Preschool / Private Elementary School in Seattle, WA

Giddens School:
Giddens School is an private, independent school offering education programs for preschool through to fifth-grade children. We are centrally located on 20th Avenue South in Seattle in King County, WA. At Giddens School, we nourish a diverse community and provide children with an academically rigorous education steeped in social justice. We provide children a strong, academic foundation to prepare them for their 21st century world. Our staff and families nourish a wonderful sense of self and a genuine love of learning in our students.

Giddens School is one of the most ethnically, economically, and socially diverse independent schools in the Northwest. Within this truly diverse community, students learn with and about each other through daily, tangible experiences. Giddens students are given real opportunities to be active agents of their own learning.

An inclusive community is integral to our school and we welcome families who embrace our mission. For the last 36 years, Giddens School has been dedicated to teaching an academically excellent, developmentally appropriate curriculum that stretches critical thinking and encourages social responsibility.

Accreditation:
Giddens School is an accredited member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.

Giddens School provides an academically excellent curriculum enriched with a commitment to critical thinking and social responsibility. Staff and families create a community that nourishes diversity, sense of self, and love of learning. 

Our Vision:
Giddens School, grounded in equity and justice, inspires children to actively engage in bettering their world.

Our School Values:
These include:  Academic Excellence; Individualized Learning; Emergent Curriculum; Anti-bias Approach; Children as Leaders; School Community; Access to Education; Diversity; Engagement in Local Community & Leadership among Schools.

We offer preschool through to 5th-grade education programs:

- Preschool program: 
Our Preschool classes are driven by content which emerges from our school wide theme, the children’s interests, needs, and curiosity

- Pre-Kindergarten program: 
Involves small group reading and writing times, math instruction, music, Spanish, science, library, P.E. and, of course, play time. 

- Primary School program (Grades K - 5): 
Our mission-appropriate curriculum in grades K-5 provides both a nurturing environment and powerful learning opportunities through consistent and creative instruction in reading, writing, math, and integrated studies.

At Giddens, we nurture the individual growth and talents of each student. Our curriculum and teaching approaches are informed by each child’s developmental stage and attend to all grade level standards and expectations. Small class sizes create an intimate educational setting with the individualized attention neccesary to attend to every child. Our school environment nourishes self-confidence and helps children develop the self-expression to support others, take risks and speak up for what they believe.

Our halls are always brimming with energy and our students learn from each other everyday. This child-centered approach links academic content with critical thinking, communication, leadership skills and social responsibility. The result is a body of students, parents and teachers that is aware, inspired and determined to affect positive change throughout their lives.

“Our son had a smooth and successful transition to middle school.  He was academically prepared and took great care and interest in the work. There is certainly more expected of middle school students and he was completely up for the task. Socially, it was a seamless transition, both exciting and easy. He was prepared and confident.”
- Giddens School Parent.

“This school is different.  It’s raising young leaders.  And what amazes me is that this knowledge that they are giving and teaching the students does not end there.  They are teaching these kids what to do with the knowledge.  I tell people that we are lucky to be part of this school.  It truly is special.”
- Giddens School Parent.