Research Thornton Creek @ Decatur public Schools in Seattle, Washington

“Now named Thornton Creek this school is like a private school in a public school setting. This school celebrates the whole child. Never before have I met such confident well spoken polite children. This school is rich in blending traditonal acedemics with science, art, music, dance, and theater esp. through the annual classroom expeditions. There are high expectations at this school for students to succeed acedemically, socailly, and emotionally. This school is very inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging and community. Children here have a strong sense of self responsibility esp. in regard to their work and how they work as a team (and how they treat others). Thornton Creek has a high degree of parental involvement and honesly feels more like a cooperative school. This school is great for alternative families as well. Love this school!”

“AE2 (now Thornton Creek) has been wonderful for my outgoing, creative and enthusiastic child. I feared that a 'traditional school,' where he might be expected to sit still at a desk all day, could turn him off to the joy of learning. At Thornton Creek, his energy and creativity are embraced and respected. He is invited to explore subjects and learn in many ways. Questions are always open-ended, so students can explore subjects that interest them in great depth. And the many field trips help kids make real-world connections to the subjects they are studying in school. Thornton Creek encourages children to assess their own effort/skills and set goals for the year. There are still standard assessments, but I like how the kids take responsibility for their own success. The expeditions make in-depth learning fun and engaging, and I am always delighted with the end-of-the-year performances, exhibits, etc.”

“This is a great school. There is a really strong sense of community. The teachers are for the most part highly capable. The kids always seem happy to be at school. The school seems to foster a great sense of responsibility and self worth.”

“AE2/Decatur has a mission of educating the whole child, and largely lives up to it. Students are taught how to take responsibility of themselves, their school, and their learning; they really seem to embrace the expectations and thrive. Parents are very involved both in the classrooms (reading with small groups, sharing special knowledge/expertise, fieldtrips) and outside the classrooms (school governance, new parent orientation and tours, fundraising -- I like that fundraising is very successful without requiring us to sell 'stuff'). The expeditions foster an indepth type of learning that I see carried over into the study of other classroom subjects -- thinking critically about things and being able to ask good questions is a great skill to foster at this age. AE2 doesn't do a very good job of promoting itself. Student teams win many competitions (math, writing, archery, etc.) but only the AE2 community seems to hear about it.”

“We transferred our APP-qualified child from a local private school to AE2, and have never regretted the decision. This school has a strong culture of academic excellence and community values, recognizing that teaching consists of educating the whole child: academically, emotionally, and socially. I like that students take age-appropriate ownership of their education and of their school, which (talking to families of 'graduates') serves them well in middle school and beyond. Students are truly engaged in their classes and are encouraged to ask questions, work collaboratively, and share what they have learned with their classmates and teacher. I have heard one parent complain that AE2 kids 'talk too much in class'; this parent wanted to see students at their desks, silently working on their assignments. But I think kids learn best in an interactive environment, and the success of AE2 students bears that out. It's a wonderful school!”

“Some teachers are great, others are not. Academics are O.K., but are not consistent. Some classes are somewhat structured, others are very loose and chaotic, school does give parents a say in which class the child is placed in. Due to lack of discipline and upholding of rules, student safety is an issue, with many incidents. Due to the 'alternative' nature of the school and parent mindset, students have a lack of respect for authority, and feel it OK to challenge and argue with adults. They don't listen and are disrepectful. Though there is not any physical bullying, there is a lot of negative interaction between students, including put downs, and exclusion (though the school will tell you the children are very inclusive). All in all if you have a child with special needs (ADD etc)you may like AEII, but if you have an average child, look elsewhere.”

“We were somewhat dissapointed in our daughter's experience AE II. The teachers were very interested in being on the leading edge of educational theory sometimes to the detriment of the students.”

“Alternative in the sense of emotional understanding and respectful community relationships. the school teaches through expeditionary learning and recognizes that children learn at differnt paces. They are structured without being repressive.The grades are mixed with emphasis on the older kids mentoring younger. I have seen literally no bullying or stutus teasing. Kids are kids and there are strong personal;ities here, they are dealt with respectively. the school fundraises and employs a full time counselor who is phenomenal. If you are concerned with your childs emotional as well as academic education this is a great school.”