Silverwood School

14000 Central Valley Road Northwest

Poulsbo, WA 98370

55 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 14, 2025

Silverwood school is where magic happens in the woods. With a belief that children thrive when curious, teachers and staff are passionate in supporting the growth of students in this community. I appreciate that my children are both met where they are, and encouraged to foster a growth mindset in their lifelong learning.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

We have had a great experience at Silverwood School. What has been most impactful for us is that the children are outside multiple times a day, maybe 5-6 times per day. They play in the woods, eat lunch outside, have some classes outdoors, take laps around the building when needed, and are rewarded with more outside time. This is a wonderful gift for my child who needs a lot of physical breaks, and I personally greatly value nature and the environment. Also, special needs educational techniques are incorporated into the pedagogy at Silverwood, as needed. There are both neurotypical and neurodivergent children in the class, and the school makes accommodations for each child's needs seamlessly. They are trained in this. They do not create different tracks of "general education" and "special education," where some children are deemed "normal" and others "different," which can impact a child's self-esteem. This is huge for us. My child feels great about herself as a result, and accepted. I also know that the older kids - in middle school - have a great middle school experience, which is kind of rare. Bullying and meanness are not tolerated. Children of all ages are taught to treat others with kindness and respect. For us, the small class sizes are also critical, and wonderful. Highly recommend Silverwood!
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2025

We’ve been part of Silverwood for a while now, since our daughter started in 1st grade(2018). It’s a great school. The small class sizes are awesome, and we love how much time the kids spend outside. It seems expensive but I think most kids get scholarships. The multi-age classrooms are nice because kids are placed where they need to be and not just what’s convenient. Our son has ADHD, and the school gives him the support he needs. He gets plenty of movement breaks, recess, and a lot of patience and understanding from his teachers. They stay in touch with parents and really listen if there’s ever a concern.The community here is solid. It’s like a big family. The kids are kind, and there’s a big focus on teaching them how to handle their emotions and treat others well. The middle school kids seem really thoughtful and aware of the world around them.The school is fairly low tech and kids are not issued Chromebooks until middle school (and they stay at school). If you’re looking for a school that feels connected, supportive, and gives kids a well-rounded experience, Silverwood’s a great choice.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2024

We truly love Silverwood School. It lives up to its motto - a place where children are challenged and cherished. My child is in her second year at Silverwood and is thriving in her classroom due to the child-focused academics, social-emotional learning balance and the beautiful community of leaders, educators and parents who come together with respect and dedication to making the elementary school years of our children’s lives both nurturing and academically fulfilling. My child loves going to school every day and wakes up excited to see her friends and teachers. She has a smile on her face every day when I pick her up, and lots to share about what she learned. She is challenged and the school works hard to meet the academic needs of all of the students. The children are encouraged and taught to include and support each other. The teachers and staff are a beautiful team who see this school as much more than a day job - they are dedicated to educating a group of kind young citizens who will thrive in their academic careers and in their communities. Definitely consider Silverwood in your independent school search, you will love it.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2024

Silverwood School is amazing educational institution with highly professional and caring staff. My son has attended the school for over 4 years and has loved his experience every year. He wants to go to school each day. The school fosters and encourages positive growth mindset in a nurturing and supportive environment. The school staff is very active and helpful. The educational program is focused to help students develop skills and confidence.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2024

Our family has been part of the Silverwood community for over four years, and we couldn't imagine a better place for our kids to learn and grow. The staff is amazing and supportive; they care about each and every child and family. We have found many lifelong friends in Silverwood. Besides quality academics, the school offers many community-centered events, like Halloween parties, Turkey trot, winter celebration with holiday markets, and live music. There are many exciting field trips and activities throughout the year that all children, from the youngest to the older ones, genuinely enjoy. When I drop off my children at school, I know they are well cared for, and their voices matter.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2024

We have had a great experience at Silverwood. We love the teachers and staff and the kids get lots of individual attention with a teacher and an aide in each room. We also feel lucky that math is leveled for students, so they can go to the math classroom that meets their needs. My child’s favorite part of Silverwood is the extra outdoor time. Between the long lunch/recess, wheels day and Waldkinder, she is in outdoor heaven. We feel so lucky she gets to attend!
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2024

Our child has been at Silverwood since 2021 and it has been nothing short of a wonderful experience for us. The teachers and staff are all sincerely invested in our child's well-being and growth, not only as a student, but as an individual. Every staff member knows each and every child and most parents are involved enough that they know each other, and the other children, as well. Our child, who suffers from anxiety, has grown by leaps and bounds socially and academically since enrolling. Silverwood is so welcoming and embraces everyone who enters with open hearts. We couldn't hope for a better place for our entire family to feel a strong sense of belonging and community!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2023

Read other reviews. This school is terrible and I’d never recommend.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2023

Silverwood School, including the staff, teachers, students and entire community, is a treasure for our family. We feel lucky and grateful, daily, to have found a place for our children to not only learn and grow, to thrive and be successful, but also, to feel connected with an engaged community. Teachers, staff, and the Head of School have all supported our children's growth and needs on a personal level, and we see this not only with our family, but across the community with all families. The connections created in this environment, over the last five years will continue for a lifetime. Among other values for Silverwood, fostering curiosity, social and emotional wellness and growth, and a significant amount of time spent outside are some of our favorite priorities. I am aware of negative reviews, notably regarding the Head of School and staff turnover. Change and growth are not only inevitable, but also necessary. The current Head of School is an exceptional leader, as is evidenced by family satisfaction and engagement, as well as staff satisfaction and engagement. Her priority was leveling up the education and experience for the community as a whole (which was necessary, and for which I am grateful). Unfortunately, growth and change can be uncomfortable, and a few families/staff were resistant to necessary changes. Communities can only be as successful as the willingness of all participants to engage, grow, and thrive. Silverwood is an evolving and resilient community, it is an effective community in creating and innovating, and embracing diverse opinions and needs, and working together to cultivate an exceptional school.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2023

My daughter is a kindergartener this year at Silverwood. As a not quite five year old, my daughter wasn't old enough to attend public school kindergarten, but she was exhibiting all the signs of readiness and really wanted to go to school like her older brother. We made the decision to send her to Silverwood and I can't say enough great things about the school.My daughter is very interested in math and science, but hasn't ever shown much interest in reading or writing. Since starting Silverwood in September, my daughter has absolutely blossomed. Her love of math, science, and art are being fostered in ways I didn't expect. But most impressively, my daughter who had no interest in reading is suddenly so excited about learning to read. As we drive around and as she talks, she's started independently sounding out words and identifying how things are spelled. She's started reading signs as we drive. It is so surprising to me and I am absolutely thrilled. She is still struggling with learning to write, but the teachers and aids at Silverwood are so patient and supportive of her.My daughter has also become more independent and is learning lots of socio-emotional skills as well. She loves how active the day is, and how much freedom there is to explore. Every day she comes home explosively happy and with lots to tell us about her day. On the weekends she asks how many days until she gets to go back to school.Silverwood has absolutely been a great fit for our family, and I am so thrilled with this investment in my daughter's future. If you're looking for a secular education for your child, I wholeheartedly recommend Silverwood.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2023

Silverwood is a small school located on a big, forested campus. My children come home every day excited and happy about school. They feel safe, seen, and loved. They are always learning something new - we hear a lot about reading and music from our littlest, and our biggest is obsessed with the science teacher, math, and all the time spent outdoors, rain or shine. Silverwood's teachers care deeply about the students, and the students feel that. Silverwood went through a difficult time many years ago. The new head, while controversial to some apparently, has been the leader the school needed to thrive. I feel confident that if we were to ask any staff member working at this school now, they would say they feel valued and supported. We are sad to see that the few families that have left feel compelled to leave negative comments on their way out - such is the way of the internet.To our family, the school feels like an extension of our home. We miss seeing our favorite people - teachers, other students, and yes, the other parents - when we're away for the summer. We are very excited that the school elected to add a middle school program this year - it means more time for our kids to stay!
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

We pulled our child from this school for similar reasons listed in other reviews, but also because the school was a mess and overall very disorganized with weak leadership from the Board and the individual referenced in other reviews. Now that our child is at a public school, we've found they've fallen behind. We constantly asked ourselves why we were paying for private education when it was subpar to public school education. We are so happy with our decision to go to a public school, but it's been very telling to see how terrible the education was our for child at Silverwood. Parent teacher conferences lasted roughly 2 mins and we got absolutely zero value-add from anyone at this school. Although we will now need to get our child a tutor and extra support to help them be where they need to be, they are so much happier and excelling in many other ways at our public school and we couldn't be happier with our decision.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2022

Silverwood is a truly exceptional institution run by an amazing group of teachers and staff. The new Head of School stepped-up to manage an organization in crisis due to staffing and logistical challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The school managed to mitigate many of the negative social, emotional, and academic consequences of the pandemic through risk management policies that adapted to the rapidly changing landscape (and in close collaboration with the local health department). Pandemic policies and mitigations to staffing shortages didn’t work for every family (so I hear, change is difficult) but they did work for the majority of families including mine. The negative comments here are disappointing but not entirely unexpected after a crisis. However, it is my option that Silverwood should be praised for its handling of the situation and not diminished for it. I assure you, Silverwood is still a magical place with special kids and a truly FANTASTIC staff.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2022

We chose not to enroll our child again and I finally feel comfortable leaving a review. The Head of School has reacted to feedback from parents in a very alarming and inappropriate way, thus, we were waiting until the end of the school year to leave a formal review. Many of the parents were surprised to see she removed the ability to leave Facebook reviews and completely removed reviews when no less than 3 parents began sharing their stories about their interactions with her and shared her lack of ability to lead and keep children safe. Honestly, we likely would have considered enrolling our child again if it weren't for the new Head of School. The parents are great, kids are stellar, and we love the teachers. It's unfortunate that so many teachers with very long tenure have left this year. We've heard rumblings around the reasons and it stems back to the new Head of School. Unfortunately, given our disdain for the Head of School, we would not recommend this school to families.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2022

We had a very negative experience at this school. Now that the school year is nearly over and we aren’t reenrolling, we feel safer sharing our experience. The head of school is in way over her head and there are major safety concerns. Additionally, many teachers have left due to the culture she’s created. Very sad situation, as she’s new to the school and has destroyed a great school.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2022

Our daughter was kicked out of this school when we filed a formal complaint with the board and the Head of School on March 24th, 2022. The school is very understaffed with high turnover. Our child was put in multiple situations where we were concerned for her safety and sexual harassment was involved. Multiple parents at this school are dealing with similar situations. Please do your due diligence around the Head of School and ask to talk to parents that have left the school.
Submitted by other on May 06, 2019

First of all, this school enrolls students from KINDERGARTEN through SIXTH GRADE! My son had a fabulous experience at Silverwood School. He came to the school from another local independent school that was not working for our family. He came in midway through his fourth grade year and his anxiety was overwhelming. The entire school staff supported him academically and emotionally. He was a different kiddo when he “graduated “ from Silverwood. He is now attending a public middle school and is doing very well. Silverwood School gave him all of the academic and social emotional tools he needed to deal with middle school. Yay! I wish our family would have found this gem of a school earlier. I highly recommend checking this school out if you have a K-6 child!
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2019

This year has been exceptional for my son. He loves going to school and has improved in so many aspects. I am so thankful that we found Silverwood for my son.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2019

Exceptional. After abandoning the public school system as it demonstarted virtually none of the above justifications for enrolling my children, I can say that my children could not be in a better educations environment.