Primerly field report

House of Bethany

a public alternative program in Portland

5–12 · Alternative · Classical · Homeschool Hybrid

Private home in N Portland · Rose Tomassi

House of Bethany is a program for homeschool students and families seeking a classical education delivered in a flexible, adaptive format. Learners move through a seminar and narration–based humanities arc built on primary sources, Great Books, and “living books”, well-written, engaging texts that invite real conversation.

Classes and tutoring balance creative and analytical writing, and weave in poetry, music, and fine art aligned to each unit’s themes, with light poetry/song memorization to build voice and recall. In handicrafts, students learn by doing: techniques are modeled (sometimes to the whole group, often one-on-one) so each learner can settle into their own rhythm with a project.

Making is anchored in tradition, bringing in historical examples, stories, and literary references, so skills feel connected to culture, not just technique. Pedagogically, the work draws on Socrates, Charlotte Mason, Maria Montessori, and John Holt. The result is a calm, purposefully paced classroom where ideas are discussed deeply and hands are busy making something real.

Founder and teacher Rose Tomassi has an MAT in Classical Teaching. She comes from a Catholic background and is open to working with both faith-based and secular groups and students.

Tuition: Variable, see details.

Address: Private home in N Portland. Phone: 360-448-9737. Website: Contact via email.

All Portland-area schools on Primerly

Test rows
The Primerly field report · ✓ school-verified · {{ sc.city }}

{{ sc.name }}

{{ sc.slugPre }}{{ sc.slugEm }}
{{ sc.metaType }}
{{ sc.metaLine }} · {{ sc.siteLabel }}
“{{ sc.quote }}”
{{ saveLabel }} {{ cmpLabel }} print
{{ v.num }}
{{ v.lbl }}
{{ vNote }}
Your margin Sign in to save this school and keep notes here, shared with a co-parent.
Your margin
✓ saved
save this school
{{ n.text }} · {{ n.by }}, {{ n.when }}
{{ shortNm }}
see them side by side
Saved here for now. Sign in and it follows you, with room for notes from a co-parent or collaborator.
PPS rightsizing · a proposal, not a decision

{{ rz.lede }} {{ rz.boardLine }}

{{ c.head }}{{ c.label }}{{ c.more }}

{{ g.when }}. {{ g.text }}

Next PPS date: {{ rz.next }}Every school and date{{ rz.srcLabel }}Checked {{ rz.checked }}

The basics

{{ sc.dropCap }}{{ sc.overviewFirst }}

{{ p }}
{{ sc.timely }}

A day here

The schedule
{{ sc.day.schedule }}
Before & after school
{{ sc.day.care }}
{{ s.body }}

The campus

{{ p }}
{{ c.label }}
{{ sc.campus.aside }}
0 · lower risk10 · highest risk
campus average {{ sc.seismic.avg }}most at-risk building {{ sc.seismic.max }}
{{ t.big }}
{{ t.small }}

{{ p }}
worth asking about on the tour
{{ sc.seismic.source }}

Who goes here
{{ g.pct }} {{ g.label }}
{{ f.big }} {{ f.small }}
{{ sc.who.noBandNote }}
{{ sc.who.demoNote }}
Academic performance{{ scores.line }}
{{ t.big }}{{ t.small }}
{{ scores.note }}
Academic performance
{{ sc.who.assessment }}
{{ t.big }}
{{ t.small }}
{{ sc.who.rankLine }}
{{ sc.who.rankNote }}
{{ sc.who.feedback }}

Where they go next

{{ sc.after.prose }}
{{ sc.after.bigLine }}
▸
{{ st.t }}
{{ st.s }}
{{ o.label }}
{{ o.pct }} Oregon {{ o.orPct }}
Oregon average, same source.
Worth asking on the tour
▸{{ q }}
{{ sc.after.aside }}

The support

{{ t.big }}
{{ t.small }}
{{ sc.support.note }}
{{ s.body }}

Getting in

▸
{{ st.n }}
{{ st.text }}
Your odds in the lottery

Seats here aren’t first-come; they’re drawn by lottery. Each circle below is a tenth of the families who applied over the last two springs and stayed in the running (didn’t take a higher-ranked school). Filled circles got a yes.

{{ l.text }}
but it depends who you are
{{ p.label }} {{ p.pct }}
{{ oddsSrcCaret }} where these numbers come from

Official PPS lottery results, 2025-26 & 2026-27 combined: offers made ÷ families still in the running (offered + waitlisted); applications cancelled for a higher-ranked school excluded. pps.net › prior transfer data. Slots reset every year.
{{ r.k }}{{ r.v }}
Tuition
{{ sc.adm.tuitionLine }}
Visit the school site {{ sc.adm.cta2Label }}