Seattle Classical Christian School

This morning before school, our 13 year old daughter told us (again) that she LOVES going to school. Since she has started at SCCS, we have seen her both enjoy going to school and diligently work at her studies in a way that we have never seen her do before.Our little girl loves that she is challenged by thoughtful, engaged teachers and that she herself is challenged to think in ways she has never been challenged before. What is most important to us is that she can see that a person can be intellectually challenged and that it can deepen her trust in Jesus. We are grateful that this part of her education is done in an environment where she is genuinely welcomed by other students and where she can see both excellence and God's grace modeled in her teachers.

We are so thankful for SCCS! It continues to be the best (and only) place we would send our kids to school. It is a small community so no one is getting left behind or lost in the crowd. Everything from uniforms to all school art shows, to field trips are intentionally planned with a desire to exemplify the grace and glory of Christ which for us is the most important part of our children's education. We appreciate that SCCS is a true partner with us in our kids' character development and pursuit of discipleship. The community is sweet, the teachers are brilliant, godly, and loving, and the academics are challenging! And our kids are happy. Dropping them off each morning I am blessed by their happiness and eagerness to be there.

Five stars. Our family is new to SCCS this fall, with both a 5th and 8th grader, and already we are so incredibly pleased with our decision. The place makes good on its openly stated values! It emphasizes the Christian faith and pairs that with a strong focus on critical reasoning and liberal arts. While we were not necessarily originally centered on the Christian element, we are finding it joyous and refreshing. Christianity-a time-tested religion--provides a welcomely non-political framework for raising the kids as ethical people. The focus on critical thinking and the liberal arts sets the kids up as adaptable lifelong learners. Our whole family is happier and more relaxed with the kids at SCCS rather than a political school. No identified shortcomings at present!

Classical Education is currently experiencing a major Renaissance. Our family couldn't believe we actually found Seattle Classical Christian School (SCCS) just down the street. In schools nearby today, children are taught to focus on "self" and ruminate on finding one's "authentic" identity. Our area in particular, has become overly influenced and somewhat rudderless; as a result, grownups have latched on to a politically driven secular self-religion that has somehow taken over, without challenge, the big decision-making for us all. This mentality along with social media permissiveness has resulted in a generation of children that are not only unprepared, but are more vulnerable and have low self esteem. We knew we had to get our family out of that overindulgent worldview and it's overreaching control. Classical Education shows that being a part of something greater than oneself is what's healthy for children and society as a whole. This education transcends Right vs Left and incorporates Western Civilization studies with theology as a way to refocus and not get caught up in distracting and misguided trends. Our family is Jewish and was left-leaning, but most recently have become centrists, as many can relate. In fact, "conservative" and "progressive" are categories that were established in the past 200 years. This means that it would be anachronistic to apply those labels to the study of politics in antiquity, the medieval period, the Renaissance and early modernity. Classical schools read deeply and broadly into the political philosophical tradition from Plato through Marx, while studying the history of various regimes from antiquity to modernity. In that sense, classical education is philosophical and pre-political, seeking to teach students the political options that exist based on human thought and the historical record. SCCS develops thoughtful thinkers that get what it means to be true intellectuals mostly because they are challenged and literally love what they are learning about each day. In the upper grades, they practice Logic, Rhetoric and Theology skills under the coaching of the classically trained teacher. A hallmark learned in SCCS is the exploration of Great Works in the context of a vigorous and joyous conversation among peers, guided by a non-activist teacher. This mastery is cultivated by adults around them that model respect for boundaries, appreciation for love of family and the importance of parental guidance. Students enjoy field trips and overnight retreats and the healthy competitiveness of the House System. They learn in an environment that allows them to observe, try and make mistakes. They are driven by the reward that comes from working hard as they develop trust, self-control and the skills to persevere. The school setting is in an old Capitol Hill neighborhood historical schoolhouse with subtle colors, craftsman decor and a calm conducive-to-learning atmosphere. At Seattle Classical Christian School, the great books are read, music is sung, debate is encouraged, art is made, history is valued, science is explored, movement is mandatory, cursive is flowing, math is mastered, theater is performed, service is celebrated and paper and pencil are used. Uniforms are worn to foster a sense of responsibility and camaraderie, and there is a zero on-campus smart device policy that reiterates respect for others and a true coming together of minds and hearts. Occasional chromebooks are used in the upper grades for book summaries and essays, but curriculum is NOT presented in an online format where assignments are found in 'the portal' and the teacher is merely a resource that may or may not be in the room. By contrast, the Classical Educations' low-tech approach is done for the sake of focusing students' attention on the good discussions and great works that they are exploring and learning to emulate. This is how children grow up to be productive adults with a confident sense of self, and that are respectful of others and the world around them. Alumni of classical schools are qualitatively better prepared, in academics and in character, than their non-classical counterparts. For instance, classical graduates have exceptional standardized-test scores and very high college-acceptance rates. Moreover, classical education is concerned with the quality and character of the graduate which includes intellectual qualities such as wonder, inquiry, and discipline and moral qualities like compassion, generosity, and courage. If classical education accomplishes its purpose, a young person becomes knowledgeable, competent, and good.

HAVE YOU HEARD about the Classical Education Renaissance? Kids ruminating on 'self' and getting caught up in politics is harmful and hard to get away from in schools these days. SCCS develops thinkers engaged in vigorous and joyous conversations among peers and their nonactivist teachers. Mastery is cultivated by adults who model respect for boundaries, love of family, and the importance of parents. Our children enjoy field trips and the healthy competitiveness of the SCCS House System. Students observe, try, and make mistakes and are driven by the reward that comes from working hard as they develop trust, self-control, and the skills to persevere. Great books are read, music is sung, debate is encouraged, art is made, history is valued, science is explored, movement is mandatory, cursive is flowing, math is mastered, theater is performed, service is celebrated and paper and pencil are used. This is how children grow up to be productive adults with a confident dose of self-awareness. Seeing the SCCS students for yourself and their smiles will give you hope. Come visit!

SCCS is a one-of-a-kind school! Students are well-loved by their teachers and learn amazing things like history, art, music, and foreign languages from a young age and Christ is at the center of it all.

This is an incredible school in the heart of Seattle. The teachers inspire critical thinking and a love of learning. The Christian worldview and academic excellence are unique and something we are very thankful for. The community of families at the school is a blessing.

This school is a gift! I have two children attending and both love going to SCCS every single day. This school is unique. It's a place that cares for the child as a whole person. The academics are rigorous and Christ-centered, and virtue formation is a top priority. There is nothing else like this school in Seattle. My children are being taught how to think, not what to think, and I see their hearts being molded to look more like Christ everyday. Our family is so thankful for this school and for the growth we see in our kids lives because of the school's influence.

This will be our third year attending SCCS and we couldn't be happier! First of all I love the teachers. They have been such an encouragement both to us and our son. He is happy and so excited about what he learned when I pick him up. I can't say enough about how great the curriculum is as well and the teaching style of the classical method!! It is an excellent education that far exceeds my expectations. My husband and I talk often about what a big advantage we would''ve had in our academic and spiritual lives had we attended a classical Christian school growing up and we are thrilled to be able to give this gift and opportunity to our children.

Our eldest daughter started Kindergarten in SCCS's inaugural class, and now all three of our girls attend. Having seen this little school grow from 4 students to a flourishing, dynamic academic program with limitless potential for excellency, I can attest there is no other education option that can come close to what SCCS offers IN the heart of the city of Seattle. We are ''all in'' for the remainder of our girls'' schooling, and will continue to be a part of growing SCCS to a full K-12 school alongside fellow parents, educators and administrators, who share our drive and deep passion for the importance of an urban Christian Classical education and community for our kids.

SCCS is an absolute gem of a school in the heart of Seattle. The curriculum is rigorous and interesting, the teachers are invested and caring, and the larger school community is devoted to the school's mission. Our kindergartner is absolutely thriving there. My husband and I love that the school is located right downtown and that the kids daily learn the Gospel and how to love and serve the city that they live in.

This is our first year at SCCS, but our fourth year in classical education. It is a joy to partner with the school and know our girls are not only learning in a rigorous urban environment, but also in the greater context of God's creation of order and beauty. The teachers and staff truly care about hearts first then learning. We look forward to being a part of God's plan for this school in Seattle.

We LOVE Seattle Classical Christian School. Last year, we had a kindergartener there, and this year we have a kindergartener and a first grader. We have been so blessed by the teachers, who truly love our kids. They are getting a great education as well, and having a lot of fun learning! My kids come home so excited to talk about what they are learning. We are very thankful that we are a part of SCCS.

Love this school and the caring staff that work there. This is the second year we have been a part of SCCS. We have had a wonderful experience with our eldest child and look forward to enrolling all three of our children when they are of age. The quality of the curriculum and teaching that happens daily is top notch. We have made so many wonderful friends with other school families and our daughter loves each of the students in her class. We are extremely thankful for an urban school that focuses on academic excellence, raising up servant leaders and sharing the gospel throughout each class!

I have three children attending SCCS and this will be our third school year to be part of this school. I firmly believe that the education they are receiving at this tender age will set them apart academically and professionally in the years to come. They are all being taught to love learning, to discover and be curious and to do so with respect for each other and the world around them. My concern with Classical Education was that the kids were not going to have room to "be kids", that the academic load would be too heavy and that creativity would not be welcome. These fears turned out to be baseless. SCCS strikes that careful balance of high expectations and diligent effort from the kids but with time to be free and giving them VERY light load of homework only starting at grade 4. Our family has been very blessed by this school and recommend it without reservation.

We had a fantastic experience at Seattle Classical Christian School this past year. Our Kindergartener was challenged, encouraged, and his love of learning was enhanced. He said "We learned about God AND math!" The quality of teachers and curriculum was top notch. We are looking forward to coming back to school in the fall!