As a K-12 alumni, I think it's a true testament to this school that I am now a teacher here! Not…read moreonly that, but my children are going here as well. While we are at the Mill Creek Campus, the ethics and principles are the same. We have always get welcomed and loved here. My teachers at cedar park are the reason why I wanted to be a teacher! Excited for the new middle school building and the growth that's happening rig every day!

Do not recommend this school. Very few teachers seem to actually like their job here. This school…read morewas good until they changed superintendents, and the elementary principal left. Then Covid happened and they were flooded with kids. Classes are too big. If you have a child with any kind of learning disability or anything this is not a good school at all. They barely make accommodations and don't have IEP and 504 programs to help. One year my child's teacher yelled at the class all the time. Kids with parents on campus get special treatment, and this school is very inconsistent with discipline. There are also drugs on campus.

My child has been attending WMS for four years - since the Early Childhood level. We continue to be…read moreimpressed with the rate at which our child excels and her love of learning is truly fostered. We are always amazed at what our child comes home with. They do not limit children's learning and treat them as though they can handle learning advanced vocabulary and vast concepts (because they can!). What we love - the classroom sizes and student/teacher ratio - individualized learning - the community - no limit to what children can learn/handle - fostering love of education - teaching kindness in social skills

Woodinville Montessori may not be for everyone. Its orderly environment is maintained by…read morerestricting the freedom for some kids to learn and explore on their own. When a kid fails to comply due to their age or personality, parents are simply told to take their kid somewhere else with very little regard to what it does to a young child's mind or heart. I went to a Montessori inspired school myself. Although I have never been trained or certified as a Montessori teacher, I have years of experience on the receiving end. For me, the Montessori system allowed me to learn independently at my own pace. The freedom to learn was essential for me to establish self-confidence. Because of that, we believe our 3 year old child can benefit from the Montessori system as well. Our child was accepted to the early childhood program. It's a mixed-age class with 20 children ranging from 3 to 6 years old. Being one of the youngest children in the class, it would require time for him/her to adjust to the transition. Prior to Woodinville Montessori, he/she has been going to a play-based daycare with kids in the same age group. The transition was not easy. Our child struggled adapting to the new environment. However, he/she was making progress. During our scheduled one-on-one with the teacher, we talked about his/her struggles and improvements. Everything was appearing to be heading in the right direction. There was no mention of rejecting him/her from the school during this meeting. We even asked the teacher if there is anything concerning that requires special attention. Nevertheless, we received an email from the school 2 weeks after our one on one meeting with the teacher indicating the need to discuss his/her "readiness" to continue attending Woodinville Montessori. A special meeting was set up as the result of that email. We attended the meeting ready to make necessary adjustments to better prepare our 3 year old for the school. We actually looked forward to receiving recommendations. Instead of providing constructive suggestions, the school basically told us to take our child somewhere else. It was explained to us that the primary reason for the school's decision was his/her poor ability to follow instructions. During this meeting, the school demonstrated very little understanding of our child and willingness to work with us. Our kid is not a perfect kid. He/she can be challenging at times. We are certainly not perfect parents either. However, we try our best to understand and to make the best decisions based on this understanding. The expectation from Woodinville Montessori for a 3 year old child to follow directions and stop exploring on their own was not the best for our child. The school's lack of willingness to work together was also extremely discouraging. The Montessori method was originally developed to help children with learning disabilities. It was the method for teaching the "unteachable". It's based on the understanding of how a child's mind works. Although an "orderly" environment is a major element in the Montessori method, it should not interfere with the children's natural tendency to want to explore. Montessori or not, the purpose of education is to help the children. Turning them away when they are struggling simply does not align with this fundamental goal. We saw the efforts from our child trying to adjust and to be accepted to the new environment. It was heartbreaking when all their effort was simply rejected. In the end, imagine having to explain to your child that they cannot go to the school and see their friends anymore.

My child has been at this school since preschool. I would say that Lower Elementary is definitely a…read morestrength, as some other reviews have mentioned. However, Upper Elementary was a different experience. In my opinion, it's not worth it. The academic pace feels slow and behind. You might get lucky and end up in a class where the teacher sets higher expectations(I heard from my child there is only one class), but otherwise, it's hard to justify staying that long just for academics. If academic progress isn't your main concern, it could still be fine. Overall, this school may is not the best fit for fast learners. Teachers focus on keeping the class balanced, which often means slowing down advanced students to match the majority's pace.

Due to moves, our daughter has been to two other schools, and WMS has been exceptionally better…read morethan the other. The environment is calm, positive, and incredibly welcoming. The student-to-teacher ratio is wonderful (23 students and three teachers). The school administration and teachers proactively communicate. The lead teacher in Dogwood is an absolute blessing. She has been very attentive to our daughter's anxiety, and our daughter has blossomed in this classroom. The school celebrates many cultural holidays, and our whole family has been enjoying the community events hosted by parent volunteers. The school sends visibly sick children home, as they should (not our experience with previous schools). We are thankful for fewer sick days because of this. Our only feedback would be to increase recess/outdoor time and to add additional greenery to the outdoor areas.

Center For Families has been a gift to our family. Because of the teachers and parent community,…read moreour twins have absolutely thrived here. They've learned one of the most important lessons in life... how to be kind. Teachers Penny and Ophelia are the heart of this place. They bring a level of patience, creativity, and warmth that you can feel the moment you meet them. Then there is the parent community. Parents are in the classroom, on field trips, at events, and supporting one another. We've made friends here, and our kids have benefited from seeing that their school is a community where everyone is involved. It's the kind of village everyone hopes to find.

SMM Review I…read morecouldn't be more impressed by our teachers and staff at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School. During this time of School Closure we have not missed a beat. Our kids lost only 1 day of instruction due to Covid-19. School was closed on Thursday and by Monday we were in class online. Over the remainder of our school year, our teachers provided wonderful content and in a time of such uncertainty they also provided continuity and routine to our days. Our 8th grader had regular class time every day...each of his teachers providing this regular class time on Google Meet through Google Classroom. He was given projects and assignments. When things proved a bit overwhelming, we had an online meeting with all his teachers, counselors and our principal to come up with a plan to help him through the rest of the year. We felt completely supported. Our 5th grader was given daily assignments. Complete with online video tutorials from her teachers. It was as if she was sitting right there in class. She was also so lucky as our amazing Music teacher provided Keyboarding and Guitar lessons for any of the 5th graders once a week through Zoom. I have had 4 kids at St. Mary Magdalen, 2 have graduated out and are thriving in high school. I have always loved our school community. I have always been so impressed by our amazing school staff. I know there are many wonderful teachers in this world. But there is a concentration of dedicated, talented, kind, teachers and staff at our school. As I have but one child left at SMM I look to the next few years, our last few years with both excitement and sadness as our time here will draw to a close. But I also know my children will move forward in their schooling with an amazing foundation brought to them by St. Mary Magdalen.

I moved from CA to WA in 2016 and needed to find a school for my daughters. I had one entering 2nd…read moregrade and one entering pre-K. We toured different catholic schools in the area and were blown away at SMM. I LOVE that there are 2 classes per grade, that helps because a bigger school can offer more extras. Like a new library and science room, new diversified learning center too. The principal is young and has great energy and lots of ideas for the school. And preschool!!!!! OH the preschool!!! Mrs D is AMAZING! She has the kids garden, play outside, do art, play in sand, and learn about God. They also get to go to the library and PE and music. It's an amazing program in the preschool, I feel so lucky to have found it!

Our daughter has been at St. Brendan for 4 years now and we enrolled our son last fall for full-day…read morepreschool. We've had an amazing experience and love the teachers, staff and community. I am incredibly grateful for the positive experience we've had with all of our kids' teachers. The school does an excellent job of integrating strong academic standards with faith based values, and I love that my kids have gained a religious foundation by attending Mass and praying regularly. The school hosts a variety of events throughout the year that bring families together and strengthen the community. From trunk-or-treat to the annual Craft Fair, to the Bite of St. Brendan and the family dance, there is always something that encourages connection and involvement. All the activities and events create lasting memories for the students and truly reflect the welcoming spirit of the school. I strongly recommend St. Brendan to any family looking for an environment where their child can thrive academically, spiritually, and socially.

We love everything about St. Brendan. We are very impressed with the teachers, especially because…read moreeven though they are young, their dedication and the individual support they give our kids is amazing. They know everything about our children and are always looking for ways to help them learn and grow. The community is truly wonderful!

My oldest child entered the Attic for her 4th grade year in 2020. Our youngest child is now…read moreentering the middle school program for the 25/26 school year. The time we have spent at the Attic has been incredible for both our kids' academic and social emotional development. I could write a book about the things I love about this school, but some of the most important are: 1) That each child is seen and valued by every adult in the building; 2) A multi-age environment where a presentation by a 5 year-old on cupcake baking receives exactly the same respect and engagement as a well researched presentation on nuclear energy by a high school junior (a real life example); 3) Extensive time spend outdoors including longer than typical lunch and recess for all ages; 4) Measuring academic progress by the extent to which each learner grows through discomfort and disequilibrium into new skills and deep understanding; 5) Kids learn at the Attic because it is safe to make mistakes; 6) Community, community, community. Learners at the Attic do not produce large quantities of "work product." Parents that want to see a lot of worksheets completed and graded on a weekly basis may feel anxious about what their child is learning. The Attic is a "right-fit" school for parents who trust their kids to grow into curious life-long learners over long periods of time, know that progress is not always even, and value process over product.

One of the most incredible aspects of The Attic is how deeply connected learners become to their…read moreenvironment. The students regularly explore the fields, forests, and streams surrounding the school, fostering a sense of curiosity and a profound appreciation for nature. Teachers know every student well--from the youngest kindergartners to the high school seniors. This personalized approach means that teachers can quickly identify areas of strength and growth, offering targeted support and challenge in equal measure. Community is at the heart of The Attic. Students of all ages not only know each other--they play, write, and share their projects with one another. This multi-age interaction fosters friendships and mentorships that feel entirely natural. The annual events where learners showcase their writing, math, and research skills are a testament to the school's dedication to celebrating student growth and passion. I love it here.

Brighton School is wonderful and we love it!!!!!…read more I've had my kids at Brighton for at least eleven years? I've lose count. My son attended Brighton from first through eighth grade and my daughter started in preschool and is now in sixth grade. My kids are completely different and they have both absolutely thrived at Brighton. Brighton does an awesome job of providing an excellent well-rounded education for many different types of learners and kids. Brighton offers an excellent academic program, but also offers an amazing drama program with Mr. DC, some great sports programs, after school extracurriculars, yearly overnight field trips that get longer with each grade level and culminate in a 10 day East Coast trip for the 8th graders, etc. The greatest asset to Brighton is its staff. Brighton attracts some truly talented, caring and highly invested staff and teachers. There are teachers at Brighton who have truly changed the course of my childrens' lives. Ms. (formerly Gabriel) Savage is my daughter's idol. Ms. Savage is the perfect role model for my child, as she is strong, confident, smart, kind and encouraging. My daughter is a gymnast and she has talked to my daughter about mental blocks. She is a great teacher but she clearly cares about her students in a way that goes beyond what her job requires. Her assistant Ms. Carrie is also so caring, patient and kind. Ms. Durbin is another teacher that made a real difference in my daughter's life. Ms. Durbin was like a second mother to my daughter, or my daughter's stand-in mother at school. My daughter has always had a ton of anxiety about overnight field trips, but knowing that Ms. Durbin would be on the field trip always made her feel better. Ms. Durbin knew when to be serious and get the class under control but could also be so silly and have fun with the class. Mr. DiLorenzo is another incredible asset to the Brighton community. Mr. D. was my child's third grade teacher, and he was an incredibly gifted educator then, and now he is the head of the middle school. Mr. D. can be so fun and silly with the kids, but he also knows when to be serious and address serious issues. My son had an awesome middle school experience at Brighton and during his years there built up a community of friends who carried over into the same high school. Ms. Livingston has been serving the Brighton middle school for years in various capacities and she is AMAZING!!!! She is currently teaching math and she is an awesome math teacher, but she also handles a lot of the administrative stuff for the middle school. She's very friendly, great with the kids, great with the parents, and easy to get along with. Ms. Bodnar, according to my 17 year old son, is "the GOAT" (greatest of all time). Ms. Bodnar teachers study skills and math (I think) but she connects with the kids in a way that few others do. My son emphatically thinks that she is the best teacher at Brighton. Ms. Thaler is also a great language arts teacher. She definitely knows what she is doing and I appreciate that she actually challenges the kids. This is Ms. Parks Lobbs' first year as Head of School, but she has been involved with other parts of the school for years and she appears to be 100% in charge of what is happening and in control of things. As a very long-time parent of Brighton who has observed three separate Heads of School, I think Ms. Parks Lobb is doing a great job. There are a lot of other amazing staff members at Brighton who I am going to forget to mention. We love Coach Matt, who is the kindest, funniest guy to have around. He always greets my daughter in the morning with the biggest smile and it makes me feel so good about dropping her off. He also love Coach Brandon, who has been there for years and is super well loved by all the kids. He made the summer camp a blast for my daughter. We really loved Ms. Becca, who is a former aide who is no longer there. We wish the school brought her back. My son had Ms. Schippers for both hers and his first year at Brighton (first grade) and she made him feel super welcome and safe. I don't remember the full names of my daughter's pre-K teacher and aide (the aide was Sarah) but they were both so amazing! Oh yeah, the parents, kids and community at Brighton are also awesome. Both my kids have made amazing friends and we have done all the playdates, the sleepovers, the skate nights (thanks, PTO!), all of it. My son has friends he literally made in FIRST GRADE and now are JUNIORS in high school and they are part of the same friend group and in some of the same advanced classes. My daughter and her best friends met years ago, some as far back as preschool. I've known those parents just as long. The parents are great and the PTO is currently thriving. I've never been involved in the PTO, but I am very, very grateful for the amazing parents who run it and all that they do. Best money we ever spent!

We've been at Brighton for five years after coming from public school, and our experience has been…read morewonderful. With 3 kids who have spanned the range if preschool, elementary, and middle school, I can say the middle school especially has exceeded expectations. Initially, I was nervous because of its smaller size, but it's been fabulous, the teachers embrace the middle school years while preparing students for real-world situations. We've had the honor of having both Ms. Shippers and Ms. Savage twice. Ms. Shippers has years of experience yet brings fresh enthusiasm every day, and Ms. Savage's connection with the kids is remarkable. Brighton truly offers a nurturing, dynamic environment we're so grateful for!