Montlake Elementary School

Posted: January 24, 2025

Montlake Elementary is truly a gem in the community. From the moment you walk through the doors, it´s clear that this school prioritizes not only academic excellence but also the well-being and happiness of its students. The teachers and staff are incredibly dedicated, creating a warm and supportive environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to thrive.

The staff are more than just educators, they´re mentors and role models who take the time to understand each child´s unique strenghts and challenges. One of the standout features of Montlake is its outstanding art program. The school places a strong emphasis on creativity, and students have ample opportunities to explore various art forms, from painting and sculpture to music and writing. In addition, the students are offered a variety of sports and physical activities throughout the school year, encouraging them to stay active, develop teamwork skills and build healthy habits.

What really sets Monlake apart, though, is the sense of community. Families are actively involved in school events, fundraisers, and classroom activities, which creates a strong bond between the school and the neighborhood.

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: January 24, 2025

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Over the school years, we've really come to think of the Montlake Elementary family as a second home. Our neighbors attend the school and teach at the school. There is a really strong emphasis on community, social emotional learning, and art, along with stellar teaching in core subjects as well. The administration is caring and responsive. We love attending our neighborhood school!

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Administration is communicative, thoughtful, and listens. Teachers are dedicated, well trained and supported by the school community. An engaged and supportive surrounding community helps to further the school’s impact and quality of education.

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: September 5, 2023

Posted: August 9, 2021

The school tends to produce happy, well-adjusted kids, but academics are certainly a second priority here. We've personally liked each of our child's teachers, but feel that the teaching level has consistently been about a year below our expectation (I went to a rural school in Washington--my expectations really aren't that high). Reading curriculum, particularly, seems to be the weakest link. The spelling approach tends to be "spell as you like... write more and it will come". I'm not convinced this is productive at our child's age--seems more likely to build lasting bad habits.
Given the affluence of the neighborhood, you would certainly expect much more, academically. Parents are highly involved, but I see very few of them agitating for more educational rigor. There's almost no homework to speak of, and the few worksheets that come home are either simplistic, or confusing, with obvious errors.
In many ways, the online learning the children experienced during the pandemic was superior, because they could move past the grade level expectation and work at more challenging levels.
That said, the teachers are nice, and most of the kids appear to get along well, i.e. they build a good community.

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: August 9, 2021

Posted: May 8, 2019

Principal and teachers do not tolerate bullying and try many different avenues to put an end to bullying, while also showing the bully compassion and intolerance toward being a bully.

Posted: May 8, 2019

Homework is given every Monday to help with current subjects.

Posted: May 8, 2019

Each teacher seems to give 100 percent to each child. Regardless of race,gender or economic status of parents.

Posted: May 8, 2019

Staff try to incorporate what is means to show and receive compassion.

Posted: May 8, 2019

Posted: May 8, 2019

Posted: May 8, 2019

10 we have had a wonderful experience at Montlake. I wish our child could have stayed here. But, we moved due to our area we were living in. Teachers, Principal and staff make every effort to help guide each child toward a strong education foundation. As well as making them accountable when issues come up that they have been responsible for. Our child is a minority and never experienced racism. She just felt like a kid at school and nothing more.

Posted: May 22, 2016

This is a wonderful school made up of a tight-knit community of very involved families. The PTA pays for additional teachers/programs. Our daughter especially loves the art teacher and greenhouse classes. Homework is a fair amount with "optional" pieces for students who want to do more. Teachers ask for parent feedback and listen/adjust accordingly. We could not be happier and love this school.

Posted: May 22, 2016

Posted: May 22, 2016

Posted: May 22, 2016

Posted: May 14, 2016

They don't review it and it's only given once per week! I'm not sure my daughter is really understanding what is going on.

Posted: May 14, 2016

Posted: May 14, 2016

I think this schools rating is inflated because it's in an affluent community, parents have money to spend on good pre-school and after school study.

Facilities are terrible. Homework is a joke and I don't believe it's ever reviewed. I keep finding unfinished homework in my daughters backpack and her teacher never requests it. This isn't just one teacher, has been happening across many grades.

Posted: January 4, 2016

My son has blossomed in this school. The teachers are absolutely wonderful. Particularly Ms. Lee. The school has great energy and a very special feel to it.
Frederica Jansz.

Posted: November 16, 2010

Outstanding school. As good if not better than just about all the elementary schools in Seattle including the private schools. Rigorous academics. Outstanding reading, writing and math programs. Before and after school foreign languages, Math challenge, chess club, music. A very high proportion of children testing well enough to join APP programs remain at Mtlke, because level of instruction is equal. The children are well prepared for middle school. It's also a true neighborhood school well supported throughout a very highly educated community. A gem.