I can't say enough positive things about our family's experience at The Perkins School in Seattle. Our son joined as a 4th grader, and from day one it was clear he was genuinely known, supported, and cared for. I asked him recently what he liked most about Perkins, and he said, "the community -- I really liked the teachers and the kids." His teachers prioritized getting to know him; at our first parent-teacher conference, we were amazed when his teacher described details of his strengths and weaknesses the same way we would have. We watched his confidence grow as he was challenged in ways that felt supportive. That foundation has truly paid off--he's thriving in middle school, both academically and socially. We are forever grateful for the love and care the entire Perkins community showed our son and our family. read more

Our kids have loved their experience at Perkins! We've been at Perkins for five years now, and regularly make the 30-minute drive (one way) to school because it's such a wonderful place for our kids! Unlike many other independent schools, Perkins places a very high level of importance on building community within the school, and on the social and emotional health of each child. Perkins has a down-to-earth, kind and loving feel that runs through the faculty, staff, parent community and the kids. It's such a rare find! In addition to building a strong academic foundation for success, every Perkins student enjoys the experience of being truly known by every teacher, and most of the students know each other. This creates a truly "small town" community feel and one that is overwhelmingly positive! This school does differentiate for ability in the core subjects, and also provides enriching "specialist" subjects for a well-rounded overall education. We can't imagine our kids being anywhere else! read more

Our older son goes to the Perkins School since first grade, and we pulled him out of the Catholic school in our neighborhood because he wasn't being academically challenged nor encouraged to speak up his mind (we are not religious). Being one of the highly capable children, Perkins is able to meet him at his level and provide more challenges academically and support him emotionally. He loves going to school every day and he likes every teacher there, also he enjoys spending time with all the animals in school quite a bit. When we toured we were very impressed with the science, math and music teachers, and we appreciate the warmth and passion coming from the head of the school Barry and the admin team. read more

Our daughter started in K this fall. We couldn't be happier with her experience at Perkins. Marvelous teachers and leaders here have created an environment that matches great learning with a ton of joy and kindness. It's been a great, safe place to grow our introverted kiddo's confidence, too - she is already volunteering to speak at the all-school assembly. A real gem of a school. read more

Perkins is an amazing school - I simply cannot say enough positive things about my experience after just a few short months! Our daughter is currently a kindergartner at Perkins and, like many others, we considered other private and gifted schools in the Seattle area. We poured a lot of effort into finding the right academic program that was differentiated, fostered a love of learning/curiosity, emphasized social emotional learning, and created an inclusive community. Perkins delivers on all these fronts, but what tipped the scales in favor of Perkins last year was the community feel and the type of childhood school experience my daughter would have at Perkins. It is the type of school where you drop your kids off in the morning and the Head of School is there to welcome them in, where teachers walk the halls drinking coffee and playing the guitar to wish everyone a beautiful day and quickly check-in, and where parents are welcomed to explore the latest and greatest projects covering the walls of the halls and the classrooms. The teachers and administration at Perkins have created a warm, welcoming environment that is filled with joy and celebrates the best of what it means to be a child - to love learning, to be curious, to develop empathy, and to get messy! It takes a lot to get all of those things right and after having parent-teacher conferences in late October, I was blown away by how the school did all that plus REALLY got to know our daughter. They summed up her strengths and areas for development - academically and socially/emotionally - to a "T" and it was incredibly clear through all their examples how they've been able to support her accelerated development in reading/math while making sure she's building strong fundamentals and learning how to work well with others to figure out a "math challenge". Our daughter is absolutely thriving in every way I hoped that she would and I could not be happier that we followed our gut instinct on what separates Perkins apart from other Seattle area private school as opposed to making a decision based on brand alone - it's such a special community that I feel our family is so fortunate to be a part of! read more

Perkins is amazing! We have 2 children at Perkins, who couldn't be more happy and inspired by their days at this school. Perkins is a welcoming and inclusive community with incredible teachers and a supportive environment for many different types of learners. This is a phenomenal school that has prioritized keeping its tuition lower than other independent schools in the region, without compromising in any area (rather exceeding in most areas). Highly recommended! read more

We feel so lucky to be at the Perkins School! The parent community is warm and welcoming and the teachers and extraordinary. We have a 2nd grader and a kindergartener and both are thriving. They love their teachers, have wonderful friends, and have skyrocketed in confidence and academic ability. Thank you Perkins! read more

Perkins is an amazing school! The teachers, administrators and staff are warm and very invested in the students, as well as having great communication with parents. Our daughter had an incredible experience at Perkins. Highly recommended! read more

This is a cute elementary school that has Pre-K through 5th grade. My daughter has attended for four years now, and I am happy with the new principal, Barry. He seems to be taking the Perkins School in the right direction, and is very open to feedback. The teachers that my daughter has worked with have all been very interested in her development, and take an active role in congratulating my daughter (both to her and to us) as well as offering constructive criticism and helping her develop in an age-appropriate manner. I love their community garden and chickens, their math and science curriculum, and the way they always plan for a child's growth. I plan on spending many more happy years at the Perkins School...and just wish they were located a bit closer to home! Ah, well, you can't have everything can you? read more

I am so happy with the school-- they truly care about each child, get to know their own little personalities, and do such a great job. Our teachers have been nurturing and engaging, their outdoor space is awesome, and you can just see how happy children and staff are. read more

Our child has thrived at this wonderful small school. There is great leadership from the Head of School. The teachers are engaging and supportive. The school building is warm and promotes community. The curriculum is hands on which holds our child's attention. The Perkins School has been a great choice for our family. read more

I have had a child at Perkins for the last 4 years and could not be more pleased. My hopes for elementary school were that my child would love learning and going to school, that they would be enthusiastic about experimenting in science, and be part of a community of children and families who put a premium on the substance of education and advanced learning in life. We have found all of the above. Teachers are high-quality, the physical environment is wonderful (especially the loose parts playground, the garden, and the standalone living science building). read more

We have two children at Perkins who have very different interests, strengths, and areas of growth yet Perkins provides both of them with the support and academic challenges they need. They both love school and come home excited every day. Our family believes that elementary school is not only about developing a basic foundation of learning, but also about learning to love the process of education as well as how to think critically and independently. Perkins gives them that, as well as the leadership skills to express this knowledge. The smaller classrooms allow teachers to engage children at their level, but the classes are large enough to provide students with critical academic and social opportunities. Our kids love the hands-on curriculum that teaches students very early how to work as part of a community. In Kindergarten, the class holds weekly discussions about problems students are experiencing at school in which students are encouraged to help one another problem solve. Barry Wright, Head of School, and his teachers are always searching for innovative and meaningful ways to involve students in their learning. For example, our 5th grader recently studied the American Revolution not only just by memorizing key battles and leaders, but also through role playing and having to articulate their views to a visiting King George III. Our oldest child took apart clocks one year as part of a unit on time and math. The school also has an amazing science program located in a sustainable portable (http://theseedcollaborative.org/seedclassroom/). Specialty classes in music, art, French, and daily PE add to the well-rounded curriculum. read more