Private schools include range of religious options
Cornerstone Christian School students help clean up fallen leaves as part of the community service hours required by their school.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Bright Futures Christian School, grades preschool to primary, 717 S.E. Everett Road, Camas, 360-833-0558. http://brightfuturesonline.org
Camas Montessori School, grades pre-K to K, 1004 N.E. 4th Ave., Camas, 360-834-7434. http://camasmontessori.com
Cascadia Montessori School, grades 1 to 8, 10606 N.E. 14th St., Vancouver, 360-944-8096. http://cascadiaschool.com
Cedar Tree Classical Christian School, grades K to 12, 20601 N.E. 29th Ave., Ridgefield, 360-887-0190. http://cedartreeschool.org
Columbia Adventist Academy, grades 9 to 12, 11100 N.E. 189th St., Battle Ground 360-687-3161. http://caaschool.org
Cornerstone Christian School, grades pre-K to 8, 7708 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver, 360-256-9715. http://cornerstoneschool.com
Firm Foundation Christian School, grades pre-K to 12, 1919 S.W. 25th Ave., Battle Ground, 360-687-8382. http://ffcs.org
The Gardner School of Arts and Sciences, grades pre-K to 8, 16413 N.E. 50th Ave., Vancouver, 360-574-5752. http://gardnerschool.org
Good Shepherd Montessori, grades pre-K to K, 805 S.E. Ellsworth Road, Vancouver, 360-892-7770. http://goodshepherdvancouver.org/montessori.html
Hosanna Christian School, grades pre-K to 8, 4120 N.E. St. John’s Road, Vancouver, 360-906-0941. http://firste.org/hosanna
King’s Way Christian Schools, grades pre-K to 12, 3300 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver, 360-574-1613. http://kwcs.org
Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School, grades K to 8, 18717 N.E. 109th Ave., Battle Ground, 360-687-5121. http://mgaes.org
Our Lady of Lourdes, grades pre-K to 8, 4701 N.W. Franklin St., Vancouver, 360-696-2301. http://lourdesvan.org
Pacific Crest Academy, grades pre-K to 8, 324 N.E. Oak St., Camas, 360-834-9913. http://pacificcrestacademy.org
Riverside Christian School, grades pre-K to 6, 463 N. Shepherd Road, Washougal, 360-835-5600. http://riversidesch.com
Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School, grades 9 to 12, 811 N.E. 112th Ave., No. 200, Vancouver, 360-258-1932. http://setonhigh.org
Skinner Elementary Montessori School, grades pre-K to 6, 5001 N.E. 66th Ave., Vancouver, 360-696-4862. http://skinnermontessori.com
Slavic Christian Academy — Vancouver, grades K to 8, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver, 360-896-2602. http://slavicacademy.org
Spanish with Sarah, grades pre-K to 2, 2204 N.E. Birch St.., Camas, 360-990-1585. http://spanishwithsarah.com
St. Joseph Catholic School, grades pre-K to 8, 6500 Highland Drive, Vancouver, 360-696-2586. stjoevanschool.org
While they’re not all religious, most private K-12 school options in Clark County provide parents an opportunity to give their children an educational experience rooted in faith.
The county’s private education landscape, which teaches thousands, has shifted in recent years with a few school openings and a handful of closings.
The 2011-12 school year was the last for both Vancouver Christian High School and Mountain View Christian School in Ridgefield, which shut its doors after 31 years. Those closings followed the shuttering of the Faith Lutheran School in Vancouver in 2010 and the end of Woodland Christian School in 2009.
U.S. Census Bureau statistics show a slow, but steady, decline in the last decade in K-12 private school enrollment.
In Camas, Spanish-immersion school Spanish with Sarah was certified in 2011. Seton Catholic College Preparatory School opened in 2009, and more than doubled its enrollment, to 82, for the 2010 school year.
With many educational options available, both private and public, families scrutinize their choices before making a decision that will directly influence their child’s futures.
There is flexibility: Athletes who attend private schools where their sport is not offered may compete for a public school.
Private schools need not follow Washington testing guidelines, so parents should ask what assessments the school does administer. They also would be wise to talk to other school parents and to meet the principal, to gain confidence in their final choice.
