My daughter is in first grade at Tilden and she absolutely loves it - she is thriving there because of the smaller class sizes, specialised and individual needs based focus from the incredible teachers, and the community. Oh the Tilden family is special! All the grades play together, the parents of all grades know each other and help each other on a daily basis. Tilden kids are widely known and recognised in middle and high schools around because of the kindness and empathy that is fostered here. My daughter was an early reader and math doer, and the teachers meet the kids where they are and fit the curriculum to the student, not the other way around. The traditional epic Halloween carnival every year is a thing to behold - the kids look forward to it for weeks and talk about it for weeks after. There may be no playground (yet, watch this space) but the school has been so resourceful in having lots of mobile games and outdoor toys that give the kids the next best thing. They also have a fantastic after school enrichment which my daughter is thriving in (giving her freedom to play and have fun after the rules of school during the day). I can't say enough good things about Tilden - if you send your child here you won't regret it. read more

See all

We have two boys and the older one is in Kindergarten this year. He's over the moon about going to school. He loves his classmates, teachers, activities, aftercare -- absolutely everything. This is a wonderful environment of smart, caring, thoughtful people running this school and I'd like to believe it's attracts people seeking the best for their kids. read more

Tilden is exactly what our son needed in an elementary school. The focus on kindness and social-emotional learning has been fundamental in his ability to make solid friendships, feel accepted, and be himself. Tilden's curriculum allows our son to be challenged in areas where he excels and confidently learn in all subjects. He loves going to school! The Tilden parent community is wonderful and we feel very grateful for Tilden teachers and the magic that they bring to our son's education. read more

My child transferred to Tilden last year, and I am beyond thrilled with the results. The teachers at Tilden transformed my child's attitude about school. He went from being a child who did not want to go to school to one who looks forward to it every morning. I cannot thank the staff at Tilden enough for this metamorphosis. It has allowed my child to grow academically and socially at a rate that is truly astounding. read more

We could not be happier with our experience at Tilden. Our son has been a student there for 2 years and we've been so impressed. We have been more than happy with both the focus on Academics as well as the value the school places on Social Emotional Learning and Empathy. The staff, the teachers, and the entire student body genuinely cares about one another, and these kids are just the kindest I've encountered. Their low student to teacher ratio really makes an impact, both for my child's learning experience and for parent/teacher communication. Their arts program (heavy on music and art and computer learning) is also such a treat. I'm just so happy my kid loves going to school every day! While Tilden is not your large, fancy private school boasting a beautiful campus and fancy extra-curriculars, that is beautifully reflected in the price (below the average private school - parochial or secular) and I do believe that it's affordability adds to the incredible community of students and teachers that is Tilden. read more

We have had an incredible experience at Tilden so far. We want our child to have rigorous academics coupled with cultivation of empathy and social-emotional learning. Tilden excels on both fronts. It starts with the amazing teachers and administrators. There is a palpable feeling of love and care that emanates from them to the students (and back!). In her two years at Tilden, our daughter has received deeply thoughtful and personalized instruction from her teachers that keeps her challenged and excited to learn. This has been partnered with a continued emphasis on building social skills: active listening, conflict resolution, and emotional awareness. Parents whose children have gone through Tilden speak of the school in reverential tones. As we watch our daughter more and more become a kind, caring, creative, poised, and intelligent leader as she progresses through Tilden, we clearly see why they do. read more

If you have the opportunity to send your child to Tilden, take it. I have had two children go through and it's really such a gift. In sending my kids to Tilden, I believe they were given the gift of loving to learn. They both have an absolute thirst for learning because the extraordinary educators at Tilden have made learning fun. This will serve them for the rest of their lives. Neither one has once not wanted to go to school. Every single child is known and individually taught accordingly. The only thing you will struggle with is how to find a middle and high school that is as good. read more

I sat in and observed a class at Tilden last spring, thinking it might be worth the drive for my five year-old son. True, the school's small size is attractive/charming. I was surprised, however, by the staff's apparent complete lack of interest in creating a diverse environment. Challenging in Seattle, of course, but something my partner and I prioritized in considering schools. At least from what I observed, the faculty, student body and staff reflected essentially one demographic: upper class white. When I inquired about wheel chair access (there are only stairs at the entrance, and I didn't see an elevator in the church where the school is housed), I received blank stares. Same when I asked about a scholarship program or the possibility of providing an aide to assist in the classroom with an autistic child . The teachers I spoke with were clearly very experienced, but most of them appeared to view their approach as the only approach. read more