Nurturing in children a sense of self, a passion for learning, community, and childhood.
The Attic is a progressive, independent school, in Woodinville, Washington. The Attic operates a developmental, multiage, child-centered learning community for children ages 5 through 18.
At The Attic, children study reading, writing, math, science, and art. Children experience authentic, challenging work, based on developmentally appropriate curriculum. Children are put in academic groups based on readiness, not age. Community is supported and nurtured in many ways.
The Attic meets three days each week, from October through May. This shortened school year allows for more family time, and time for children to pursue their individual interests.
Beginning at age 13, Attic teens enter the Walkabout program, where they take on even more responsibility for their own learning as they pursue their individual passions in a project-based learning approach. Explorations and challenges in many authentic life-areas are undertaken, with the support of mentors and peers. Self-directed learning is emphasized in this program.
Strong Educational Philosophy
The Attic is built upon a developmental philosophy of learning; which, at its heart, recognizes that each child develops at his or her own rate. All of the curriculum and other community activities at The Attic begin with the goal of supporting children as individuals. Children’s development and learning are enhanced as they also learn to share decision-making and problem solving. Being in a strong, safe, community nurtures the development of important social skills, and allows children to be children.Multi-Age Community
Unlike most school settings, The Attic is a multiage community, currently serving children ages 5-18. The multiage structure allows for children to be in academic groups based on their development, rather than their age or traditional “grade level”. Together at the Attic, children study reading, writing, math, science, and art. Community is supported and nurtured through regular class meetings, and group problem-solving.Child-Centered Curriculum
A child-centered approach is supported by the unique developmental curriculum that the Attic uses, by the lack of rewards and punishments, by the class meeting structure, by academic planning that focuses on children as individuals, and by community-building events that the children orchestrate themselves. In fact, one Attic student recently explained to a friend in his neighborhood: "The Attic isn’t really a school, it’s more like a ‘Learning Club’".Small "Class Size"
Part of the beauty of the Attic is the small size of the academic groups. During reading, writing, and math children are in groups of fewer than 10 to one teacher and these numbers are lowered even more by the instructional assistance of focused parent helpers. This allows the Attic teachers and specialists to know and support the children as individuals – to know their learning styles, to predict their concerns, to hear their questions, and to see their growth. At the Attic students get focused one-on-one instructional time with teachers and other adults.Professional Teaching Staff
The Attic was founded by a small group of families with a common educational and community vision. Pat Orrell, a leading educator in the field of developmentally-appropriate science education, was among those founders and continues to serve as Director. Five full-time and 14 part-time teachers currently serve under Pat’s leadership providing important day-to-day continuity for the curriculum and the community.
Contact Information
- Email: admin@the-attic.org
- Message line: 425-424-0800
- Mailing address: The Attic, PO Box 422, Bothell, WA, USA 98041-0422
- Site address: (by appointment or invitation only) 20140-137th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
- Directions: you can view directions to The Attic here