Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School

Tour planning: 2027–28 school-tour schedule

Tuition and admission: cross-school comparison and checklist

At a glance

Summary

Our Lady of the Lake (OLL) is a small private Catholic preschool–grade 8 school in northeast Seattle. It combines a conventional standards-aligned academic program with daily religion, prayer, weekly Mass, service, specialist classes and K–8 continuity. It is far less expensive than the Seattle independent schools in this project, but religion is integral rather than optional, non-Catholic applicants receive lower admission priority, and the Issaquah commute would be substantial.

Enrollment and staffing

The ratio is schoolwide and should not be treated as kindergarten class size. The 2025–26 handbook roster listed one kindergarten teacher and one kindergarten instructional assistant, but staffing can change before 2027–28.

Kindergarten curriculum

OLL says its curriculum is cross-referenced to Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, Washington standards and Archdiocese of Seattle religion standards. The current K–2 page describes:

• Structured literacy and science-of-reading instruction in decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
• Writing instruction in grammar, spelling, mechanics and narrative, informational and opinion/argument forms.
• Hands-on mathematics emphasizing number sense, computation, fluency, reasoning and real-world problem-solving.
• Inquiry-based, hands-on science across physical, life, earth and space science.
• Social studies aligned to Washington standards, beginning with community, cultures, geography and civics.
• Social-emotional learning, independence, organization, collaboration and problem-solving.
• Daily Catholic religion and prayer, weekly school Mass, liturgical celebrations and service.
• Art, music, PE, Spanish, library and age-appropriate technology/STEM integration.

A legacy official kindergarten page identified SuperKids and Heggerty for literacy, Eureka Math plus Bridges Number Corner, Mystery Science, Second Step SEL and God Loves Us religion. Because the redesigned current site does not repeat those product names, confirm that they remain in use for 2027–28.

Downloaded academic resources

• OLL curriculum, assessment, admissions and cost archive
• 2025–26 Family Handbook
• Current K–2 program snapshot

Academic progress tracking

For kindergarten, progress is tracked through teacher observation, questions and discussion, written responses, portfolios, tests, performance tasks and projects. The 2025–26 handbook documents:

• A standards-based K–4 scale: 3 meeting standard, 2 approaching standard and 1 below standard.
• One progress report and one report card each trimester, for three of each per year.
• Parent-teacher-student conferences after the fall and spring grading periods; the spring conference is student-led beginning in kindergarten.
• MAP standardized testing in grades 2–8, not kindergarten.
• A six-week academic trial period for every newly enrolled student.

Request a blank kindergarten report card and current assessment calendar. Private-school results are not directly comparable to OSPI public-school report cards.

Religious program and family expectations

Catholic affiliation is not required for admission. The school reports that one quarter of students have other religious affiliations. However:

• Non-Catholic students attend religion class, which is assessed as an academic subject.
• They must be present for Mass and other religious services, although they are not required to receive Communion or other sacraments.
• All students participate in service learning. The 2025–26 handbook required five service hours annually for PreK–grade 2.
• Families must support the school's Catholic identity and policies.

This is a central fit question, not a minor enrichment detail. The family should read the current handbook and observe a Mass or religion class before applying.

Admissions

OLL requires kindergarten applicants to be five by August 31 immediately before the school year, with no exceptions.

2027–28 application steps

1. Tour the school or attend an open house.
2. Submit the online application and $100 non-refundable fee by the published priority deadline of December 12, 2026.
3. Submit all supporting documents promptly; later applications move to rolling admission if space remains.
4. The applicant attends a small-group kindergarten readiness assessment, normally during the first week after Christmas break in January.
5. The school reviews early literacy/language, social-emotional readiness, attention, fine-motor development, early math and classroom readiness.

The school says the screening is developmental and is not seeking prior academic acceleration. Admissions priority goes first to current families and siblings, then active OLL parishioners, other active Catholic-parish families, baptized Catholics and finally non-Catholic applicants. A non-Catholic family may apply, but admission depends on space after higher-priority groups.

Tuition, aid and family obligations

For planning, use the out-of-parish rate unless the family meets every in-parish criterion: at least one parent is baptized Catholic, the family has been registered at OLL parish for at least six months with a stewardship commitment, and the family actively participates in parish life including regular Sunday Mass. A transferring Catholic family may instead provide a pastor's letter.

Need-based assistance is administered through the Fulcrum/FACTS process and OLL's scholarship fund. The school says families must reapply annually; Fulcrum applications are typically due December 31 and award notices normally arrive by February 28. Confirm the applicable deadline in the application portal.

Tuition is not the complete cost. Budget for uniforms, supplies, care, field trips, fundraising expectations and possible service-hour charges. The 2025–26 handbook also described an auction procurement obligation; confirm the 2027–28 amount because it is not stated on the current tuition page.

Culture and student support

Verified information

• OLL describes itself as welcoming and inclusive while explicitly Catholic in mission and instruction.
• The school uses a collaborative, tiered support model involving teachers, specialists, families and outside providers.
• The 2025–26 roster included reading and math specialists, a counselor and primary instructional support.
• The handbook says students with learning differences are considered individually based on the school's resources and ability to provide accommodations.
• Families or the resident public district may remain responsible for additional special-education services.
• K–5 students visit the library weekly.

Questions requiring direct confirmation

• Current reading/math intervention staffing and how often support occurs.
• Capacity for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, speech-language, occupational therapy or behavioral needs.
• Whether accommodations are documented in a Student Support Plan and how that differs from an IEP.
• Kindergarten recess, child-directed play and outdoor time.

Logistics

• Location: Wedgwood/Ravenna area of northeast Seattle.
• Commute from Issaquah: likely long and traffic-sensitive; measure during the actual 7:15–8:15 a.m. window.
• No home-to-school bus service was identified in the published materials.
• K–8 X-Care: approximately 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., including Monday early dismissal; the current published rate is $9 per hour.
• The handbook describes X-Care as supervised care rather than a full enrichment program.
• Uniforms are required.
• K–8 continuity avoids a fifth-grade school transition.

Fit considerations

Possible strengths

• Small-school setting with an average 1:15 K–8 ratio.
• Explicit foundational literacy and standards-aligned academics.
• Art, music, PE, Spanish, library, technology and service beginning in elementary grades.
• Three progress-report cycles and three report cards each year.
• Reading, math, counseling and tiered-support resources are publicly identified.
• K–8 continuity and before/after care.
• Published tuition is substantially below the independent-school options already researched.

Possible concerns

• Daily Catholic formation, religion grading, prayer and Mass are required parts of the experience.
• Non-Catholic applicants have the lowest stated admission priority.
• Long daily commute from Issaquah and no identified school bus.
• Family volunteer and fundraising obligations add time and possible cost.
• The 2025–26 handbook assigns 10–20 minutes of homework Monday–Thursday in kindergarten and first grade.
• Private-school support capacity and public outcome data are more limited than in a public district.
• The published 2026–27 tuition will not be the final 2027–28 price.

Information needed before deciding

• 2027–28 tuition, fees and complete fundraising obligations.
• Expected 2027–28 kindergarten enrollment, teacher and assistant staffing.
• Blank kindergarten report card and sample progress report.
• Current curriculum product names and kindergarten assessment calendar.
• Daily schedule, recess, outdoor time and play/choice time.
• A prospective student's comfort with the religious environment and readiness screening.
• Actual commute time and X-Care availability.

Visit notes

No visit recorded yet.

Questions for the school

• Which reading, phonics, math, science, religion and SEL programs will kindergarten use in 2027–28?
• Can you share a blank kindergarten report card and assessment calendar?
• How many children and adults do you expect in kindergarten?
• What does a complete kindergarten day look like, including recess, outdoor time, choice time, prayer and Mass?
• How do non-Catholic kindergarten families typically experience religion class and weekly Mass?
• What services can the reading specialist, math specialist and counselor provide to a kindergartener?
• What are the 2027–28 tuition, registration, auction, fundraising and X-Care charges?
• How many non-Catholic kindergarten applicants were admitted from the last two priority-deadline pools?
• Are there existing Issaquah-area carpools?

Decision notes

• Current status: Researching; 2027–28 priority deadline is 2026-12-12
• Overall assessment: Worth touring if the family is comfortable with required Catholic formation and the commute
• Confidence: Medium on published curriculum and costs; low on personal fit, class details and commute
• Next action: Schedule a fall 2026 tour, request the kindergarten report card/daily schedule and submit by 2026-12-12 if still interested

Sources

• OLL home page — accessed 2026-08-22
• Fast facts — accessed 2026-08-22
• Academics and learning expectations — accessed 2026-08-22
• K–2 program — accessed 2026-08-22
• Academic enrichment — accessed 2026-08-22
• Student support — accessed 2026-08-22
• Application process — accessed 2026-08-22
• Admissions assessments — accessed 2026-08-22
• K–8 tuition — accessed 2026-08-22
• Tuition assistance — accessed 2026-08-22
• Volunteering — accessed 2026-08-22
• Before and after care — accessed 2026-08-22
• 2025–26 Family Handbook — accessed 2026-08-22

Change log

• 2026-09-10: Clarified that the Washington public-school ranking does not apply to private schools.
• 2026-08-22: Initial profile and curriculum/admissions archive created.