8057 14th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115

My child thrived at Roosevelt. She had several dynamic teachers who engaged her academic curiosity, and she found her cohort in a large, supportive group of theater kids. Being a large public high school, Roosevelt won't be the right fit for every student - no school can be. But Roosevelt benefits from having a lot of engaged parents in an affluent part of the city, with resources from the University of Washington nearby. The light-rail station across the street (opening fall 2021) will make it easier for students from other parts of the city to get there.

Teachers and staff at this small and mighty school are dedicated to our students. I have seen this in many settings, including meetings with teachers and staff. The strength of our school community is inspiring. Principal Friesen leads with professionalism, competence, and compassion. The teachers my child has had have been spectacular.

We had high hopes and had heard great things prior to 2019 from other families. The school has changed drastically since then due to SPS policies, so any review that pre-dates 2019 is no longer accurate. After having two students attend this school, we decided to leave the district. Academically, the school has very low standards. I don’t think they read a single book in 8th grade English class or wrote a single essay. Many students have no respect for the teachers, and the teachers are too young and inexperienced to do anything about it, or they are hobbled by anti-discipline, pro-inclusion policies that give teachers few tools for addressing disruptive behavior. There are a few teachers at the school that are wonderful, especially in the science department, but I found the constant gaslighting and dishonesty from leadership to be exhausting. Now that we have spent a year in another public middle school, where there is honest communication and where the staff really do want to see students to be challenged and to reach their full potential, I realize just how terrible and toxic this school really is!! I think the difference is largely policy/leadership driven (not demographically driven).