Visit us at 925 Court C in Downtown Tacoma!

Seabury Middle School

An innovative, dynamic program for gifted students in grades 6-8.

Imagine Loving Middle School!

When the city is your classroom, there is no limit to learning opportunities. A study of civics becomes an opportunity to visit courtrooms and city council meetings, and to meet with government leaders. Studying the history and architecture of Tacoma means doing original research using local archives and working with local historians and architects to visit and study your subject in person. Studying the influence of Mt. Rainier, its glaciers, and its rivers on the development of the region means hiking to a glacier with a glaciologist from a local university and meeting with farmers who depend on the river for their rich, Puyallup Valley soil. Leadership and community service means creating a mural to bring life and color to a drab alley, and means involvement with meaningful projects that make a positive difference in the community.

Seabury Middle School's program is founded on the belief that students learn and grow most deeply when they are engaged in projects that are relevant, engaging, challenging and meaningful. Working in collaboration, not only with other middle school students, but with community organizations and local experts, students have the opportunity to develop leadership, participate in community service, and engage in rigorous studies that truly make a difference in their own lives and in their community. During the middle school years, when students are beginning to develop their sense of themselves in the world, Seabury Middle School give students the opportunity to learn, lead and serve in ways that are not possible in traditional schoool programs.

Program Overview

Located on a satellite campus in downtown Tacoma, Seabury's unique middle school program provides academically challenging, developmentally appropriate, relevant learning experiences specifically tailored to meet the intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of highly capable middle school students.

The centerpiece of Seabury’s innovative program is a series of integrated, experiential, projects in which the community serves as the classroom. Students work with teachers to form the questions as well as discover the answers through high level, multidisciplinary units of study formed around real issues and challenges facing both the local and global community. Study and research takes place both in the classroom and through partnerships with local organizations and leaders, allowing students to work side by side with local experts. Courses of study that are not fully addressed through multidisciplinary units, such as math and French, are taught as stand alone classes in order to ensure that students exiting the program meet and exceed requirements for the most rigorous high school programs.

Seabury's middle school program is designed to allow students to discover their gifts and develop their talents as they serve their community, both local and global. The program's focus on creative and analytical thinking, on quality research, and on developing strong communication skills prepares students for success in life, as well as success in school.

Located in the heart of Tacoma's theater district, students and teachers reach out to resources in the downtown and surrounding neighborhood to extend learning beyond the classroom walls. Partnerships with local organizations including universities, museums, government agencies, local businesses and non-profit organizations allow students to apply learning in various settings within the community.

Middle school students use the downtown Tacoma Public Library as well as their laptop computers to access information resources. Twice a week, students go to the downtown YMCA for formal physical education activities, and other days include walks to field study locations. Local artists provide arts education including music, drama, and fine arts, on a rotating basis.

Transportation:

Seabury provides a shuttle bus between campuses before and after school. Contact Seabury's office for more information about bus transportation in the 2010-2011 school year.