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May 28, 2009 at 7:54 am #591031
mom2sorenMemberWould anyone have input on this school? Is enrollment competitive? Did/does your child enjoy it? Input from parents or teachers much appreciated.
May 28, 2009 at 9:19 pm #668102
pamelarm69MemberMy daughter has been there through Kindergarten now. We really love it. The enrollment is very straight forward. No tests or evaluations to get in as other schools do. There was not a wait list, as far as I know, for last year. You should arrange a visit and see if it would be a good fit. The class size is good, with a great, well rounded curriculum.
May 31, 2009 at 3:41 am #668103
SpeakLoudMemberI currently know 6 families there-3 in Kindergarten and 3 in 5th grade-they have been very happy there. I also know the founder-Whitney-through professional resources and she is dynamic. I had heard her daughter was coming to teach at the school in preperation for her retirement but havn’t heard anything about that for over a year.
It is a small intimate school and if it feels right to you I’m sure you will be very happy there.
June 3, 2009 at 4:10 am #668104
Sealth_2012MemberI’m a Tilden and Explorer West alum and I can tell
you that it is a totally worth it school. They make sure none of there students fall through the cracks. Whitney (the principle)is great and I was well prepared for middle school. They push students to learn while making it a really really fun elementary school. They are also getting a park right across the street which has nothing to do with the quality of the school but is going to be great for the kids.
June 7, 2009 at 5:41 pm #668105
wilsonParticipantTilden is fabulous!
Both my daughters attended and we had the best experience. Everyone from the teachers to Monica in the office are all very inclusive and friendly. It’s a very talented pool of educators.
The only negative is it will spoil you :)
June 17, 2009 at 9:36 pm #668106
vermdlMemberMy daughter will be attending in the fall. After a really LONG search, I became impressed with the class size, the individual attention, the fact that the principal and the science teacher spent about an hour and a half answering all of our questions and concerns. The other thing was that I noticed that the kids were happy and confident young people, I was really impressed with the them and figured these kids would be a really positive influence on my daughter. Just my two cents– good luck!
June 24, 2009 at 2:44 am #668107
mom2sorenMembervermdl, was it difficult to get a space? This is definitely the school for my child, but I don’t want to get my hopes up if enrollment is competitive. Some private schools enroll 15% or so of applicants each year — was it the same for this school? I know that names are placed on the wait list in order of interest, but since siblings are selected first, that means that there are probably about 8 openings each year…
Thanks for any feedback.
June 24, 2009 at 2:49 am #668108
mom2sorenMemberpamalarm69 — no wait list last year? I hope it is the same next year! Thanks.
all others — thanks so much for your input. I’m convinced that a small, intimate, and caring school is the best choice for my sensitive kiddo. Your comments have been invaluable.
June 26, 2009 at 12:27 am #668109
vermdlMemberI know there were people who didn’t get in. To be honest I wasn’t aware of a wait list but I did hear that there was one. It did seem that it helped to get your application in early. The best thing to do is to call them and ask all your questions, they really are great.
There are also a lot of variables from year to year, this year it seemed like they were really careful about keeping it half girls half boys, and since a lot of the siblings were boys, more girls were selected to even it out. I guess it just changes from year to year. But apply early and hope for the best! Hope this helps!
June 26, 2009 at 5:42 am #668110
SpeakLoudMemberYou don’t have to apply early you just have to apply by the deadline-applications are all taken in together and then ‘chosen’. Siblings first then the best possible ‘fits’. If they need more girls, if they want younger/older 5/6’s, if they are looking to increase the ethnic diversity (which they all are) if the family is known to the community etc…It’s not a first come first serve processhowever it does start early. You can get open house dates at Parent Maps education fair that is shockingly being held in September 09 for September 2010 enrollment!
June 26, 2009 at 5:43 am #668111
SpeakLoudMemberSorry I should clarify-I am not speaking for Tilden-but the private school enrollment process as a whole as I have expereinced it.
June 26, 2009 at 5:40 pm #668112
JulieMemberThanks for clarifying that you weren’t speaking for Tilden, SpeakLoud. Tilden’s admissions process is explained here:
http://tildenschool.org/index.php?pg=admissions
The best source of information for any school’s policies and procedures is to call or email the school directly. (Bear in mind that during vacation the phones may not be answered immediately, but messages are checked.)
In the case of Tilden, we do have people who put their children on the interest list almost from birth, and the order of the interest list does affect priority for admission, so parents who believe Tilden may be a good fit for their family are well-advised to request placement on the list right away. But late-comers shouldn’t despair; although the interest list for any given year may be quite long, frequently the situation for families who are early on the list may have changed, or they’ve moved and failed to provide the school with updated contact information.
Keep in mind, also, that occasionally spaces may open up even in a filled class over the summer, and families who remain on the interest list generally have priority for those spaces.
But I stress again that the best source of information for any school is to contact the school, and the best way to know if any school is a good fit for your family is to visit.
We very much appreciate all the kind comments on this blog!
(I should clarify that I teach at Tilden. Welcome, vermdl!)
June 27, 2009 at 12:33 am #668113
IrukandjiParticipantYea Julie! We got on the interest list this spring, though my kid is a few years from Kindergarten. Fell in love with the place as I walked down the hall. Thanks for being part of the team making that school a place I WANT my kid to be, a community I want us to be a part of.
June 27, 2009 at 2:46 am #668114
mom2sorenMemberWow Julie, kids put on the list after birth. It sounds impossible for my kiddo to get in. I’ll still try, though. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
June 28, 2009 at 6:24 am #668115
JulieMembermom2soren, my intent was to make it clear that it’s entirely possible for people who aren’t on the list from birth to get in.
Do be sure to visit before you make a school choice (this goes for any school)–schools want you to be sure you’re comfortable with the school atmosphere and policies just as much as you do. Not all families are looking for the same things, and the school one family finds perfect for their child may not suit another family. Children do best when the school and the family support each other’s values and policies.
June 28, 2009 at 9:08 pm #668116
mom2sorenMemberWe definitely will do an interview in November. I’ve done all the internet research possible at this point, including scouring the website, asking for parent opinions, & looking at blogs.
My kiddo has attended a very good private school for preschool, and though we expected him to stay there through 5th grade, we realized it wouldn’t make him happy. It was great in my opinion, but he needs something more small and intimate. Since meeting his emotional needs and learning style are our priority, through trial and error we have become very sure of what we’re looking for this time (& exactly what he needs). By all accounts, Tilden seems like the perfect fit for our child. I’m expecting the interview to be confirmation of this, but am open to any possibility. I won’t push an unreasonable agenda on my child, for his happiness is my primary concern.
Of course any one school doesn’t fit all children. It’s great that there are so many different types of schools in Seattle. It’s just unfortunate that there are limited spaces at every school, but of course that’s just life.
Thanks, Julie!
June 29, 2009 at 4:24 pm #668117
JulieMemberYou’re welcome! I would like to add that I can’t speak for other schools, but Tilden does not have an “interview”. Rather, we have a self-guided tour of the school, and a Q&A session with the principal.
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