faith-based and mostly serve the elementary and middle grades, with at least one option running through high school. Examples include:

• All Saints Catholic School, near downtown Puyallup, serving preschool through eighth grade.
• Cascade Christian Schools, a nondenominational Christian school system with elementary campuses and a junior high and high school in the Puyallup area, serving students from early learning through twelfth grade.
• Northwest Christian School, on the east side of Puyallup, serving kindergarten through eighth grade.

There are also smaller church-affiliated schools, preschools, and early elementary programs around the area.

This list is not complete and is not an endorsement. Schools open, close, and change the grades they serve. Use it as a starting point.

A wider circle

Many Puyallup families drive to schools in neighboring communities. Within roughly 20 to 35 minutes, mainly in Tacoma and its suburbs, you will find:

• Catholic and other faith-based high schools
• Independent, nonsectarian college-preparatory schools, some serving preschool through twelfth grade
• Montessori and other alternative-method schools
• Schools specializing in particular learning needs

If a specific school in Tacoma is your plan, choose your home with that drive in mind. The valley and the west side of the area have the shortest trips toward Tacoma. The south end of South Hill has the longest. See my post on the Puyallup to Tacoma commute.

How Washington approves private schools

The State Board of Education approves private schools each year. According to the board's private schools page, approval means a school has met minimum health and safety requirements, has appropriately qualified staff, and offers a program sufficient to meet graduation requirements.

Two points are worth understanding.

• Approval is not accreditation. The board states that its approval is not an endorsement or accreditation of a school or its programs. Accreditation comes from separate regional or national organizations. Ask each school which body accredits it.
• The list is public. The board publishes its list of approved private schools for each school year, with each school's address and home district. It is the most reliable way to see what is operating near you.

Questions to ask a private school

• Which grades do you serve, and what is the path after the last grade?
• Are you approved by the State Board of Education, and who accredits you?
• What are tuition and fees, and what financial aid is available?
• What are the admission requirements and deadlines? Is there a waiting list?
• What is the class size in my child's grade?
• What curriculum do you use in reading and math?
• How do you support students with learning differences?
• Is transportation offered, or do families drive?
• Is before- and after-school care available?
• What are the expectations for family involvement or volunteering?
• For faith-based schools: what is the role of religious instruction, and are families of other backgrounds enrolled?

Cost and logistics

Tuition varies widely by school and grade, and it changes every year. Ask for the full cost, including registration fees, uniforms, activity fees, and required fundraising.

Then add the logistics.

• Driving. Most private schools do not run buses. Two round trips a day for several years is a real commitment.
• Carpools. Schools often help families in the same area connect.
• Calendar. Private school calendars and daily schedules may not match the public schools, which matters if you have children in both.
• Sports and activities. Private school students may have options through their own school or community leagues. Ask how it works.

Homeschooling in Washington

Washington has allowed home-based instruction for decades, and the Puyallup area has an established homeschooling community with co-ops, enrichment classes, and group activities.

The legal basics

The rules are set by state law and explained by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction on its home-based instruction page. In summary:

Declaration of intent. A parent or guardian files a signed declaration of intent each year with the superintendent of the school district where they live, or with a district that accepts the student as a transfer. It is due by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester.

Parent qualifications. State law sets out several ways a parent can qualify to teach at home. The details are in the state's guide, linked from the page above.

Subjects and time. The law lists the subjects to be covered and sets expectations for instructional time, with flexibility in how families meet them.

Annual assessment. Students receiving home-based instruction must be assessed each year, either with a standardized test approved by the State Board of Education or through an evaluation by a certificated person. Results are kept by the family.

Records. Parents keep records of instruction and assessments.

The state publishes a plain-language guide to these laws, commonly called the Pink Book. Read it before you file. If you are moving from a state with different rules, do not assume they carry over.

Part-time enrollment and district services

Homeschooled students in Washington have the right to enroll part time in their resident public school for classes or activities, and to receive certain services. Families use this for band, a lab science, a world language, or sports. Contact the school to ask how it works locally.

District partnership and online programs

The Puyallup School District operates programs for families who want a home-centered education with public school support.

• A parent-partnership program, in which parents are the primary teachers and work with certificated staff, with access to on-site classes and resources.
• An online academy, in which students complete coursework online through the district.

There is an important distinction. Students in these programs are enrolled public school students. They are not homeschooled in the legal sense, and the rules differ, including participation in state testing. Ask the district to explain which category a program falls into before you enroll.

Community and support

Homeschooling families here do not go it alone. You will find:

• Cooperative groups that meet weekly for shared classes
• Faith-based and secular support groups
• Enrichment classes in art, music, science, and physical education
• Sports leagues and clubs open to homeschoolers
• Library programs at the Puyallup Public Library and the Pierce County Library branches
• Field trip groups that use the museums, zoo, and parks around the South Sound

Groups form and dissolve, so ask around once you arrive. The library is a good first stop.

High school and beyond

• Running Start. Washington lets eligible juniors and seniors take community college classes for both high school and college credit. Homeschooled students can participate. Pierce College has a campus in Puyallup.
• Transcripts and diplomas. Homeschooling parents issue their own. Colleges are accustomed to them. Keep thorough records.
• Testing. Students can take college entrance exams through local test centers.

What homeschooling asks of a family

Parents considering it for the first time usually ask about time and money.

Time. One adult needs to be available during the day, at least for younger children. Formal lessons for elementary students often take a few hours, with reading, projects, and activities filling the rest. Many families share teaching through co-ops or use online courses for subjects they are less comfortable with.

Money. There is no tuition, and the family buys the curriculum and materials. Costs range from very little, for families who lean on the library and free resources, to a significant amount for packaged curricula, online classes, lessons, and co-op fees. The larger cost for many households is the income of the parent who stays home.

Students with special needs. Families homeschool children with learning differences for many reasons. Ask the district what services remain available to a homeschooled student, and talk to other parents who have done it.

Changing course. Homeschooling is a year-by-year decision. A student can enroll in public school at any time. For high school students, ask the school in advance how it evaluates home-based coursework for credit, since each district sets its own process.

Sports and activities

Private school and homeschooled students have several routes into athletics and the arts. Private schools field their own teams or combine with others. Homeschooled students may be able to join activities at their resident public school under state association rules. Community leagues, clubs, and the YMCA are open to everyone. If a particular sport or ensemble matters to your child, ask about eligibility early.

How this changes your home search

When the school is not assigned by address, the criteria shift.

Location is about the drive. Map the route from each home to the school at the real drop-off time. If you have children at two schools, map both.

Boundaries still matter a little. Circumstances change. A home assigned to public schools you would be comfortable with keeps your options open and helps resale.

Space matters more for homeschooling. Families who teach at home look for:

• A room that can be closed off for lessons
• Storage for books and materials
• A kitchen table or dining area large enough to work at
• A yard, or a park within walking distance
• Reliable internet for online courses
• A library within an easy drive

Homeowner association rules. If you plan to host a co-op class or regular group meetings at your home, read the association's rules on parking and home-based activities.

Property taxes are the same. Everyone pays school levies through property tax, whether or not they use the public schools.

Comparing your options

Many families move between these over the years. A child might attend a private elementary, a public junior high, and take Running Start classes as a senior. Choosing a home that works for more than one path is wise.

Where to verify

• Approved private schools: the State Board of Education's private schools page
• Homeschool law and forms: OSPI's home-based instruction page
• District programs and part-time enrollment: the Puyallup School District office
• Public school data for comparison: the Washington State Report Card

Frequently asked questions

Are there private schools in Puyallup?

Yes. The area has several, mostly faith-based, serving preschool through the middle grades, with at least one system offering high school. More independent and college-preparatory schools are in Tacoma.

Is homeschooling legal in Washington?

Yes. Washington allows home-based instruction. Parents file an annual declaration of intent with their school district, meet the state's qualification and subject requirements, and have the student assessed each year.

When is the homeschool declaration of intent due in Washington?

By September 15 each year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester.

Can homeschooled students take classes at public schools in Puyallup?

Yes. Washington gives homeschooled students the right to enroll part time in their resident public school for classes and activities. Contact the school for local procedures.

Does the State of Washington accredit private schools?

No. The State Board of Education approves private schools that meet minimum requirements, and it states that approval is not accreditation or endorsement. Accreditation comes from separate organizations.

Related reading

• How to Compare Schools in Puyallup
• How to Verify Which Schools a Puyallup Home Is Assigned To
• Childcare and Preschool Options in Puyallup
• Is Puyallup a Good Place to Raise a Family?

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Robertson & Co. supports fair housing and does not describe or recommend neighborhoods based on who lives there. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.