Cascade - Open Road Driving School of Yelm

Negative experience: Horrible experience they could teach the dmv a thing or two on rudeness

Fantastic experience: We've had a really great experience! My daughter felt very confident with their one on one approach and scheduling her class was so easy. I highly recommend and bonus its affordable!

Negative experience: I've had issues with this school in the past, whether it be them picking up the phone, calling you back, or the instructor being in a sour mood all the time. I've even seen them driving through Yelm with their dog hanging out the window in the instruction vehicles.

Negative experience: This is the worst driving school I have ever seen, they taking money and finding unreasonable excuse to fail you! Even if they know that you are immigrants they have discrimination. I'm not recommending this private driving school to anyone and never want you guys to be ripped off.

Fantastic experience: "Shout out to my driving instructor Nicole! She's the best. Very professional, friendly and patient instructor. I highly recommend her. Thank you again Nicole"

Fantastic experience: Have taken all 3 kids here. Great classes for kids and adult licenses.

Negative experience: Scheduled a drive test for 11 am, and no one was in the office.

Fantastic experience: I sent my Son and my Daughter to this driving school. They both enjoyed the experience and liked the instructor's. The price was very reasonable. I recommend them to all my friends with kids needing a driver's education course.

Fantastic experience: I took my driving test here on Saturday morning. Mind you, I hate any kind of encounter where I know someone’s entire job is to judge me. Interviews. Tests. It all makes me a nervous wreck. The skills test was surprisingly painless and I never felt too harshly judged. Would recommend this school to anyone.

Negative experience: Worst experience. Talked poorly about customers behind their backs in front of us students. Were very unprofessional women who seem to just hate their jobs. Did not communicate that they were closed despite me having an appointment that day. Still have to get our money back. Took my business my business somewhere else. So should all of you

Fantastic experience: Super caring and supportive staff. Kim and Leanne went out of their way to help me, make sure I understood, and passed! I am so thankful & won't forget them. <3

Fantastic experience: They were very patient with both my children... one of which with very very little experience. They were easy to work with. My kids were comfortable and learned alot. Got a discount for signing both up at the same time, which helped. They were fair priced compared to other places in the area. Is recommend for sure! Thanks.

Fantastic experience: 2 of my teens have gone here! Ronnie is very good with the kids while also being thorough. Make sure they get their practice in with you. That's not part of their job.

Fantastic experience: I past. I cried. Im werid. I know. They are friendly and kinda awesome. I'm happy.

Negative experience: Extremely rude staff!!! Do not go here for your drive test. I’m highly disappointed. I was not told that I had to go to the DOL to get my permit, & I went in for my drive & was told to reschedule because I was late. I wasn’t late, the lady was late coming out to my car.

Negative experience: Never coming here again, the lady at the front desk was very rude and didn't explain anything properly, ignored me and just made things way harder than it had to be.

Fantastic experience: The only reason this gets 1 stars is because of the 911 driving students who are told to do so

Negative experience: I wouldn't say my first experience was a good one. I scheduled my appointment for a written exam because I needed a WA State Driver's license. When I went to test I was not late however my sister had to grab my purse to bring it to me so I could show them my ID. She arrived one minute after the hour. The lady there told me I had to start on the hour because it was scheduled on the hour. She told me to reschedule. I went to 911 Driving School instead. A year later my son enrolled at Cascade because it was cheaper than other schools. It wasn't until Orientation I was told about the fees they apply if they feel your child fails a lesson... My son said that the teacher was annoyed on their first driving lesson and didn't feel comfortable with her. I said it was probably just his nerves but I assumed she may of just been firm in the lesson. They give six lessons and during the lesson they expect the child to know how to drive BEFORE the lesson. If they fail on the "Driving Lesson" they will apply a fee for wasting the teacher's time. My child told me that in class they read from the book for an hour and a half, have a five question test, sometimes a worksheet, then watch videos for thirty minutes. The teacher will give some direction but my son said he learns more at home. They do not allow parents to sit in to witness this so called education or give a syllabus to take home. This company needs a little more professionalism. However they do not refund after orientation. I will not choose this school for my daughter.

Fantastic experience: Signed my son up online which was great for me. Dropped him off on time for every class and every drive. They never did take him on a freeway drive though. They do expect you as a parent to have already taught your child or at least for them to have been driving before they get them in a car.... Which to me is kind of pointless. I'm paying you to teach my child, not for me to teach them. Anyway, my child completed the class, passed the written and skills test. And no their parallel parking spot is not rigged or too small.

Fantastic experience: Definitely the best place to go

Fantastic experience: Karen was amazing!! I took my little brother in to take his skills test. It was quick, and easy. She was so helpful and easy to work with. Very happy with our experience when my other siblings are ready I would highly recommend this place to them :)

Negative experience: Instructor bragged about failing 4 students in a row in one day. Definitely a scam to keep collecting fees. Much better off going to a reputable company.

Fantastic experience: I was a student and I loved it here. The instructor is really good with the other students and helps them understand it better. An awesome school to learn drivers ed and well worth the money

Fantastic experience: Really great place and a great experience

Fantastic experience: Great company with great Instructor's and Examiners. The lady that works there is very nice and helped me with every question that I had. Would highly recommend this business to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Best place around

Fantastic experience: Cascade started in 1993 and has had over 20,000 students and 20,000 exams since that program started in 2013. We are locally owned, not a franchise. Our staff averages 10+ years of education experience. We strive for a relaxed but disciplined classroom environment where all can learn. We have highly trained and certified examiners for the DOL skill and knowledge exams who are fair to all. As all schools are we are governed by the rules of DOL and must operate within those. We do everything we can to make our clients successful and safe.

Negative experience: stay away from the yelm location. They will come back to the classroom to meet family members for lunch while in middle of taking your kids on driving lessons, they use a route for their exam that purposely tries to fail people so they can burn and churn the 45 dollars like a money making scheme, then when you ask them about it they get defensive like its our fault they are ripping off the community. Here is a hint: 1) Make your employees dress professionally, Tube tops and a tight flannel, or your drivers with untied shoes, baggy pants hanging off their butts, and hats on backwards with tank tops.. this is a business, not a beach. 2) Quit using a route that has unposted signs yet EVERYONE else who ISN'T taking the test is going 45 then expect the driver to IMPEDE traffic so you don't insta fail him... 3) The phone conversations you are having with your friends are NOT more important than the damn customers. I have never walked away from a place as furious as I left this place. I took my son here to have a drivers test given, not to be treated to a bad rendition of High school High. Congrats, you stole 45 bucks. You might even keep getting away with it, but you still have to live with the reality you are ripping off fellow Washington residence. /shrug.

Negative experience: Unpleasant and rushed experience.

Negative experience: We went with the Yelm office but will definitely take our business elsewhere! What a Horrible experience! Their driving "testing" is rigged! First part of their driving portion of the test is to parallel park between two cones in this back ally at the back of the building. This area is SOOO small and SOOO cramped, even my husband with 30 plus years of driving had to go for it 2 times and said it was really difficult to maneuver in our highlander. So they took our $48 for less then 5 minutes because my daughter ended up hitting an AC unit in attempts to try to do a maneuver that is something akin to winning in a rigged carnival game. SOO mad!! My daughter was so upset...and i know she wasn't the only one because this was her 2nd attempt (of paying and failing) her test and everyone that we saw come and go also were failing and walking away in tears...This is so screwed up...they take your money and leave you with a heart broken child. And even angrier parents! DO NOT GO HERE!! They even got upset when we wanted to try it out for ourselves! Its like they are purposefully trying to fail you and the "space" they use is so compact too!!!

Fantastic experience: Put 3 kids through the program in yelm. Pleased with it.

Fantastic experience: Honestly the driveing instruction is the best and knows exactly what hes doing and hes a very relax guy jill b. Is dumb

Negative experience: This is the worst driving school ever!! The instructors can not control the class. They watch videos that do not pertain to driving IE: 911 videos and sports videos the instructor is more wanting to be cool with the kids than teaching them that driving is serious and not a game. On my childs first day he told the whole class that it did not matter if they were late because he was always going to put down that class started at 5 they have out of 4 classes got out before 7 and on the 3rd day were released at 6:30. i dont know what other parents expect but i do not need a babysitter for a 16yr old i am paying for driver training