Cascadia Elementary

Great all around experience

I have many more lovely & detailed things to say about this school, but my # of words here are limited! This is my daughter’s first year at Cascadia (currently 2nd grade) and so far, the school, staff/faculty, and PTA have exceeded our expectations! Like many parents, my husband and I were very cautious when first considering transferring our daughter from her assigned elementary school to HCC at Cascadia.

Prior to enrollment, we attended one of Cascadia’s Prospective Parent Nights – attending this gave us a great opportunity to tour the school and pick the brains of current Cascadia parents. My husband and I knew after that night that our daughter had to at least try out Cascadia for a year. If the school and program didn’t work out for her, we reasoned she could always return to her assigned school.

Cascadia has been very welcoming. Because so many kids transfer there each Fall, the school has a great, well thought out transition process. There’s a Welcome Night/Open House for new families and students every Spring, and then multiple neighborhood and grade-specific playdates are held over the summer so that new and old students and their families can get to know each other. Outside of school hours, there have been several grade-specific events for students and their families. Lastly, the PTA funds seasonal parties and monthly movie nights open to all students and their families.

Last year, our daughter, according to her, started to “hate school.” She was unchallenged, bored, and had lost interest in learning. Switching our daughter to Cascadia has reignited her passion for learning. She’s surrounded by kids who share her same motivation and drive, and together they push each other in a healthy and positive way to reach beyond the learning norm. If a child needs more help or support, Cascadia has had the resources to supply that. This year the class size has been decent at 20 kids per 2nd grade classroom (size can fluctuate depending on enrollment.) Cascadia has made learning fun – my child is not taking endless tests or given required homework (I believe homework assignments start in 3rd grade.) She’s encouraged to read what inspires her. This year the PTA has funded rights to Splash Math and Typing Agent. My daughter then has the option of logging into these programs outside of school, which she does willingly almost every evening!

In a few words, I describe the school and its PTA as organized and logical. The PTA is comprised of parents who come from multiple elementary schools this has led the PTA to streamline how it runs. I’m often impressed in the little things the PTA or school does and then I think, “why didn’t the last school/PTA think of that?” There is no year-round fundraising craziness, just a yearly direct drive that raises the majority of funds. Other funding is raised via a of donations earned from stores like Fred Meyer and Amazon.com, and school spirit-wear orders (placed twice a year online.)

The one downside that affects this school AND ALL OTHER Seattle public schools, is the transportation department! Unfortunately, the busses are run by a privatized company called First Student, and because the company is usually short on drivers and has a high turnover, most bus routes in the morning are unreliable. However, we personally have experienced 100 reliability in the afternoons. The parent morning drop-off system for Cascadia runs smoothly and efficiently though.

Upon parent request, all SPS elementary students may be assigned up to two different existing school bus routes. Our daughter takes the bus home some days and other days she takes another bus to her previous school’s Boys & Girls Club, which allows our daughter to play at her old school and stay in touch with all her old friends.

We are relieved and thankful for the decision we made in switching our daughter to Cascadia. Success in the classroom always depends on the cohort and teacher, however we are confident that while our daughter attends this school, she will receive the education and socialization she needs.