St. Alphonsus School

5816 15th Avenue Northwest

Seattle, WA 98107

50 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 13, 2024

We switched to St Al‘s because our 1st grader struggled with reading in public school. St Als inspired reading provided a reading support annd phonics tools and lifted him up. He scored 98% percentile in improvement during the standard map score year after. Going to 3Rd grade he loves reading. Although it’s comics.This is not unique in st Als I learned of other parents who had simmilar improvements after switching in score and motivation.Before coming to st als despite having an other middle schooler I did not realize how important the principle is. Nick knows all children and Parents! So when there is something small to discuss I know I can catch him greeting people at drop off .We as a non religious household feel welcome and are fully integrated in the community. 50% describe them self as non catholic. Gym is pretty new and other specialty facilities alike since are modern. A Flip-side of a small class size with on class per grade is limited club offering.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2023

My children joined St. Al's two years ago from a local public school and they have excelled beyond our expectations both socially and academically. Principal Nick Padrnos provides excellent leadership and guidance with a strong moral foundation. The school has a real feeling of community and parent involvement. We highly recommend this school!
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2023

Equally important is the sense of community and social growth our children have experienced at St. Al's. They are not only excelling academically but also thriving socially. The emphasis on the "whole student" is evident in every aspect of the school's culture.Speaking of the staff, we cannot say enough about them. The principal, in particular, deserves a special mention. His boundless energy and dedication set a positive tone for the school community.What sets St. Al's apart is their genuine appreciation for each child's unique gifts and abilities. It's heartwarming to see how they nurture and celebrate these individual talents.Lastly, but certainly not least, the camaraderie among the parents and families at St. Al's is something we treasure. The sense of belonging and support that we've found here is invaluable.St. Al's is a hidden gem in Seattle's educational landscape. It's a place where every child can shine, and it should be a household name for anyone seeking an exceptional educational experience.We are grateful to be a part of this wonderful school community and look forward to more years of growth and learning at St. Al's.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2023

Both our sons are attending, and they're thriving academically and have a great social and emotional support. We couldn't be happier with St Als!
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2023

WE LOVE ST. AL'S!!!My husband and I have 3 kiddos that all attend St. Al’s, currently ranging from K-4th. I too attended St. Al’s, from 1994-1998, and I was so grateful to have the opportunity to send our kids to my old stomping grounds. Like a lot of parents, the quality of education and community were huge factors for us when deciding on a school. I know I may be a bit biased as a St. Al's alumni, but I knew that if the school was as great as it was when I went there, then I would be stoked to have my own kids go there as well. Well, I was on board after our first visit. The class sizes are small but diverse, which has been instrumental for my children. I have been very impressed with their academic progress as well as their growth as individuals, which I feel is largely due to the individual attention they all receive at the school. The teachers and faculty are aaaaaamazing, and Principal Nick Padrnos is in his 2nd year at the school, and I have seen nothing but improvement and growth for St. Al’s with him on board. His energy and drive to make St. Als all it can be is admirable and also contagious. He has already built many wonderful connections with the students, staff and community around St. Al’s, and I know he is determined to create more!We also wanted to have our children in a place that fosters a strong sense of community, which is probably my favorite thing about St. Als. And what I really respect is how inclusive the school is regardless of one's personal faith. There is no mistaking that St. Al's is a Catholic school, but in my opinion, they do an amazing job with making everyone feel included. To me I feel there is an understanding, and an overall theme at St. Al’s, which is to be just try to be a good person and help others as best we can along the way, and I love that. The school also offers a lot of opportunities for students and families to get to know one another. They encourage and support the connection between students of all grades which helps foster a very strong sense of community. I also try to be as involved as possible, and I am currently wrapping up my second year on Parents Club (PC) which has been really great. It has allowed me to expand my community, stay informed of what’s happening at the school, and also help the school out which is super rewarding!I hope you give St.Al’s a visit to see what all of this fuss is about :)
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2023

There were several things that helped us make the decision of enrolling our two preschoolers at St Alphonsus. We liked the smaller classroom size, the sense of community, the principal seems super involved in the day-to-day activities at the school and very close to the students, the teachers are very accessible, friendly and professional. It is rigorous and encourages kids to learn on their own and put effort on it. Our kids joined preschool in January and we already see amazing results! Our 4.5 years old will go to kindergarten next year and his teachers are working with him to get him ready and set for success. Our younger one is not even 3 yet and he is doing great and really enjoying being among older kids and thriving. We cannot say enough good things about St Als. We definitely recommend it to any parent looking for a great environment for their kids.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

This is our second year at St. Al's and we know we made the right choice for our Kindergartener and Preschooler. The teachers and administration were great, even during the pandemic. We chose it because of it's small class sizes and student to teacher ratio. Our eldest loved preschool so we knew the transition to Kindergarten would be so much easier for him to stay at St. Al's. Our youngest has been at home with me the whole time so I expected the transition to be rough but the teachers have been so great in making him feel comfortable. We love that even at that age, they get PE, Music, and Library. It really makes the transition to Kindergarten so much easier. So happy we found this school. The parent community is great, so many supportive people. Not being Catholic has not been an issue and we are actually very happy with the diversity we see in the Kindergarten class. Based on our experience, I would not hesitate to recommend St. Al's.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2022

We discovered St. Als when we were looking for an alternative to our Seattle public school, one that would be more focused on academics, passionate educators and life long learning. This little school exceeded all our expectations, and we are thrilled that we found the small school with a big heart. Our kids regularly come home and express how they love the school and are thankful of the change of schools, which we were worried about. The community has been very welcoming and caring, to us non-catholics and are super grateful we discovered this place.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2022

I love our local parish school. The teacher and staff really care about teaching all the children, even my diverse learners! My kids that have already graduated St. Al's were very well prepared for high school and beyond!
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2022

Our kids have had such a have had such a wonderful experience at St. Al's and the teacher and staff are great!
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2022

We have had a great experience at St. Als. We moved our daughter there for the 2021-2022 school year as she was beginning her 7th grade year because I felt private school had better chance of in person learning and the extra support the school offered. She has commented that the education received was so much better than her previous school and we are all glad we made the change. The faculty have been great to work with and care about the education and well-being of the kids.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2022

We have been at St.Als for a few years now and have loved every part of this small school. The teachers and faculty are so invested in helping to develop our children. My kids are younger and have very much enjoyed their older “buddies” and the “families” they are apart of. My children feel safe, cared for and are challenged academically.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2022

We discovered St. Al’s a year ago, seeking an alternative with increased academic rigor, passionate educators and inclusive community. St. Al’s has delivered as we are thrilled with our experience and looking forward to celebrating our St. Al’s graduations over the next few years. Our girls frequently express their gratitude about going to St. Al’s, challenged by, and supported in, their learning with a more diverse group of real friends.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2022

Our daughter has been at St Al's since the beginning of her education. We've been here for 5 years now and can't imagine sending her anywhere else. Here are a few reason's why.1. St Al's teaches the whole student - Head and heart. Our daughter has developed in to a deeply empathetic child and feels a sense of responsibility to her community and friends. She thinks through how her choices impact others and how she can make her community better2. Academics - Students regularly test above the public school standards and even at the top of the Catholic school test scores. Beyond test scores the teachers instill a love of learning in the students and a thirst to always be questioning, always be learning.3. Community and Diversity: The families and the staff that make up the community are dedicated to the students and strive to provide a welcoming and open community for people of all backgrounds. 4. Faith - As an interfaith family having a school that encourages a daily conversation around Christ allows us to have deeper conversations at home about our own household beliefs and it provides our daughter with a vocabulary to explore her own faith and to understand others beliefs and viewpoints.The school has some significant growth in the past few years. Coming out of COVID the school is stronger then ever with more direction and amazing leadership. We intend to stay through middle school. Proud to call St Als home.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2022

This year (2021/22) was the first year my three kids were at St. Al's. They came from the public system and we made the switch to find a better fit for our family. They were welcomed by both the student body and the teachers. All three of them have made really good friends and had a very positive experience overall. The class sizes are relatively small and the teachers and the principal got to know my kids along with their strengths and weaknesses. Academics are very strong at the school and the teachers are quick to work with kids if they see that they have not grasped the concepts or are struggling. I feel like St. Al's is one of the best kept secrets in the city and I'm so glad we made the switch.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2022

My child participated in St. Al's Preschool programs this year. She joined a bit late in the year and was welcomed with kindness and warmth. Family communication and responsiveness was excellent and they work hard to build community at the school. Teachers and staff are wonderful. We found the program to be just what was needed for pre-k: a loving and encouraging environment for learning - lots of activities and opportunities for growth. I think some leadership has changed since earlier reviews were written. If you have questions, reach out to the school, they may be able to accommodate scheduling needs including flexible after school care. Check out the preschool programs at St. Al's! We are so glad we did!
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2022

St. Al's is our second home. I feel so lucky to have found St. Al's near the beginning of COVID and having just moved to the Seattle area. At first, the school provided our child with a safe and welcoming environment which was able to remain open throughout COVID due to the excellent safety measures taken by all faculty, staff, students and families. Since then it has become so much more to our family. Now with two children at the school, St. Al's is not only safe, welcoming and an inclusive environment, but also focuses on academic rigor (our Kindergartner was reading and doing complex math!), provides an excellent variety of electives, such as art, music, physical education, STEM and language, and encourages social/emotional awareness. Because this is a PreK through 8 grade school there are many opportunities for mix-aged activities outside the classroom which provides a benefit to all students. It is encouraging and inspiring to watch the older children with the littles. Finally, the new principal is absolutely top notch and involves himself in every single aspect of school life, from finances, operations, community outreach, and development, to playing on the playground with the children during lunch and recess. It is inspiring to see his dedication to the school, his faith, and his community. Under his leadership this school is going great places!
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2020

We've had our kids at St Als' for 15 years. The sense of community, quality of education, and dedicated staff has made our experience outstanding. In addition, St Al's teachers and staff reacted so quickly to the mandatory COVID19 distance learning. Within a week of the school closure, staff set up online learning and video chat for the students. The experience made a difficult situation seamless. Our teacher's guidance for our son's lessons, through daily videos and downloadable documents, has made distance learning so much easier than we anticipated. Live video lessons provide interaction with our teacher and classmates. We love St Alphonsus School!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2019

Small class size really sets this school apart from other area private schools.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2019

The school is easy to access if you commute into downtown Seattle.