Northwest Chinese Academy

16860 SW Blanton St

Aloha, OR 97007

21 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 25, 2019

My experience has been top notch. Both my children have attended since preschool, and their Mandarin language skills are above and beyond what I could have imagined. The dedicated English teachers are fantastic and work beyond the basics to create a love of reading and writing. The community is warm and welcoming. My children are thriving because of their school. I wish they could attend NWCA throughout high school, but I also know that NWCA has prepared them for when they attend middle school.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2019

I have two children. One child graduated from NWCA and continues to stay connected and volunteers to give back to his alma mater. My second child continues to flourish in this small school. Parents, teachers and Head of School are supportive. The school is academically challenging. It's not a piece of cake but children are like sponges. My second child needs has some difficulty with math but her teachers have been kind and patient, always encouraging. Overall, I love this school, and I don't regret being part of this community.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2019

Excellent. This is a school with a rigorous curriculum. It’s not easy and it requires commitment - you have to stick at it. I think it is worth every penny, priceless to be honest. Having my children speaking, reading, and writing Chinese at such a young age is a very proud achievement. I don’t think the school is perfect, but what school is? If you are looking for the highest level of Chinese immersion (their mission statement), then this is the school for you. This is an honest review from a parent who has been at the school for 8 years.
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2019

The school has very high staff turnover and is an inconsistent environment.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2019

We've had an outstanding experience at NWCA. I highly recommend it to those interested in full Chinese immersion.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2019

NWCA provides a priceless educational experience. Far beyond the most upfront benefits of bilingualism, NWCA challenges students to be critical thinkers, contributing team members and growth-minded world citizens. The small class sizes gives teachers and students the time and space to build nurturing relationships. I know that my children are equipped to use Chinese professionally in the future, to approach challenges with confidence and mindfulness and to thoughtfully interact with others.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2019

This is a gem of a school. We are really lucky to have found it.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2018

I am really appreciative that this school has created a great foundation for my children to learn.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2018

This is the ONLY chinese immersion you should consider. It is full immersion and your children will be fluent in writing in reading
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2017

We are a new family to NW Chinese Academy and we have felt very welcomed by the school community. We came from the early years program at The International School (Portland, OR) so were a little nervous about starting at a new school but needed to find a better fit for our daughter and family. My husband and I are not Mandarin Speakers but are committed to language immersion. We have been pleasantly surprised in many ways; existing families are welcoming, small class sizes, 90/10 Language Immersion Model, High Assessment Scores, and the kids get to play and be kids while learning Chinese! The school feels more like a family than a school in that the principal is compassionate, caring and is alongside the children on the playground at recess. The Director of Operations and Finance helps with lunch duty and knows all the kids well, and the Kinders through 5th all eat together at lunch and have a buddy system. A few added bonuses (that are not usually found in other immersion schools) are the extra hour a day built in to the school day to give kids homework help with the Chinese teachers (school ends at 4pm) and English is a subject that is given every day to make sure that fluency in English/Language Arts happens as well as Mandarin, Chinese. Finally, while the current location can be seen as a deterrent to some that drive by or take a tour, the school actually owns property that will be the new location shortly. The new location has grassy areas to play, covered areas to play when it rains, playground equipment and buildings that are, "move in ready." We are excited to see what the future brings for Northwest Chinese Academy and for our daughter in her new school community! We were accepted into a local Chinese Charter School but decided to decline acceptance and attend North West Chinese Academy. We also know there are other options for private/public Chinese immersion schools in the area, as we came from one, but are happy with our current choice!
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2016

Exceptional teachers, engaged community of parents, great staff and facilities. I am very happy that our child enjoys attending school here because it is a quality education and uniquely enriching experience. We're fortunate to have a school of this caliber in Portland.
Submitted by teacher on November 20, 2015

NWCA has sweetest students in the world. They make me feel grateful every day! I love them so much.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

NWCA is fantastic. Very small classes and native speaking teachers. Plus more hours of instruction in Chinese than most schools offer. This has all led to my son gaining confidence in speaking a second language and in just 6 months, speaking in full sentences - at age 3! I highly recommend NWCA!
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2014

NWCA is a terrific school! Small school provides for small class sizes, superior learning environment, exceptional teachers and staff, and great community of diverse families with common values. The school strives to provide both top standards for academics and opportunities for family involvement. There is an onsite YMCA program for those needing aftercare. The children are happy and engaged in and out of class. In fact, it's difficult getting kids out of school at the end of the day! While the children are segregated by class level, they are also afforded many opportunities to interrelate to students at all class levels which allows for a culture of inclusion. We are so happy to have found this wonderful school for our daughter (currently in Kindergarten). We fully support NWCA.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2014

Chinese Immersion is fabulous. Our daughter has thrived at NWCA and the teachers are skilled and educated to provide the best education ever. We are blessed by the NWCA community.
Submitted by teacher on April 15, 2014

I am continually impressed with Northwest Chinese Academy and its students. The bar has been set high with a full Mandarin immersion program using a rigorous curriculum and advanced coursework. The English language arts program is also advanced, ensuring that students are meeting all benchmarks. The amount of Mandarin immersion students at NWCA receive is unmatched in any other school in the Portland area. Visitors to the school are surprised and impressed with, not only the amount of Mandarin they know., but with how accurate their tones and accents are. The highly qualified teachers and staff encourage and support each individual student. Small class sizes provide opportunities for teachers to really get to know their students, how they learn and allows them to tailor activities to best meet the needs of each student. Students are encouraged to work to their full potential--they are well rounded, confident and poised. The parent community is supportive and very involved.
Submitted by teacher on April 11, 2014

NWCA Students, Your knowledge of Chinese is really surprising Keep up the good work. - The new teacher
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2014

NWCA isn't just where I sent my children for a wonderful immersive challenging Chinese language experience; it's an amazing community of people who have a common vision for our kids. NWCA creates an exciting environment where kids shine, are empowered and develop into life-long learners. It's the best place for my kids to be and I couldn't be any happier that we found NWCA and were welcomed so warmly into the community there.
Submitted by other on October 15, 2013

NWCA has qualified and caring teaching staff that bring out the best in each student for both Chinese and English. The family/staff community is welcoming and all take part in building this special school. I would surely send my child to NWCA to experience immersion education.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2013

My son started at Northwest Chinese Academy (NWCA) when he was 3 1/2 years old. Now a 2nd grader, he speaks Mandarin fluently and can read Chinese characters and pinyin at the same grade level as kids in China. We tested his skills, at our recent trip in China this past summer. He was able to communicate well with native Chinese speakers and even haggle with vendors at the night market. His English reading and writing is equally impressive because of its strong English program. Math standards will beat any Oregon public/private schools. NWCA teachers and staff are warm and caring. Teachers will challenge their students and will work hard to bring students to their highest potential. The very low teacher to student ratio is fantastic. Parents are involved. We are extremely happy to be part of this unique school.