We have a 2nd and 5th grader at the Meridian School and could not be more impressed with the…read moreleadership, faculty and community at the school. The assistant head of school and interim head of school are very accessible, responsive and communicate effectively with staff, faculty and families. The board of trustees has a strong vision for the school rooted in its mission. We really appreciate the integrated curriculum featuring multiple specialist classes: music, health and fitness, creativity lab, science, library, Spanish, art. In the creativity lab, our children routinely have projects incorporating engineering, design, critical thinking, problem solving, coding, animation and robotics. Teachers regularly collaborate on project based-learning opportunities. The experiential learning takes the learning beyond the classroom. My daughter's grade has five field trips planned this year. Overnight grade-level trips begin in 3rd grade and by the time students graduate they have participated in a total of 5 overnight grade-level field trips around the Pacific Northwest. The trip to Mountain School at the North Cascades Institute was my son's favorite. All of these are included in tuition and covered by financial aid plans. The k-2 and 3-5 learning specialists are very dedicated. My 2nd grader has benefitted from extra academic support in the classroom. My 5th grader has received additional enrichment in math and language arts since he has surpassed grade-level benchmarks. The admissions director provides individual support to families as they embark on process of applying to independent middle schools in 5th grade. We found the community to be warm, welcoming and very engaged. Our family has made many lifelong friendships through the school.

Our family joined Meridian shortly after the pandemic as we recognized that our kids weren't…read moregetting the academics we desired at their previous school. It was a scary jump to go from our neighborhood school, to a private school. We soon came to realize that this community was very similar to our public school in that families were kind, grounded and welcoming. Moreover, the faculty had the ratios and resources required to give individual attention to our children and support their educational needs. We now have two graduates who have stayed on the independent school path and both made it into the middle school of their school of choice. The education that they received at Meridian certainly set them up for this success!

My younger sister and I used to go to BF Day, and our baby sister goes there now, and let me tell…read moreyou, that is dang good school. It's a small-ish school (as most elementary schools are) in Fremont, near the Woodland Park Zoo. BF Day is rather diverse in all meanings of the word, and does a good job of teaching kids that everyone is important and loved. The parents are generally lovely, as are the teachers, though many of my favorite staff members have retired. It can be a bit of a hippy school, but that is far from a negative, it just encourages kids to explore their creative sides and embrace themselves. I haven't heard a single negative thing about BF Day, though I do know that due to some zoning issues, a lot of kids have lost their transportation, which is a majorly sucky, but I don't believe that the school is at fault there. tl;dr BF Day is pretty much the best and everyone who went there loved it

NOT CLOSED, people! Not at all! When I moved my boys and me…read morenorthward from Portland to Seattle, I had researched the "cluster" school system (never was a name more appropriate for a system or situation), though my research was clearly insufficient. Because I made certain that I moved into what I thought would be the perfect cluster for my kids' schooling needs and profile...I just failed to realize that would make no difference whatsoever to where they went to school. My boys are half hispanic, and I wanted very much to continue with the Spanish language education I only sporadically inflict on them at home. So I moved into the Laurelhurst-ish "cluster." What Seattle did not advertise is that its school zoning situation is not just a cluster, but the mother of all godforsaken clusters. They found no availability in any ONE school for both my boys. That's because clusters at the time were only "suggestions" of where kids could attend schools. Suggestions that were largely completely ignored, and no matter where you lived in Seattle, your kid could be bussed into nearly any zone at all. So you can basically move your family onto a tent settlement ATOP a particular school, and not be allowed to enroll in it until the 300-child wait list of kids from a school 15 miles away takes their priority. W, as the kids say, TF. So the last years have been a constant cluster indeed, with my boys in two different schools and and in and out of several. Having tried or toured quite a few schools in the area now, I can say, this one is my favorite elementary school in Seattle so far. My son has a wonderful teacher, Miss Jackson (and yes, it is so punishingly hard not to say, or at least think, "If you're nasty!" every time I say her name) who despite being forced, as all teachers are, to teach to a strict test curriculum imposed by the lowest-common-denominator-encouraging "No Child Left Behind" legislation, is still highly dynamic, wildly flexible, and very encouraging of creativity in all its manifestations. I absolutely love her, and I love the diversity of the students and the parents--a graceful blend of the privileged and the struggling, chaotic and the orderly, the uber-hippies and the uber-hipsters who all somehow manage to be very empathic and very likable. It also sits at just the right notch on the spectrum of academic rigor. We tried John Stanford International with Nico, and he called them "The Von Trapp Family Singers." Whistles to encourage hallway lineups? No talking in the corridors? Boys' and Girls' lines for 5th graders? No dark sarcasm? In the CLASSROOM?! Yikes. Plus every mom I met there without a single exception kind of gave me the impression that the only hard decision she has to make in any three-week period is whether to give her cook, nanny and housekeeper massages or Lush bars as holiday gifts. I'm extremely grateful for this school and for how happy Maximo is to attend it. Teaching excellence here is clearly valued, as is parental involvement. If you're in the area AND in the market for an elementary school, stop in and say hi. They're great people.

My child is thriving academically and socially at this amazing school. Our family love being part…read moreof the community. We highly recommend this school.

We have been happily attending this school for the last 2.5 years. We're a small warm school with a…read morefantastic community. Though it is a Catholic school, most kids are not Catholic. All are welcome.

We have loved this place…read more We've been with U Co-op for the last two years, with almost a year and a half of that during the pandemic. I can't express how incredible the school has been. The most extraordinarily compassionate teachers and staff, and a parent community that has been supportive, resourceful, kind and caring. There is a warmth to the building (which we are thankfully back in - and masked) that we fell in love with from the first tour. It didn't feel cold or modern; it felt like creativity and childhood. There are nooks for reading, spaces for found art, paintings up everywhere. The teachers allow the children to follow their curiosity and even adjust the lessons to be relevant to the things that interest them. The kids are learning just as much as peers at other schools, but in a way that focuses on their self development and self esteem. This school has been a great find and has helped carry us through this difficult stretch.

My son goes to preschool with Teachers Christi and Susanne here, and they fill his day with a…read morestream of such engaging, fun, educational activities. They share the most beautiful pictures of his day, and I'm in awe of how much they can fit in between 9 am and 1 pm. A typical day can include an art project (my son recently made planets out of papier mache), a food project (today was sushi rolls), time romping around Ravenna Park, circle time for songs and sign language, and story time during lunch. They even take the bus and light rail to visit different parts of the city. Christi and Susanne exude this amazing calm, loving, fully present energy with the kids, always observing and affirming their budding strengths. I honestly can't imagine a better preschool experience for little ones! There is the extended day option as well, which goes until 5, I think.

This is by far the most amazing environment for children. I was told by many neighbors that this…read morepreschool is phenomenal. My son is in his second year here and he loves it! The curriculum, special events, parent/teacher conferences, etc... All leave you wishing they had kindergarten classes as well. All ten of the parents in my son's class wish our kids could go here forever. Take a tour and I promise you'll fall in love as we have!

From the owner: We are a Christian Preschool located in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. Children attend…read moreeither 3 or 4 hours a day. We are open Monday thru Friday, 9:30 to 1:30.

Coe School is named after Frantz Coe (1856-1904). The school was designed by James Stephen and…read morebuilt in 1907. I attended Coe School in 4th to 6th grade. This is about Mrs. Jacobson, one of my teachers. For one of our exams we were required to name all of the elements that we knew, such as iron, copper, and calcium. I wrote down many elements including some elements that Mrs. Jacobson never heard of. Mrs. Jacobson marked me down because I wrote down these elements. Bad, bad, bad, Mrs. Jacobson. This is about Mrs. Scholl. For some of our classes she just read from a story book to us. Once Mrs. Scholl told us that when receiving mail or memos her name was sometimes written as "Mrs. School." I enjoyed making my term paper on South America, which included real paper money from a couple of countries. Once Mrs. Scholl was telling us about Brazil nuts and she told the class that they were sometimes called, "Nigger toes." Bad, bad, bad, Mrs. Scholl. We had an African-American boy in our class who lived in a nearby orphanage. When Mrs. Scholl said "Nigger toes," she commented that the boy was out for that day. Mr.Wingert was one of the teachers. Once, we had to watch a film on the shrimp industry. I was bored with the film, so I sucked on my hand and it was covered with saliva. In the middle of the movie, I had to go on a pre-arranged appointment to see my mother and on the way out, Mr.Wingert unexpectedly extended his hand to shake hands. So I shook hands and he got a handful of saliva. Mr.Wingert also read stories to us, including Huckleberry Finn. I was shocked when he read the "N-word" to us. We were required to go on bathroom breaks which involved marching down the steps to the basement. Sometimes I skipped steps, taking a long step to descend down two steps at once. I got in trouble for this. For punishment I was required to go up and down a flight of steps ten times. I did not see any sense in this because this type of punishment increases risk for accidental tumbling down the steps and breaking bones. For art class Mrs.Tapp gave me a B. I was the best artist in the class, and perhaps the best artist in all of Coe School. At that time I was exceptionally skilled at drawing trees, apples, buildings, monsters, and so on. I was puzzled when Mrs.Tapp gave me a B. Bad, bad, bad, Mrs.Tapp. Once during recess I paused to spit down the stairwell and watch my spit fall 50 feet down. Mrs.Tapp saw me do this and scolded me by saying "A son of a doctor is not expected to do things like that!!!" The worse thing was Mr.Bardal the principal of the school. Mr.Bardal roamed the hallways and the schoolyard carrying a large wooden paddle for spanking his students. The paddle had four holes drilled on the end to provide for a more painful whack (the holes prevented the air from cushioning the spanks). Once during volley ball I called to Mary Butler because she was holding on to the ball and not serving it. I exclaimed, "Mary But . . ." I stopped half-way in saying her last name because just as I was saying "Butler" she served the ball. But Mary Butler who was a fat girl and had a big butt thought that I was making fun of her big butt. She complained to Mr.Bardal and I got a spanking. Fortunately, on that day I was wearing thick woolen pants which cushioned the blows. In retrospect I now realize that I am a victim of assault and battery and slander. Mary Butler's behavior could reasonably be characterized as slander which is a tort as well as a crime. Mr.Bardal's behavior could reasonably be characterized as assault and battery. We also had dance class in the gym. Linda Mueller squeezed my hand so hard that it hurt my hand. When Linda squeezed my hand the flesh of my hand was compressed over the metal of my Smokey the Bear ring which caused extra pain. But I did not mind because Linda was a foxy girl. Brenda Cole and Diana Plank were best friends and they were good at drawing horses. At recess outside they played horsey. Once Brenda Cole made fun of my last name by calling me "Toady-Brody." But I did not mind. Once I called her "Bent-Butt" instead of Brenda. The best teacher was Mrs.Bradley who taught chorus. She had us all perform Christmas songs at a local television station. Bobby Gruber's mother drove me and Bobby to the TV station. A week later my family watched us on television. What a thrill that was. I noticed that I flexed my cheek once between songs out of nervousness. We also had air raid drills in case of nuclear attack and were required to duck under our desks and cover our head and neck. In retrospect I am not sure how that could have protected us from radiation burns and falling bricks. The schoolyard has nice tetherball courts, and a big dirt field, for playing racing games. Coe School has a great safety patrol program and I enjoyed wearing the uniform (white shoulder strap) and holding up the red crossing flag. Coe School has a cafeteria, but at the time I never cared for the stewed tomatoes.

Our kids have been at Kapka for close to 4 years. We're incredibly grateful for having discovered…read morethis elementary school when we were looking. Our two kids and their friends continuously impress us by how comfortable they are in various social situation, how eloquent they are in diffusing tensions and explaining what is on their mind.- whether they're in the play yard or in situations at home, and how curious and interested about the world they are and how resourceful they can be to entertain themselves and the people around them. Kapka has nailed social-emotional learning. If you're looking for a fantastic school for your K-5 child, and you'd love to be part of a warm, diverse, interesting and engaged community, Kapka will be school for you and your child.

We chose Kapka for its small class sizes and playful learning styles, but soon discovered the…read moredozens of reasons why Kapka is a magical place to be a kid. At Kapka, every child is known, and their uniqueness celebrated. We see our child's confidence growing weekly and her enjoyment of school has skyrocketed. As a parent volunteer, spending time with the kids and teachers is a highlight in my week. I marvel at the staff and teachers' ability to connect with the students, I'm inspired by their patience and I'm grateful for their presence in my child's life.

I went to Pacific Crest all the way up to 8th grade, and my experience there was overwhelmingly…read morepositive. I actually tear up a little thinking of how much I loved going there, and how unusual it is to love your teachers and your fellow students so much during middle school (often such a stressful time in a child's life). The teachers are astoundingly supportive and I always felt that I could trust them with anything. The school itself felt like home; it was warm and bright, with plenty of natural light coming in through the windows and skylights. Memories that stick out in my mind: the solstice celebration, where we'd carry candles to commemorate the turning of the seasons; volunteering at the soup kitchen; working and playing at the farm (this school has its own farm!!); performing in plays and absolutely loving it; getting my face painted at the end-of-the-year celebration... Pacific Crest loves celebrations, and it should, because celebrations are wonderful and really strengthen the community. I feel that I am a more empathetic, creative, and tranquil person because of my upbringing at PCS. If I could go back and relive all my time at this school, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I would highly recommend that you send your children here.

It is important for families to understand that if you enroll your child at Pacific Crest, you are…read moresigning a contract obligating you to pay the full year of tuition and forfeit your deposit regardless of how the school handles communication or concerns prior to enrollment. I believe it is important for prospective families to have a clear understanding of what they may encounter before making such a significant financial and emotional commitment for their child. We first attended an information session in 2025 and later met with the school with the intention of enrolling our four-year-old daughter for January 2026. During the admissions process, the director was attentive, responsive, and reassuring , effectively an excellent sales lady. We were repeatedly told that the school valued communication, community, and a child-centered approach, which strongly influenced our decision to enroll. Unfortunately, once we signed the contract in August and paid tuition, the level of communication changed dramatically. In November, I reached out to the school seeking guidance regarding our daughter's upcoming January start date, including next steps, meeting her teacher, and understanding what supplies or preparations were needed. I received no response. After following up a second time and again receiving no response, we finally heard back nearly three weeks and three emails later with a generic reply stating that the classroom teacher would contact us within two days with additional information. Unfortunately, that follow-up never came. By this point, we were becoming increasingly frustrated by the ongoing lack of communication and professionalism. Over winter break, the continued absence of communication led us to seriously reconsider whether this was the right environment for our daughter. It became difficult to feel confident placing our child in a school that struggled to provide even basic communication and follow-through during the enrollment process, especially after emphasizing those values so heavily during admissions. We eventually met with the director the same week our daughter was supposed to begin attending. She apologized for the communication issues and at that point, the alternative presented to us was a meeting with the financial department regarding our contractual financial obligations to the school. Wanting to remain open-minded and hopeful that the experience itself might ultimately be different than the enrollment process had been, we decided to move forward with a classroom observation before making a final decision. We decided to complete a classroom observation so we could better understand the environment and meet the teacher, whom we still had not heard from directly prior to our daughter's anticipated start date. Although the observation was brief, several aspects of the classroom gave us pause. Most concerning was the aloofness and emotional coldness the primary teacher exhibited toward the children. She appeared disengaged and minimally interactive with the students throughout our visit. More broadly, the classroom atmosphere itself felt unexpectedly disconnected. There seemed to be very little sense of joy, warmth, friendship, or community among the children -- something I would have expected to see naturally develop among four- and five-year-olds who had reportedly spent anywhere from six months to over a year together. As a parent, it was difficult not to notice how emotionally disconnected the environment felt overall. Frankly, the children did not appear especially happy, engaged, or socially connected. After the observation, we briefly met with the teacher. The director was not present at the school that day and was unavailable to speak with us. What ultimately solidified our decision not to move forward was the teacher's statement that she generally does not communicate with parents outside of scheduled conferences, though she could "make an exception" if necessary. As parents preparing for our daughter's first school experience, we did not feel it was unreasonable to hope for occasional communication regarding how she was adjusting socially and emotionally. Following the visit, we sent three follow-up emails to the director requesting communication regarding our concerns and asking whether our deposit could be refunded. We never received a response. Regardless of contractual policies, the continued lack of follow-through, responsiveness, and professionalism throughout this process was deeply disappointing and ultimately very upsetting for our family. On a positive note, our daughter is now thriving at a neighborhood preschool with warm, engaged teachers and a classroom culture filled with genuine connection among the children. The experience has only highlighted for us the stark contrast between the sense of warmth and community we now see daily and the emotional coldness and disconnection we witnessed during our experience at Pacific Crest