Thorndyke Elementary School is a pre-K through 5th grade school in which over 400 students arrive everyday to learn and play.   Thorndyke is a school that is blessed with a rich diversity.  Students come to Thorndyke from homes in which dozens of different languages are spoken.  Thorndyke is one of three elementary schools in Tukwila, a small community within the large metropolitan area surrounding Seattle.  Our community has a fascinating history in which Thorndyke plays a significant part.  Thorndyke was named after George and Bessie Thorndike, who settled in the area in 1905.  The original Thorndyke School was a one-room school house built in 1908.  The building was improved to two rooms in 1913.  Elizabeth Rider Montgomery was a teacher at the Thorndyke School from 1921 to 1924.  She went on to become an influential writer of fiction, textbooks, and histories.  Among the books she penned were the "Dick and Jane" series of readers that were ubiquitous in schools across the country in the 1950's and 60's.  The original building, which still survives nearby, ceased being a school when local districts were consolidated in 1938.  When the population of Tukwila expanded rapidly a new Thorndyke School was built on the present site in 1969.  This school was torn down and replaced by our beautiful building in 2000.  We've come a long way since the day Thorndyke was a one-room school in a rural community.  We are proud of our history, proud of our diversity, and very proud of who we are today. 

The Thorndyke Mission Statement: 

"The Thorndyke Family is a diverse learning community working together toward academic and personal excellence"

The Thorndyke Guiding Expectations:

We "Strive for Five": Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Accepting
Be Here to Learn!

The Thorndyke Pledge: