The Little School

I attended The Little School for seven years, and it shaped my life for the better. Most of my college friends have strong negative memories of elementary school: bullying, tests, boring recess, mean teachers. But all my memories are good. At TLS, even the class "bullies" were our friends: the teachers dealt well with kids who picked on others; no one lost self-esteem. We never took tests: we simply studied our material until we learned it, and weren't punished for learning slowly. Twice a day, at recess, we were free to exercise our imaginations on TLS's vast forest campus. My best friend and I always pretended to be horses, and we published stories about our adventures in the school library! The teachers were our friends: they talked to us as equals, and we helped develop the curriculum. My childhood at TLS was idyllic, and because my first school experience was so good, I've continued to love school and independent learning. Some worry that a TLS education isn't academically rigorous enough. Take it from a national merit finalist and University of Chicago student it s not rigor that makes academic success. It s love of learning. And love of learning is at the heart of TLS.

It is such a relief as a parent to look into the classroom and see my child (age 10) fully engaged in what she is learning. She is not behind a desk doing endless worksheets or cross legged in "circle time" for hours. This really is a different paradigm. The teachers are amazing! Small classrooms, individual attention, flexible curriculum, values creativity and the social and emotional well being of children. Huge, beautiful campus in the woods. I really believe my daughter couldn't be at a better school for her future success. She is not just getting a grade school education, but a lifetime love of learning and curiosity about the world. She is actually upset about school vacations because she misses school too much! How great is that?! The Little School needs to share it's secrets with the rest of the education system. Really. All I can say is... I see the future of education and it's at The Little School.
—Submitted by a parent

I d highly recommend The Little School (TLS) where our son loves attending. Their philosophy of creating a love for learning and setting kids up for success in LIFE is seen in every interaction with the teachers and staff. Teachers are empowered & LOVE their jobs, and the kids love learning through experiences. It s obvious how much the kids love going to school there & how they flourish. TLS isn t like a typical school in that they don t have set seats for each student where they are expected to sit and listen to a teacher lecture them most of the day. Instead, they have 1-2 tables in the room where kids sit with each other and experience learning through doing activities and working together, rather than being lectured. This, in my opinion, is the best way to truly learn and understand something it also dramatically increases the chances you will retain it. TLS s approach is to create a partnership between the kids and adults, not having the adult being a dominating authority figure. They teach kids how to function successfully in society & life, not just memorize information. Every touch point I have had has proven that they truly live the values they say they have.
—Submitted by a parent

Things we appreciate about TLS include: - The awesome teachers. - The small class sizes. - The child-directed curriculum. - The emphasis on critical thinking and research skills. - The true respect for a diversity of learning styles. - The active, involved, and at times boisterous classrooms. - The emphasis on outdoor activity. We chose TLS because it helps our children excel academically. At TLS they learn how to learn, how to put things together, how to understand language, how to think about math and numbers, how to answer their own questions, how to get along with other people, and how the physical world works. My children are intrinsically motivated and well prepared for a lifetime of learning. The school's approach can make some parents uncomfortable because it emphasizes skills that are not easy to measure. The school focuses on the fundamental skills necessary for reasoning and communicating, versus more visible, superficial skills that are easy to test and demonstrate. But I have consistently found that when one of my children is ready to pick up a demonstrable skill, he is well prepared by TLS to do so quickly and enthusiastically.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a fantastic school. Small class size, progressive education, excellent teachers, and a beautiful campus! Our son is thriving, learning, growing and has wonderful confidence. I would highly recommend this school to anyone who wants there children to love to learn and wants a school who cares about the whole child too!
—Submitted by a parent

This school would not be a good choice if your student is entering the upper grades. Most students have been together since Pre-K and have established a bond within their social group and are not good about letting new students into their social world. It's very sad on many levels because I think this could have been a good school since the school incorporates some fun learning activities, however, the social experience was extremely damaging. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed the way the teacher handled conflicts within her classroom. The new "head of school" is a great asset to the school that I know will make some necessary changes to make it a more welcoming environment for new students entering upper grades. I think this would be a great choice for the lower grades but definitely not in the upper grades especially if your child has difficult making friends.
—Submitted by a parent

My son just left The Little School after 7 years. I am thrilled that we stayed at the school from the time my son was 4 until he turned 11. The amazing teachers at The Little School were able to instill a love of learning and to help my son learn to be his own person. We have moved on to a public middle school and my son's grades have been great and his transition to the change in environment and academics has been very smooth. Our family will always be grateful to The Little School and the amazing teachers there.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was terrific socially and physically, it's in a beautiful location and the children are taught to be compassionate and kind. Academically, it was beyond poor. My child didn't suffer much in middle school as a result of the lack of academics, but only because he was already an avid reader and wrote well. I would recommend this school to parents of children who are not doing well socially in public school. Of course, this means a (small) classroom of mostly social misfits, but the teachers seem to be able to handle that aspect. If you're wealthy and can supplement your child's education with tutoring, it might also be a good choice. Otherwise, unless your child is bright, doesn't mind the lack of academic challenge, and struggles socially in public school, there are much better choices out there.
—Submitted by a parent

A school with heart. Teachers have a deep knowledge of child development. Rich and vibrant curriculum. Beautiful wooded campus where kids can get dirty and discover the natural world around them. A wonderful community of learners. What more could you want for your child?
—Submitted by a parent

Our son is in his 3rd year at The Little School. And every year it gets better. Now, there is a new principal and she is making it an even better place to grow. The teaching staff is amazing and experienced, allowing each student the ability to create their own experience. While guiding them to academic benchmarks. The Art Program here is incredible. The small school atmosphere, nestled in an amazing natural environment allows for a unique educational experience. Unbounded by mindless droning of trivial data, children are allowed to learn math, reading and writing through experiences and not lectures. Truly refreshing and engaging.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended TLS from K-5 & is now in a highly academic & rigorous middle school program. She is excelling there in many specific ways that I credit to TLS: her natural curiosity & love of learning were nurtured & are serving her well now she's in 7th grade; she was supported in working independently on projects that required her to be self-motivated and self-regulating; & she was given many opportunities to stretch herself as a public speaker and self-starter (perceiving a need or having an interest & being allowed to run with it). As the daughter of an academic & someone with two graduate degrees who spent several years teaching undergrads, I was looking for an elementary school that would keep alive the skills necessary to succeed in higher education and real life: self-regulation, self-motivation & an intrinsic love of learning. We found that at TLS.
—Submitted by a parent

We have three children at The Little School, and have really found it to be the perfect school for us. Education is *very* important to my husband and I, and we feel strongly that our children learn in an environment that is not fact-, homework-, or test-driven. As parents, we particularly like the small class sizes at TLS, the way our children are encouraged to answer their own questions, and the focus on social development. The kids love their teachers and friends, the autonomy they are given, and exploring the beautiful campus.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter moved to the Little School this year, and it has completely changed her attitude toward school. She quickly developed confidence and enthusiasm toward school, which she did not have at her previous school. The staff are wonderful, class ratios are small (2 teachers for 16 students), and the other parents are friendly and welcoming.
—Submitted by a parent

My child went to TLS for the upper grade levels (though there are no grades per se) after a frustrating public school experience. How refreshing to find 'the most awesome school on the planet' according to my daughter. Her love of learning was revived. The small class sizes enabled her to receive individualized attention from her teachers and the woods/campus are breathtaking and foster an appreciation for nature. My child made great friends. She is excited about her next school but she misses TLS so much.
—Submitted by a parent

The Little School has been an amazing place for both my children. It is not for everyone but if your child does best with small classes and teachers who treat their ideas with respect rather than sitting at a desk doing a bunch of worksheets, it's worth checking out!
—Submitted by a parent

My children attended this school for two. It's an excellent school for preschool. But not for elementary school or you will end investing high cost in tutoring
—Submitted by a parent

Great for Preschool, but not beyond that. There is little structure or in depth teaching of the basics such as reading, writing and math. Although many don't admit it, a large portion of parents here supplement their child's education with outside tutoring. Some children thrive here, but often those children would thrive in any environment. Often parents have not found out until they leave that their children are struggling academically. The school talks about their emphasis on social aspects which is great, but it doesn't need to come at the expense of learning the basics which it does. We aren't a family who what are children to be pushed excessively academically. We want an environment where there is a healthy balance. This is not it.
—Submitted by a parent

I couldn't be happier with a school than I am with The Little School. I enjoy the school's focus on social development, and have consistently been impressed with how my children's teachers are able to take advantage of child-directed educational opportunites as they arise.
—Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of a Little School alum and will be eternally grateful for the care and education my daughter receive from ages 3 to 12. They prepared her academically to become an honor student, receive scholarships, and excel all the way through Gonzaga and Seattle Universities. TLS fostered the highest ideals, tended to her individual needs, and understood her family stress and dynamics. I could not be more proud of her as the strong, intelligent, principled and caring, achieving woman she is today. She is without question a product of the years she spent in the arms of The Little School. I was a single mom not knowing how I could afford the tuition despite financial aide but month by month, year by year it happened. With a gigantic leap of faith those dollars became the investment I ever made.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two children who have started at The Little School this year. We could not be happier. This is a school which respects children, builds a foundationof curiosity and love of learning, and incorporates educational research with emergent curricula to provide truly engaging and effective teaching methods. The faculty are absolutely wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent