Founded in 1995, the Gardner School of Arts & Sciences is southwest Washington’s premier independent, progressive student-centered learning environment, serving students from preschool through 6th grade. Inspired by the theory of multiple intelligences—identified by Harvard professor Howard Gardner—our community recognizes and honors many ways of learning, thinking, and expressing knowledge.

Our approach

Our whole-child philosophy integrates homeroom studies in mathematics, language arts, social studies, and outdoor learning with specialist teachers in five disciplines: science, music, art, Spanish, and physical education. Preschoolers enjoy music, physical education, and Spanish classes.

Additionally, our small class sizes promote individualized instruction, while our beautiful campus allows teachers to use all facets of the environment to stimulate learning. At Gardner, we believe in creating avid learners who are inspired and engaged global citizens.

We’re an independent, private school

The Gardner School of Arts & Sciences is a member of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS) and a candidate member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). We are licensed by the State of Washington Office of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington State Board of Education.

Gardner’s preschool and Pre-K programs are fully licensed through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).