My daughter started at Amistad in pre-K with no previous Spanish experience. 1.5 years later she can have conversations in Spanish with proper verb conjugation and her accent is spot on. She reads in both Spanish and English and sometimes when she can't figure out a word in English because it's not spelled they way it's pronounced she looks at the Spanish and figures it out. I love that the student population is diverse and her teachers come from all parts of Central and South America and bring their culture into the classroom. The teachers are wonderful and my child is known and looked out for by everyone, whether they are her teacher or not. I truly look forward to the bilingual and multicultural education she will continue to have there. This kind of education is not available elsewhere in Seattle. I first learned about Amistad when I was chatting with a friend at the playground when our kids were just 3 and 4 years old. I was stressing out about how to get my child a bilingual education when I don't live in the geozone for one of the international schools (which are not immersion programs like Amistad anyway). Another parent overheard our conversation and felt compelled to jump in to say that his kids went to Seattle Amistad School and that if I wanted my daughter to have a bilingual education in a school run mostly by strong women of color I should look into Amistad. So I did! And I've been happy with the experience my daughter has had so far and look forward to continuing her education there. read more

We love Seattle Amistad School. The community is amazing and I see my children learning and growing everyday. I love the nurturing environment and the world curriculum. All three of my children have attended Amistad since preschool and are completely fluent in Spanish, my oldest is in the Middle School program and my youngest is in kindergarten. I highly recommend Seattle Amistad School to any family looking for something different and special for their children and their family. read more

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I have 2 kids in the toddlers classrooms and I am so impressed with the quality of education my kids are getting. Besides the warmth and professionalism from the teachers, I love the fact that kids have P.E and Capoeira classes from a young age. The curriculum they use is open ended, so kids can learn at their own level. I love also that my kids can learn and grow in their own culture and language. I LOVE AMISTAD read more

My daughter started here in preschool age 2 and we've kept her there for 4 years since. She's learned Spanish fluently, learned to read and write in Spanish and English almost simultaneously, and loves her friends. The teachers genuinely seem to love and care for the students. It's a special place with a unique culture-- worth checking out. read more

Despite the fact that this type of review is a topic where passions tend to rule (either insider support to prop up ratings OR a parent who has had an incident and are just trying to do the opposite), I'm going to attempt to provide a dispassionate review of the school so it's useful to others and stick with the facts Context. My 7 year old started here after courses at a language school. My 3 year old also went to pre-K here. They are NOT native speakers. Pros: - The immersive environment for learning Spanish accelerated the proficiency of my children immensely. - The teachers are passionate about what they do and clearly work very hard. As with any school, the organization and effectiveness of the teachers vary. - There is (mandated) strong parent participation at events and a good sense of community in the school. Cons: - Old and tired facilities. The school shares a floor on a building that is mixed use (there is a hearing impaired school on the same floor and apartments above) - The Principal is passionate about the school mission BUT lacks the structure to enforce any form of discipline in a meaningful way. Typically you will have to really push for her to meet on any negative issue. - There is no serious ramifications for a child behaving poorly in this school. My third grade child learned words that began with "F" and "B" and many other such things. There was also exclusionary behavior and bullying (we heard from other parents we knew here) but nothing ever seemed to get addressed despite many complaints. - although not technically a "con" - the academic environment is not suited or built to handle kids who are on a higher curve. Although I personally liked many of the teachers, staff and people involved in the school, I cannot in good faith recommend this school to others. ESPECIALLY if you are having a child join later when cliques are already formed. Even though he is much better in Spanish, my older child is worse off as a person for this experience. He went from a carefree 7 year old to a disgruntled 8 year old who we have to "bring back" to being a happier child (after 7 weeks away from his class environment - he is MUCH happier). read more

Seattle Amistad school Is an amazing bi-lingual and multi cultural school located I. The Central District. Our two kids both attend Amistad school, and we have been a part of the community for 5 years. We love it and our kids do too!! The schools focuses on teaching the kids in Spanish, and also teaches about different cultures and how to respect and appreciate people who are different. With Spanish speaking grandparent in another country, our kids can now communicate and build relationships with their entire family!!! Thank you Amistad!!! Pros -Amazing teachers! -Majority of the day is taught in Spanish -Annual "Artists in residence"who teach a mix of subjects including caipoaiera, salsa dancing, and painting -A supportive and engaged community including administration who cares for each child's needs -current curriculum with attention to each child's developing needs -A DIVERSE group of kids and involved families who come together to support one another -Smaller class sizes, lots of one on one time for each student Cons -tight on space We love Amistad school! Our kids are learning Spanish and so much more read more

I have two family members who have kids here. They love this school. They have found an amazing learning community at this school. My nephews are able to speak and learn Spanish in a way that their Salvadoran father could not do alone at home. They are experiencing academic success and support in a way that I know they would not receive in public school where they'd most likely be labeled in a way that would not be productive. I cannot sing enough praises for this school for folks looking for a bilingual immersion school. read more

We LOVE Seattle Amistad! We have had our child at Amistad for over three years and could not be happier with the entire experience. The academics, conducted mostly in Spanish, are solid (and I am very picky about this) and class size is small enough that if some kids need a little more challenge or a little more help, the teachers are very proactive about making that happen. Beyond strong academics and small class sizes though, what really sets this school apart is the amazing community. The director of the school knows every single child by name, as do most of the teachers (even when the kids are in other classes), and all the teachers and staff clearly care deeply about the kids, and encourage them with loving kindness and firm boundaries. The families at Amistad come from very diverse backgrounds, whether this means race, culture, or socioeconomic status, and we all come together throughout the year, for fun and in support of our awesome school. It is a microcosm of what I would hope for our world as a whole - educated, diverse, caring, and working together for the growth and happiness of our children. An example of what kind of kids Amistad turns out... one year at the annual talent show, one of the little girls got up to sing a song, but got stage fright, froze, and started crying. Immediately the other little girls from her class got up, surrounded her with hugs and support, and then they all finished the song together. I have seen so many moments like this throughout our time at Seattle Amistad, and it is because the focus of the education is not just on the excellent academics, but also on building a strong and caring community and world. We love this school and could not possibly recommend it more. read more

I highly recommend this school to anyone who wants their child to learn Spanish in a playful, super diverse, academic environment. My daughter spent a year in preschool here. Both Heliana and Lucia are wonderful teachers. Had we ended up in Seattle we would have continued. read more

This school is absolutely amazing. My children have been attending Amistad for the past 5 years and we couldn't be happier. The teachers are dedicated to academic excellence. My children are above grade level in both languages. The principal is involved with each family, knows every child and goes above and beyond to create a school climate where children and families feel comfortable to be themselves. At Seattle Amistad children thrive and love school. Artists and musicians run special classes all through the year. They are deeply committed to ensuring a diverse community (not just paying lip service). The parent community is outstanding as well! We have developed many lifelong friendships. This makes the home-to-school connection strong, so when problems do arise (as they always do) the parents, staff, and children are able to work through tough times together. read more

My granddaughter attends Amistad. She's happy, healthy, made friends easily with the other kids and she's safe. A grandpa cant ask for much more than that! Sure the schools not perfect, but no school is. I would definitely recommend this school to other kids & parents. read more

I have a four year old in pre-K and we couldn't be happier. Great teaching, great community, effective Spanish learning. Strongly recommend for anyone in the area. read more

Seattle Amistad is a wonderful community. The Principal, teachers, and staff truly love the students. We are fortunate to have found this school. My son is in preK. His Spanish has improved tremendously, and he is well prepared for more academic learning. read more