Orca K-8 School

Posted: July 10, 2025

Orca K-8 is a truly special place.
The teachers are kind, respectful, and passionate about helping students grow. Every student feels supported—whether it's in learning, emotional well-being, or having a safe environment to be themselves. The school celebrates every child’s individuality and makes families feel like true partners. I’ve seen students excited to learn and feel confident because they know they’re cared for. Orca isn’t just a school—it’s a strong, loving community.

Posted: July 10, 2025

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Posted: June 12, 2025

I went to this school and it has an excellent special education program although the school is not run the best way the teachers are very dedicated and want the kids to learn.

Posted: June 12, 2025

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Posted: December 15, 2015

We have had a great experience. The garden program is priceless. The science and biology they learn through hands on projects is amazing. They raise salmon at the school and walk down as a school to Seward Park in the spring to put them in Lake Washington. I also love the MLK march in January. The Garfield drum line leads the entire school carrying cans for the food bank to Columbia City. Orca leads a food drive all year and is one the largest donors of to the Rainier Valley Food Bank, students even harvest food from the garden for donation. It's not perfect but overall it is a special place and I'm glad my child is here.

Posted: December 15, 2015

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Posted: October 8, 2014

Orca is a wonderful school with strong parent involvement. My son continues to thrive at this school and we love the teachers.

Posted: August 1, 2013

Our school in the growing school sits in the diverse Columbia City/Seattle. The school reflects the community in which it serves. The Teachers share this uniqueness at Orca too. They continue to strive and reflect the diversity of the school. It is very rare to find a school that culturally reflects the students and the program. I am very proud to be an Orca parent that shares in this kind of diversity. I think it makes learning more engaging by accepting others!

Posted: October 8, 2010

Orca is an alternative public school that gives the students an open, warm and friendly atmosphere to learn in. They also have a fabulous greenhouse that helps the students understand food systems. This enables them to make better choices in their own nutritional lives.

Posted: September 30, 2010

This is my son's first year at Orca. He's in 3rd grade and we have had a wonderful experience so far. Everyone from the new principal and her office staff to his teacher and other parents have been welcoming and supportive to a new family. Our son loves going to school everyday and comes home excited about what he's learned. At Orca, the kids are very involved in the classroom and are taught that they are contributing members of their classroom community, what a great way to prepare them for the world. Our family loves Orca.

Posted: May 20, 2010

A very clean, safe, progressive school - great attitude from teachers we have met, and wonderful involvement from parents. However it seems in my opinion a bit chaotic and unstructured in terms of creating a respectful, thoughtful learning environment. Our daughter's kindergarten experience has been positive and fun for her, but the class runs wild and is out of control. Also in my opinion the children are afforded too much control of what is going on at any time; they are allowed to bring toys to class, lay down and take breaks when they want, and are generally not told to quiet down when they are noisy or disruptive. When they interrupt the teacher they are not corrected, rather they are asked what they want to say, which encourages bold kids to dominate the class. That said, they are taught empathy and have a great time so overall a positive experience.

Posted: May 11, 2010

because of the morals and standards being taught to the children

Posted: May 6, 2010

My daughter has attended 2 other schools in Seattle public schools. Orca is diverse, progressive and nurturing.

Posted: May 5, 2010

It's a great school, w/ great faculty and staff that really cares about the students.

Posted: May 4, 2010

Community feeling. Incredible support for the children. Great teachers. K-8

Posted: May 4, 2010

I love their gardening program and their environmental studies. We need more alternative schools dedicated to real learning like ORCA

Posted: May 4, 2010

One of the best school we have in the district, caring faculties, administrations and supportive parents.

Posted: May 4, 2010

Patient and nurturing teachers Principle = strong leader Fun, organized and dedicated parent groups Great horticulture program Social justice philosophy

Posted: May 4, 2010

Orca provides quality academics in a nurturing and stimulating environment.

Posted: May 4, 2010

Orca is a fabulous public alternative school... where my daughter can learn about her environment, community, art, and the 'whole' part of being a well rounded individual -- it's not just academics and testing. on top of all that, the parent and teacher involvement is amazing!!

Posted: May 4, 2010

Great school for Diversity - - - with great Teachers creating a rounded education

Posted: May 4, 2010

The staff truly cares about the students. The teachers have high values and morals and try to impart these to the students.

Posted: May 4, 2010

I love Orca because it is a k-8 public school that still offers all it's students art and PE on a regular basis.

Posted: May 4, 2010

I love Orca because it offers kids a wonderfully diverse education, including the most creative gym classes around like the Thriller dance.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Orca is a community where we all learn from each other. Through creative, socially responsible, and environmental programs the basics of reading, writing, science, and arithmetic become tools for the whole child with real world applications. Not just a school, Orca makes the world a better place for us all!

Posted: May 3, 2010

Involved parents and great garden/science program.

Posted: May 3, 2010

The environmental curriculum is a unique and enriching principal around which the school revolves. The creativity and commitment of that and the energy and dedication of the teachers and principal Ben is a wonder to behold. Orca is a special place that is facilitating tremendous growth and learning among our children.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Our son has had the privilage of attending Orca k-8 this year and we have been extremely pleased. Orca's commitment to education and community is inspiring. Not only do they teach the kids to be excellent students but they teach them to be great people too.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Why do you love Orca @ Whitworth? The teachers are the best anywhere and they focus on Social Conscience issues as well as the environment with their own greenhouse, etc

Posted: May 3, 2010

Wonderful and supportive group of dedicated families and teachers. ORCA is truly a community school that makes all feel welcome and respected.

Posted: May 3, 2010

It is a fantastic school, that cares about the whole student, and the environment. It has lots of parental support.

Posted: May 3, 2010

The staff at Orca truly care about my son, his well being and future. They always go a million extra miles to ensure he is getting the beat and most supportive learning environment possible. We moved to our neighborhood soley to enroll him in Orca bases on their reputation.

Posted: May 3, 2010

orca has been the best for my son and his individual learning style. He has blossomed.

Posted: May 3, 2010

The school makes a positive difference in the lives of it's students

Posted: May 3, 2010

Diverse and caring community, strong and socially conscious cohort, flexible approach. Incredible environmental program and activities, opportunities comprable to private schoold.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Orca K-8 School is a caring environment with a highly diverse student population both ethnically and socio-economically. With their basic mottos 'We all belong', 'Freedom with responsibility' and 'We solve problems together' Orca provides a highly supportive and culturally rich learning experience. A strong garden program and an environmental stewardship emphasis give kids hands-on experience in shaping their world, from dietary to planetary concerns. The annual plant sale supports the garden program and gives kids and introduction to the world of commerce. With a major Martin Luther King Day celebration and the highly popular Many Cultures One World night, Orca students develop a strong sense of justice, civic responsibility, and world citizenship. The Powerful Readers Program and Young Authors Festival promote literacy skills and let students find their own voices. Mathfests, reading skills programs, and the after school classes offered through the Powerful Schools program provide extra help to those who need it and enrichment for all. Most kids get at least one camp experience per year at Orca, and middle school kids work to fund a trip of their own choosing to destinations from Alaska to New York. Individual teachers run class meetings or programs such as Mirocsociety that help kids learn to solve problems together and participate in democracy and free enterprise. The staff is amazing and the parents highly involved. Orca has been a fantastic experience for my daughter (and for her parents)!

Posted: May 3, 2010

It is a great supportive community that cares about its children.

Posted: May 3, 2010

I love how the classes aren't lowering expectations. Thanks to Orca's math program my son will start high school at a 10th grade level!

Posted: May 3, 2010

Because they have excellent teachers. Their focus is on the student and their ability to learn.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Because it supports my childs emotional and social well being as well as her academic skills.

Posted: May 3, 2010

It's got an anti-bias/social-justice oriented philosophy, reflected in 'The Orca Way,' and has a fantastically diverse student population!

Posted: May 3, 2010

The garden, the focus on the environment, the fact that everyone is treated equal - for real - and it's terribly diverse - Plus we love our daughters teachers!!

Posted: May 3, 2010

ORCA K-8 has dedicated staff, involved parents. Garden program. Great principal.

Posted: May 3, 2010

My son has excelled since starting Orca K-8 this year! He enjoys gardening, yoga, art classes, and visits with his reading tutor. Couln't ask for a better school!

Posted: May 3, 2010

Orca celebrates and embraces every child. The community is strong and that translates into happy kids!

Posted: May 3, 2010

Exceptional teachers and a creative sanctuary for learning!

Posted: May 3, 2010

My children love the Orca garden. The staff are warm and exceptionally open to parent involvement. Orca works hard to develop the whole child.

Posted: May 3, 2010

we have an amazing community! everyone who spends any time in the school has a 'six degrees' relationship with so many of the kids. the ways that our children are taught are so diverse: working in the garden, yoga, an incredible art program, music...

Posted: May 3, 2010

My daughter loves it, she learns so much, and it's a fabulous community.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Orca concentrates on social responsibility and caring for the environment. It has an incredible sense of community and everybody is welcome.

Posted: May 3, 2010

love the school and their philosophy

Posted: May 3, 2010

Orca has a wonderfully dedicated and caring group of students, teachers, staff and parents. We have a beautiful garden with beds that produce food for local food banks. Our Environmental Ed program includes outdoor camp for all our kids from 1st grade up.

Posted: May 3, 2010

It is amazing to see the richness of experiences our kids are offered on the shoestring budget provided by the State of Washington. We have some amazingly creative and resourceful teachers, administrators, kids and parents - imagine what could happen with more money!!

Posted: May 3, 2010

Overall great school! The students learn so much more than the set curriculum.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Strong sense of community where all belong, emphasis on social justice, integrated curriculum with focus on ecology, great teachers and staff leadership, state of the art science facilities and amazing garden classroom.

Posted: May 3, 2010

Education is way more that math, science, social studies and english. At Orca students are able to discover their innerselves and find out who they are while learning.

Posted: May 3, 2010

At Orca my daughter becomes fascinated, and amazed. She grabs hold of her education and runs with it. Whether she's learning about wolves or writing poetry, or making art, or planting vegetables in the garden - she's completely engaged.

Posted: April 26, 2010

Their focus on the garden as a classroom is inspiring. I love being out there with the kids getting our hands dirty and learning about science and food!

Posted: April 23, 2010

WOW! A fantastic group of students, teachers, and parents all working together to create an active and vibrant learning environment. The Orca garden and rich evironmental science curriculum and art program are just two of the many many things we love about this alternative K8 school located in the most diverse zip code in America 98118!

Posted: April 23, 2010

Orca is an amazing school where 'no one swims alone--we are all herd.' It's focus on social justice, social responsibility and environmental consciousness in primary school is unmatched. The teachers and staff take a child centered approach where students learn in a way that is authentic to who they are. Their award winning garden program is known throughout the state. It is a spectacular place.

Posted: April 23, 2010

Orca is such a wonderful community of kids, parents, teachers and staff! My 2 daughters absolutely love going to school each day. 'Everyone Belongs'!

Posted: May 4, 2008