West Valley City School in Spokane, Washington

“The best school in spokane valley!!!!!!!!! Wonderful teachers that really care. Project based hands on learning. This is my daughters 3rd year and she loves her school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This project based school incorporates real world experiences with academics. When kids are finished at City School they know how to make a resume, conduct themselves through a job interview, start a small business, balance a checkbook, work in a cafe, and mentor younger students. The project aspect of this school incorporates many facets of leaning into one project; just like in the real world, these kids use math, science, language arts, and history to solve problems and create projects. This is one cutting edge school, and we love it!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Innovative and motivating!!!! Not your typical school for children who excel in leadership and teamwork.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School is the best! It allows the students to learn about City Governament and to work in teams.”
This review was posted by a other.

“WV City School is a cutting-edge school! I wish more students had the opportunity to experience this unique educational format. The way in which the school approaches learning is unique and very effective. It allows the children to not only develop a fantastic core education of language, math, science, and history but also allows the students to accrue a font of valuable life skills. The students attain priceless teamwork skills through their many team projects and through their daily team class. Students acquire a priceless work ethic via many means, one of which is the 'city' the school operates within it's daily school day. The students have a wide variety of jobs they can apply for, interview, may or may not get and work daily. The students have the opportunity to be everything from a judge to a barista to owning their own small business! They learn financial responsibility through their paychecks, paying taxes, and 'tuition' with their city money. It's truely an Great School. As amazing as the City School concept is, the teachers are even more fabulous. I have never had the pleasure of or heard of a bunch of more dedicated, hard-working, intelligent, and a truely caring thoughtful group of individual teachers. Each and every one of them are outstanding.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The teachers are all about the students! They love kids!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“West Valley City School is the most amazing jr. high, it teaches the students the value of hard work. They are proud of their accomplishments. The staff cares and creates lasting relationships with the students”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I LOVE that my child WANTS to go to school & that he LOVES his school. He is rewarded with awards and special outings (water parks, amusement parks) for the good work that he does which encourages him to perform and exceed expectations. This unique school allows the children much freedom and demands much responsibility. The students learn real-life lessons which will follow them way beyond middle school. The children run the school. They each have jobs that they apply for - it requires a resume, letter of interest, letters of recommendation, etc. and they they interview for the job. Available jobs include working in the cafe, rebuilding old computers, working at a real radio station, growing and selling plants from a nursery, raising trout and releasing into the wild, being a police officer, mayor, attorney, or creating and running their own business to name a few. Not only do the children have jobs, but the curriculum includes hands-on projects. The children don't just sit in classrooms all day. For example, one whole day of the week is spent on science & the children actually go out into nature and learn in the field - hands on. I couldn't be happier with my decision to enroll my son at City School, and would HIGHLY recommend it.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“There is such a sense of community at our school! The thing that really blows it out of the water is though is that the teachers and administrators are committed to teaching our children how to 'think' for themselves, therefore becoming 'solution-oriented.' The real-life scenarios are clever and such an investment in my children. More schools should follow our model!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school not only teaches your child academics, it also teaches teamwork. I am so pleased that I am fortunate enough to have my children attend such a well rounded school!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great creative teachers...a forward thinking school!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is the most fantastic student run educational program I have ever seen! My son loves his classes, his teacher and his school community. How great for a 7th grader!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter loves her school. All of the teachers truely care about the students and the school is a true commiunity. They also have a zero tolerance policy towards bullying, which I believe is very important for a middle school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School is a great way to get the kids to be independent and responsible”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City school is the best. The staff builds into the very core of the students and helps them to find who they are. I have three children and my oldest attended 4 years before going onto to high school, she still loves to run inside the building and give her team leader a hug and tell her what is going on in her life. My youngest just started and loves to go to school every day so different from last year! My other son loves city school too and is very close to all his teachers, how wonderful is that!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School is teaching my son responsibility and confidence in his abilities. And he comes home every day to say, 'School was excellent today!' I love the outlook City School gave my 5th grader.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I love the freedom students have to express their own viewpoint!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School is awesome with great teachers. The school is the best in Washington!! This school sets an example that everyone should follow and offer.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“what a wonderful way our school teaches our children REAL LIFE SKILLS by teaching them responsibility, accountability & citizenship while making their learning environment fun”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter is excelling learning and she actually looks forward to go to school. the teachers are very easy to communicate with.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This middle school does everything right based on educational research for this age group for the past couple of decades. The school's priority is forming relationships between students/teachers/administration. The learning is project-based and the students develop responsibility for their own education. They run a city, complete with a banking, justice and business system. They are involved in the wider community via service project that have real teeth to them. Come to any school event and you will see former students pining over their outgrowth of the school and wishing their high schools were like City School.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am amazed at how dedicated the staff are to getting to know each and every student personally and ensuring their success. Every teacher my son has had focuses on their downfalls, but at West Valley City School they encourage each child to reach their potential without focusing on their weaknesses. I could not have picked a better school for my son!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School provides hands on, relevant learning.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Best thing that ever happened academically and socially for both of our children!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great teachers, great students, great relationships!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“WV City School is a very unique, projected-based school. The last period of the day the students run a city in which all students have filled out job applications, received letters of recommendation from the community and gone on job interviews. The students are shown practical ways that their education helps them in real world situations. Students receive paychecks weekly, based on their job level, and must pay tuition weekly as well. The tuition represents the taxes that would be deducted from a real paycheck. If they fail to pay their tuition, it affects their grade. The are taught how to use a checkbook and balance it. The students are encouraged to think outside of the box on projects, community issues and work on solving problems that affect their communities, city and state. I am very proud at how the faculty instill values and confidence into the students. These students have presented in front of School Officials from all over the state as well as State Representatives. Awesome School!!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“City School is an amazing school. Relationships are the foundation of the school. Middle school students (5-8th) love their school. It is a project based school in a multi-age learning environment. The last hour of the day students work their jobs in a city like atmosphere (the basement of the school. Before working in a job, they prepare a professional job packet and are interviewed. Jobs include Judges & Attorneys in the Courthouse, Police Officers, Clerks in the City Hall and Bank, Managers and employees in the Cafe, Managers and employees, in Aquaculture, Greenhouse, along with many more positions. Students learn in much more than students in a traditional learning environment.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“I love City School because it provides a whole new concept of education for middle school aged children. This concept provides the children of City School with exceptional skills in the following areas: slef- mangement, organization, community involvement, and high academic expectations.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“They have a very good program involving project based learning”
This review was posted by a other.

“THis school is cool even as student this school is based on trust and self desupline we are able to leaveand the teachers know that we are going to do somthing protuctive and safe. We have our own jobs and our own city light cafe~ we also have our very own market it's one of the jobs but the kids who work in their get to sell you stuff that you might like. They make how much they sell and they usely make the more money then anyone in the school I lovethis school because we have aa tone of feedom”
This review was posted by a student.

“I look back and I feel like I have come so far. Because when I look back, I see a little girl, and now I look forward and I see a successful woman that knows exactly who she is and what her purpose is in life. And when I say I have come so far, I mean that in every way. Educationally, emotionally, and socially. I hope City School doses the same for you as what it has done for me.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is sink or swim. and they will watch your child drown! Education is in the hands of the children 100% with no direction from the teachers. Good Idea for a school just poorly implemented. It could be good if the teachers were willing to be teachers.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I have been at City School since I was in the 6th grade... and wow.. has it had a great affect on me... At first I really only knew only one other person... but they made me feel right at home.. City School gave me new challenge..that I could not recieve at other schools. now. I am in the 8th grade..and I am in the City Council.. (the schools ASB) . City school is a project based school.yet we have some of the highest 2007 WASL scores in the state of Washington. We go on many feild trips... mainly in Science...where instead of reading something out of a text book...we are actually out in the feild doing it...and that way.we will actually remember it. The students are great.. Teachers and Principals are great..and altogether it is an excellent school. They made me and my friends grow into great trustworthy kids.GREAT SCHOOL!!!”
This review was posted by a student.

“West Valley city School has been a great experience for my son. It was wonderful teachers and a awesome administration.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Wow! City school is such an awesome school.They do so many great things. For one thing they have a really devoted staff that works with the students. They also raise money at the beginning of the year at Harvestfest were they raise money to go on tons of feild trips. It is a lot easier to learn if you go on field trips. Science goes on one almost every week. This school is so great, you can't put it into words. West Valley school district is also doing a fabulous job. If your child is looking for a fun school were they can learn a lot and have fun. Than City school is for them. City school is the best in the West!”
This review was posted by a student.

“I cannot say enough in 150 words about West Valley City School! They teach the children more real life skills (money management, job seeking, problem solving) and values than any other middle school I've seen. The children learn with understanding, rather than regurgitating data for a test only to never use it again. The teachers look at the whole student, not just the academics, and help them improve in all aspects of their lives. They are some of the finest, most dedicated staff you will find anywhere. Whether your student is Highly Capable or has challenges in the conventional classroom, this school is for them. Not for the student who in unmotivated or disruptive, however. The only downside is the lack of music and athletic programs on campus....they have to bus the kids over to another school and the scheduling doesn't allow for full participation in those activities.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I will miss city school alot !! but it is something i have to do.”
This review was posted by a student.

“West Valley City School is excellent. The staff is remarkable. It is a highly motivational school. The students are involved with all aspects. The school also teaches life skills that other schools do not.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“West Valley City School is a wonderful option to the typical middle school environment. Students are taught that respect to self, others, and school are of utmost importance. Students have to sign a contract upon entering the school and are held accountable to the terms of the contract. Flex time allows an opporotunity for many different classes, Spanish, shop, crafts, P.E. and much more. The core classes are in the morning before lunch when the studentts are fresh. After lunch they attend team where they have the same teacher who keeps track of their accademic progress and implements team building activities. The day ends with City Escape where each student has a job where they can utilize the skills they have learned in a real life setting. The students run a cafe, aquaculture center, courthouse, city hall, green house, computer/video productions and much more. Discipline is student based with a police department. I would highly recommend WVCS to anyone.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter attended only for 1 year, but in that year she soared academically! It taught her so much about personal responsibility and being accountable for her actions. The part of the school that was the best was the 'City' the kids ran. They truly did it! They had a court system, a police deptartment, city officers, postal service, a bank, horticulture center, aquaculture center, to name a few of the things the kids can do. They had to apply and interview for their job, and if they couldn't find a job, there was always 'unemployment'! Fabulous school, I would recommend it!”
This review was posted by a parent.