Situated atop Union Hill in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range, The Bear Creek School offers an ideal setting for learning and growth. Our mission is to provide a high-quality, Christian liberal arts education in a nurturing environment that will enable each student to become the individual God intends. As a Christian institution, we emphasize the development of virtue and values alongside academic excellence to graduate students who are compelled by their faith to engage the world with wisdom, compassion, and courage.

The Bear Creek School, located in Redmond, WA, was founded in 1988 by Dr. Nancy Price and William Price with a vision to provide a high-quality, Christian liberal arts education. The school started with just eight students in a home and has since grown significantly. In 1989, the school operated in a mobile home on the property of the Bear Creek Community Church in Woodinville, serving grades K – 4 with 21 students enrolled.

By 1994, classes were held in portable classrooms at the church, accommodating 45 students. In 1996, classes for grades K – 5 were held at the church and portables, while students in grades 6 – 10 attended at Grace Church in Redmond.

In 1994, the school purchased 13 acres on Union Hill for an eventual K – 12 campus and in 2003 – 2005 acquired 15 adjacent acres.

A major milestone was reached in 2000 with the completion of a 90,000 sq. ft. Main building designed for grades K – 12. The first graduating class was honored in 2001, with seven students participating in the commencement ceremony. The school continued to grow, purchasing the 10-acre Valley Campus property in 2005 and appointing Patrick Carruth as the second Head of School in 2007.

The Bear Creek School celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013 and opened a new 52,000 sq. ft. Upper School building in 2015. Valley Campus also underwent renovations in 2012 to enhance its early childhood education facilities.

The school is highly ranked, holding top positions among Christian and private schools in Washington and the United States. It offers a comprehensive academic program, including arts, forensics, and athletics, and follows the trivium model of classical education.

According to 2025 Niche rankings, the school holds top positions in several categories within the state of Washington. It is ranked as the #1 Best Christian High School, the #2 Best Private K – 12 School, and the #3 Best Private High School in Washington.

The Bear Creek School has experienced significant growth since its inception. Over the past 37 years, the school has expanded its facilities and enrollment, created long-term financial stability, and grown its philanthropic community. The school's commitment to providing a high-quality education has attracted a diverse student body, leading to an enrollment of nearly 950 students for the 2025 – 2026 academic year served by a 242-member faculty and staff. The school's growth is a testament to its dedication to academic excellence and its ability to adapt and expand to meet the needs of its community.

Our mission is to provide a high-quality, Christian liberal arts education in a nurturing environment that will enable each student to become the individual God intends.

Purpose

Faith: We believe that faith supports knowledge, reason, inquiry, and analysis, and that faith combined with reason produces wisdom.

Excellence: We believe in pursuing superior standards of academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, enabling students to grow in maturity, to learn how to think, to succeed in higher education and in life, and to engage the world.

Virtue: We believe in education designed to encourage individuals to live lives of truth, beauty, and goodness and to inspire others in the same direction.

Culture

Trust: We seek to strengthen mutual trust and caring among our employees, relying on one another as one coherent team.

Innovation: We seek to empower faculty and staff members to address challenges creatively, to grow and learn, and to view their Bear Creek experience as a shared adventure.

Predictability and Support: We seek to create an environment focused on stability and reliability, in which students and adults alike clearly understand expectations and receive the support they need to meet and even exceed those expectations.

Outcomes

Wisdom: We seek to cultivate intellectual virtue in students, so they develop wisdom to live lives of integrity and influence.

Compassion: We seek to foster in students a love and compassion for their neighbors and the greater community, demonstrated by word and deed.

Courage: We seek to encourage students to be courageous and to lead by engaging the world with wisdom, compassion, and courage.

The Bear Creek School has always been committed to a process of ongoing strategic planning and continually seeking to improve the student experience. Historically, the strategic planning cycle has been built around three-to-five-year increments and Build Up 2030 will be our sixth strategic plan during the school’s 37-year history. During the strategic planning process for Build Up 2030, all key stakeholder groups (parents, faculty, staff, trustees, and students) were included and were asked for their input on the future vision for The Bear Creek School and encouraged to give candid feedback on the current program and student experience. The findings and data from this broad community process were synthesized and prioritized by the senior administrative team and the Board of Trustees and represent a key input for developing the vision, goals, and strategies of this strategic plan. Subsequently, the senior administrative team developed and prioritized recommendations and priorities which were reviewed in multiple iterations between stakeholder groups and the Board of Trustees until a final plan was recommended by the President and Headmaster and approved by the Board of Trustees.

The development of Build Up 2030 was a meticulous process that involved gathering and analyzing data from multiple sources to ensure that the plan was both comprehensive and aligned with the school's mission and vision. The primary sources of data included the most recent Independent School Management (ISM) survey, additional school surveys, enrollment data, and strategic financial plans.

ISM Surveys

The ISM surveys provided valuable insights into various aspects of the school's operations, including student and parent satisfaction, employee engagement, and overall school performance. These surveys were conducted periodically to gather feedback from different stakeholders, ensuring that the strategic plan addressed the needs and concerns of the entire school community. The data collected from these surveys helped identify areas of strength and areas that required improvement, forming the foundation for the strategic goals and critical questions outlined in the plan.

School Surveys

In addition to the ISM surveys, the school conducted its own surveys to gather more specific and targeted information. These surveys focused on various aspects of the school's operations, including academic programs, extracurricular activities, facilities, and community engagement. The survey data provided a detailed understanding of the status of these areas, helping to identify specific goals and action steps for improvement. The feedback collected from students, parents, faculty, and staff was instrumental in shaping the strategic plan, ensuring that it was responsive to the needs of the school community.

Enrollment Data

Enrollment data played a crucial role in the development of the strategic plan. This data provided insights into trends in student enrollment, including the number of students in each grade level, retention rates, and demographic information. Analyzing this data helped the school understand its current enrollment status and identify areas for growth and improvement. The enrollment data also informed the development of specific goals related to student recruitment and retention, ensuring that the school could maintain a healthy and sustainable student population.

Strategic Financial Plans

Furthering our strategic financial plans was an essential component of the planning process. This involved analyzing the school's financial health, including revenue streams, expenses, and long-term financial sustainability. The financial data helped identify areas where resources could be allocated more effectively to support the strategic goals. By incorporating financial planning into past and current strategic planning, the school ensures it can achieve its goals in a fiscally responsible manner, maintaining financial stability while investing in key areas of growth and development.

Integration of Data

The data collected from the ISM surveys, school surveys, enrollment data, and strategic financial plans was carefully analyzed and integrated into the strategic planning process. This involved identifying key themes and trends, prioritizing areas for improvement, and developing specific goals and action steps. The strategic plan was designed to be a living document, with the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and new information. Regular review and assessment of the data will ensure that this plan remains relevant and effective in achieving the school's mission and vision.

Conclusion

As The Bear Creek School moves forward, shifting demographics—both locally and nationally—may lead to a reduced demand for Christian liberal arts education. This requires awareness and an adaptive approach to enrollment strategies, program offerings, and community engagement to ensure continued relevance and impact without compromising the mission of The Bear Creek School.

Also, the reality of cultural fragmentation in society may present challenges for building a unified school community. As families and students bring increasingly varied backgrounds and viewpoints, intentional efforts are needed to foster connection, shared values, and a sense of partnership that supports the mission.

Finally, challenges must be acknowledged and addressed. First, the cost of living in Washington state—particularly the rising cost of housing—poses a substantial barrier to attracting and retaining talented faculty, staff, and the families who are integral to the vitality of the mission. This economic pressure could limit both recruitment and retention within the school.

Recognizing these challenges is important as we seek to realize our goals in the current strategic plan, Build Up 2030. Addressing them intentionally and creatively will position The Bear Creek School to flourish and empower each student to pursue his or her unique calling and to demonstrate wisdom, compassion, and courage in the world.

Throughout its history, The Bear Creek School has been continually blessed by the Lord’s gracious provision and unwavering providence. For thirty-seven years, the dedication and faithfulness of faculty, staff, and trustee leadership have shaped an environment where students are nurtured academically, spiritually, and personally. This legacy of commitment stands as a testament to the strength of mission and the numerous ways God’s hand has sustained the community through seasons of change and growth. As we look to the future, we do so with gratitude and confidence, knowing that we are supported by a tradition of excellence and a steadfast reliance on God’s faithfulness.