This history of Viewlands Elementary 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.
Overlooking Puget Sound
In 1911, children in the western part of Oak Lake School District No. 51 had to cross a highway and interurban tracks to get to Oak Lake School. For the safety of younger children, a one-room schoolhouse was built at 105th and Greenwood housing grades 1-2. This Little Green School remained open after World War I, as Bethel Presbyterian Church held services there in 1919.
The property was owned by Nils B. Ryeburg, a Swedish immigrant who had purchased it around 1909 and operated a dairy farm until he retired in 1941. In 1949, the property was purchased by the Shoreline School District. In the early 1950s, Shoreline School District No. 412 began to plan for a school there to relieve overcrowding at Broadview School. Named Viewlands for its location overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, the building was under construction when the area was annexed to the City of Seattle on July 1, 1954. It opened as a Seattle public school in September 1954 with an enrollment of 584 pupils, mainly from Broadview, Oak Lake, Greenwood, and Crown Hill. Because enrollment was larger than expected, a room originally planned for use as a library was converted into a classroom.
An expanded learning resource center opened in September 1972 along with a portable that housed an activity center and a double portable used for PE classes. At the same time, two special education classes started at Viewlands. In 1974-1975, the school integrated three classes of students with learning disabilities into regular classrooms. In 1982, Viewlands received about 100 students when Oak Lake School closed, and enrollment climbed to 397. The school served grades K-6 through 1988. In the early 1990s, several innovative learning programs were launched that saw rising test scores and increased reading comprehension among students.
Near Carkeek Park
With its location above Carkeek Park, nature and the environment played an important role in the school’s history. For example, students in the Salmon in the Classroom program raised chum salmon and released them into Piper’s Creek. Each November, they viewed the returning salmon as they swam up the creek. In 1997, the school established an Ethnobotanical Garden in Carkeek Park.
In 2006, Viewlands enrolled 206 students, making it the smallest school in the district and one of the smallest in the state. That year, administrators decided to close the building, merging the school with Broadview-Thomson. By 2009, however, enrollment in the district was on the upswing and the school reopened in 2011. Because it had been closed for several years, a number of repairs and improvements were needed, including modernized classrooms and a new K-5 playscape.
When Viewlands reopened in 2011, much of its academic focus centered on environmental science, creating an atmosphere where students could use the school grounds and Carkeek Park to extend their learning beyond the classroom walls. In 2019, the school was recognized by the state for its success in closing opportunity gaps. Also in 2019, the district began plans to replace Viewlands Elementary with a new multi-story building of approximately 106,000 square feet, providing classroom space for up to 650 students. An initial collaborative design process was held, involving school leaders, parents, and community members. Recommendations included infusing the site with natural light, using the natural environment to provide outdoor learning opportunities, and providing large gathering spaces for celebrations and community events.
Demolition of the existing school took place in August 2021 and construction began in January 2022. The building was designed to fit into the neighborhood and to maximize its unique location adjoining Carkeek Park. The replacement school opened in 2023. During construction, students transferred to John Marshall School.
History
Little Green School
Location: 105th and Greenwood
Building: One-room schoolhouse
1911: Opened with grades 1-2
n.a.: Closed
Viewlands Elementary School
Location: 10525 3rd Avenue NW
Building: 1-story concrete block
Architect: Mallis & DeHart
Site: 7.5 acres
1954: Opened on September 8
1972: Learning resource center added
1979: Seismic upgrade
2006: School closed; merged temporarily with Broadview-Thomson
2011: Viewlands reopened; seismic and building upgrades made (Mahlum Architects)
2019: Planning began for new replacement school (Mahlum Architects)
2021: School closed for construction; students relocated to John Marshall as interim site
2023: New school opened (Mahlum Architects)
Viewlands Elementary School in 2023
Enrollment: 352
Address: 10523 3rd Avenue NW
Configuration: K-5
Nickname: Orca
Colors: Red and white
