community-centered education, critical curriculum, student choice, accountability, & collaboration. Engage the Community. Act with Courage. [email protected]
Puget Sound Community School (PSCS) is an independent middle and high school, located in the heart of the Chinatown neighborhood of the International District in Downtown, Seattle. PSCS staff serves students and families invested in collaborative leadership, social and global responsibility, kindness- and community-centered education. We believe that people are intrinsically compelled by our inna
te curiosity and desire to learn; when provided choice, positive support, comprehensive accountability, and a responsive curriculum—taught by engaged, multi-skilled teachers—we will all enthusiastically pursue meaningful goals and purpose. As far as this is true for adults, we see how these shared instincts also cultivate conscientious, community-minded, and self-motivated young people. The approaches used at PSCS foster creativity, flexibility, and compassion, while encouraging students and staff to focus deeper on those activities and classes that bring them joy and purpose. To do this, PSCS offers one-on-one Advising relationships and curricula built around student interest, growth, and need. Additional community expectations are designed to scaffold growth in understanding social and restorative justice, and personal, contextual, and responsible identity. In an effort to build upon the collaborative and equitable vision of the school, PSCS parents, staff, and the Board of Trustees recently agreed to invest in non-hierarchical administration and collaborative leadership, rather than in a traditional Head of School. This decision resulted in the formation of an Administrative Team that functions in close cooperation with the Teaching Staff. Students who fully embrace the program offered at PSCS show consistent progress in self-expression, leadership, and skill-building in almost any endeavor, and start to recognize they are part of something bigger than themselves. We ask students to dedicate themselves to the school’s three Core Commitments: Practice Integrity.
Operating as usual
02/13/2025
PSCS alum, Mara and Esther, visited Community Hour this week to share what they’ve been up to these last two years since graduating from PSCS (‘23). Mara presented on her time at Pima Medical Institute, where she’s studying to be a veterinary technician 🐕🦺🐕🐈⬛, and her longtime work in local animal shelters supporting pet adoptions 🐾🦴and care. Esther shared about the many adventures she’s on—boatbuilding school ⛵️, boat racing, as well as continuing her longtime work coaching youth sailing teams ⚓️. We’re proud of all our alum, and are psyched to be able to check in on their passions, joys, successes, and challenges.
02/11/2025
Shop Life!
01/29/2025
PSCS at the capitol for a tour, discussion, and a mock trial. Understand the house you live in to challenge the foundation and tear down walls!
01/20/2025
01/11/2025
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Posted • more resources & ways to donate and support. thank you 🫶🏾
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Friends, this is a lot. So many people are being touched by this wildfire crisis in Los Angeles, including our own community—friends, family, and .co cohorts.
We’ve pulled together resources for those who need them and ways to help if you’re looking to pitch in. Take a look, donate if you can, and share this so others can find what they need.
The helpers are already stepping in. Let’s keep it going—share what you can, talk about climate action, and check in on your neighbors. We’re always better together.
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12/12/2024
🎶 VIPs let’s kick it! 🎶
Check out some books while Club Party revolves it….
❄️ 🐙 ICE ICE OTIS 🐙 ❄️
Alright, we’ll 🛑 stop . But please, don’t let it stop you from joining our students and staff for our last event of 2024: PSCS Winter Alum Homecoming & Community Gathering THIS Saturday, December 14 from 1-3:30pm. And if you missed it, 🐙 Otis 🐙 is the name of the PSCS mascot, as voted by students and staff two years ago (check him out at the bottom of this email).
This party will feature cookie decorating 🍪, hot cocoa bar ☕, and Campfire 🔥(the PSCS version of an Open Mic/Talent Show, not the open flames). Come cheer on your community while enjoying some holiday cheer!
12/07/2024
Day 1 Winter Maker’s Market done! Don’t worry though, we’re at it again tomorrow at PSCS from 1-3pm—drink warm beverages ☕️, listen to live original music from Brayden and alum Oscar 🎸, while holiday shopping for handmade crafts, art, bath bombs (rest is resistance), jewelry, baked goods, MERRIMENT, and more.
All that, and support Tuition Access as well?! Be here or be ⬜️
12/04/2024
This Friday and Saturday join us at PSCS for our first Winter Maker’s Market! As a teaser of the amazing art you will find, check out the artist spotlights! We hope to see you this weekend ❤️
11/24/2024
PSCS lego Flex!
11/24/2024
Puget Sound Community School staff prepared a shifted schedule for Wednesday 11/6—in response to the realities and anxieties of the election. Regardless of the outcome, there was the possibility that the race would be contested and that there may be an uptick in local violence (of which the C-ID would likely bear a brunt), and that, either way, everyone would need time to process and react, plan for safety, learn from each other, and share our worries and hopes.
While in planning we didn’t know yet who would be elected, we knew PSCS by our nature will be deeply affected by the outcome. As a school that eschews grades and standardized testing, centers collaboration, experience, and traditionally excluded narratives, encourages banned books, intersectional and creative professional development, community partnerships, mutual aid, evolving pedagogy, and prioritizes equity, the PSCS community strives to exist in defiance of the status quo—imperfect but intentional. Now in our 31st year, we seek to continue to embody Community as resistance. “Without community, there is no liberation” (Audre Lorde). Our community knew we’d need to be prepared to address division and fear with connection and collaboration.
And with food.
Full text at pscs.org
11/21/2024
Come join the PSCS community while supporting local artists AND raise money for the PSCS Tuition Access Fund. Vendors will be selling their amazing homemade crafts, snacks, & clothing with 10% of the sales going directly to the Tuition Access Fund! Save the dates & bring your friends!!
11/17/2024
Today at 12:30! Meet staff and students, snack, and hear about our community centered program!
11/09/2024
Two PSCS Young Eagles got to fly for real for real with Scobie!
Founded in 1994, Puget Sound Community School (PSCS) is a small Washington State approved, progressive, independent middle and high school—centrally located in Seattle's International District.
PSCS was founded upon the belief that people are intrinsically compelled by their own curiosities and desire to learn, and when provided a safe and supportive environment, they will enthusiastically pursue meaningful interests and set, and reach, challenging goals. PSCS staff are multi-disciplined, diverse people of high character, who’s job it is to help students consider their long- and short-term objectives, while finding ways to elevate the goals and objectives of other community members at the same time.
PSCS ultimately envisions “a community of ambassadors for a philosophy that values kindness, wholeness, and social justice.” As we continually strive to reach this goal, we ask PSCS students to elevate kindness in their daily lives and to treat their community-members and themselves with compassion. Students and staff are working toward understanding the differences between just being nice and truly being kind. In the pursuit of sending out alumni as advocates for a more just world, we have created a more defined social justice curriculum, and work to create a sense of belonging in school.
To do this, we infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our many activities and courses. Our staff, which includes a DEI Lead, supports this through workshops, community building activities, service requirements, affinity groups, and professional development. Some sample course offerings—from this term—include: Q***r Biographies, American Trans History, Environmental Justice, Diverse Voices, Self Care, An Indiginous People’s History of the United States, American History: Malcolm X, and more.
Many classes and activities are offered in response to direct student requests, or because a staff member or community volunteer has identified a significant topic they want to share. There are few academic requirements, but all of the traditional subjects are covered through this approach, and are transcripted for later pursuits (often, but not limited to, college and universities).
We believe that young people are truly empowered when they are free to pursue their interests without the anxiety of standardized testing and unhealthy versions of competition, and with the guidance and support of trusted adults. PSCS students are asked to dedicate themselves to our three Core Commitments: Practice Integrity. Engage the Community. Act with Courage.
02/13/2025
02/11/2025
01/29/2025
01/20/2025
01/11/2025
12/12/2024
12/07/2024
12/04/2024
11/24/2024
11/24/2024
11/21/2024
11/17/2024
11/09/2024
