International Community School in Seattle, Washington

“I attended ICS for all 6 of my high school years. It's still too early to determine if it was 'worth it,' but what I can say is that the teachers are excellent. They are the main reason why I stayed. They are experts in their subject, have a passion for teaching and are really engaged with each student individually. However, I agree with one of the comments below me in regards to the principal. She has no respect for the students, is extremely passive aggressive and seems to only care about gaining power. Also, the guidance counselor proves to be terribly incompetent year after year when 'helping' the seniors with college applications.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This school is one of best schools I have ever known. I still go there and plan to go there for the rest of my high school years. It pushes you to be the best in yourself. Also, in this school, you find yourself excepted by anyone and everyone. It does not matter who you are, you are loved. Even though grades are hard to except, you become use to the homework load, the teachers will also do whatever is needed to for a person to succeed.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I attended this school for three and a half years before it finally occurred to me how much I hated it there. ICS, as one reviewer has already commented, is perfect for only one type of student: analytical math and science types. If your child has any outside intrests, prepare to see them slowly fade into the abyss as the crush of excessive homework, pushed deadlines and badly written exams takes its toll. And since the faculty never promises to nurture the child's emotional development, this can lead to a grossly unbalanced student: overly academic and socially unadjusted. Many a student has left ICS's 'hallowed halls' completely unprepared for the non-academic portion of the college experience, and that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am now in university and I feel incredibly prepared for college. In fact this is so much easier than ICS. You come out so well prepared. I see people all around me strugling, but I am not because I went here.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I attended this school for six years and while I made many good friends there, I would not recommend it to prospective students or their parents. Parents should be warned that 'involvement' may mean doing grunt work rather than having a voice in how the school is run. The principal's lack of respect for students and parents alike is apparent in her attitude and actions towards them. I cannot emphasize this problem enough. There are some excellent teachers at ICS, many of whom still keep in touch with former students. That is probably the best part of the school. However there are also just as many mediocre teachers there. Finally, prospective college students beware: This school suffers from grade deflation. For every student here who heads for the Ivy Leagues, many, many more only make it to third and fourth-tier institutions.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This school has really given me a sense of community. It's a lot different from the average high school where it's crowded and cliquey because at ics, everyone's a great big family, not to mention everybody knows each other and bonds for six entire years, which is something you can't really get outside of ics. You're friends become so close it'd be impossible to not remember them later on in life. I absolutely love this school and believe the new seventh graders applying would really like this new community as well.”
This review was posted by a student.

“this school is awsome the people are great the teachers are awsome but some teachers are a little too tuff and there should be more homework”
This review was posted by a student.

“Great School! My kids have gone here for the past 6 years and I have found that I basically no longer need to worry about them. They will do their homework, i don't have to worry about the kinds of kids they will hang out with, etc. Many of the teachers are great and highly qualified, and looking at the number of national merit and the number of good schools these kids get into is alone staggering.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son is currently a senior at ICS. We have been verty pleased. While this isn't a school for everyone it has been just the right fit for our son. He is involved with drama and student government. He has had excellent teachers, with only a few bumps in the road over the 6 years. As a 6th grader I would never have put him in art, yet he found he loved it. He is also involved in after school music programs, which could be better supported by the adminstration, but was overall a great extracurricular. His overall education has been far above that of my older son who attended a regular high school in the district. The small school environment where all the teachers know the students adds to the students' ability to get help when needed and feel a part of the community. Good kids, good school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is a great school if you value academic excellence and college preparation for your child. Excellent teachers, parent involvement, and very few bad influences.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“'International' is a joke. The school is perfect for the right kind of student: Non athletic 15 year olds going on 30. Some of the teachers were amazing, two of witch are the only reason I even graduated. However, ICS does not nurture any aspect of a students development that will not help them to get into college, which is sad. If your child doesn't like math or science, then ICS will discourage them from finding their talents, hurt their self esteem, and drop them off at the most convenient high school.”
This review was posted by a student.

“The school has some excellent teachers (particularly Sullivan, McFaul, Over, Castaneda, Rubin, and Packer). But it also has its share of poor ones. Grade deflation is a serious problem. Parents are forced to 'volunteer' but also have more influence than at most schools, which is a plus. Extracurriculars are about as good as a school this small can support, maybe even slightly better. But overall, having gone there for the full 6 years I wouldn't recommend it at all. The camaraderie I had with my friends was almost more like commiseration.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“This school didn't challenge my highly intelligent and athletic kid.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great school for those kids who want advanced coursework and lots of homework- huge emphasis on college preparation. It works- my kids got into every college they applied to, and they say the workload freshmen year was nothing compared to their workload at ICS. On the other hand, the actual college counseling was extremely poor, the school leadership is the worst of any school we've attended, and extra-curricular activities are hit or miss. The international focus is a joke(they get a few exchange students, but I don't know anyone who has gone abroad for more than just focus week), there is only one language offered, and support for kids who are struggling is strictly the parents' responsibility. We've had some truly amazing teachers and my kids are glad they attended ICS, but there are definitely pluses and minuses.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am currently a sophomore at ICS, and I have to say I love it. While sports are not provided here, if a student desires to play sports he or she may do so at another school. I know of some kids that even made captain at their home schools while still attending ICS. To an earlier remark of lack of parking, while it is tight and limited, it is not hard to get a spot. I have one, and most of my sophomore friends who drive do as well. There are very few cons to ICS, only a few of the teachers make it unenjoyable, but on the whole I love it here, and would not trade it for any of my other options.”
This review was posted by a student.

“The school is too focused on its academics. The extracurricular activities are too limited, CHESS is considered a sport. Some teachers are wonderful and really teach something. Others just read from the textbook or completely talk about things off topic and just expect students to know things during tests. Parents are required to do 30 hours of volunteer work annually. So where does all the money go? No idea. The school is absolutely tiny (building and population) and the dances and decorations are all very plain and bland. The principal rating is the lowest. And it's easy to see why. She does nothing about the problems complained to her by parents and/or students. But if Harvard is set as your ideal college, then this is the best school academically to attend.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“As a former student (2003) graduate, I would like to add that ICS also has a strong focus on a continuous learning process. That is, there are no 'gaps' in the curriculum, each year starts exactly where the last one left off.”
This review was posted by a other.

“I believe that ICS is unmatched in its academic continuity across its students' 6 year experience as well as its approach to integration across departments. Students at this school develop a level of confidence in their ability to express themselves and in their ability to assess and to perform. The emphasis on art education in conjunction with the other academic disciplines demonstrates how ICS principles and staff uphold the value of this balance in education. Parents contribute a minimum of 30 hours a week. Even with a challenging and rigorous academic program students have many opportunities for leadership positions and to take part in valuable activities. Those activities tend to be service oriented, and the opportunity for athletic activities is not nearly what is available at other schools, but there is a strong peer support, mentoring program, student camp couselor training, as well as recreational opportunities like drama, chess, etc.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“Although I agree with a lot of what Pascal has said, he does exaggerate somewhat in terms of attrition. My class, the class of 2006, has a graduating class of 73, having lost about 20 kids over the 6 years. For subsequent classes, especially 2008 and beyond, attrition is far less. However, his points about the part time adminstrators are very true. Unfortunately, funding for adminstrators come from the district, which bases funding on the number of students-less students, less funding, despite the overhead needs. Basically, ICS is a strong school, that makes majority of students realize their potencial, but this realization is STRONGLY helped when combined with parent involvement. A great danger lies in smart kids who are emotionally isolated from their familes, because they WILL NOT be easily detected as such, and instead, may appear less capable then they really are.”
This review was posted by a student.

“PROs: ICS is a small school so students have close contact with each other, their teachers, and administration. Academic standards are high and emphasis is placed on in-depth knowledge of six core subjects which are taught for six years. Most teachers are tops in their fields. Students are well prepared to get high scores on standardized tests. Most students choose to go to UofW. All parents are required to volunteer 30 hours a year. CONs: Small school means they have a part-time principal, counselor, and librarian. There are no PE classes, school sports or driver's ed classes. Constant stress and pressure for good grades cause parents to have a heavy hand in assignments. Some IQ snobs. Extracurricular activities, ASB and clubs receive little attention. Time, money & resources always seem in short supply. Limited bus transport & only 11 & 12 grades have parking places.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Conitinuing from earlier (this review system only allows 150 words), you are then faced with the question: 'well then can ICS help my child become a good student and be forced to work fast by the workload'. For some people yes, however it is often difficult to change. Many students have a natural potential to do well and ICS reveals it. However many students have either a study habit flaw, or difficulty with a certain aspect of the cirriculum, and that makes it hard to survive. A diverse group of 7th graders enters the school and 6 years later, the senior class is 24 people. ICS seniors are generally pretty good students capable hammering out 5+ page papers in a night and staying up until 3am working 8 hours straight on one class. People have been seen driving and studying at the same time.”
This review was posted by a student.