Genesee Hill Elementary School

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

Posted: October 15, 2025

If you want your kids to come out believing that they are victims and to learn less STEM I highly recommend the Seattle School District.

This isn't so much a negative review of Genessee Hill (which was average vs the district) as a review of the district, and really the state curriculum which the district has embraced.

If you believe in a world of oppressors and oppressed send your kids. If you believe that your children are smart, capable, and have agency, go elsewhere! Children are encouraged to talk about and explore every traumatic or potentially traumatic event in their lives ad nauseum. If they are not traumatized after a year or two they should be apparently..

There is no highly capable program because it's not fair to the smart kids to accelerate their learning. You have to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator. Both our children tested into highcap and their scores at the end of the year went down, not up and not stable because who cares.

The school recommended reading list includes a children's book about two gay turtles, and the premise of the book is that you should not care that they are gay. If we should not care, then why does the book exist? Why is there a very prominent Pride Day and events focused on gay pride, but no straight day? It's 2025. I'm tired of the special categories where being weird is celebrated and being normal is degraded by the school system.

The after and before school programs are eggregiously expensive and school hours in general are not build around an average working parent's schedule. Early releases occur on Wednesday for example. I'm guessing the teacher's union pushed for that. It means you have to scramble to figure out something in the very middle of your work week.

We moved to an outlying suburb and the school district is wooooorld's better. The entire school district seems to understand their own boundaries with parents in a way that the Seattle School District does not. The highly capable program is robust, with separat classes and teachers who care. An agency mentality is encouraged. Despite having fewer resources than Seattle, our new school district does a fantastic job in helping to raise our children to be smart and mentally tough!

Look outside of the Seattle School District if you care about your children.

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

Posted: July 7, 2025

This school is not what it appears to be.

When I volunteered in class, the most popular kids in class appeared to be so sweet and kindly approached me with adult like maturity. I mentioned that later to my kid, I was then told that these popular kids do this: appearing to be so impressive with people who they can benefit from so they can then turnaround and bully other kids - and that includes my own.

The principal and the staff are enabling behaviors as such and making the school a “perfect little bullies” breeding ground- so ironic that I have witnessed “real life movie like plot” where the popular kid is being mean to a classmate at the playground and later went to get the school most prestigious award of being voted the “kindest” in their grade. The school has failed both children – and hopefully something like this can be prevented before something real tragic happens.

The leadership plays favorites and the staffs discriminate. If you didn’t enroll since kindergarten -meaning you lived in the area for a while before enrolling or come from old money, or you are different in any other way, you are not welcomed.

The academic of the school is adequate. Not what I expected when my kids were at highly capable in their old school district. But it’s okay.
As an average person living in a very privileged school district, I am very disappointed. The PTA has such well-funded programs where the fundraising events are so next level fancy that you’d wondering if the organizers are living their “socialite turned mom” dream in their “affluent” neighborhood. Let’s don’t forget this is still a public school and there is still so much homelessness in the school district.

Leaders of Genesee Hill, you can do better. Community leaders of West Seattle, you can do better. Not just lip service, not just those events to “splurge” the teacher or “meet the astronaut”. When a school try to reach high, it forgets what it really is - an elementary school where all kinds from everywhere can be nurtured.

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

Posted: March 19, 2025

I am so impressed with our neighborhood school. My kid comes home excited about what she learns, and the curriculum is so clearly thoughtful and reflective of balanced objectives: meeting expected milestones/testing, social emotional learning, and fostering a love of learning. The families are engaged in numerous, diverse ways, and being part of the school has made us more at home in our neighborhood. Thank you teachers and administrators!

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

Posted: May 28, 2024

This is the most blatant racist school! They make no apologies and if you have a problem they will tell you that "this school might not be a good fit for your child". Every Black child that enrolled has been pushed out. Look at the records.

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Posted: April 21, 2022

Excellent experience with two kids. Clear expectations for kids. Willingness to provide extra help before the parent requests. Early reading help is available in kindergarten v other elementary schools that wait until 2nd grade. Strong focus on social and emotional skills weekly. Great staff that works together. The best elementary school in West Seattle!

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Our first grader loves his teacher and has made tangible progress in reading, handwriting and math since beginning to attend in-person. Virtual kindergarten was difficult and it has been a gift to watch him flourish in-person.

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: December 8, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

My kids enjoyed this school.
PTA is well funded and they have many enrichment classes.
Though it is a big school, it is well organized and easy to follow what’s happening at school.
My kid struggled thru pandemic but when we asked for help, the school counselor, teachers and assistant principal made a special plan for my kid and worked with my kid very well. They were very helpful.

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 17, 2021

Posted: July 16, 2020

Posted: July 16, 2020

Posted: July 16, 2020

Posted: July 16, 2020

Posted: July 16, 2020

Very positive experience. 1st & 2nd grade teachers have been phenomenal. I can see our kids light up when they interact with their teacher and they establish a very strong bond over the year.

Posted: February 7, 2020

Posted: February 7, 2020

Posted: February 7, 2020

Rather, they choose to do whatever it takes to get through the moment at the expense of actual learning. Kids with special needs are not accommodated for their inclusion. They are excluded and miss out on valuable learning time and social opportunities. The staff is closed minded.

Posted: February 7, 2020

Posted: February 7, 2020

At the end of the day, the most important aspect of supporting kids with disabilities is for the staff to clearly see the child and formulate a plan to accommodate them in the most appropriate learning environment. While plans are moving targets, I can say with absolute certainty that this school clearly does NOT see children's strengths and where they need support, and does NOT address these abilities in the most appropriate settings.

Parents who send their kids here should feel spirit-wracked knowing the school does NOT "have" their kids. In my experience, if there is something they think they could do better, they should be open to the conversation. They would get sued a lot less and the students would actually prosper instead of having their skills atrophy.

Posted: May 30, 2018

This school is way overcapacity at 712 students. While the leadership is good, it is good for 450 students.

Posted: May 30, 2018

The size of the school makes it really hard to provide individual support for students. The district and the state also lack resources. If your child has learning differences seriously consider a smaller school. Talk to parents and find out where their children are well supported.

Posted: May 30, 2018

Posted: May 30, 2018

Posted: May 30, 2018

Children in the lower grades don't have homework.

Posted: May 30, 2018

It's all about which teacher you get. We had some great teachers and some that were much less effective.

Posted: May 30, 2018

This school is good for "average learners." If your child is academically advanced or needs additional support look elsewhere. Also, if you value equity and diversity this may not be a good fit. The biggest challenge for us is the size of the school. It is hard to get resources and hard to build community when there are 125+ kids per grade level. Get away from using Great Schools ratings, tour schools, and talk to parents about the best fit for your child.

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

We have been happy with this school so far. We love that the pta is able to supply the entire school with supplies on the first day of school.

Posted: January 30, 2018

Kindergarten through third grade: (5-15 minutes/nightly) Sight word fluency practice
Math skills fluency practice
Global Passport geography fluency practice (grades 1-3)

Fourth and Fifth Grade: (30 minutes maximum/nightly)
Math skills practice (i.e. related to daily lesson) (15 mins) Writing, assigned reading, responding and reflecting (15 mins) Global Passport geography fluency practice
Long-term projects
Planner use for weekly and long-term planning

Posted: January 30, 2018

1st grade teacher is outstanding! The kindergarten teacher was good, but didn’t communicate well to parent. However it was their last year before retiring. Our kid loves all the teachers she has had and interacted with.

Posted: January 31, 2017

Posted: January 31, 2017

Posted: January 31, 2017

Posted: January 31, 2017

Posted: January 31, 2017

Our experience, through second grade, has been great. All teachers so far are dedicated educators with effective teaching styles.

Posted: January 31, 2017

Newer policy of no homework, other than daily reading and what kids can't finish in class. It has made evenings much more pleasant in our house, now that busywork has been removed from the equation.

Posted: January 31, 2017

Great school. High parent involvement. All the teachers we've experienced were wonderful, caring and dedicated.

Posted: December 17, 2015

The homework assignments that are given are geared toward standardized tests. It's repetitious, not geared to the student's capabilities and guaranteed to drive the love of learning from children.

Posted: December 17, 2015

One teacher was very much in tune with our child's capabilities (Coincidentally her tenure preceded the current principal's arrival). One teacher was so checked out that three months into her class she was unaware our child could read. She instead engaged him in repetitive drudgery covering skills he had mastered three years prior. Overall most of the teachers seem to mean well, but it's extremely uneven as to how effective they are.

Posted: December 17, 2015

Posted: December 17, 2015

Strengths: Parental involvement, plenty of resources to compensate for shameful public funding levels

Weaknesses: Uneven teacher competency and commitment, administration that puts plausible deniability over children's interests, glaring oversights in regard to student safety (recent example: autistic child with egg allergy is given gingerbread house icing made from raw egg--class is offhandedly told "remember not to eat the icing")

Bottom line: There's nothing special here. If your child is of average abilities and likely destined for a career of low-level bureaucracy and rote repetition, this school will be adequate--provided there's a parent with free time to pitch in and cover the gaps. If your child has any special capabilities or needs or is exceptional in any way, you would be better served elsewhere.

Posted: September 3, 2014

I love this school! My son had a fantastic Kindergarten experience last year -- in large part because of our wonderful teacher. I also heard fantastic feedback about the other Kindergarten teachers, too, so I would tell new parents that your incoming kids are in excellent hands! Every staff member I have met has been engaging, and the principal is very available/approachable. The PTA is simply unparalleled -- family involvement (in terms of both time and dollars) is very generous, and I'm grateful for everyone's hard work. I feel proud every time I tell someone in the community Schmitz Park is our school. The only reason I can't offer 5 stars is because the facility itself is far too small and outdated for the 600+ students who go there. But a new school is in the works, and parents and staff are involved in that process, too.

Posted: August 21, 2014

Over crowded. Very poor leadership. Read the school report card, staff and parent "grade" for leadership consistently dropping over the last few years. Parent complaints about principal mostly ignored. Parent concerns voiced to principal gets your child targeted for discipline. Only good thing is most teachers good but the best ones leave for other schools. Now my child out of there I'm very relieved.

Posted: August 20, 2014

This is an incredibly overcrowded school. There are 12+ portables. Very uneven teacher quality, first year teachers are consistently hired. Overall there seems to be more interest in achieving high standardized test scores than any creative or inspired teaching. The active PTA is the best thing this school has going for it.

Posted: October 23, 2013

This is a great school. The only issue I can think of is that it could be more ethnically diverse. The staff and principals are great, the expectations high, the PTA does wonderful things and raises large amounts of funds to add all types of before and after school enrichment programs. Haven't had a single bad experience there in 4 years. No complaints at all!

Posted: September 11, 2013

This school used to be a great school until the new principal got rid of every old teacher that dared not to agree with everything that he tried to do. Teacher that were working at the school for decades were pushed out and the principal brought his own crew. I didn't think that this kind of Stalin style purges could happen in the schools. I though that's something that politicians did. It has actually been very disturbing to watch great teachers being pushed out. The teachers that didn't want to leave on their own were set up by the assistant principal and pushed out that way. Very, very disturbing.

Posted: August 6, 2013

This school has the family supported Singapore Math curriculum unlike nearly all of the Seattle Schools. The PTA is powerful and demands a lot of time and $ from families. Its often called a "public private school" by locals. The PE program was superior, but has declined in the last few years . (The program swung to strongly favor girls.) The school is now so crowded, there are 14 portables on the property. A new school is slated to be built in 2016 blocks away. The school currently sits on acres of woodland, and classes are frequently guided on hikes through the woods. Kids get a broad education. Increasing extracirricular activities (like dance class) steadily reduce classroom time for core studies, which may or may not be good. The teachers are first rate, and to ensure this, poor performing teachers have been fired.