Licensed center

Children's Academy of Seattle 5

A play-based center, licensed for 37 children. Graciela Ruiz (Co-Founder) has been there since 2013. The state cited something at 3 of 5 routine visits (Seattle-area centers: about 2 in 3). One complaint investigation found violations since 2023; 207 of 218 similar-size Seattle-area centers had none.

How they teach

Play-based and bilingual

“Our Spanish Immersion Program gives children the opportunity to learn Spanish in a supportive environment.”In their words. childrensacademyofseattle.com, September 2026

“Our play-based approach fosters creativity, exploration, and problem-solving, making learning engaging, hands-on, and meaningful while supporting development and growth.”In their words. childrensacademyofseattle.com, September 2026

One of 101 Seattle-area providers that describe a play-based approach, out of 256 that describe any approach at all.

Who cares for your child

Ratio not published

Graciela Ruiz (Co-Founder) since 2013 and Laura Cristobal (Co-Founder) since 2013. One other staff is named on their site, with no start year given.

Of 2,391 Seattle-area providers, 61 publish how long a named staff member has been there; the longest tenure at each of those has a median of thirteen years.

What it costs

Not published

Shortlist can ask Children's Academy of Seattle 5 for what it has not published: what it costs and sick and biting policies. The answer will go on this page.

What the state has found

One complaint investigation found violations since February 2023

207: none11: one to four0: five or more

The 218 Seattle-area centers licensed for 6 to 40 children, the size band this one falls in, as of September 26, 2026.

Larger centers have more complaint investigations, so Children's Academy of Seattle 5 (37 children) is compared with centers its size. Of those 218, 207 have had no complaint investigation that found a violation since February 2023. Children's Academy of Seattle 5 has had one. The most recent was in February 2025. Three centers its size have had more.

Routine visits: 3 of 5 cited something

Across Seattle-area centers, the state cites something at about 2 in 3 routine visits (1,966 visits).

From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked September 26, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
January 6, 2026
On file
5 visits since October 2023 — 2 cited nothing · 1 complaint investigation
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
Serious — 110-300-0106(11) Missing the first-aid and CPR certificate for the following staff memebers: Deliannys C, Lilian G, and Dina U. 110-300-0106(12) Missing the food worker card for the following staff members: Lilian G. · March 25, 2025

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Jan 2026 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)
Mar 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · March 25, 2025

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

110-300-0106(11) Missing the first-aid and CPR certificate for the following staff memebers: Deliannys C, Lilian G, and Dina U. 110-300-0106(12) Missing the food worker card for the following staff members: Lilian G.

Report (PDF)

Mar 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · March 11, 2025

Center capacity, ratio, and group size

WAC 110-300-0356(3) · Serious

At the complaint recheck on 3/11, the licensor observed 15 children in the toddler room (licensed for 14), and 18 children in the preschool classroom (licensed for 17).

Report (PDF)

Feb 2025 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · February 13, 2025 · Resolved April 14, 2025

Center capacity, ratio, and group size

WAC 110-300-0356(3) · Serious

According to the attendence record, the toddler class exceeded lts licensed capacity on 1/7, 1/14, 1/16, 1/21, 1/22, 1/27, 1/28, 1/29, 2/4, and 2/12. The preschool class exceeded its capacity limit on 1/18.

Report (PDF)

Apr 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · April 19, 2024

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

Cleaning chemicals under kitchen sink need child lock. *** Corrected during visit***

Report (PDF)

Oct 2023 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)

A day here

Meals
Homemade breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided daily (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Hours
6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week

Details

Website
childrensacademyofseattle.com
Address
9715 Firdale Ave
License
PL-81872, active
Quality program
Early Achievers Enrolled
Established
2013

Do you run Children's Academy of Seattle 5? Shortlist has no ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

How they teach

How they teach

Who cares for your child

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Details