Odyssey is a public school of choice within the Bainbridge Island School District. Odyssey offers students a multiage, personalized, non-traditional learning environment where students have a voice. This is a different learning environment than the other district schools with additional parent involvement.  Odyssey may not be the right fit for all students due to the level of small groups, independent work and project-based learning. 

Enrollment is based on a lottery application process each year. Due to class size and the multiage program, space is limited. Our class sizes are consistent with Bainbridge Island School District class averages. These students are then divided into the multiage 1/2 clusters, the 3/4 clusters, 5/6 clusters and 7/8 clusters. Kindergarten class size is set at 20 students or less. To ensure that spaces are allotted in a fair manner, Odyssey K-8 employs a lottery system for enrollment and siblings have enrollment priority. 

Odyssey K-8 is centrally located in the Commodore Options building, but K-6 bus service is only available to students living in the Ordway Elementary boundary. Odyssey 7/8 students can access bus transportation with the 9-12 students, which supports all Bainbridge school zones. Please refer to the transportation page on the BISD website regarding routes and how to contact transportation.

Odyssey K-8 Enrollment Process:

1. Odyssey applications are due by the end of February/ early March each year. See Odyssey enrollment page for 2025 due dates.
2. The lottery is completed within two weeks of the application deadline with building and district administration. (A random lottery for each grade level.)
3. Siblings of current Odyssey students have priority enrollment if space is available in their grade level.
4. Odyssey 5th-8th final class lists will be shared in late August due to new enrollments, classroom balancing, and summer changes.
5. We keep applications on file for the current year if space becomes available due to enrollment changes.
6. Odyssey Kindergarten students are self-contained and throughout the year they are introduced to the 1/2 classrooms and have Big Buddies for reading and recess support.
7. The K-2 teachers meet in May to discuss class placement for rising 1st graders. They base their recommendations on sibling priorities, multiage class balance, and learning styles. Kindergarten parents complete a survey to share feedback about their child's learning and behavior needs for the staff to consider.
8. Each spring, the Odyssey staff hosts Orientations for new families and students to welcome them and share more about the program and community agreements
9. Odyssey PTO is an active and supportive group of parents who connect with new families and provide opportunities for communication, volunteering, and family social events.

Internal clarifications: 

1. Exit meetings when families leave or transition to another program/school. Meeting with the Principal and encouraged with classroom teachers prior to exiting to support a positive transition.
2. Siblings may choose to be in different clusters; or parents may request it if space is available.
3. Teachers/staff go by first names.
4. Volunteering is an essential support for the program and the classroom, including enrichment activities.
5. Outdoor ed experiences K-8 with parent support to build community
6. Positive discipline and Character Strong lessons & instructional strategies through class meetings support the Odyssey philosophy of student voice, choice and learning partnerships.
7. Monthly Parent meetings are essential to build community, support family engagement, and encourage collaborative communication.
8. Island residents get priority enrollment. Non-Resident choice transfer process found here: Choice Transfer Link Page.
9. Class placement requests or teacher change requests are considered but will occur only when space allows, or there is a sibling request, or by principal discretion. (We are a K-8 community and support all of our student needs, and all of our teachers are a collaborative team.)

***Math Placement or advancement is based on student data, Fastbridge screening, SBA results, teacher and parent recommendation, and available space in the advanced classroom.