Hay Elementary School

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Our family has had a wonderful experience with this school. One of the things we appreciate most is the diversity of the student body—children from many different backgrounds learn, play, and grow together, creating an inclusive and supportive environment. The teachers and the principal are truly dedicated; you can feel their commitment in the way they communicate, support each student, and work to build a positive school culture.

The school is also located in the friendly and safe Queen Anne community, which adds to the overall sense of comfort and trust. We feel confident sending our child here every day, knowing they are surrounded by caring staff and a welcoming neighborhood. Highly recommend this school to any family looking for a strong, well-rounded educational environment.

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 25, 2025

I am a grandparent of 2 students at JH. I go there daily with the youngsters & their mum. I also see the progress & results for both children.

I consider the principal & his staff are very dedicated to the students & this reflect in very sound results for our 2 attendees & others I'm aware of.

The school is very inclusive & caters actively to the needs of a broad & varied group of students as I see it.

The atmosphere at the school is friendly & very supportive of students & parents alike.

Posted: May 25, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Wonderful school with great teachers and great community. Both my kids love going to school and have made lifelong friends. They have a great after school enrichment program and music and art programs every week.

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2025

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Posted: October 28, 2024

Wonderful school with an amazing community! Teachers and staff are excellent and very caring. They really want to see your kids thrive. The PTA is outstanding! They put on so many fun events (Jaguar Jog, Rock, Paper Scissors tournament, Monster Mash, etc). The SPED is the best and works with your child's individual needs. We really love this school!!

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

A wonderful community! Excellent faculty with really long teacher tenure. Amazing playground (2 big play structures, grass, turf, shady trees, mosaic art, view of the Space Needle). Fun school events for the kids and families.

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: January 23, 2024

Posted: October 2, 2019

My kids get a little bit each day, Monday-Thursday. They spend no more than 20 minutes on written homework and do another 20 minutes of reading. It feels very balanced.

Posted: October 2, 2019

So far we've done K-2 and have been happy with all the teachers we've interacted with. Some are stricter, some are super sweet and kind; they're all excellent educators that teach the students at their level, have the kids practice respect and kind behavior toward each other, and move the kids through a staggering amount of curriculum. I am amazed at how much they learn in 10 months.

Posted: October 2, 2019

The Jaguar spots the kids can earn has become a big deal at home. My kids are acutely aware of being patient, kind and keeping their "growth mindset." It's helped a lot at home and I know it'll be a positive influence on their character.

Posted: October 2, 2019

It can be hard working with the rules and limited funding of the Seattle School Board, but I think the staff does a good job of navigating it and keeping the teachers happy.

Posted: October 2, 2019

We've heard a lot about the supports that are in place for students who fall behind in a subject. I was quite happy when my daughter got ahead and was given the next level material to keep her engaged and challenged. The school does s good job supporting students on both sides of the spectrum.

Posted: October 2, 2019

Posted: October 2, 2019

Our family is extremely happy with the education at John Hay. We have two kids here and have done grades K-2 so far. There are down sides like you'll have at every school, but the good far exceeds it. The teachers are very capable and do an amazing job teaching all their students the myriad of subjects they go through. There's a good amount of focus on STEM and art, which keeps my kids loving the fun side of school. The parents are active and volunteer a lot of time to support staff and tutor students. It's a really strong community.

Posted: December 9, 2016

this school is okay. the teachers like to teach with humor, at least some, and it's a fun way of learning, some other teachers are strict and yell alot. have witnessed some bullying...

Posted: October 12, 2015

I think that teachers at Hay recognize that many students who attend participate in extra-curricular activities (particularly sports) and also appreciate the necessity for "down time" and "family time" at the end of the day. I think there is ample consideration given to the amount of homework given to accommodate those things without giving homework for the sake of giving something to do but to accentuate lessons given without going overboard.

Posted: October 12, 2015

The upheaval with long-time principal and mainstay Kari Hansen leaving has left the community in a bit of a flux. The staff is great but looks to a strong leader, as does the parent population.

Like many north end schools heavy demand on fund raising to make up for what the District and State doesn't fund or pay for. Volunteer demands are high but always appreciated.

Love the fact that kids have access to Multi-Arts and Technology. Love Festival of the Arts and that the hallways are full of classwork and artwork throughout the year.

Posted: February 8, 2015

Good school as long as your kid is left-brained. Right-brained kids (which make about 25% of the population) learn differently; for instance they are visual, and phonics don't work well for them. They need to be taught with different methods. John Hay couldn't care less about that segment of the population, so those kids tend to space out, or be disruptive, and the school is content with antagonizing them, and trying to either lead them out of the school, or have them under Ritalin. Realize that the school gets good ratings because of academics. But is that really what you want for your kid? As that age, the most important things to develop are respect, love for others, and self-confidence. Right-brained kids at John Hay will NOT develop self-confidence as they are constantly told they are failing.

Posted: January 12, 2015

This school is overcrowded and I'm disappointed with the education my boys are getting. Hopefully, the alcohol rehab center isn't going to set up shop on school grounds.

Posted: August 8, 2014

Fantastic education, with active students and parents which helps make for a involved and well funded school. No wonder this school rates a 10 year over year ...

Posted: July 17, 2013

John Hay is an excellent school with superb teachers and staff. I attended Hay for four years and was welcomed in second grade with open arms. Every teacher I had was amazing and pushed every student in the class to try their hardest. With a principal who prevents bullying, makes sure students are safe, and encourages hardwork it's easy to feel like a part of the community within days. This is an outstanding school and I'm glad it was part of my life. I will never forget this school.

Posted: March 4, 2013

Superb school. When we came to John Hay we were moving from a private school experience which we thought would be very difficult to top - John Hay did it in spades. The teachers are excellent with over half of them holding masters degrees. The front office is second to none - Angie and Wendy know every childs name in that school and are always kind and helpful. Mr. Sturm the gym teacher is the friendliest man around and Ms. Hanson is a strong and fun-loving principal. Teachers work hard to challenge children at all levels and the education my children have received has been excellent. There is an amazing group of parents who are always volunteering and it makes for a wonderful community. You'd be hard pressed to find a better school anywhere.

Posted: August 8, 2011

We had hoped it was going to be as good as the ratings but we had a very poor experience last year and pulled our son out as a result. We moved over to Seattle mid year and got a third grade teacher for our son that the the teacher who was rigid, outdated, and a very poor communicator. From the first week when my son was trying to transition to a new school he was kept in from recess almost daily. I tried to work with her, explaining he had focus issues and had never been in trouble before she didn't answer emails. The principle was sympathetic but she said she had known the teacher wasn't a good fit but the school was full to the top and there wasn't any where to move him. We felt we had no where to turn or much support. Since we left we have been approached by several parents that she has been a big problem for many years but no action was taken. I would not recommend John Hay.