When people hear the word gifted, they often picture a child who excels academically, earns top grades, or scores highly on standardized tests. While high ability can be part of giftedness, it is far from the whole story.

For many bright, gifted and neurodivergent learners, academic ability alone is not enough to guarantee a positive school experience. What truly matters is how a child experiences learning.

Some children are both highly capable and deeply challenged. They may excel in one area while struggling significantly in another. These students are often described as twice-exceptional, or 2e.

Madrona Independent School: Education with Purpose, Care, and Understanding We’re pleased to share that Madrona Independent School  was recently featured in Education Insider Magazine , a national publication highlighting leading educational approaches and schools. Education Insider Magazine 's article offers an overview of our approach to supporting bright, gifted, and twice-exceptional learners. Their article highlights how Madrona’s small class sizes, personalized instruct

When Your K- Grade 8 Child Needs a Different School Fit Join Madrona Independent School’s K - Grade 8 Open House – January 15 Many parents of bright, gifted, or twice-exceptional (2e) children share a similar story: their child is capable, curious, and intelligent, yet school feels hard. Despite best efforts, traditional classrooms don’t always meet the needs of learners who think deeply, feel intensely, or develop asynchronously. At Madrona Independent School , we understand

Mark your calendars for our series of three free parent Zoom workshops with Dr. Katherine Martinez. Click on the event below to register: Wednesday, February 11 - Executive Functioning Skills Wednesday, February 18 - Emotional Dysregulation Wednesday, February 25 - Hands-on versus hands-off parenting Dr. Katherine Martinez (she/her/hers) is a registered psychologist (#02036) in British Columbia with over 25 years of experience in clinical work, research, and training. Dr. Mar

At Madrona School, tuition and government funding cover only a portion of the cost of the exceptional education we provide. Annual donations help bridge this gap, directly supporting essential resources such as financial aid, technology, outdoor education, and more. These gifts allow us to welcome talented students, embrace new opportunities, meet emerging needs, and advance our strategic goals. I’m also delighted to announce that before officia

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, share a meal, and reflect on what we’re thankful for. When I speak with parents of Madrona students, I often hear many reasons for gratitude. They talk about the care and attention their child receives, the joy of seeing their child begin to form friendships, and the comfort of knowing their child feels safe enough to take chances, both in learning and in social growth. What I see in all of this is a community that str

On Monday, we were treated to a special performance by NTFT following a wonderful assembly led by Ms. Carcha’s class.  The NTFT group that performed for us consisted of 4 young adults who had a message about neurodiversity, bullying, and perseverance.