Madison Elementary School

Posted: January 22, 2026

Madison Elementary is a cornerstone of this community. We have been here K-4th now and have been so pleased with our neighborhood school. The teachers really meet students where they are and strive to engage them in learning through their interests. Lots of family centered events - Science Fair, Holiday Store, Movie nights, ect. It has been an open and welcoming experience, that we look forward to continuing with our other children.

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Posted: March 5, 2023

We are lucky to be able to attend a school small enough that it feels like a community, many families walk to school and stay after to chat on the playground after school. My kids know all staff and have interacted with every student. The teachers are all veterans and understand the needs of this small neighborhood school. Olympia has lottery schools but it’s just a guise for those who think their kids are special and unique and it has us all convinced the grass is greener on the other side- it’s not because by first grade they leave those programs and come to Madison, their neighborhood school and use up all of the schools small groups and intervention to get them to grade level. Through our 8 years we have had 13 teachers (10 still there!) and only two that were not amazing but still adequate. The school is not perfect but it’s a family and still small enough that when you have a problem it’s easy to get to the bottom of it.

Posted: March 5, 2023

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Posted: April 1, 2021

With this year I have only dealt with distance learning for my kindergartener, and the school was been wonderful dealing with the new challenges. His teacher was caring and understands the challenges of at home learning. During Christmas they had help available for low income families to get gifts and food over the holidays. I cannot wait for my son to attend full time in person next September.

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Posted: January 26, 2019

Most of the teachers are good. Two left last year and were replaced with new teachers. My child's math and reading improves every year.

Posted: January 26, 2019

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Posted: January 26, 2019

The school provides extra math and reading classes.

Posted: January 26, 2019

My child has not been bullied but he can name three "bad boys" who get into alot of trouble.

Posted: January 26, 2019

My experiences at Madison have been positive. *Some* parents may not like the way discipline is handled at this school, but is is handled and handled well. I have no complaints about this school and would recommend it to anyone.

Posted: January 26, 2019

My son has a weekly homework packet. The amount of homework is not too much.

Posted: December 22, 2018

Posted: December 22, 2018

Absolutely not. Nothing is ever done to deal with bullying. The most they'll do is write a report and label it a "behavioral issue" and give the kid a pass. If your kid is getting bullied here they're on their own.

Posted: December 22, 2018

I have to throw up a red flag here. So many of the positive reviews on here seem like they're fake. I've spoken with a large number of the parents at this school and most (if not all) had some sort of complaint which was being ignored by the staff and/or the district.

Posted: December 22, 2018

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Posted: December 22, 2018

If you consider your child learning what physical and emotional abuse is like then yes it helps build *that* sort of character. My child had never been hit or assaulted in her life until she went to this school.

Posted: December 22, 2018

There is no discipline at this school. Kids can get away with anything (and do). The most the staff will really do is write a report about it, but most of the time they just try to brush problem kids under the carpet and let them get away with it.

Posted: June 16, 2018

Absolutely. Lion cubs are always respectful, responsible and and really safe...

Posted: June 16, 2018

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Posted: June 16, 2018

Mr. Dsk handles every situation with ease. He is wonderful in solving any issues.

Posted: June 16, 2018

The teachers adjust to every child's needs.

Posted: June 16, 2018

Posted: June 16, 2018

My son has been here since kindergarten and is finishing 5th grade in a few days. My daughter is in 2nd grade. All the teachers we've had so far, were all amazing. Both of my kids have the best time at school. I love the diversity. The principal and staff is outstanding.
I wouldn't want my kids in any other school.

Posted: March 31, 2017

Madison is a wonderful neighborhood school. It is a special school because of its small size. The Eastside community really supports the school. Many teacher, paraeducators, and the principal live in the school boundaries.

Posted: March 25, 2017

DSK is awesome!! Mrs. Wesselman knows everything and can handle all the school business with aplomb. The paras are top notch and keep the kids safe. The Reading Corp group is reteaching behavior expectations to improve lunch and recess behavior currently and their efforts are appreciated! Our PTO rocks.

Posted: March 25, 2017

Whenever kids are acting poorly, they are talked to and the Madison Mantra of responsible, respectful and really really safe are reviewed and kids are made to feel like they are accepted and cared about.

Posted: March 25, 2017

Both of our kids have been coming into their own personalities and have their strengths celebrated and their weaknesses supported.

Posted: March 25, 2017

Our son had a rough start to kindergarten and was being aggressive and things happened to him as well. The team at Madison worked with all the kids and they all meet the behavior expectations now and no one had to be expelled. They really care about all the students and their success.

Posted: March 25, 2017

I've seen all kinds of accommodations in different classrooms and kids are encouraged to figure out what will work for them to join the group in whatever is needing to happen.

Posted: March 25, 2017

Some years it seems the kids had a lot of homework.

Posted: March 25, 2017

Mr. DSK is an outstanding principal who cares deeply for Madison. Our two kids' teachers have all been great and their preschool program is wonderful. Our PTO is having a fun year providing all sorts of exciting events for the families. I would recommend you come down to Madison, check it out, talk with the principal, and get a tour. We have weekly parent get togethers at the library Monday mornings 9-9:50 AM - free coffee and pastries. Come meet your neighborhood school community!

Posted: March 23, 2017

After researching all options there was no obvious reason not to choose our neighborhood school, it is diverse in economics, religion, political views and ethnicity- we wanted our children to know how to interact with all people not just those that are exactly like us. The principal Mr. DSK is changing lives on a daily basis along with the secretary Ms. Anita and every teacher we have had so far. The bonus is you can be as involved as you choose they are greatfull for what you offer but if you choose not be involved (like most of our childhood experiences) no one expects more and your children are truly treated equal. I am daily greatful for the education and life experience we receive from our school they teach the entire child and when you walk in you realize there is something different about it.

* The preschool is great option, after having one child do Madison and one not- Madison preschool did much more to give them a better kinder start.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Madison feels like a family I can not think of a conflict any of my children have had in our three years at Madison.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Bullying is not tolerated. Kid are friends across class levels. it is awesome to see.

Posted: March 23, 2017

We have had three kids with IEPs from preschool to grade two. Only one year did it take a little extra nudge to get the full support of the teacher. In general the support services have helped our kids grow exponentially.

Posted: March 23, 2017

The most passionate principal in the district.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Our three kids parrot, yet understand the schools mantra, Madison students are always kind and respectful and really really safe.

Posted: March 23, 2017

They have their strengths and weaknesses but in our experience so far all have the kids best interests at heart.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Some of the teachers realize that homework should be optional. It is more important to focus on general things like your family unit, building community. However one thing that is drilled is reading. It is the key to so much, so they encourage to read all the time!

Posted: March 23, 2017

How lucky are my kids to live in the neighborhood of this small vibrant school? The hub of our community, the school houses the best preschool in the district. In general it is more diverse, with the full spectrum of race, religion and financial means.

The staff are passionate, caring and dedicated.

The parents are active, present and friendly. Our PTO is very active, creating events that spill over from the school day and help create wider community.

Is it perfect? No. Every school needs more resources. However with what we have we create some well rounded young children that I am proud to have as neighbors.

Posted: March 21, 2017

The teachers and staff care about every child in this school.

Posted: March 21, 2017

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Posted: March 21, 2017

Any concerns are taken seriously by teachers and the principal.

Posted: March 21, 2017

Anita the secretary. Mr. DSK the Principal. The teachers. The PTO. ALL are amazing!

Posted: March 21, 2017

My daughter has been blessed with two amazing teachers at Madison!

Posted: March 21, 2017

It's very important to me that the teachers and staff treat the children as individuals. That each child is special and feels special. My child loves her teachers. My child loves the staff. She knows them and they know her.
It is also important to me that I'm at a school where there is a sense of community. The parents care so much. The PTO is amazing and they strive to make memories that will last and experiences that will brighten each child's lives.
Anita is the school secretary and she's the GLUE! I can't imagine our school without her!
The Principal. I could never ask for anything more! When you imagine the perfect principal who cares, who loves, who wants nothing but the best for his students... it's Mr. DSK. He makes eye contact with you. He smiles at you. He smiles at the children. His voice always carries a note of kindness and positivity.
I'm thankful that my child goes here and that my second will go here as well.

Posted: March 21, 2017

Madison is the best school in the region. Our daughter has grown in the four years that she's attended the school. The Pre School program has a great National Board Certified Teacher that runs an excellent program. The Principal, Mr. DSK, is an authentic leader that is here for all students. I highly recommend this school to any parents living in the service area.

Posted: October 10, 2016

First, the principal Mr. DSk is very kind and attentive to what you say. As a mother who has a child with severe food allergies, I always speak my mind to keep my kid safe at school and Mr. DSK goes up and beyond to make sure my kid and all kids are safe while at school.
Secondly, all the staffs there are very helpful and kind with everything that you need. From the teachers, the secretary, the lunch monitor lady, etc. You feel welcome and it's really like your family every time I visit my son at lunch time. I am very grateful that both my kids got to experience such positive environment in this school.

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Posted: November 2, 2015

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Posted: November 2, 2015

Madison is a great school housed in a beautiful building. The principal Mr. DSK plays his guitar at assemblies and the children sing along. Anita the secretary knows every childs name. There's a garden out back where the kids get to explore nature. There are lots of fantastic family friendly events like the Trick or Treat Carnival and Movie Night. Madison continues to grow and get better every year.

Posted: January 2, 2015

I am not a Madison parent but I do substitute at Madison regularly. Madison is my favorite school to substitute. The staff is friendly, the children well behaved and respectful, and the teachers leave great lesson plans! (This shows me that Madison teachers plan their lessons ahead of time, and they plan them well too!) The Madison principal (Mr. Spatola-Knoll) is the only administrator who has ever visited me before students arrive to introduce himself and ask if I need anything. (He even offered to bring me a cup of coffee from the staff room!) He seems to visit the classrooms several times throughout the day and interacts positively with the children. Classrooms are tidy and colorful. Unlike some other schools where teachers are allowed to wear t-shits, shorts, and old sneakers, the staff at Madison dresses nicely. The atmosphere at Madison is relaxed, positive, and professional. Madison is great place for kids (and substitute teachers). A+

Posted: December 13, 2014

Madison is one of two Olympia schools with a part time principal, the other is Boston Harbor The school district says student numbers at Madison and Boston Harbor are too low for a full time principal. Is that so? In that case how does the school board justify a full time principal at the alternative HS which only has 120 students? As of today, Madison has 280 students and Boston Harbor 170. At least three other elementary schools have student numbers only a little higher than Madison. Why is the district so adamant on saving a few dollars at the expense of these two schools while at the same time they are over staffing the alternative programs (Avanti, ORLA, Lincoln, and Leyland Brown) with full time administrators and free transportation? With the passing of Initiative 1351 the district will need to step up to its responsibilities and gives Madison and Boston Harbor full time principals.

Posted: September 22, 2014

My school has teachers and staff that always show great empathy and compassion for the children. As a parent I am able to be involved in all aspects of my child's education and the principal has an open door policy which makes him widely available to staff and parents.

Posted: September 15, 2014

My family moved to Olympia from Oregon and moved in with my parents who live a block away from Madison. The school has many benefits for families including before and after school care, great enrichment programs, and a great staff. The children are well behaved. My daughter has had two good teachers at Madison and we have no doubt her new teacher will be just as good. The Food Cart and Gardens are a great resource for the school. My daughter can t wait for the Food Cart and the monthly cooking lessons. Last year she really enjoyed the radish milk shake! The principal is very nice and is liked by the parents and children. On days he is not at school the children miss him. (My daughter came home in tears one day because, Mr. DSK wasn t at school today! ) He has made a positive impact on the school since his arrival last year. The new teachers he has hired are excellent. Madison is lucky to have this new principal.

Posted: September 9, 2014

My son has been at Madison since preschool. He is now in 5th grade. Madison has been amazing for him as a student and for me as a parent. I have seen the school improve in many ways. His teachers have been top notch. The sense of community at Madison is like nothing I have ever experienced anywhere. The teachers, parents and even the neighbors are all incredibly focused on making Madison one of the best elementary schools in Olympia. I have found the new principal and counselor supportive and responsive to student and parent needs. Teachers have responded to my phone calls and emails quickly. There is a good balance between enrichment like the garden or art, and the academics. Thanks to the new principal Stop and Think and the A Team have been replaced with PBS. My son likes the new PBS program and says that his friends like it too. I have been very pleased with Madison and so has my son. We will leave with many good memories and friends.

Posted: September 5, 2014

Madison is AMAZING. All three of our children have attended Madison. The past two years with the new principal have been the best. The teachers are wonderful. The principal really is approachable and a good listener. My children s teachers send regular updates of their work and will meet with me if I have questions. The school atmosphere is positive and friendly. My children are very happy at Madison and enjoy learning. The school offers after school programs like chess club and art. Children are stewards of the Vegetable Garden and grow food and donate it to the food bank. Class sizes are relatively small, but now that Madison is the school of choice with many parents, the school is getting a little bigger. The children know each other and the teachers know all the children by name. Madison does a good job with academics too. Last year my son s 5th grade class had the second highest MSP Reading result in the district. My daughter s 4th grade had the highest result for MSP Writing. Madison scored higher than many of the elite schools in the school district! I agree with other parents who say Madison should have a full time principal.

Posted: August 28, 2014

Madison school is beyond words. The teachers interact positively with students and parents. School programs support student learning. Our son loves it there. In his previous school he learned how to knit and weed flower beds, but all this fun was at the expense of academic learning. At Madison he has really started to enjoy learning. He now loves to read and write stories and is exceling at math. The principal is very involved. You usually see him walking around the school interacting with parents and students. My son really likes the principal. The principal seems to know the children well. He will phone parents if he sees their child not being themselves. As parents we have appreciated his caring for the children. Our experience with each of our son's teachers has been very positive. All teachers we have known are kind, caring, and have communicated well with us. There are opportunities for parent volunteering. The PTO is not aggressive in its fund raising or recruitment. Teacher helpers are not mean. Some of them stay after school to teach art classes. Except for the principal being only half time, Madison is pretty much as perfect as you can get with a public school in Olympia.

Posted: August 25, 2014

Madison is everything a great school should be. It is small, has a garden, staff is friendly, and students are kind to each other. The teachers and principal know all the students by name. We have had no problems at Madison. Our son is happy and has many friends. We are impressed with the teachers and programs. Some of our friends have tried to get their children into Madison, but there can be a waiting list. This is our neighborhood school and our son will have a space at Madison through 5th grade. The new principal is from England. His name is Mr. Spatola-Knoll. He also goes by Mr. DSK. He is kind to the children and has made the school friendly and welcoming for families. As others have already said, the school district has given him two jobs. He is only at Madison only half time. Madison has had a high turnover of teachers and principals because of this. Parents are concerned Mr. DSK will leave Madison for a full time job at a different school. This would be a big loss for Madison and for the neighborhood. Some parents will be asking the school board and superintendent to give Madison a full time principal. If you are Madison parent you too should ask!

Posted: August 19, 2014

Pros * After school enrichment classes. (Art, Choir, Drama, etc.) * Computers and iPads in all classrooms * Cute building * Emphasis on safety. (ID s checked, single door entry into school, adult crossing guard, etc.) * Good communication from school (Email, newsletters, etc.) * Monthly assemblies * Organic Food Cart with Chef! * Organics/Recycling program * Parent volunteering * Positive atmosphere in the building * Principal is visible and interacts positively with students * School gardens for students (Vegetable and Native Plants) * Small school * Strong sense of community * Student discipline handled respectfully * Teachers & Aides are kind * Teachers and principal know all the children by name * All the advantages of an alternative school except volunteering is optional, and your child WILL learn how to read Cons * Parking is limited (Arrive early for school events!) * Can t enter the school from Legion Way. It s a long walk if you have to park in the street. * No Passport program * Principal is only part time * Some district programs are placed at Madison at the expense of classroom space

Posted: August 11, 2014

Based on the recommendation of friends who live in Olympia we rented a home near Madison. Before moving we left the principal a VM. He responded the next day. He made us feel comfortable with our choice and encouraged us to contact him again if we had more questions. We have been at Madison a year and still find him approachable and helpful. We agree with other parents who feel Madison should have a full time principal. There is a growing concern that this principal will soon leave Madison to get a full time position at another school. This would a great loss to the Madison community. Teachers, aides, and office staff are kind and friendly. Our daughter improved in reading and math with the help of her fourth grade teacher, Ms. Starr. The school has a novel way of encouraging children to use cursive. Those who complete a Cursive Packet are given a free ink pen by the principal who also teaches them how to fill and use the ink pen! Our daughter received her ink pen in January and has been using her ink pen every day. We have been very pleased with Madison. We are glad we moved into the neighborhood and made Madison the school of choice for our children.

Posted: June 13, 2014

Madison is a very good school. Many families rank it way above any other school in the district, especially those alternative learn how to feed chickens schools. My son is very happy at Madison. He can read, is above grade level in math, and has lots of friends. The teachers and principal are outstanding. There are many fun programs for kids at Madison such as the Garden, Drama, Chess, Choir, Comic Club, Robotics, and Art. There are monthly assemblies with stories and songs. The principal handles student discipline respectfully. Students feel comfortable approaching him with their problems or concerns. Parents find the principal positive and approachable. We know cares about the school and the children. I agree with the previous poster. Madison should have a full time principal. Don t be put off by the overall Great Schools rating. It uses only state test scores and does not include parent ratings. Madison is a small school, so just one student absent on test day and another opting out of state tests will bring down the school's overall scores by up to 10%! (In each case the student gets a zero , and so does the school.) Enroll your child at Madison today. You won t regret it!

Posted: June 12, 2014

Madison is a fabulous school. The principal Mr. DSK makes learning fun. The teachers interact with parents, the school has a great playground and garden. There are many parent volunteers and a active PTO. Anyone who tells you am Madison isn't a high performing school hasn't been there recently. Believe me I am one of those picky parents, was planning on putting my son in private school until I went to the Madison open house. It'd like a private school, very small 200 or less kids for pre-k thru 5th and the office staff literally knows every child's name! Free all day kindergarten very every in district child. Fun reading, music and art programs too. Don't listen to those who tell you to enroll at Lincoln or ORLA. Check Madison out for yourself. You want want to enroll anyplace else!

Posted: June 11, 2014

Madison is an EXCELLENT school! Our children had attended another (more affluent) school in the district. Because of lack of space we were told to return to Madison. At first we were very upset, but we soon got over it. Our children were quickly embraced by Madison staff and students. We felt welcome and at home right away. Our youngest son started at Madison a non-reader, but is now reading ABOVE grade level. He also loves to read just for fun! The end of year assembly was wonderful. The children were well behaved, respectful, and sang beautifully while the school principal, Mr. Spatola-Knoll, played guitar. The principal and teachers also recognized the children for their accomplishments and families for their support over the year. (He was SO funny!) The children LOVE the principal, and you can see he enjoys his work. But the district has him working only half time! It would be AMAZING to have him there full time. (I have asked the district to get Mr. Spatola-Knoll at Madison full time, but haven t heard back.) Forget anything negative you might have heard about Madison and get your child enrolled right away! (And tell the district you want Mr. DSK to be a full time principal!)

Posted: June 11, 2014

After trying the ORLA programs for kindergarten and seriously considering Lincoln Options, we decided from a sense of obligation and commitment to public neighborhood schools to enroll our boys at Madison. Our experience there has been so much better than we hoped and we are all very happy with the choice. Mr. DSK (the principal) is a committed educator and a jolly presence for the children, the staff is a mixture of older experienced teachers and younger enthusiastic new teachers. There is a very dedicated group of parent volunteers and the PTO is active. The student body is ethnically, racially and socially diverse (a rarity in the olympia school district) and my boys love being a part of it. I only see this school improving in the future and our family is very excited to be a part of that going forward!

Posted: June 8, 2014

This school is AMAZING! The staff are a pleasure to work with and care a great deal about each and every child. This was my first year working at the school and I it was impressive to see how all of the staff (principal, admin, custodial, teachers ... I mean everyone) pull together to meet the needs of each child. This school rocks!

Posted: June 8, 2014

When we were looking for a school for our son we were told by friends to get him into one of the district s alternative programs or to home-school. Whatever you do, they said, don t put your boy in that school. But Madison was so conveniently located to where we were living. It was also our neighborhood school. We felt guilty abandoning our neighborhood. It just didn t seem right, so my husband and I decided to meet the principal and make up our own minds about Madison. The new principal (Mr. DSK) met with us right away. He was very patient answering our questions. He also gave us a tour of the school. The children and staff we saw were friendly and happy. We had also been told that Madison was messy, but the building and hallways looked clean and tidy. We decided to enroll our son and haven t looked back. He has lots of friends, enjoys going to school, and his reading is improving. He enjoys recess and the garden, and says a chef comes into the classroom to cook meals for the class! We will have a kindergartner next year and we will place him in Mrs. R s full day kindergarten class.

Posted: January 27, 2014

We have had a good experience at Madison -- two benchmarks I use: a) does my student look forward to school and b) does my student continue to enjoy learning? The answer has consistently been yes for over three years now. That speaks volumes to me.

Posted: January 26, 2014

All schools in Olympia School District are high performing. This school stands out as a great neighborhood school with dedicated teachers and new principal leadership (as of fall 2013). Teachers are interested in student progress and parental input and involvement is welcome. The school has an outstanding garden program that is linked to classroom learning. Madison is a great reflection of the community we live in and I am proud to send my child here. My daughter learns so much about her world from all the perspectives that her classmates share with her. Parental involvement is growing as more families invest in their neighborhood school.

Posted: January 26, 2014

Madison's staff, involved parents, and community have made this a great place to receive a well rounded education. There's the readings groups, musical, garden and dedicated classroom teachers that enhance the learning experience. My two kids love it here, and I love it as a parent. Even the office staff knows each child's name. It truly is a great community school.

Posted: May 5, 2013

Madison has improved every year my son has attended - it keeps growing with better programs for students and families, more funding and parent support like the performing arts programs, art club, writing club, garden club, YCare before and afterschool (my son loves it there), small reading groups tailored to each child's need/level and plenty of educational activities around the garden/ environment. Schools are what you put into them...and the more parent support the stronger Madison gets.

Posted: April 27, 2013

I'm very surprised anyone would say this school is terrible. My daughter is now in high school but she spent her entire Preschool through 5th grade at Madison and she loved it. The students don't care for the Principal being she appears to talk down to them, but she talks to everyone like they are 6-years old. A new Principal starts in September and he is great. Expect this school to out perform others!

Posted: October 4, 2011

This school is terrible!! we moved and had to transfer from SouthBay Elementary. At SouthBay, the teachers respected each child and family free from judgement. Madison fails at making students and families welcome and unique. The principal is a joke! I don't know why she is there, if you have a problem she takes the teachers side no matter what. They are so concerned about looking like a good school that they have put the children and families aside. I have gone to the superintendents office twice now with nothing done. I wish I had another option because my kids would be gone!!

Posted: April 3, 2011

Madison is a very unique school. It's very small, with only about 180 students in 8 K-5 classrooms. In addition to tenured and dedicated teaching staff, they also have a reading specialist, a special ed teacher and many paraeducators, who are all wonderful with the kids. Madison is proud of it's great Madison-Avanti Giving Garden, constructed in the Winter of 2010. It has blossomed into a wonderful partnership with Avanti High School, where high school students mentor the kids. The Thurston County Foodbank helps run the program as well, and supports a monthly Farmstand where kids can "purchase" green produce. The school also has a Cooking Cart program, which allows the kids to learn nutrition and food prep first hand. Right now there is a huge fundraising project underway at Madison to replace some of the aged playground equipment. The goal is 35K, and there is about 70% of the funds secured, which shows how strongly the Olympia community supports the school. Kids also participate in a fitness program titled Track Stars. Madison does an excellent job at ensuring that children do math and reading at the appropriate level, but it also doesn't loose sight of the whole child