SchoolProfile2008

Vision for Academic Success

Perkins is a school with a heart – small enough to feel like a big family and large enough to provide resources to meet a range of learning styles and needs. It is a special place for children, a place they cherish well into adulthood. Families from all backgrounds are welcome at Perkins, and diversity is valued. Children develop a strong sense of who they are while learning to appreciate the uniqueness of others.

History of The Perkins School

Perkins School has a long-standing tradition of guiding children to emerge as well-rounded, well-educated learners. Founded by E. Louise Perkins in 1946, the school first opened its doors at 2008 NE 65th Street in Seattle and was known as The Perkins Musical Kindergarten. Here, young students learned essential academic skills such as reading and math, as well as French, cooking, and, of course, music.

In 1952 Betty Lea joined the Perkins School and upon E. Louise Perkins’ retirement in 1965 expanded the school by adding a pre-kindergarten program. In 1973 the newly expanded Perkins School opened on Ravenna Avenue NE in Seattle (the current location for The Perkins School for Children, also known as The Perkins Preschool).

With Betty Lea’s retirement in 1993, Chris Chevalier (Lea’s daughter), Jane Ruidl (graduate of the Class of 1958), and Candi Schneider oversaw The Perkins School. Thousands of children blossomed under the school’s mission and scores of happy families requested the Perkins program expand into elementary grades.

In 1995, The Perkins School grew once again, adding grades 1-5. The kindergarten program joined the elementary school program and opened doors at 9005 Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle. In 2004 Perkins School (elementary grades) achieved non-profit statue [501 (c ) (3)] and was run jointly by interim Director Shirley Storms and an elected Board of Directors. Perkins became a Candidate School in the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) in 2006 and named Donna Rowland, an experienced independent school administrator, as Head of School.

The Perkins School continues its commitment to nurture children to succeed in academic, personal, and community endeavors. Through small class sizes led by exceptional teachers, students experience a broad, integrated, inquiry-based curriculum. At Perkins each child is recognized as an individual and students, their parents, and the faculty and staff all feel at home.

Location

Perkins is conveniently located on the corner of Roosevelt Way and 90th Street in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, north of the University District, south of Northgate, and east of I-5.