Looking for North End/Edmonds Elementary School

TJ,

I went to Lynndale Elementary as a child and that is where my son will be starting in September. I thought it was a great school when I went there, and when I went to the school fair to get info many there told me that Lynndale is one of the best elementary schools in the district. I also know the principle there as well.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

I would definately tour the schools in the areas you are interested in. Call and ask for a tour. Most principlas will do one if you are trying to decide. I have heard great things about Edmonds, Seaview, Westgate and Meadowdale Elementaries. I would also look to see what middle school it freeds into. In Edmonds SD it is either College Place, Meadowdale, Brier Terrace or Alderwood. You can get on the school district's website and it will tell you the "feeder" schools.
I am not sure why anyone would dislike Shoreline....although I have heard that west side of the district is better than the east. Syre, Echo Lake, Meridian Park and Highland Terrace have good reps. I have several cousins that went through Shoreline (Echo Lake, Meridian Park and Highland Terrace) and they all went to college just fine. My mother's neighbor just graduated from Shorewood HS and she is attending Brown in the fall...can't be all that bad!
Northshore also has a great reputation (Bothell/Kenmore). I don't know much about individual schools, but have heard great things about Lockwood Elem. in the Bothell/Kenmore area. Some parts of Bothell are also the Edmmonds SD. Mostly served by Hilltop Elem.
The problem with LFP is that it is hard to tell which district you are in. Some parts are the east side of Shoreline, some are Northshore and others are Seattle! South Everett, I have heard great things about Cedar Crest (Mill Creek really, but Everett SD) and Silver Firs Elem.
We went through this last year and it is still hard! We looked at so many areas! I am still not sure we made the right decision!
Good Luck, it is a difficult decision and threre are so many differing opinions! It is also a subject that is difficult to find information about besides word of mouth.

My children attend Beverly Elementary School in Meadowdale. We couldn't be happier. They're finishing 4th and 5th grades. The school is awesome, and the PTA very active. You're also in the Meadowdale High School area (thinking ahead!), which is an excellent HS.

Avoid the shoreline school district (LFP & Shoreline), like the plague. They are abysmal academically (although, like anywhere you can find gems in teachers, we had a stunning one for K). The actual district is the worst I've seen in 5 states and 3 countries. It's loathsomeness spans from elementary to highschool. The elementary curriculum doesn't catch up to most preschool curriculums until the 2nd grade, and the highschool curriculum & classes are middle school level nearly anywhere else in the country. And they're so PROUD of it...which is really baffling. They tout themselves as one of the best, but they really must have their heads in the sand.

LOL....Hmmm...no bitterness here, is there?

If for any reason you do end up in LFP, Brookside is waaaaay better then Briarcrest elementary-wise.

We also lived near Terrace Park when my son was a toddler, and have to second it as a g.r.e.a.t. school. The Pavillion, and other community offerings in Mountlake Terrace are also amazing. Everything from swimming to yoga to whitewater rafting, and indoor playland, concerts all summer in the parks..etc.etc.etc. It's a fantastic community in which to raise small children, and have a lot of interesting things to do with them, and on your own.

check out greatschools.net This website offers a rating system for schools based on a number of factors such as class size, test scores, etc. You can also read parent reviews. I found it very helpful. You can search by zip code, school district, city...

Speaking from personal experience I think Challenger Elem and Explorer Middle School are great!! My daughter has attended both and now is a junior at Mariner High. She has done nothing but excell. To this day she will still go back to both schools to say hi to past teachers. That's how much she liked the schools.

T.
Everett

I would highly recommend Terrace Park Elementary in Mountlake Terrace. It was a k-8, but sadly will not be starting next fall. Still, it's a great school, with excellent teachers, small classes, and a brand new playground.
Also, Terrace Park is where the district Challenge program is, so you might see if your kids can test in.
My 12yo went to 5th-7th at Terrace Park, and my 5yo is in Kindergarten, and (yay!) was accepted back for 1st grade.

There are lots of great schools in the Edmonds School District, the tough part is that so many of them are being forced to cut back due to drastic state wide budget cuts.

Good luck on your search!

We love our school and school district: Snohomish. The elementary school is brand new. . this is only its second year. It's called Little Cedars Elementary, located just east of Mill Creek (east on 128th St. from I-5). I don't know where you work and if that's too far out. The principal is awesome: Becky Brockmann. She's very experienced, warm, and yet runs a tight ship. (Her son, Jon, is a Washington Husky star basketball player you may have heard about.) We have outstanding parent involvement and great PTA support, with some excellent teachers. You can schedule a tour and information session. Right next to the elementary school is our brand new high school (first year open), Glacier Peak High School. You can check them both out on the web: www.sno.wednet.edu. or message me with more questions. I have kids at all levels (12th, 9th, 5th and 2nd grades). We've been in the district for 8 years so have a good range of experience.

We moved to Shoreline because the school district is among the best in the state. We are in Richmond Beach near Syre, which from what I know, is one of the best elementary schools in the district. I understand Highland Terrace is quite good as well. I don't know much about the schools on the east side of the district.

Syre feeds into Einstein Jr. High and Shorewood HS which are also both quite good.

I know several people from Edmonds who apply for border exceptions into Syre, but it's hard to get as in boundary and in district students get priority. My son will be in kindergarten there next year. I've heard great things from parents with older kids.

Good luck with this important choice!