Green Lake Elementary School

When I chose UCDS for my child I was assured a robust academic experience would be provided. It was an unfortunate misstep. They claim an “individualized” curriculum yet their curriculum is inflexible and does not allow for advanced study. Any suggestion that a child would benefit from elements of a more traditional approach are staunchly rejected. Their “deep dive” for a 2nd grader advanced in math consists of adding longer columns of single digit numbers. A third grader will be asked to read during math class once their multiplication tables are memorized. Many teachers lack proficiency manipulating fractions and with long division algorithms. Administrators publicly admit to struggling with elementary level math. Apparently they enjoy poetry so if your child is a budding poet I suppose cling to that. The school is designed for gregarious kids who lack preferences. Introverted personalities who prefer more intimate relationships feel like they have been placed in a blender. The school dynamic is isolating for these students. Many developmentally appropriate children are labeled as anxiety ridden and therapy is recommended when small modifications to the schools’ model would appease their apprehension.UCDS was absolutely the wrong choice for my child. I deeply regret the time we spent there. The elementary years should be stimulating and enjoyable. Families should feel welcome. Administrators should not be feared. The memories should be fond ones. It’s harder than it needs to be at UCDS. The school is very comfortable (perhaps enjoys) imparting unnecessary worry and hardships onto the students and families they should be trying to serve. Parents are constantly trying to read between the lines of their verbal and written communication (or lack thereof). We have fortunately moved on from this bizarre place and the dark days of UCDS are behind us.

I am the father of a student who went to UCo-op starting in Kindergarten (there was no Pre-K at that time) and graduated after 5th grade. As a family we consider our time there to be an absolute joy from start to finish, a rich and deeply emotional experience that has lasting positive effects for everyone in our household. The community that is built and continues to evolve at the school is remarkable. We made life-long friends while we were there and our class still gets together regularly for meet-ups, camping adventures, and even does some international travel together. Co-op life is not for everyone, the time investment for parents is not insignificant, but if the family is engaged and shows up and puts in the time that is asked of the families who join, then it is a self-fulfilling engine which makes for a better environment for learning for the child, a more connected community and a significantly more clear view for parents of the child's day-to-day. But it does require that commitment from the family, and so I always encourage people coming into the community to think very carefully before engaging with a Co-op lifestyle. If you can't commit to that which is asked of each family in terms of time and support then perhaps Co-op life is not a great fit for your family. That self-fulfilling engine only runs if everyone is engaged together in the process. The teachers at UCo-op are among the most dedicated, thoughtful, engaged, mindful people I have ever met. They care so deeply for the kids, the process of teaching and learning, and the community, it is inspiring to see and a joy to engage with. And we see this again in how the community continues to show up and connect with the staff years after the family has left the school. I am certain that I will know and interact with the staff for the rest of my life. The school recently did an amazing re-envisioning of the lower floor of the school and it has set them up for a continued evolution of the Co-op, with new and improved spaces for learning, play, admin and more. I've had a tour and it's an incredible result. I truly wish that I had the opportunity to go through the UCo-op experience again with my kid, it has set him up with everything he needs for middle and high school and beyond, and equipped him with a greater capacity to love, accept love and thrive emotionally. If Co-op life is the right fit for your family then there is no better option in Seattle than University Cooperative School.

They did nothing about the extreme bullying or horrid teachers. I got called slurs IN FRONT OF TEACHERS and nothing was ever done. Told on a kid for threatening to shoot me and nothing happened except I got called a snitch for the rest of my time there. Kids repeatedly called other kids slurs and other insults. Group punishment was used frequently and regularly to the extreme. They allowed teachers to play favorites and least favorites. Sex ed was non existent. The education was good, but I’m going to be in therapy for years due to anxiety from all the bullying.