MILESTONES OF GROWTH
OUR HISTORY
What began with a bold idea is now a thriving community of gifted learners.
Open Window School was founded in 1983 by two parents who opened their home to a group of intellectually gifted preschoolers. What they offered was couldn’t find anywhere else on the Eastside: a school where bright, curious children could be seen for who they truly were—children first, gifted second.
| In 1985, Open Window officially incorporated and added an elementary program. For the next several years, the school lived in borrowed spaces, including a church basement and then the former Lake Heights Elementary School, where it shared space with the YMCA. Despite humble facilities, the vision was always expansive: to nurture the whole child through a balance of academic challenge, creativity, and social-emotional care. |
That vision took root and grew.
The early 2000s ushered in a new era of stability and momentum. Open Window strengthened its mission, vision, curriculum, governance, and identity. The growing school needed a permanent home, and in 2001, it found one. Open Window purchased 7.6 acres on Cougar Mountain and built a campus that matched its mission. In 2004, the school moved into its new home and enrollment leapt forward.
In 2007, Open Window launched its middle school. It was named first as Vista Academy, later unified under one K–8 identity. The first eighth-grade class graduated in 2010, and new spaces were added to support the division’s growth. By 2011, Open Window had become the only NWAIS-accredited K–8 school on the Eastside intentionally designed for gifted learners. During this time, the school refined its vision further, introducing its five core values and expanding its reputation as a leader in gifted education.
Elaine Christensen became Head of School in 2020, bringing deep experience and a forward-looking approach to the role. Under her leadership, the school has expanded its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging efforts, upgraded facilities across campus, and has continued to grow as a leader in gifted education both locally and nationally.
| TODAY, OPEN WINDOW SERVES 360 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. |
Our lower school blends foundational skills with curiosity-fueled inquiry.
Our middle school challenges students to think deeply, collaborate boldly, and grow into resilient, empathetic leaders who have a bias for action to make positive change in the world. We are recognized for our work in gifted education, including educational innovation, student research, and thoughtful integration of technology.
From a single classroom to a purpose-built campus on top of a mountain, Open Window’s story is one of vision, intention, community, and a shared commitment to gifted education.
We exist because generations of educators, families, and students believed in the power of a school where gifted learners could thrive.
