Spokane area private schools

Thu., Nov. 3, 2005

The Spokesman-Review

Gonzaga Preparatory

President Al Falkner

Grades: 9 through 12, co-educational, college preparatory

Date established: 1887

Location: 20-acre campus at 1224 E. Euclid Ave.

Affiliation: Jesuit Catholic high school

Percent denomination: 74 percent Catholic 26 percent non-Catholic

Number of students: 863

Average class size: student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1

Academics: 98 percent of graduates go on to college

Demographics: 14 percent minority

Tuition: $7,625 or the amount based on family’s adjusted gross income

Financial aid: $3,200 average amount for those receiving financial aid

Web site: www.gprep.com

Notable graduates: Bing Crosby; former Speaker of the House, Tom Foley; comedian Julia Sweeney; retired NBA standout John Stockton; Hollywood writer/director Mark Steilen; Minnesota Twins catcher Mike Redmond; New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason

Northwest Christian

Headmaster Jack Hancock

Grades: Preschool through 12, co-educational

Date established: 1949

Location: high school located on 116-acre campus at 5104 E. Bernhill Road, Colbert

Affiliation: nondenominational Christian, more than 50 churches represented

Number of students grades 9 through 12: 176

Average class size: student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1

Academics: 98 percent students go on to college

Demographics: 4 percent minority

Tuition: $5,000; discounts for more than one student

Financial aid: average aid for those qualifying is 15-20 percent ($750-$1,000)

Web site: www.nwcs.org

Notable graduate: Kansas City Royals pitcher, Jeremy Affeldt

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy

Principal Bruce Williams

Grades: K through 12, co-educational

Date established: 1996

Location: 4224 E. Fourth Ave.

Affiliation: nondenominational Christian, 43 different churches represented

Number of students grades 9 through 12: 51

Average class size: varies by subject

Academics: 100 percent of graduates go on to college

Tuition: $4,950

Financial aid: this is the first year financial aid has been available

Web site: www.oaks-online.org

Notable graduates: first graduates still attending college. Jenna Johnson was the Lilac Queen in 2004.

St. George’s School

Head of School, Mo Copeland

Grades: K through 12, co-educational, college preparatory

Date established: 1955

Location: 120-acre campus at 2929 W. Waikiki Road was once Louis Davenport’s summer estate

Affiliation: independent, nonsectarian

Number of students grades 9 through 12: 130

Average class size: 15, student-teacher ratio is 6-to-1

Academics: 100 percent go on to college.

Demographics: 15.5 percent minority

Tuition: $13,740

Financial aid: need-based financial aid, scholarships available; 30 percent of student body receive some form of tuition assistance; $6,961 average amount for those receiving financial aid

Web site: www.sgs.org

Notable students/graduates: Polly Powell, senior broadcast producer for the NBC Today Show; Deborah Dewey, prize-winning pianist; Ernie Majer, head of Geophysics/Geomechanics for University of California – Berkeley Laboratory; Stacey Cowles, publisher of The Spokesman-Review, attended from 1972-75 and is an honorary alumnus; Elizabeth “Betsy” Cowles, chairman Cowles Publishing Company; Eric Malm (‘01) was a Presidential Scholar, now Ph.D. math candidate at Stanford; Colin Hill (‘04), also a Presidential Scholar, is attending MIT.

St. Michael’s Academy

Principal Sister Maria Avila

Grades: K through 12 co-educational, boarding facilities available

Date established: 1968

Location: campus located on nearly 300-acres at 8500 N. St. Michaels Road

Affiliation: Latin Rite Catholic

Number of students grades 9 through 12: 43

Average class size: varies by subject

Academics: approximately 50 percent of students go on to college

Demographics: 18 percent Hispanic

Tuition: $355 month for nonparishioners; $230 month for parishioners; family discount

Financial aid: available through scholarships

Average amount of financial aid: depends on individual family need

Web site: www.saintmichaelsacademy.org

Notable graduates: several priests and religious; Bishop Mark Pivarunas; research scientist Dr. Marty Hughes

Spokane Junior Academy

Principal Donald Bryan

Grades: K through 10, co-educational

Date established: 1939

Location: 1505 W. Cleveland Ave.

Affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist

Percentage denomination: 85 percent Seventh-day Adventist, 15 percent other

Number of students grades 9 through 10: 18

Average class size: student-teacher ratio 9-to-1

Academic: 90 percent students go on to college

Demographics: 9 percent minority

Tuition: $4,600 includes personal lap top computer

Financial aid: some available on individual basis

Web site: www.sja.org

Notable graduates: Charles Scriven, Ph.D., president Kettering Medical School; Edwin Robbins, physician; Brian Anderson, dentist

Upper Columbia Academy

Principal Jeff Bovee

Grades 9 through 12: co-educational, boarding available for out-of-town students

Date established: 1945

Location: 3025 E. Spangle Waverly Road, Spangle.

Affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist

Percent denomination: 80 percent Seventh-day Adventist; 20 percent other Christian denominations

Number of students: 268

Average class size: student/teacher ratio 20-to-1

Academics: 80-90 percent of students go on to college

Demographics: 20 percent minority, growing Hispanic population

Tuition: $6,900 or $12,500 tuition, books, room and board

Financial aid: scholarships available

Web site: www.ucaa.org

Notable graduates: opera singer Thomas Hampson; Oregon State Sen. Bill Fisher; Archie “Red” Emmerson, member Forbes 400 and largest private landowner in California; Forrest Preston, founder of Life Care Centers of America.

Valley Christian School

Administrator Wes Evans

Grades: K through 12, co-educational

Date established: 1975

Location: 10212 E. Ninth Ave., Spokane Valley

Affiliation: nondenominational Christian

Number of students grades 9 through 12: 122

Average class size: student/teacher ratio 20-to-1, or fewer depending on subject

Academics: 90 percent graduates go on to college

Demographics: 4 percent minority, about 26 percent Slavic

Tuition: $5,000

Financial aid: average 30-35 percent of tuition ($1,500-$1,750)

Web site: www.valleychristianschool.org

Notable graduates: several local business professionals, pastors, missionaries, doctors, dentists

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