FAQs
Where did the name Trillium come from?
Trillium plants are perennial herbs native to temperate regions of North America and Asia. The name "trillium” comes from the Latin word "trilix," meaning "triple," which refers to the plant's three leaves, three petals, and three sepals. Trilliums are known for their beauty, resilience, and ability to thrive in diverse environments. These plants often grow in shaded, forested areas and can take years to bloom, but once they do, they are a sight to behold. The trillium's unique structure and growth process symbolizes strength, patience, and the beauty of individual development—traits that resonate deeply with our educational philosophy.
The trillium plant is more than just a beautiful flower; it is a symbol of the unique developmental paths that our 2e students traverse. At Trillium Academy, we are committed to providing the nurturing environment our students need to thrive. Our name serves as a constant reminder of our mission to celebrate the incredible capabilities of our students and to provide them with the opportunities they need to lead successful and enriching lives. Welcome to Trillium Academy, where every student has the chance to bloom!
Is after care available?
We have after care until 4pm for no charge. There are fee-based after school camps that run until 5pm or 5:30pm but only run on certain days. There is a registration process for those once the school year is up and running.
What is Tuition and do you offer Financial Aid?
Tuition is $47,000 annually. About 14% of the students at Trillium are benefiting from financial aid. We'd love to be able to offer more and are exploring ways to make that possible. For students entering mid-year, tuition is prorated according to month of entry.
What is Trillium Academy's policy on homework?
We believe that homework should be purposeful and relevant to the learning objectives of each course. Our teachers assign homework as needed to reinforce classroom learning, and provide feedback to students to help them improve their understanding and skills.
What are the qualifications of Trillium Academy's teachers?
All of our teachers are highly qualified and experienced professionals with degrees in their respective fields. They undergo regular professional development and training to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching practices and technologies.
Instruction
Most classes at Trillium Academy are site-based; however, there are many opportunities for students to travel off campus to enhance their learning through field trips, passion projects, internships (in development for future programming), and partnerships with nearby schools and businesses. Instruction is delivered through a myriad of methods proven to enable success in both gifted and neurodivergent educational communities. Instructional styles are flexible, fluid, and emergent, based on the needs of the learner. Technology is used thoughtfully to augment the students’ educational experience.
Cirriculum
The Staffulty at Trillium Academy endeavor to look beyond rote learning and high stakes testing environments, opting instead for curricula aligning with the XQ Portrait of a Learner - Core Competencies. Toddle is the chosen Learning Management System and the Wayfinder program is used for Advisory and Social Emotional Learning classes. Our classes draw from a wide collection of curricula including: William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education, OpenSciEd, InquiryHub, OpenUp Resources, Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), AoPS Beast Academy, Illustrative Mathematics. Our curriculum decisions are also informed by the Washington State, Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards.
Here is a breakdown of classes offered for each division:
- Lower School (grades 4-6): Humanities/Language Arts, Math, STEM
- Middle School (grades 7 and 8): Integrated Studies - Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math (Algebra and Geometry), STEM
- High School (grades 9-12): Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Math Foundations, Integrated Algebra and Geometry, PreCalculus, Calculus, Statistics, Computer Science, Spanish, Humanities (English & History), Student Government, Design Lab (STEM), Skills for Living on Your Own (grades 11 and 12), Academic Electives include Shakespeare. Creative Writing, Geology, Psychology.
- All students receive Physical & Health Education, Visual and Performing Arts, Social Emotional Learning, and coaching for practicing and developing Executive Function Skills.
- Exploration Projects, Enrichment Clusters, Yearbook, and Independent Study are offered to all grade levels.
Philosophy of Education
Trillium Academy operates on the belief that strength-based education is the key to unlocking a world of opportunity for twice-exceptional (2e) learners. Students’ unique developmental paths are embraced, and stakeholders acknowledge the intersection of their strengths and challenges. This creates an inclusive environment where every community member is valued and respected, celebrating the diverse experiences and perspectives they contribute. Trillium Academy is a place where students are free to unmask and discover how an environment that adjusts to them redefines their relationship with schooling.
Twice-exceptional individuals have exceptional abilities in some areas (like verbal and non-verbal reasoning, imagination, and creation) AND have exceptional challenges in other areas (like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dysgraphia).
Trillium Academy stakeholders know that 2e students have complex and varying learning needs due to their asynchronous development, making it challenging for them to thrive in a conventional education setting. Twice-exceptional students often love learning but hate school because they desire to direct their own learning and don't believe in hierarchical power structures. Trillium Academy makes decisions that prioritize students' needs, respecting and promoting their autonomy while minimizing unnecessary demands. Trillium Academy is committed to best practices in gifted and 2e education by offering hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences where students are not frustrated by artificial time constraints. Trillium Academy provides opportunities for students to address real-world issues through passion projects, internships and facilitating career development and talent exploration.
What is Trillium Academy's approach to teaching and learning?
At Trillium Academy, we believe in a student-centered approach to teaching and learning. Our teachers focus on individual student needs and interests, and use a variety of teaching methods to engage and challenge our students.
Are Trillium Academy and Bridges Academy the same school?
The former Bridges Academy Seattle community is excited to become Trillium Academy, a locally governed independent school for twice-exceptional (2e) students. The early partnership with Bridges Academy in Los Angeles planted a start-up school in fertile Seattle soil in 2022. The quick growth of the school in its first two years demonstrated a strong demand for a school that celebrates and supports the uniquely complex population of 2e students, as well as, a need to have governance decisions made locally. The work of everyone who supported the foundation of Bridges Academy Seattle will live on in the success of Trillium Academy.