Laurelhurst

This is a school that should be better known in Seattle. I can only imagine that it’s less known than others because it produces the kinds of successful, confident kids who don’t need to brag or flaunt their credentials. The campus, buildings and resources are rivaled only by Lakeside’s upper school campus. The light and airy main building, soaring ceilings and stunning views imbue students’ school experience with a feeling of being part of something much bigger than themselves. The relatively new Head of School has energized the entire community and activated a new sense of purpose and drive in students, families, and especially the faculty. Everything at this school is being done with intention and an eye on truly serving the school’s new mission. The Head of School has a talent for recruiting and developing skilled teachers. Diversity of the student body has increased significantly and for us families who have been at the school for a long time, it's a relief to see that the student body is at last reflects the diversity of Seattle. As a parent of multiracial students, I am happy that our background is not unique among the school community. Occasionally families will leave so their kids can attend other middle schools connected with high schools, and inevitably they will share in private conversations that they wished they had stayed at Villa. The rigor of the education students receive combined with excellent support for social-emotional learning, service learning, and executive functioning skills is unmatched among area elementary and middle schools.