Madrona is now accepting students ranging from Grades 1 through 9. We make an occasional exception for a slightly younger student of demonstrably deep intelligence.

We are, as advertised, a school for bright and motivated learners. However, it is our experience that some of our older applicants have had their enthusiasm badly drained from school situations which have been a poor fit, unable to meet the unique challenge they present. Such children, when they come to us, are bright but need to have their motivation rekindled. We place top priority on enhancing excitement for learning with new students. It is here where our high staffing level provides us with the flexibility to work closely with new students to bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment to their days. After a short while at the school, these students become truly motivated and remain so for their stay at Madrona.

Our mission is to provide each child in our care with the richest possible academic and social experience; we aim to foster in our students’ confidence and love of learning, and thus to equip them for success and happiness in the world beyond Madrona.

Who are Madrona students?

Our students are incredibly diverse in their learning styles, their interests, and their challenges. Our staff seek to recognize them individually, while incorporating them into a cohesive and happy group. Despite their diversity, Madrona students do share common traits, some of which you may see in your child.

• Our students are brighter than average, often extraordinarily so. During the application process, we ask that parents bring in all relevant documentation, and we interview the children in an informal way to assure ourselves that our school would provide a happy and appropriately challenging environment for them. There is no formal testing process involved.
• Madrona students have a deep hunger to learn, although as mentioned above they may not have been exhibiting it in previous years. They expect teachers to have prowess in their subject areas, to present coherent and interesting challenges, and in general, to bring value to their school days.
• Some Madrona students have learning disabilities, especially in the area of written output.
• Many of our students are highly sensitive. It has been our experience that this characteristic is hugely common with our clientele - the correlation between brightness and sensitivity is extremely high.

Manifestations of sensitivity vary from one child to another, but may include: a deep sense of justice that transcends self-interest; unconventional ways of learning; impulsivity; struggles with social interactions with both peers and adults; surprisingly deep emotional responses which can seem to others out of proportion to the events which precipitate them; unusual empathy and insight into the feelings of others; general anxiety; a need to do things in personal, unique ways.

We notice that pre-existing problems associated with sensitivity often melt away at Madrona, as children become happily engaged with our programs, our teachers, and their peers. We welcome the challenges such children bring - it is a big part of what makes Madrona unique and deeply worthwhile for staff as well as students.