Smart Start Day School

Center · Seattle · 12729 35th Ave NE

What kind of place is this?

Size 32 children licensed Smaller than the middle half of Seattle centers, where the middle half licenses 43–121. Measured across 576 Seattle centers, 2026-08-17.
Established 2014
Approach play-based

In the program’s own words

“SmartStart is a small, 32 student, child care center offering an excellent play-based preschool program along with an individualized, enriching curriculum.” smartstartschool.net, August 2026

How this compares

Washington DCYF cited something at 4 of the 4 visits below. Across Seattle centers it cites something at about 67% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Seattle with Seattle and never with another state.

Who will be with our child?

Toddler 1 teacher to 6 children Rooms of 12
Preschool 1 teacher to 6–10 children Rooms of 9–12

Will it fit our family?

Hours 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Schedule full-day

What will it cost us?

Monthly tuition $1,920–$2,098
Part-time $1,235–$1,570/mo
Application fee $165

What Shortlist has verified

License status Active

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
March 31, 2026
On file
4 visits since May 2023 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
SeriousIt was observed that faculty member JJ has not completed the Mandated Reporter: Child Abuse & Neglect training. Date Disputed Date Disputed · March 31, 2026

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.

Mar 2026 Licensing visit 4 findings

Licensing visit · March 31, 2026

Outdoor early learning program space

WAC 110-300-0145(11) · Short Term

It was observed that gate 1 did not self-close. Date Disputed Date Disputed

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(4) · Serious

It was observed that faculty member JJ has not completed the Mandated Reporter: Child Abuse & Neglect training. Date Disputed Date Disputed

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

It was observed that children 1, 3, and 4 did not have updated Immunization records and child 5 did not have medically verified immunization records. Date Disputed Date Disputed

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

It was observed that a toilet plunger was stored in the bathroom accessible to children in the Forest Ranger classroom.

Report (PDF)

Mar 2025 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · March 5, 2025

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious

It was observed that a plastic slide was placed over approximately 1" of woodchips that were in good condition.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious

It was observed that an EpiPen was onsite for a child where the prescription and medication expired 11/2024.

Report (PDF)

May 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · May 14, 2024

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

110-300-0260(1)(d) Three step cleaning solution bottles were accessible to children in care.

Report (PDF)

May 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · May 24, 2023

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious · No longer displayed by the state

110-300-0260(1)(a) cleaning/sanitizing products were not in a location that was inaccessible to children in care.

Report (PDF)

Before you tour

Smart Start Day School hasn’t published

Sick and biting policies.

Ask what changed after the six findings Washington DCYF ranked Serious, most recently in March 2026.It does not publish whether a finding was fixed. The rest carry its lower risk levels.

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.

What kind of place is this

Who will be with our child

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: ages served, days / week, holiday closures.

What will it cost us

Pricing per provider website, checked July 2026.

Licensing and contact

State record

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

Do you run Smart Start Day School? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.