school facts

The School:

Founded…………………………………………………….1907

Gender………………………………………………….All girls

Location…………………………………Washington, USA

Website…………………………….www.forestridge.org

Demographics

Students enrolled………………………………………..270

Age range…………………………………………………10-18

Age range boarding………………………………….13-18

International boarders………………………………….24

Academics & Practical Info

Programs…………………………………………………..N/A

Average class size…………………………………………12

Student:teacher ratio…………………………………..6:1

Tuition & Boarding……………………….$67,900/year

Boarding School Exchange at

Forest Ridge School

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic independent college preparatory all-girls day and boarding school founded in 1907. Located atop Somerset Hill in Bellevue, Washington, the school is the only Sacred Heart School in the Pacific Northwest. Forest Ridge has a solid reputation for academic rigor and is committed to being an exceptional girl-focused learning community.

Forest Ridge provides young women the leadership skills necessary to act with compassion and conviction in embracing the challenges of a diverse global society. The school is grounded in Sacred Heart and the Catholic tradition enriched by the diversity of 27 different faiths represented in the student body. It prides itself on being part of the Sacred Heart tradition that connects 150 schools worldwide.

A national study of 2018 girls’ school graduates further showed them to have stronger academic skills, demonstrate higher science self-confidence, and exhibit increased political engagement. All-girls schools like Forest Ridge encourages young women to strive for academic excellence and inspires them to lead and serve with passion, purpose, and joy.

The student demographics of Forest Ridge are unique. While the school has 270 students enrolled covering middle school and high school, its residential program separates it from other traditional boarding schools.

Forest Ridge only offers boarding to roughly 28 students of which 24 are international students. This ensures that every young woman is given personal attention and further enables the boarding students to form very tight knit bonds with people from all over the world.

When you’re not challenging yourself and growing in the classroom, spend your time on the wide range of extracurricular activities offered at Forest Ridge. Choose from a selection of 8 sports and the many student-driven clubs, explore the 19-acre woodland campus, or enjoy trips to the many different stores, museums, restaurants, and other sites in the nearby towns.

ACADEMICS

A Forest Ridge education encourages thinking beyond borders of all kinds. The global curriculum aims to build the skills of flexible thinking, critical reasoning, and purposeful collaboration. Teaching is interdisciplinary and student-led to motivate students to make connections beyond traditional subject boundaries.

SUBJECTS

Courses at Forest Ridge are split across nine fields:

The integrated curriculum incorporates the best from Advanced Placement courses as well as the IB program, thus maintaining the high standards of excellence found in both programs.

UNIQUE PROGRAMS

In addition to the regular course selection, Forest Ridge also offers its seniors an interdisciplinary senior project, AIS (Advanced Integrated Studies). This capstone project offers students an opportunity to develop and pursue an extensive, self-directed research project.

Students gain project-management skills and a deeper understanding by researching a self-chosen social, political or ethical issue; investigating a topic in science or technology; or exploring artistic expression

THE BOARDING EXPERIENCE

The unique boarding program ensures that Forest Ridge is not just a school. It’s a home. International students build bonds with native English-speakers and other international students and practice their language and interpersonal skills. The close-knit community teaches students important life skills like living independently, cooking, budgeting management, personal responsibility, and self-discipline as well as soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence.

ATHLETICS

Forest Ridge believes in building confidence, strength, and critical thinking skills by exploring talents, passions, and interests outside of the classroom. The school offers students the choice of sports such as

Students are also able to participate in outdoor education trips like snowshoeing in Rainier National Park or canoeing in the Cascades.

EXTRACURRICULARS

Clubs are an important part of the social and academic experience at Forest Ridge. The clubs are student-driven and may change from year to year depending on interest. Examples include:

SPARE TIME

In your spare time, explore the 19-acre woodland campus with sweeping mountain views, trails, and gardens. Enjoy trips to the wide selection of stores and activities in nearby area and towns. You can also spend your weekends on planned trips such as museum visits, service projects, bowling, movies, trips to Seattle, and shopping at local malls.