Madison Elementary School

1225 Legion Way Southeast

School District

Olympia
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 05, 2023

We are lucky to be able to attend a school small enough that it feels like a community, many families walk to school and stay after to chat on the playground after school. My kids know all staff and have interacted with every student. The teachers are all veterans and understand the needs of this small neighborhood school. Olympia has lottery schools but it’s just a guise for those who think their kids are special and unique and it has us all convinced the grass is greener on the other side- it’s not because by first grade they leave those programs and come to Madison, their neighborhood school and use up all of the schools small groups and intervention to get them to grade level. Through our 8 years we have had 13 teachers (10 still there!) and only two that were not amazing but still adequate. The school is not perfect but it’s a family and still small enough that when you have a problem it’s easy to get to the bottom of it.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2021

With this year I have only dealt with distance learning for my kindergartener, and the school was been wonderful dealing with the new challenges. His teacher was caring and understands the challenges of at home learning. During Christmas they had help available for low income families to get gifts and food over the holidays. I cannot wait for my son to attend full time in person next September.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2019

My experiences at Madison have been positive. *Some* parents may not like the way discipline is handled at this school, but is is handled and handled well. I have no complaints about this school and would recommend it to anyone.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2018

I have to throw up a red flag here. So many of the positive reviews on here seem like they're fake. I've spoken with a large number of the parents at this school and most (if not all) had some sort of complaint which was being ignored by the staff and/or the district.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2018

My son has been here since kindergarten and is finishing 5th grade in a few days. My daughter is in 2nd grade. All the teachers we've had so far, were all amazing. Both of my kids have the best time at school. I love the diversity. The principal and staff is outstanding. I wouldn't want my kids in any other school.
Submitted by other on March 31, 2017

Madison is a wonderful neighborhood school. It is a special school because of its small size. The Eastside community really supports the school. Many teacher, paraeducators, and the principal live in the school boundaries.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2017

Mr. DSK is an outstanding principal who cares deeply for Madison. Our two kids' teachers have all been great and their preschool program is wonderful. Our PTO is having a fun year providing all sorts of exciting events for the families. I would recommend you come down to Madison, check it out, talk with the principal, and get a tour. We have weekly parent get togethers at the library Monday mornings 9-9:50 AM - free coffee and pastries. Come meet your neighborhood school community!
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2017

After researching all options there was no obvious reason not to choose our neighborhood school, it is diverse in economics, religion, political views and ethnicity- we wanted our children to know how to interact with all people not just those that are exactly like us. The principal Mr. DSK is changing lives on a daily basis along with the secretary Ms. Anita and every teacher we have had so far. The bonus is you can be as involved as you choose they are greatfull for what you offer but if you choose not be involved (like most of our childhood experiences) no one expects more and your children are truly treated equal. I am daily greatful for the education and life experience we receive from our school they teach the entire child and when you walk in you realize there is something different about it. * The preschool is great option, after having one child do Madison and one not- Madison preschool did much more to give them a better kinder start.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2017

How lucky are my kids to live in the neighborhood of this small vibrant school? The hub of our community, the school houses the best preschool in the district. In general it is more diverse, with the full spectrum of race, religion and financial means.The staff are passionate, caring and dedicated.The parents are active, present and friendly. Our PTO is very active, creating events that spill over from the school day and help create wider community.Is it perfect? No. Every school needs more resources. However with what we have we create some well rounded young children that I am proud to have as neighbors.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2017

It's very important to me that the teachers and staff treat the children as individuals. That each child is special and feels special. My child loves her teachers. My child loves the staff. She knows them and they know her. It is also important to me that I'm at a school where there is a sense of community. The parents care so much. The PTO is amazing and they strive to make memories that will last and experiences that will brighten each child's lives. Anita is the school secretary and she's the GLUE! I can't imagine our school without her! The Principal. I could never ask for anything more! When you imagine the perfect principal who cares, who loves, who wants nothing but the best for his students... it's Mr. DSK. He makes eye contact with you. He smiles at you. He smiles at the children. His voice always carries a note of kindness and positivity. I'm thankful that my child goes here and that my second will go here as well.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2017

Madison is the best school in the region. Our daughter has grown in the four years that she's attended the school. The Pre School program has a great National Board Certified Teacher that runs an excellent program. The Principal, Mr. DSK, is an authentic leader that is here for all students. I highly recommend this school to any parents living in the service area.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2016

First, the principal Mr. DSk is very kind and attentive to what you say. As a mother who has a child with severe food allergies, I always speak my mind to keep my kid safe at school and Mr. DSK goes up and beyond to make sure my kid and all kids are safe while at school.Secondly, all the staffs there are very helpful and kind with everything that you need. From the teachers, the secretary, the lunch monitor lady, etc. You feel welcome and it's really like your family every time I visit my son at lunch time. I am very grateful that both my kids got to experience such positive environment in this school.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2015

Madison is a great school housed in a beautiful building. The principal Mr. DSK plays his guitar at assemblies and the children sing along. Anita the secretary knows every childs name. There's a garden out back where the kids get to explore nature. There are lots of fantastic family friendly events like the Trick or Treat Carnival and Movie Night. Madison continues to grow and get better every year.
Submitted by other on January 03, 2015

I am not a Madison parent but I do substitute at Madison regularly. Madison is my favorite school to substitute. The staff is friendly, the children well behaved and respectful, and the teachers leave great lesson plans! (This shows me that Madison teachers plan their lessons ahead of time, and they plan them well too!) The Madison principal (Mr. Spatola-Knoll) is the only administrator who has ever visited me before students arrive to introduce himself and ask if I need anything. (He even offered to bring me a cup of coffee from the staff room!) He seems to visit the classrooms several times throughout the day and interacts positively with the children. Classrooms are tidy and colorful. Unlike some other schools where teachers are allowed to wear t-shits, shorts, and old sneakers, the staff at Madison dresses nicely. The atmosphere at Madison is relaxed, positive, and professional. Madison is great place for kids (and substitute teachers). A+
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2014

Madison is one of two Olympia schools with a part time principal, the other is Boston Harbor The school district says student numbers at Madison and Boston Harbor are too low for a full time principal. Is that so? In that case how does the school board justify a full time principal at the alternative HS which only has 120 students? As of today, Madison has 280 students and Boston Harbor 170. At least three other elementary schools have student numbers only a little higher than Madison. Why is the district so adamant on saving a few dollars at the expense of these two schools while at the same time they are over staffing the alternative programs (Avanti, ORLA, Lincoln, and Leyland Brown) with full time administrators and free transportation? With the passing of Initiative 1351 the district will need to step up to its responsibilities and gives Madison and Boston Harbor full time principals.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2014

My school has teachers and staff that always show great empathy and compassion for the children. As a parent I am able to be involved in all aspects of my child's education and the principal has an open door policy which makes him widely available to staff and parents.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2014

My family moved to Olympia from Oregon and moved in with my parents who live a block away from Madison. The school has many benefits for families including before and after school care, great enrichment programs, and a great staff. The children are well behaved. My daughter has had two good teachers at Madison and we have no doubt her new teacher will be just as good. The Food Cart and Gardens are a great resource for the school. My daughter can t wait for the Food Cart and the monthly cooking lessons. Last year she really enjoyed the radish milk shake! The principal is very nice and is liked by the parents and children. On days he is not at school the children miss him. (My daughter came home in tears one day because, Mr. DSK wasn t at school today! ) He has made a positive impact on the school since his arrival last year. The new teachers he has hired are excellent. Madison is lucky to have this new principal.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2014

My son has been at Madison since preschool. He is now in 5th grade. Madison has been amazing for him as a student and for me as a parent. I have seen the school improve in many ways. His teachers have been top notch. The sense of community at Madison is like nothing I have ever experienced anywhere. The teachers, parents and even the neighbors are all incredibly focused on making Madison one of the best elementary schools in Olympia. I have found the new principal and counselor supportive and responsive to student and parent needs. Teachers have responded to my phone calls and emails quickly. There is a good balance between enrichment like the garden or art, and the academics. Thanks to the new principal Stop and Think and the A Team have been replaced with PBS. My son likes the new PBS program and says that his friends like it too. I have been very pleased with Madison and so has my son. We will leave with many good memories and friends.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2014

Madison is AMAZING. All three of our children have attended Madison. The past two years with the new principal have been the best. The teachers are wonderful. The principal really is approachable and a good listener. My children s teachers send regular updates of their work and will meet with me if I have questions. The school atmosphere is positive and friendly. My children are very happy at Madison and enjoy learning. The school offers after school programs like chess club and art. Children are stewards of the Vegetable Garden and grow food and donate it to the food bank. Class sizes are relatively small, but now that Madison is the school of choice with many parents, the school is getting a little bigger. The children know each other and the teachers know all the children by name. Madison does a good job with academics too. Last year my son s 5th grade class had the second highest MSP Reading result in the district. My daughter s 4th grade had the highest result for MSP Writing. Madison scored higher than many of the elite schools in the school district! I agree with other parents who say Madison should have a full time principal.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2014

Madison school is beyond words. The teachers interact positively with students and parents. School programs support student learning. Our son loves it there. In his previous school he learned how to knit and weed flower beds, but all this fun was at the expense of academic learning. At Madison he has really started to enjoy learning. He now loves to read and write stories and is exceling at math. The principal is very involved. You usually see him walking around the school interacting with parents and students. My son really likes the principal. The principal seems to know the children well. He will phone parents if he sees their child not being themselves. As parents we have appreciated his caring for the children. Our experience with each of our son's teachers has been very positive. All teachers we have known are kind, caring, and have communicated well with us. There are opportunities for parent volunteering. The PTO is not aggressive in its fund raising or recruitment. Teacher helpers are not mean. Some of them stay after school to teach art classes. Except for the principal being only half time, Madison is pretty much as perfect as you can get with a public school in Olympia.