This history of Nellie Goodhue School is taken from the second edition of Building for Learning: Seattle Public School Histories, which includes histories of every school building used by the district since its formation around 1862. The original essay was written for the 2002 first edition by Nile Thompson and Carolyn J. Marr, and updated for the 2024 edition by HistoryLink contributor Rita Cipalla.
Named for an Educator
The Shoreline Health and Guidance Center was constructed in 1946 as an administrative building by the Shoreline School District. When the Lake City District was annexed into the city of Seattle in 1954, the Nellie Goodhue school building became part of the Seattle School District. Seattle decided to turn the building into a center for children with special needs, at the same time closing nearby Woodhull Hay School. For two years, Woodhull Hay School had served this student population in the Shoreline School District in a residential-type building at 1st Avenue N and (N)E 128th Street.
Because the administrative building had been constructed with office-sized rooms, it could not accommodate large classes. This made it ideal for special education classes, which were much needed in the north end of the city. The new school was named for Nellie H. Goodhue, a retired Seattle Public Schools teacher and the first principal of Washington School. Goodhue had made pioneering contributions to the education of handicapped and exceptional children.
Nellie Goodhue School opened as an annex to Northgate in September 1954, with six classes serving about 40 pupils from the former Woodhull Hay School and 27 additional students. Through the years, the number of classes dropped to four and by 1959 there were 57 students and four teachers. Initially, transportation was furnished by Shoreline buses, which used the garages located behind the school building. Later, transportation was supplied by Seattle Transit buses, which also served Broadview, Jane Addams, and Ingraham schools. An energetic PTA, organized in 1955, actively worked to raise funds and provide additional services for the children.
Nellie Goodhue School was closed in June 1961, in line with the Seattle School District’s policy of integrating special education students into other classes when possible. Goodhue pupils were sent to Northgate and Oak Lake schools, and the building returned to its original use as an administrative center for the north end, housing a guidance center with school psychologists and social workers. The Student Assessment/Appeals Office moved from Goodhue to Wilson in summer 2000. In 2006, the district sold the 3.23-acre tract to a developer, and the property was rezoned for single-family residential.
History
Nellie Goodhue School
Location: 13720 Roosevelt Way N
Building: Brick veneer, masonry & wood frame
Architect: n.a.
Site: 3.01 acres
1946: Opened by Shoreline School District No. 412 as Shoreline Health and Guidance Center
1954: Annexed into Seattle School District on July 1; renamed Nellie Goodhue on August 13
1954-57: Operated as annex to Northgate School
1957-61: Operated as independent school
1961: Closed in June as a classroom facility
1961: Used for North (Area) Guidance Center/North Region or Region I Student Services
2006: Property sold
