This school has been a game changer for my kids. Public school wasn't working for us, and private…read moreschool tuition was out of reach. Neurodivergent and gender fluid kids and their families can find a welcoming and loving community here. My oldest transferred here to finish out their 5th grade year, as they were being beaten down by a public school setting that could not accommodate her needs. On day one at Bridge School I saw her relax and become themself again. Now our kindergartener goes to school at Bridge and loves it! The outdoor education component is especially important to us, as we spent their pre-K years at an outdoor preschool, and I wanted to continue fostering that love and connection with nature. All the teachers and staff care so deeply for each child, and do their best to meet them where they are at. Then there is the community of families here. I can't imagine facing the world and raising my children with a better, more open, and loving group of people. It's the chosen family of our dreams. If you are looking for a fresh start for your kid(s), and want to be part of a great community that loves and supports each other, join The Bridge School!

The Bridge School - Seattle, WA…read more Our family joined The Bridge School with a deep belief in its mission: a cooperative learning environment grounded in restorative justice, clear communication, and community involvement. Sadly, our actual experience was far from what was advertised. From the beginning, we faced repeated challenges with understaffing, unclear expectations, and inconsistent communication. As caregiver volunteers, we often found ourselves performing janitorial work and covering critical supervision gaps with little support. These staffing issues culminated in a deeply troubling incident where our child was denied access to the bathroom during recess due to a lack of available adults -- resulting in a completely avoidable and traumatic accident. When we tried to address this respectfully with the teacher, we were shut out. Despite multiple attempts to reconcile, we were denied a conversation and told we could no longer volunteer in the classroom -- a painful blow, especially for a school that claims to value cooperative engagement. Even more disappointing was the school's failure to follow the very standards and principles it promotes. The leadership later acknowledged, in writing, that they lacked clear policies around volunteering, communication, and accountability. While they publicly promised relationship repair and structural improvements, none of those efforts were ever extended to our family. Out of concern for our children's well-being, we made the difficult decision to withdraw them from the classroom on most days and pay out of pocket for private tutoring to ensure continuity in their education. We sincerely hope The Bridge School takes its own commitments seriously moving forward -- but families deserve a school that operates with transparency, safety, and follow-through. Ours simply did not get that. -- A Bridge School Parent Family

If you are looking for a school that equips children for the tools they need in an increasingly…read moreunstable world, this is it! And they do it , while providing a fun, caring and strong community for all. Westside school moved into a permanent home a few years ago and hired a new head of school a few years before the pandemic. These changes have supported the school into a solid place for a child to learn and be amongst others. The balance between academics and Social emotional skills is good and the school has a wealth of talented and dedicated teachers and staff who care about education, the world and making positive change. There is nothing better than seeing my child run to school every morning. We have been there 4 years and I was hesitant to go to an independent school at first. I didn't grow up rich and was concerned. This is truly a great community of people who want to make a difference in the world and value children being seen for who they are.

I feel grateful that my children have the opportunity to be part of the Westside community. Great…read moreteachers, great learning and the other parents are cool too. I'm truly impressed.

I love this school so much. Between entering preschool and now (5th grade), my son has attended…read morefour elementary schools. This one is, by far, my favorite--he has been seen, included, & loved from day 1. He enrolled as a McKinney-Vento student last year while we were blessed enough to figure out a temporary housing situation. His school has a rating of 2/10 on the main school review websites. It is a Title I school with majority low income families, 78% of students being non-white, and almost 20% of students having IEPs or 504 plans. All students qualify for free/reduced lunch & are sent home on Fridays with a packed bag of weekend meals. The curriculum and day-to-day has been full of color, curiosity, and neurodivergent-friendly practices. He hasn't encountered any weirdness around having queer parents at this school & this is the first place we haven't had to educate his educators on alternatives to addressing parent labels, family tree assignments, father's day art, and the like. They talk about consent and non-violence and mutual respect and pronouns and gender diversity and make space for cultural celebration. Just a friendly reminder that school ratings systems are racist, classist, & ableist. Grateful for the universe leading us exactly where we needed to be & grateful for the educators who show up despite the limited tools they have to work with and make. it. happen. Extra special shout outs to Mr. Hakeem & Ms. Turner.

I am a parent at Arbor heights co-op preschool which means it is near and dear to my heart. Both of…read moremy boys have attended and this is my last year as my son is entering Kindergarten next year. It is hands-down the best education for yourself and your children. It is connected to South Seattle community college and the parent educators are lifelong teachers totally committed to helping you be the best parent you can be. AND, Kindergarten teachers all around have been known to be able to "spot" co-op preschool kids by their ability to socialize and communicate with adults and their peers. I encourage all parents with young children to consider becoming part of the co-op community, it was the best thing we did for our family.