Which would be better Portland,or Seattle or cali?

How does school work in Seattle?

• I'm thinking of becoming an elementary school teacher. I currently live in Cali but would like to move to Seattle for the job :) I was just wondering what the schools are like as in what grades they go up to, since here in my city, elementary is only K-6, but other cities have K-8 in elementary. Also, do the classrooms look like the ones on T.V/Movies with everyone having single desks? I've never seen an elementary like that in Cali, which is why I'm always surprised as to why they put that in media. Thanks (:

• Answer:

  In Seattle school district, most of the elementary schools are K-5 (59 schools). But some are K-8 (10 K-8 elementary/middle schools). Seattle school district covers only Seattle city limits - and some the other school districts in the nearby communities are a little different. Lynnwood school district goes K-6 in elementary. Northshore SD is K-6, Everett SD is K-5. Do the classrooms look like the ones on TV? Some do. At my daughter's school, the K classes had the kids all sitting at large tables. Every other class (grades 1-5) she's had her own single desk. Most of the time teachers group them together into rows or "tables", but she's got a desk that is just hers. Just how the desks are arranged in each class seems to be up to the discretion of the teacher. And for 3 years she's had the chance to choose to sit on a yoga ball instead of a chair. As an adult visitor it's a bit hard to watch the waves of "activity" as the kids bounce in their seats, but the teachers are very positive that the yoga balls let help the kids burn excess energy and stay focused on academics more easily.