School Tour and Enrollment Information

Thornton Creek is dedicated to building a close school community with close connections between our families and our classrooms. While we follow the core curriculum and standards shared by all Seattle Public Schools, our instructional approach is founded on the principles of “expeditionary learning,” (see eleducation.org) which provides a basis for active, integrated project-based learning at every grade level.

We have a long history of social-emotional learning through close classroom communities, relationships that build on “looping” students for two years with one teacher (2nd and 3rd grades then 4th and 5th grades), and social skills that draw deeply on the practices of the Responsive Classroom.

We are also a school with inclusion at its core, with four Special Education programs – Seattle Preschool Program-Plus (SPP+), Distinct (K-1, 2-3, 4-5), Extended Resource (K-1, 2-5), and Resource Room (K-5). These services are closely aligned with our general education program as we seek to support and celebrate the belonging of every child and family in our school community.

Thornton Creek 2025 Tour Dates

Please meet at the main entrance off of 40th Ave NE.

• Thursday, January 16 | 8:15 -9:45 am.
• Thursday, January 23 | 8:15 -9:45 am.
• Tuesday, February 11 | 8:15 -9:45 am. *
• Tuesday, February 11, | 5:00 -6:00 pm. **

*The Tuesday, February 11th 8:15 -9:45 am. tour is designated for transfer students entering grades 1-5 in addition to incoming Kindergarten/PreK (note that transfer families are welcome at any of our tours – just let your tour guide know your grade level of interest).

** On the evening of Tuesday, February 11th, Special Education staff will be on hand to answer individual questions.

In addition to these dates, the Seattle Public Schools Admission Fair is Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the John Stanford Center

Student Enrollment Fall 2025

The Seattle Public Schools district office manages all student assignments. To enroll your student at Thornton Creek:

1. Enroll your student in Seattle Public Schools
   • Your student will automatically be assigned to a school based on their home address. This is your student’s Attendance Area school.
2. Thornton Creek is an Option School requiring a secondary application called the school choice form which is available February 1-28.

Key 2025-26 Enrollment Dates

• January 6 New registrations for 2025-2026 School Year begins
• February 1 Admissions Fair at John Stanford Center, 10am – 2pm 
• February 1-28 Open Enrollment for School Choice (Apply to Thornton Creek!)
• March 1 – May 31 School Choice late applications accepted (Not eligible for tiebreakers).
• April 22 Open Enrollment results available online
• June 2 – August 31 Non Resident Applications accepted
• August 31 Waitlists for the 2025-26 school year dissolves

SPS Early Learning/Pre-K resources and information

After School Care

• After school, onsite care may be found through Kids Time, a Seattle Parks and Recreation program sponsored by Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, offers onsite extended daycare. Currently, the Kids Time program is full. Please contact the community center at 206-684-7534 to be placed on the waitlist. Current participants will be rolled over into Fall 2025. New students will be placed from the waitlist.
• Kids and Paper offers daily after school care using art, music, dance, yoga, and more to support kids social, emotional, academic goals.
• Kids Co at Decatur provides after care for ages 5 to 12 right next door to Thornton Creek.
• Hall of Fame offers enrichment classes after school a few days a week.
• Additionally, the District offers school bus transportation to the Magnuson Park YMCA.