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Catch up and get ahead: helping King County students reach their potential

Published 1:57 am Monday, July 6, 2026

This Seattle school’s research-based approach to reading, writing, math and executive function has been building confident learners since 1980

It is a feeling many parents know well. Their child is bright, curious and capable, but something at school isn’t clicking. The gap between potential and performance keeps widening, and the right kind of help is hard to find.

Morningside Academy was built for exactly that moment.

“A lot of our students arrive having spent years feeling like school just isn’t for them,” says principal Kathy Fox. “What changes at Morningside is that they start to see themselves as learners. That shift is everything.”

Founded in Seattle in 1980 by Dr. Kent Johnson, Morningside Academy is a non-profit school serving students in grades one through nine. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds – some from public school, some from private – and many have mild learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or ADD/ADHD. 

Every student receives individualized, steady support throughout their school day thanks to small class sizes of 10 to 12. Pictured: The faculty of Morningside Academy.

What they share is the potential to do more than their current school experience reflects.

The school’s approach centers on four core areas: reading, writing, math and executive function skills including organization, homework strategies and independent learning habits. These are the building blocks that make success in any school setting possible. 

Class sizes run 10 to 12 students per teacher, giving each student consistent, targeted support throughout the day.

Most students stay for two to three years before returning to public or private school with the skills and confidence to keep pace with their peers. The school uses rolling admissions and is currently accepting new students for September.

The admissions process is designed to be straightforward. Families begin with a conversation with the Director of Admissions, followed by a school tour and a half-day student visit that includes a snapshot assessment and a morning of classes. 

“We want families to see the school in action and get a real sense of whether it is the right fit,” Kathy says. “The process is designed to answer questions, not create more of them.”

For families who have been searching for the right fit, the next step is a conversation.

Morningside Academy is located at 1605 17th Ave. in Seattle, at the corner of Madison Ave. To learn more or to arrange a visit, contact Director of Admissions Martha Staff at morningsideacademy.org. 

Follow Morningside Academy on Facebook for updates.