I came here thinking I would end up having to do 11th grade twice and not graduate on time. I came…read morefrom GHHS, which was a bad school if you are in the minority, and not popular or in a sport. The first day, after not expecting to make any friends, I had a group of people throughout the day who came up to meet me. Amazing environment. In the end of that year, 2023, I loved all of my teachers and was devastated that a favorite teacher was being laid off from the district. The next year I had even more of the greatest teachers, and I could not believe the love and support from not only them, but the ENTIRE staff. I could not stand graduating this last year, and it was heartbreaking when that day came. I finally had a good place, a place I felt supported in, other than the places I already had some support in. I wish I could've stayed forever. My legacy project will, though, and I will always visit my favorite people.

As a new family at St. Nicholas this past year, we have been extremely happy and impressed with the…read moreeducation and the welcoming atmosphere our two boys, and even us as parents, have received by all (classmates, teachers and families). As a military family, our children have experienced both public and private schools both in Washington and around the country. We can honestly say St. Nicholas has exceeded our expectations. From the stellar education, small class room size to supportive staffs, we are confident our children will gain the foundation they will need to be successful in their future education. In addition, the sense of community and values they instill will also assist them to be confident and compassionate people.

Being in the military, my boys have been to 4 schools in the last 6 years due to the school system…read moreset up or due to our own decision to move them out of one school to another. There also seem to be several other reviews here, however, only 1 seems to be visible. I hope whoever reads this finds it useful in your decision on whether or not to send your kids to this school. My wife and I come from a Catholic family and both have grown up attending Catholic schools from elementary to high school so we both understand and value what a Catholic Education provides. This is also the primary reason why we moved from Dupont to Gig Harbor-we stumbled into this town while exploring the area one weekend. We first found the church appealing but my wife started researching the school and one day decided to drive up here and visit the school with our boys (I was away on business at the time). After she told me about her experience, I went for myself. My initial thoughts was that it was a small campus but while small, I found the staff and teachers very friendly and the kids were very polite-something I hadn't seen since the last Catholic school the boys attended back in Hawaii. At that point we decided to send the boys there-we just needed to move to GH. After having the boys here for the first year at this school, I am both deeply grateful and highly impressed with the teachers and the staff. Here's why: After 2 yrs in Dupont, my eldest son moved schools 2x-due to the set up of the school district but in both of those cases, he was a B average, though he was an A average in Hawaii. The teachers here truly opened up his aperture to learn and he has taken a 180' turn and made straight A's. My youngest was an average student who had a need for tutoring during his 3rd grade year in Dupont; after his first year at St Nic's, he ended his year with a B+ average and actually remembers and is enthusiastic about learning. The teachers and staff are truly dedicated to their students and are very responsive to the parents. The principal has an open door policy to everyone and does a fantastic job in keeping the parents informed (due to COVID, she's done several Zoom calls). The parents are so warm and inviting. They have a initial new parents' picnic, about the weekend prior to the first day of school. There is also a Facebook group for all the parents that helps all of us stay current on what's going on in the school. They have a lot of events and fundraisers some of which will require parent's involvement, but, that is normal for Catholic schools as they want the parents involved in as many activities as possible. Although I could say more about Saint Nicholas, I encourage you to visit the school, meet the teachers, and judge for yourself. The small class size allows for more teacher/student interaction as well as provides opportunities for more 1-1 instruction if needed. You will not regret the level of education they provide to the students; you will cherish the relationships you will build with the parents, and hopefully, see the value and impact this school will have not only your kids but on you as well.

While I had an alright time from 4-8th grade, despite the bullying and class work struggles, high…read moreschool was a pretty poor experience. I was never a popular kid, which makes it harder in these schools as I felt that the popular and rich kids were always the better treated. I and a few others had an unfortunate experience at GHHS with an administrator who illegally kicked people out of school because of their mental health, or because she didn't like them. There is no proof of it happening, because she went against the district guidelines for handling "expulsion" type things. She was discriminatory and two-faced. Two years later after being in a better situation at Henderson Bay, the alternative high school, I felt ok to report what had happened and was essentially brushed off and invalidated. I emailed the Superintendent, at the time knowing she would've cared, only for her to tell me that I should work on that with my teachers in college to ensure that will not happen again. It is unfortunate that unless it is for sports, the district probably won't help you in these complaints. I had some wonderful teachers, and a few were mean, practically bullies to the entire class, blaming them for failing a test after everyone failed, so it was bittersweet. My mind really changed on this school district, after feeling it was good, once I graduated. It feels like they only REALLY care about the kids in sports, the popular kids, and the kids with rich families. Being an adult you really see the reality.

We moved here from Mercer Island and have been quite pleased with PHS. The teachers have been…read morebetter than I anticipated, my daughter has been very happy and says the chemistry teacher is excellent. Overall it has been a remarkably good experience, which I was not expecting because of the general state of public schools and covid. I am very grateful for this. I gave 4 instead of 5 stars as there was not much help for newcomers in transitioning- we had to hunt down the bussing information, I had to ask for info on how parents connect, etc. they ought to have a newcomers packet!

I was bullied a lot by others, but I had some of the best teachers ever. My band director taught me…read moreso much and was my absolute most favorite teacher. Another staff member helped me with all of my math after the previous year I was with the wood shop teacher, and we got to build things to learn fractions. I still suck at fractions, but I loved that class. I also had an amazing science teacher who makes science fun, even when it's difficult. I was sad when on March 12, 2020, school was cancelled, and I only returned to give my things back, but not to learn. A math teacher bullied my entire class and constantly yelled at us, but I liked most of my other teachers.

The booster club hosts a viewing of 10 Things I Hate About You here and I LOVE it! The school looks…read morejust like in the movie, maybe even more magical. The water view and beautiful architecture are just amazing. We were in the stadium and the stairs killed us- these students must be in great shape! Lots of steps from street level down to the field. I was very happy to support the booster club and watch one of my favorite movies. They have a great parking garage with several entrances, and also some great street parking. Lots to do nearby- so much great food and wine. Excited to come to more events here someday!

If you've ever seen 10 Things I Hate About You, you'll instantly recognize this iconic high school!…read moreIf you haven't, I highly recommend watching this fun take on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Stadium High School is a centerpiece of the film, with many scenes shot right on campus. Visiting in person felt like stepping onto a movie set! The drive from Seattle to Tacoma took about 45 minutes, and navigating the city was fairly simple. There's plenty of street parking around the school, but be mindful of your surroundings. I actually witnessed someone breaking into a car in broad daylight, so I opted to park around the corner on a busier street for peace of mind. The school itself is breathtaking--its grand, castle-like architecture makes for stunning photos. Around the side, you'll find the football field, which offers incredible views of the water and boats in the distance. The gates were open while people were exercising on the track, so we were able to walk right in. Just a heads-up: the stadium stairs are steep, and there's no alternate way back up, so take your time climbing! This spot is a must-visit for movie lovers, architecture admirers, or anyone looking to soak in a bit of cinematic history. Just remember--it's an active high school, so weekends are the best time to explore without disrupting students.

ETA: The new leadership team is amazing. The school went through some challenging times, but it's…read moreback to feeling like a home away from home again.

Think hard, don't lie to yourself... Does your child need a bit of support academically? Do you…read morethink they might? Do you want small class sizes? Are they on meds that need to be administered at school? Are they Neurodiverse (Dyslexic, Anxiety, ADHD, Autistic, Dyscalculia, etc.)? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this school probably isn't for you. We really loved the school when the kid was younger. But, partway through the lower school, supports and amenities suddenly got a lot more scarce! The Middle School is even worse. Were the staff at fault? Usually not. Decisions were made and the kids that needed a bit of help paid the price. There isn't a school nurse. They have remodeled some of the specialist-type classrooms to convert them into classrooms. There has been quite a bit of staff leaving in the last 5 years. There isn't a real 9:1 kid to teacher ratio in practice, they use alternative accounting practices including counting staff members like the librarian (kids see the librarian for an hour or less per week while most teachers rush back to their rooms for preparation time leaving the librarian often alone with the kids). Teacher assistants in the lower school are not necessarily full time and are often pulled from class to cover teachers and things like playground duties. The administration is actively trying to add more students per class, and more classes overall, as all administrators are prone to do. In short, while it is a beautiful school, it isn't for everyone. Try not to be dazzled and ask the hard questions. See if this is right for your family. It is an expensive question to get wrong.

This is a small college which thinks it's a big one. Students. therefore, get the worst of both…read moreworlds. Like a bigger school, faculty and staff are uniformly too busy and important to be troubled by anything as inconsequential as students. Why treat them well? There are lots more where those came from. Even the work-study students who work for the school have a very definite "us - them" mentality. They're all way too cool to give you the help or service you need. Also like a big school, be prepared to have you registration and/or other records lost or otherwise bungled (I was issued 3 different student ID numbers in about 2 weeks) If you have any concerns or problems, expect to be bitterly scolded by the bottom-feeders at the lowest rungs of the admin ladder. They're the only people to whom you'll have any access, and it they will be utterly useless you're trying to give yourself an ulcer. Just like a big school. Be prepared to feel belittled and rejected. The worst features of a smaller college are also numerous: substandard faculty can remained there for years, doing untold damage and wasting students' money and time as fast as they can. (In bigger schools, ineffective teachers are often shunted off to administrative positions; TCC cares more about keeping its thin-skinned and frankly incompetent instructors happy than serving its students. After all, there are always more students where those came from, so why bother?) Also like a smaller school, instructors are often subjective in their assessment of student work, and with no apology. Apparently, "Because I think so" is a perfectly reasonable basis for a grade, which will be vigorously defended by all relevant administrative personnel. Do not expect any academic standards. Depending on your teacher's personal preference, you may not even do anything related to the catalog description of the course. If the teacher fancies an 11-week long, solo, rambling reminisce about her childhood, that will be course content. Again, you will only create more problems for yourself if you bring this to the attention of the administration. The take-away? Don't waste your time and money. You can get the same classes at other CCs. They may be farther away, but you'll definitely get a much better academic experience.

TCC is a small college which thinks it's a big one. Students. therefore, get the worst of both…read moreworlds. This attitude pervades the main campus and is even more pronounced at the Gig Harbor campus. The satellite campus is used as a "rubber room," to which underperforming faculty and administrators are banished if they can't be fired. Like a bigger school, faculty and staff are uniformly too busy and important to be troubled by anything as inconsequential as students. Why treat them well? There are lots more where those came from. Even the work-study students who work for the school have a very definite "us - them" mentality. They're all way too cool to give you the help or service you need. Also like a big school, be prepared to have your registration and/or other records lost or otherwise bungled (I was issued 3 different student ID numbers in about 2 weeks) . If you have any concerns or problems, expect to be bitterly scolded by the bottom-feeders at the lowest rungs of the admin ladder. They're the only people to whom you'll have any access, and it they will be utterly useless you're trying to give yourself an ulcer. Just like a big school. Be prepared to feel belittled and rejected. The worst features of a smaller college are also numerous: substandard faculty can remain there for years, doing untold damage and wasting students' money and time. (In bigger schools, ineffective teachers are often shunted off to administrative positions; TCC cares more about keeping its thin-skinned and frankly incompetent instructors happy than serving its students. After all, there are always more students where those came from, so why bother?) Also like a smaller school, instructors are free to be subjective in their assessment of student work, and with no apology. Apparently, "Because I think so" is a perfectly reasonable basis for a grade, which will be vigorously defended by all relevant administrative personnel. Accordingly, depending on your teacher's personal preference, you may not even be presented with any materials related to the catalog description of the course. If the teacher fancies an 11-week long, solo, rambling reminisce about her childhood, that will be course content. Again, you will only create more problems for yourself if you bring this to the attention of the administration. The take-away? Don't waste your time and money. You can get the same classes at other CCs. Go anywhere else and you'll definitely get a much better academic experience and better value for your investment of time and money.

Love love love GHA. The best place in the Harbor for early education. Our children have been going…read morehere for the past three summers and our youngest has been going to Pre-K and preschool for three years. She is thriving and has had the best start to her education. Seriously the best people. Worth the cost!

My daughter is in first grade, and has attended GHA for two years now. One of the crucial factors…read moreto me was that the school is nestled in the trees, and she hears the birds, sees critters, and smells fresh pines and firs when she plays and learns outside. I didn't want her in the concrete jungle that schools have become. Even more spectacular is the teaching staff at GHA, and the supporting administration. The teachers give everything they have to their classes every day. The kids are so excited to go to school they can't wait for the doors to unlock in the morning. My daughter is excelling in this supportive environment. The staff knows every child that attends and every parent who comes to campus. We are committed to investing in our daughter's future at this school. We know it will equip her to excel in any environment as she develops her passion for learning and seeking information for herself. She is already comfortable and adept at presenting herself in front of groups. She is thoughtful and creative in her writing. Her fellow students are supportive, and her adventures in learning astound us every day. Visit the campus, you will be glad you did. Speak to the teachers, they will give you their time. Everyone on that campus cares about the school. It is a school with a soul.