In a significant achievement for water safety education across North America, Goldfish Swim School is celebrating the opening of its 200th location in Sherwood, Oregon. The milestone represents a remarkable journey for a brand that has grown from a single swim school in 2006 to become one of the nation’s premier learn-to-swim franchises, an accomplishment achieved by only 5% of franchise systems.
The new Sherwood location, which opened its doors to the community in October, marks more than just a business expansion—it represents a deepening commitment to water safety education and drowning prevention. With indoor, year-round swim instruction for children ages 4 months to 12 years old, the location joins thriving West Linn, OR and Vancouver, WA locations that opened in the Portland area earlier this year, creating a network of water safety education centers serving families throughout the region.
A Vision Realized
The story behind Goldfish Swim School’s success begins with founders Jenny and Chris McCuiston, who recognized a critical need for high-quality swimming instruction in the early 2000s. What started as Jenny’s experience as a swim instructor evolved into a comprehensive vision for creating safe, fun, and stimulating environments where children could develop essential life skills.
“Reaching our 200th location is an incredible milestone that represents passionate franchisees like Alex Tyler who share our mission of making every child a safer swimmer,” said Chris McCuiston, Co-Founder and CEO of Goldfish Swim School. “This achievement belongs to every franchisee who believed in our vision and every instructor who makes the Goldfish difference in communities across North America.”
The Franchisee Behind the Milestone
The Sherwood location is owned by Alex Tyler, a former competitive swimmer, father of two, and owner of six Goldfish Swim School locations. Tyler’s dedication to the brand recently earned him the first-ever Goldfish Swim School Franchisee of the Year award for his unwavering support and community impact.
“It is my honor to celebrate the 200th opening for Goldfish Swim School here with my team,” Tyler said. “My mission is to ensure that all children have a safe, fun, and friendly place in their community to learn this life-saving skill. We are excited about the opportunity to welcome more and more families into our schools as we expand our reach and impact.”
Tyler’s commitment extends beyond his Oregon locations. For the past decade, he has organized annual mission trips to Gales Point, Belize, bringing teams of Goldfish instructors to provide swim lessons to children in the remote fishing village where water is abundant but swim instruction is scarce.
The Science of SwimPlay®
What sets Goldfish Swim School apart is its unique educational philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. This approach combines guided play with a safe environment—two factors that research shows are essential for children’s cognitive development. The curriculum goes beyond teaching swimming strokes; it builds confidence, social skills, and intrinsic motivation through constant encouragement, achievement recognition, and a fun, play-filled atmosphere. The school’s feature shiver-free pools maintained at a comfortable 90 degrees year-round, creating an inviting tropical-themed environment.
Celebrating with the Community
To mark this historic milestone, Goldfish Swim School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 14th at the Sherwood location, welcoming leadership including Co-Founder and CEO Chris McCuiston, President Andrew McCuiston, Chief Operating Officer Mike Skitzki, and franchisee Alex Tyler. The event, held in partnership with the Sherwood Area Chamber of Commerce, featured facility tours, remarks from leadership and local officials, refreshments, and a special appearance by the Goldfish Swim School mascot, Bubbles.
Looking Ahead
Following 16 years of historic growth across 40 U.S. states and Canada, Goldfish Swim School shows no signs of slowing down. The brand is preparing for continued expansion in 2026 and beyond, driven by a mission that remains as vital today as when the first location opened: making every child a safer swimmer.
With drowning remaining a leading cause of accidental death for children, the importance of quality swim instruction cannot be overstated. Each new Goldfish Swim School represents hundreds of children gaining life-saving skills, confidence in the water, and the courage to make waves in life.
The Sherwood location is located at 21558 SW Langer Farms Parkway, Sherwood, OR 97140, and offers a full range of programs from infant swim lessons to the Goldfish Swim Force swim team. As Goldfish Swim School celebrates this momentous achievement, the focus remains clear: providing every child with the platform to build essential life skills, overcome fears, and discover their potential—one stroke at a time.