University Cooperative School

5601 University Way Northeast

Seattle, WA 98105

29 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-5
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 23, 2025

My kids went to University Co-op from Kindergarten through 5th grade, and even though it's a few years later now, our experience still stands out in my mind as one of the most positive and impactful I could have given them. The teachers at U Co-op are not only fantastic at what they do, but they are also loving, supportive, and respectful of my child as an individual. They really do live their motto "Childhood is a journey, not a race" and my kids left U Co-op having established deep relationships with their teachers, friends, and their friends' parents. They were fully prepared for middle school and continue to expect learning to be fun and engaging with just the right amount of challenge. U Co-op taught them how to use their voice, for themselves, and others as well. I can't think of a better place to start off an educational journey.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2025

Our family is so thankful that we were able to transfer from public school to this independent school. It has been a great fit for our two totally different kiddos.We believe this is made possible thanks to the amazing, creative, adaptive, and experienced teachers. On top of engaging academics and special projects the dynamic curriculum includes specialists in art, music, and drama. The teachers are so intentional with their planning that one project often becomes a multi-layered lesson that builds many different skills. And somehow they make it fun! It’s magic! There is also a strong emphasis on social emotional learning, problem solving, and working together. Last, but not least, students and families make many memories together through adventures that build resilience and foster connection with nature. The special sauce of this school is the community that grows together out of these experiences. I have seen so much mutual aid and support pour out of this school community that it feels surreal. I’m so thankful my kids and family get to know and feel this impressive amount of belonging in a time were true connection feels hard to find.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2024

I am the father of a student who went to UCo-op starting in Kindergarten (there was no Pre-K at that time) and graduated after 5th grade. As a family we consider our time there to be an absolute joy from start to finish, a rich and deeply emotional experience that has lasting positive effects for everyone in our household. The community that is built and continues to evolve at the school is remarkable. We made life-long friends while we were there and our class still gets together regularly for meet-ups, camping adventures, and even does some international travel together. Co-op life is not for everyone, the time investment for parents is not insignificant, but if the family is engaged and shows up and puts in the time that is asked of the families who join, then it is a self-fulfilling engine which makes for a better environment for learning for the child, a more connected community and a significantly more clear view for parents of the child's day-to-day. But it does require that commitment from the family, and so I always encourage people coming into the community to think very carefully before engaging with a Co-op lifestyle. If you can't commit to that which is asked of each family in terms of time and support then perhaps Co-op life is not a great fit for your family. That self-fulfilling engine only runs if everyone is engaged together in the process. The teachers at UCo-op are among the most dedicated, thoughtful, engaged, mindful people I have ever met. They care so deeply for the kids, the process of teaching and learning, and the community, it is inspiring to see and a joy to engage with. And we see this again in how the community continues to show up and connect with the staff years after the family has left the school. I am certain that I will know and interact with the staff for the rest of my life. The school recently did an amazing re-envisioning of the lower floor of the school and it has set them up for a continued evolution of the Co-op, with new and improved spaces for learning, play, admin and more. I've had a tour and it's an incredible result. I truly wish that I had the opportunity to go through the UCo-op experience again with my kid, it has set him up with everything he needs for middle and high school and beyond, and equipped him with a greater capacity to love, accept love and thrive emotionally. If Co-op life is the right fit for your family then there is no better option in Seattle than University Cooperative School.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2024

University Cooperative School is an amazing place! We feel so lucky to be part of this welcoming, creative, fun-loving community.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2024

I'm an Asian American parent, and I have found the school to be much more diverse than what is shown above. I wonder if that data is outdates. My children have received an outstanding experience here. My oldest has successfully moved on to middle school, and the social emotional skills, her sense of confidence and resilience that she built up at U Co-op are serving her well in the new larger middle school environment. My child is highly sensitive and has anxiety, and I have found that the small close relationships with her teachers and classmates at this school has over the years helped her feel secure, gain confidence, and flexibility. The school really gives kids opportunities to take guided risks and meet challenges with compassion, all things important for building resilience and grit. Additionally, my younger child who leans more academic, and she has also thrived in this learning environment. There is freedom to allow her to explore and express her interests. She is seen, and given the opportunity to shine; while in another environment she might have been overlooked as the "good" kid. Lastly, I appreciate having the chance to be in the school, take part in supporting my kids' learning. Over the years I've made connections and friends with the parent community, and I have learned so much about parenting from the teachers and other parents. I don't feel so alone when I deal with a new parenting challenge or developmental milestone.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024

My husband and I cannot recommend U Co-op enough. It’s really a special place. Even after 10 years of our family being part of this school, my husband and I still find ourselves blown away by the teachers’ and administrators’ pure dedication to giving our children the most excellent education, childhood, and community.Our kids have felt academically supported and challenged AND have felt loved, heard, and respected, where their individuality was genuinely celebrated rather than tamped down.Kids seem to leave Co-op with a strong sense of self and they seem to thrive wherever they go. My husband has taught U Co-op grads in high school and been impressed with their confidence and strong sense of self. Post Co-op, my son attended a public middle school and then a public high school. It’s been great to see how well-prepared he was for his subsequent schools thanks to the educational foundation provided by Co-op. They instilled in him a love of learning and a love of school in general. Our daughter will be graduating this spring. As she cried the other day about leaving Co-op, I comforted her and explained that her tears make sense because she knows what it’s like to be loved unconditionally by an entire community from the children to the parents to the most loving, talented, and playful teachers. And she knows how to love them back. And now she gets to head off to middle school knowing: - What it’s like to be respected, loved, and academically challenged. - How to respect others, how to love, how to be curious, how to ask for help from teachers, other parents, and classmates- How to make mistakes and how to navigate tricky social situations because of the guidance from the teachers.And because of this school being a Co-op, our family is leaving with a shared community where we know the kids and the kids know us from our time assisting in the classroom, on epic trips, or simply playing games together. The Co-op will always be with our children and always with us.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024

My two children attended University Cooperative School from Kindergarten to 5th grade and we all had a fabulous experience! This school is the big, warm, hug that I wish I'd had in elementary school. It also provided a safe, caring space for me to grow as a parent. The teachers at UCoop really see the kids for the unique individuals that they are and they consistently create an environment that keeps them engaged in learning (both academic and social-emotional) and the world around them. UCoop helps kids navigate the challenges of growing up, engaging with peers and adults, and contributing to their community. The communication and presentation skills that were fostered at UCoop helped them be prepared for upper grades. The friendships we (kids and adults, alike) built at UCoop continue to be some of the closest and most cherished, even now that our kids have moved onto middle and high school. Being at University Cooperative School was one of the most educational and personally valuable experiences our family has ever had. I really can't recommend this school, its wonderful teachers and staff, and its welcoming community enough. It's the best start to a love of learning that I can imagine.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2023

This school had a fantastic reputation, but they do not live up to it. The administration has purged staff and students that do not agree with becoming a more rigorous academic school and are ramping up tuition fees and class sizes as well. Many practices are outdated, and discipline is harsh with lots of yelling at kids (and staff). In cycling and skiing programs kids are pushed past their point of tears - the head of school dismisses this concern with the thought that everything will be fine once they accomplish the goal, but the parents are left picking up the traumatic leftovers of the experience.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2023

Our daughter attended U Co-op for K-5. In our six years at the school, we were continually impressed with the community, the teachers, the experiential, hands-on learning, the strong arts program, and the social/emotional learning. Every single one of her teachers were incredibly caring and creative - meeting academic standards with fun, engaging lessons and projects. Our child was excited to go to school every day. At U Co-op, she always knew that she was cherished and valued for who she is. She formed strong attachments to her teachers and, as an alumnus, is thrilled to visit her elementary school when she has a day off from school. Our daughter graduated from U Co-op as a confident, enthusiastic learner who advocates for herself, her friends, and the causes she believes in. She went to middle school fully prepared, both socially and academically, and she is thriving there.We chose U Co-op for its:- Community engagement- Skilled Teachers (and low teacher turnover)- Strong Experiential/Outdoor Learning- Progressive approach- Focus on social/emotional and hands-on learning- Fun arts program- Service learning projects
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2022

We spent several years here and would not recommend this school to our friends.
Submitted by other on January 05, 2022

Our kid goes here, and we couldn't imagine sending him anywhere else. When we first toured, we knew it was special when every single classroom was energetically engaged and having fun. Even the math class was a raucous cauldron of kids excitedly running around adding fractions on large strips of butcher paper they'd laid out on the tables. Since our kid has actually started attending, he's loved school, and is excited to go every day.As a cooperative, the sense of community at the school is also wonderful, and in many ways feels like a big family.Come check it out for yourself!
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2021

Our family joined University Cooperative School in September 2021 at the Kindergarten grade level. We selected this school with the hope of building community and introducing school to our kid as a place of joyful learning...and so far it's delivering! The cooperative model is wonderful for creating opportunities for parents to participate in the running of the school and shaping of the classroom environment, while also providing enriching adult & whole-family social experiences. Through my weekly workshift at the school I get to know my kid's peers and educators, and get a glimpse into their day; I value this context when hearing stories about school later on. The play-based curriculum and focus on social-emotional learning are incredibly important to us in supporting our child's development both academically and as a person.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2021

University Cooperative School is a gem in the city of Seattle - the journey is celebrated rather than the end result of taking a test or excelling on one specific assignment. The cooperative model also lends itself to all the families being involved with the school and the kids learning from the whole community, rather than just one teacher. The community is filled with families of all backgrounds that are striving to grow and learn from one another as parents and caregivers. We feel so lucky to be at this school and on the same journey of learning as our daughter. The class sizes are small, and with a teacher, assistant teacher and parent always there - there is ample hands on learning of all types taking place. Kids can be met where they are at and worked with individually - versus a teacher needing to teach to the whole class due to size / ratios.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2021

We started at Ucoop last year, when life was full of uncertainty in the middle of the pandemic.7 months in, we can't imagine a better school.. It's been a gift to our family, a silver lining in times of Covid. Our kids are thriving and joyful. They love school. It's hard not to gush - I have to exercise restraint when describing how happy we are here.
Submitted by other on December 04, 2020

My kids are 4 years apart so we're in our 9th year at UCoop. Our middle schooler had a great elementary school experience, loves school, loves to learn, had such a great breadth of experiences in elementary school, made great friends, and has taken so many skills (academic and social) into middle school. She's now entering high school and her years at UCoop are still so important to her. Our current UCoop kiddo loves school dearly. We love that UCoop pushes him outside his comfort zone, socially, academically, and with new experiences. Outdoor school during this covid year has been a wonderful challenge for our indoor-loving kid and a gift in learning flexibility, perseverance, and learning to appreciate nature. Who knew this kid could grow to love galoshes, leaf forts and long walks through the ravine!
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2017

Wonderful! We love this school and feel so blessed to be part of their community. The teachers are amazing and so respectful of the kids and their feelings and ideas. A lot of lessons are disguised through play, projects and events, but don't be fooled for a second, these teachers have a clear plan and can explain at length the latest research in child development and how they are meeting academic goals while keeping learning fun.There is a very organic feel to the school, and you need to be able to roll with the flow a little bit, but at the same time that keeps learning interesting and kids happy and engaged. There is a lot of emphasis on social-emotional development and tons of time spent outside. So happy to be part of this community.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2017

We've been at U Co-op since Kindergarten and have had a wonderful time here. It's truly an enriching experience for both children and their parents. It does require a commitment to participate but if you are interested in being personally involved in your child's early education, I would encourage you to take a look at University Co-op. It's a magical place.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2017

My third grader goes to University Co-op, and we can't say enough good things about this school. The commitment to developing well rounded, life long learners is amazing. There is a very strong community of parents who support all of the kids at the school. My son's favorite part is that there are THREE library spaces for a school of 90 kids. The motto of the school is that Childhood is a Journey not a Race. And they embrace that philosophy every day. Kids are taught and treated with kindness, patience and and a deep love of learning.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2017

My children attended University Co-op for K-5th grade and had a great experience. They both had a very smooth transition to middle school as did their classmates who went off to a variety of middle schools. My kids were well prepared academically, both in language arts and math. They have both gotten excellent grades in their middle school which is known for rigorous academics. What's more important to us, is that they are caring individuals, actively engaged in their school and community. They are confident problem solvers, strong advocates and kind and generous friends. For all that, we are grateful to University Cooperative School.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2016

There are many areas that this school excels in such as connecting the home and school communities, making children feel loved and well known, and providing a stimulating play space at school. The art teacher is fantastic and on the whole the teaching staff are kind and warm hearted. However, our daughter left school at the end of second grade with the reading skills of a kindergartener due to poor instruction in the Kindergarten through second grade classes. Her spelling was atrocious as well. The school has gone through some large changes in the past year or so as I have heard, but the literacy program remains terribly weak. We ended up leaving the school and found better instruction in the public schools for our child, who, incidentally, took a couple of years in the public system to catch up academically to her peers. We thought maybe she was dyslexic or something because she couldn't read, but all she needed was an IEP to catch her up to speed, which basically meant she got more instruction that she had lacked so much at University coop. So if social and emotional support, fun times and an abundance of messy play is your goal with elementary school by all means choose this school. If you want a strong academic foundation you would be better served elsewhere.