The Perkins School - Preschool4511

Written 4/10/2013
Perkins is a wonderful pre-school. We have had both our children (boy and girl) attend and thrive. The school is managed well, organized, a good balance is made between the social aspects and the academics. Lots of play time included. Seriously, thats what kids this age do the most, play. If you are overly concerned about your 4 yr old child's academics, you should home school. The community was fantastic, we made many friends over the years, and remain friends with a number of families.I highly recommend Perkins Preschool to anyone in NE Seattle.

I agree! Not every program is a perfect fit! My son is in his 2nd year at Perkins Preschool and we couldn't be happier. It is true that the older groups rotate through classes (basic skills, science, music, french and PE) but they do not "bounce" around all day. The benefits to this system are that you get teachers with specialized training to teach the things they do best. I would also like to point out that the 2 younger groups do not rotate.
Perkins is a small program where every teacher knows and nurtures your child. There is a strong sense of community and already this year I have been to two functions where parents rave about how wonderful their children are doing.
Enough said:) the only way to know it's the right fit for your child is to see it for yourself, take the tour and discover how wonderful this program is!

I guess it depends on what you are looking for in a preschool for your kids. My kid went there (Perkins Preschool) for 2 years and it was a wonderful experience for us. Yes, it is true that they moved around (I would not use the word bounce) for different classes just like in Junior High. The reason for this is that if they go to a science class then the teacher is really trained to do science stuff and so forth. The French teacher is a native speaker so I would expect her to teach the class if she is the only one who knows French in school. I'm not saying that a non-native French could not teach the class. As for nurturing, my kid was shy but warmed up to one of the teacher and she was very supportive. One of the teacher saw the potential in my kid and would give him different class work to keep him challenged and now he is in the Gifted Program. I did not regret that my kid went to Perkins Preschool, in fact I'm very happy with their program, their support and wonderful teachers.

I'm discussing Perkins Preschool, not Perkins Elementary. I'm puzzled by Perkins Preschool. Our experience there was very negative, as were the experiences of many of the parents at the school, and yet the reviews here are glowing. You should know and realize that the kids bounce from room to room and teacher to teacher all day. They do not have one single teacher who is their main teacher. It's really almost like Junior High in that sense. And yet these are young kids! I found the academics and enrichment to be great, so if that is what is important for you, then this is your school. But the social-emotional support to be abysmal, because there is no one teacher who can be your child's anchor. I knew that intellectually when I signed my child up, but didn't really understand what it meant until midway into the school year. They are nice people who run this place, and nice teachers. It's the structure and lack of nurturing, social-emotional support that was our problem.

Perkins was a failure for my children and family. Older snobbish women ran the place and it was not very well managed.

Most of the postings that are negitive are from the grade school. Perkins Pre school has had the same director for many years, and she is wonderful. Most of the teachers has been there for two or more years and are suportive of each childs educational needs. My son is going into kindergarten this year and he is already reading simple bob books and can count by tens and fives as well as add and subtact. My sons emotional and educational needs were meet by each perkins staff memeber with the upmost care. When reading these reviews take them at face value. Then scedule a tour with Perkins and see for yourself what is going on, because once you do you will know it is a great place where children learn and grow.

Both of my grandsons have attended Perkins Preschool in Ravenna. It is wonderful. (It is owned and operated entirely separately from the K-5 Perkins School on Roosevelt Way NE. Don't confuse the ratings.) Perkins Preschool provides a rich curriculum and nurturing environment for children from age 2.5 years to five years. The science program is amazing. A transitional kindergarden (T-K)program serves children who are turning five after the cut-off date for public school enrollment and are ready for more academic work. My older grandson, now age 7, is doing extremely well in school and is reading and doing math far above his grade level - I think Perkins Preschool got him off to a great start and inspired a love of learning. His younger brother has been at Perkins ever since he was 2.5 years and has thrived emotionally, socially, and learned so much. Having a high-quality preschool coupled with full-day daycare is fantastic for working parents. A part-day preschool is also available (5 day per week attendance is required). Perkins Preschool has structure and routines that our family feels are important for children to thrive. The boys and their extended family love Perkins Preschool.

People should understand there are two schools called Perkins. Perkins preschool in Ravenna is a wonderful place we loved and so did our son. He is thriving in K as are his Perkins friends and the school deserves much of the credit. The staff is wonderful, the kids are well prepared academically for K while still being allowed to be kids and play and develop emotionally. Great preschool.

Ditto to the first comment. Use to be a great school. But now the School environment is too small, so the school is basically controlled by a small group of cliquish parents who are on the board. Most kids this year are seeking outside assistance in math and the school which had at one point been an accelerated nurturing school is now catering to the child who has behavioral or educational type problems which affect the level of concentration in the classroom. We view it as a board/principal issue and their choice of where they have decided for the direction of the school. The few teachers that remained from the mass resignations that occurred are still excellent and we commend them for their loyalty which is why we gave the score a two star.

For several years thru 2006-07, our child enjoyed a warm, friendly culture and excellent teaching at Perkins. They changed principals that year, and a once-wonderful school is now struggling. Many teachers and staff have left for better jobs, including the beloved 1st-grade, 2nd-grade, science and French teachers. Enrollment for 2007-08 is near an all-time low. Last spring, parents weren't advised of planned dramatic curriculum changes and key faculty and staff departures until the very end of the year, after key contract deadlines. Parental inquiries were ignored for months, then met with dismissive, condescending responses, leading to an emergency parent meeting. As a result, numerous parents (including us) withdrew their children, and now the school is demanding those parents pay half- or full-year tuition, although enrollment this fall was nowhere near capacity and no applicants were displaced. It's a sad turn of events for everyone that worked so hard to build this school.

We have had two kids at Perkins for total of six years. Perkins is amazing, and getting better every year.