My husband is army at Ft Lewis. He moved there in December and my 15 yr old dtr and I will be moving out at the end of this school year. She is a freshman in HS and is going to the Tacoma School of the Arts on downtown Tacoma. Can someone PLEASE tell me where to look and where not to look for a house to rent and also how long does it really take to drive from downtown Tacoma to JBLM during rudh hour?

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Carol Gates says:
August 10 2011 at 5:05 pm

Washington is a bit behind some states but remains ahead of others. They just revamped state tests and grade requirements. My kids had moved from TX where things are good to IN where things are behind to WA last yr which falls in between the two. For example my then 8th grader moved here with having had a basic intro to Algebra to being required to have Algebra 1. My then 3rd grade son was faced with concepts that he hadn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t had before fractions etc. but he worked and got it. The writing he did was comparable to what my oldest daughter had in a Recognized school in TX a few yrs ago.

My children?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s experience and my observation in the JBLM area has been in the Tacoma and North Thurston Districts. I and my 14yr old (and my neighbors) were very unhappy with Gray Middle School. The only plus it had was that an after school math tutoring program was available. Student behavior was not something staff was able to control. Many teachers were there as a paycheck rather than being involved in the student?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s education. (Though that may be due to overall student and parental lack of involvement.) Many of the S. Tacoma elementaries and High schools have the same problems. There is an issue with enrollment where they fill up too quickly and need to transfer children to another school for us that was a benefit as we were able to choose Skyline (N Tacoma) as the school for my younger children. A much different situation that the staff acknowledged flows up to middle and high school levels?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ well controlled behavior better Special Ed Dept?¢‚Ǩ¬¶which my daughter uses.

As of January we moved to Lacey and to N Thurston School District. As much as my kids hate moving mid-yr they were all glad we did. Two now attend Olympic View. Behavior is monitored and followed through they even have a counselor on hand to help the kids modify their behavior. Unfortunately my son ended up there but she is good and improvement was seen. The Special Ed Dept is great. The best we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve had so far. (My 5th grader has High Functioning Autism and is behind achedemically and emotionally.) The lead teacher is an Army wife new to Ft Lewis and has an amazing sense of relating and responding to the children. The math curriculum is the best my daughter has had so far and had the best gains in just 6mo. Both kids were challenged enough. Staff is easy to contact and responsive and there are quite a few other military kids. I even took my kids out of school for 2 BN events with no problems.

My 14 yr old attended Chinook Middle School. Behavior was monitored and bullying not allowed. Acedemically she was appropriately challenged. She didnt receive the support she should have in Algebra 1 due to my daughter?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s health and communication break down I admit I could have done more to make it happen?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ though at one point she was failing and had 5 missing assignments and I wasnt notified. They rely heavily on an internet system for parents to check grades and assignment and I lacked internet access. They are more advanced in Science than some of the other districts much to our delight. The counselor is very friendly and makes himself available to parents as well as to the students he helped us tailor our daughter?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s teacher choices to those who would be challenging enough or better able to assist with math. Overall teachers seem well involved and see no reason why they wouldn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t ensure a student is challenged enough in their class. They had an end of year award ceremony students must earn an invitation to many earned them for academics as well exceptional behavior and integrity.

My 14 yr old will be a freshman at North Thurston High. They have sports to include a swim team. And I was shocked and impressed with the variety of classes to include some that have college credit transfer and some vocational. To my daughter?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s excitement a textile and apparel class that can go through her sophomore yr and to my delight is diversified enough to include interior design and drafting. Our only disappointment now is that on the west coast Band doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t seem to be as serious here as in TX and IN. Lol. Her percussionist skills have tapered due to lack of being challenged.

Approximate commute from our house which is outside of Lacey on the Sound is 20-25 min to N Fort. There are a few houses for rent in this community. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a quiet small town type neighborhood that is a private community that lacks a snooty feel and is supportive of us military families.


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tamekia thompson says:
July 17, 2011 at 1:23 pm
I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m suppose to be moving to Ft Lewis in October and have a 11 and 13 yr old will will be in middle school (6th and 8th grade). I wanted to know what school will be good for them to attend, they are coming from North Carolina and I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been hearing that they will be a little above average. I also want to find a house thats within the school district and what areas in Washington will be a good loctaion to move in thats not to far from base but also close to a middle school?


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susanna says:
April 18, 2011 at 11:45 am
[Entering FlipCam GiveAway] Camille D says: My daughter goes to the elementary on base (Carter Lake Elementary). I have had a good experience and have loved my daughter?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s teacher. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know where middle school or high school go. I know there are some colleges around, but don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know much about that.


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Meagan E says:
April 10, 2011 at 1:24 pm

My children aren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t school age, but I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been told that Children that move from other states, (georgia, Texas, the carolinas) are often above average in WA, but when they move back are behind in their classes. Washington does not offer pre-kindergarten in their schools you have to pay for it, and Kindergarten is only half a day. :( I recommend on base schools, and if you live off base you can get a waiver for your children.


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Shirley O says:
April 10, 2011 at 1:24 pm
?¢‚Ǩ?ìBetter school districts are in Olympia so if you have High Schoolers the Olympia school district is best BUT we found a way around that obstacle of living off post. We applied for out of district transfer so my highschoolers are commuting to school verses living off post. ?¢‚Ǩ?ì


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Camille D says:
April 10, 2011 at 1:23 pm

?¢‚Ǩ?ìMy daughter goes to the elementary on base (Carter Lake Elementary). I have had a good experience and have loved my daughter?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s teacher. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know where middle school or high school go. I know there are some colleges around, but don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know much about that.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù


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Erica says:
January 27, 2011 at 1:58 pm

We just recently left Ft. Lewis. We lived on Lewis and my daughter went to school on post at Clarkmoor. In my opinion it was one of the better elementary schools on post and I have heard that from many people too. The teachers there were great and very helpful. Overall my daugther loved it there.
My son is in middle school and he went to Mann which is off post in Lakewood. It wasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t the best school but it wasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t the worst either. All of my son?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s teachers were great and even though my son had pretty much learned everything they were learning there before we moved there they did everything they could to give him harder work and challenge him.



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Sabrina Brown says:
January 27, 2011 at 11:24 am
We live in Lacey and our children currently attend Chambers Prarie in the North Thurston School District. We love the school and the district and everyone is so helpful. The school here was the first in WA to offer parent teacher conferences with moms and dads deployed overseas via Skype. They really cater to the military community and try to help you with every step of getting your child enrolled in the district.


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Holly says:
June 15, 2010 at 11:12 am

I noticed that Susanna stated that there is no school on base. That is wrong it is on base in housing area. Now would I recommend you letting your children go there is the question. We have been here about a yr on base and we now doing K12 until my oldest graduates HS.
My oldest does go to Clover Park HS and is a very good school for the most part. Lake HS I have heard isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t that good?¢‚Ǩ¬¶but of course that is hear say.
As for the base?¢‚Ǩ¬¶.McChord?¢‚Ǩ¬¶It is a pretty base. I can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t say that it is that friendly. We have been in for 15 yrs and of all the base we have been at this one is way down on the list for people being friendly. On the up side there is TONS of stuff to do in the area.



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Jennifer Coate says:
May 31, 2010 at 11:30 am

The Olympia area school district, (anything in zipcode 98501) is an excellent choice. Best housing choices off post in this area are off of Boulevard ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú walking or short bus ride distance to 2 elementary schools, Washington Middle School, and Olympia High School. 20 minute commute to post.


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susanna says:
May 31, 2010 at 10:41 am

Special Needs:
Information as of 3/2010
I have a daughter with Down Syndrome and the first year after every change (move, teacher, schools) is a struggle for everyone. When we first came here, my daughter attended McKenny and nothing for special needs children was in place NOTHING!
We were lucky that she had a very able 4th grade teacher that knew how to deal with this situation. It wasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t until February that a program was finally established and the district had found a wonderful teacher for our ?¢‚ǨÀúLEARN?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ program. Please note the LEARN program is for for the academically delayed children, LEAP is for children with behavioral issues. In regards to the LEARN program: There are 2 locations in Olympia School District a. Brown ES and b. McKenny. I was told that Brown had more advanced children whereas McKenny serves more delayed children.
I have heard only good things from Brown and I am personally singing McKenny?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s praises!

Finally, a few years where I didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have to worry about what or THAT my daughter learns. She is now in Middle school. The only LEARN program for the district is at Jefferson MS across town. She has to leave @7am by school bus and comes home around 3pm. That?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a long day for her, but she loves it. It hasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t always been this way. Last year was TERRIBLE. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not ideal this year either but I feel she progresses and she can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t wait to get to school. So I am leaving it alone!
I perceive Jefferson MS more of a marginal school for mainstream kids. (personal opinion)


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susanna says:
May 31, 2010 at 10:37 am

My personal take:
We belong to Olympia School District. We live on the eastern side of Olympia and I have been pretty happy with our choice so far.
Where we live there are 3 Elementary Schools close by: McKenny ES, Pioneer ES, Centennial. My youngest is attending McKenny Elementary School.
The community is wonderful and having to move often?¢‚Ǩ¬¶it means a lot to me when my son is just ?¢‚ǨÀúhappy?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ to go to school. No bullying,no violence. In case you wondered?¢‚Ǩ¬¶Centennial is first,closely followed by Pioneer, then McKenny.
Washington MS is where my oldest spent his last 3 years-before he moved up to HS. My son struggled through his time in MS but that might have been more of a personal thing. He loves Olympia High. It is just a mile down the road. It has a very good reputation and a lot of alumnis come back to visit or even work. Great programs, good equipment. Great educational atmosphere. All schools are attached to an online program where you can follow your childs?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ progress at all times. This year was the first year where this was available to all schools. We like it very much.
Also available in Olympia High School a special AP program for accelerated education. Since this program is providing free college classes this can safe you some real $$.



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susanna says:
May 31, 2010 at 10:34 am
OFF POST Schools and School Districts
A link collection for all of the mentioned school districts are at the bottom of the JBLM School Liason webpage: http://www.jblmmwr.com/SLTS.html
School Districts (East, West, and North of Joint Base Lewis-McChord):
Auburn
Bethel
Clover Park
Eatonville
Federal Way
Fife Franklin-Pierce
Peninsula
Puyallup
Steilacoom
Sumner
Tacoma
University Place
School Districts South of Ft.Lewis:
North Thurston
Olympia
Rainier
Tenino
Tumwater
Yelm



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susanna says:
May 31, 2010 at 10:31 am
JBLM ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Lewis School Liaisons Office They will help you with questions, refer you to other websites or provide telephone numbers where you can have your questions answered. http://www.fortlewismwr.com/SLTS.html
In Washington, where you live will determine which school district and school you will attend.
Regardless, of where you live on JBLM you belong to Clover Park School District URL: http://www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us/
On this website you will find links to the websites listed below. Schools on Lewis:
Beachwood ES
Clarkmoor ES
Evergreen ES
Greenwood ES
Hillside ES
Students looking to attend MS or HS will go off installation to: Woodbrook MS
or Mann MS Lakes HS
on McChord:
No Schools on McChord
-children will attend: Carter Lake ES (same school district)
Woodbrook MS
Clover Park HSSchool District URL: http://www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us/ On this website you will find links to the websites listed below.
Schools on Lewis:
Beachwood ES
Clarkmoor ES
Evergreen ES
Greenwood ES
Hillside ES
Students looking to attend MS or HS will go off installation to: Woodbrook MS
or Mann MS Lakes HS
on McChord:
No Schools on McChord
-children will attend: Carter Lake ES (same school district)
Woodbrook MS
Clover Park HS
Find reviews on schools at http://www.greatschools.org



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