Ok I'm going to balance the bad reviews with some realism. High school is rough for some and can be…read morea difficult time. However, my experience at Ballard grew me into a successful adult and the caring staff and well planned curriculum prepared me to excel at university and beyond. There will always be all sorts in high school, but Ballard did a wonderful job preparing me to be a contributing member of society. If I still lived in Seattle I would send my own kids here.

One of Ballard's fellow students here--just thought I could pitch in my two cents about this place…read more I think it'd be good to get to know this place from a students point of view. I've been going here for two years now, currently in my Sophomore year which has been an interesting journey. I had a few first hard months when I got here because a majority of my friends had gone to Ingraham. I quickly became familiar with the building as it's pretty geometrically shaped and easy to navigate. I had no trouble finding my classes and the "pods" as they call them are very easy to find, same with the classes within this pods. The teachers though, are really a hit or miss. You either get a fantastic teacher who is willing to interact with their students and engage academically as well as socially with them--at the right time of course. Then you can wind up with someone that doesn't have any charisma or, by the looks of it, no motivation to teach at all. I imagine that there is a middle ground somewhere in there but from my experience and others, it seems to be one or the other. The admin, for the most part, are amazing. Extremely helpful and most of the time, can come to a resolution to whatever you're dealing with. My counselor, (which is curated by last name) Mr. Kramer was very helpful when I came in to talk about my classes and succeeding academically. He gave me insight into what could be best for me to do to achieve and I think it's worked out great. Even though I did have a speed bump with one of the VP's, I can still say that the admins are great. Now, it's not really my place to tell someone how this school is by the way the people are because everyone has different personal experiences, but there is one large recurring problem in this place. The drug and alcohol abuse is extremely prominent and is honestly something I hate having to deal with. I know what the adults will say; "it's high school, people will experiment." At the level it's at here, this isn't experimenting. I get when students want to try marijuana or cigarettes but I think it's well past experimentation when you have kids dealing cocaine, meth and other hardcore drugs right outside at the bus stop. Same with the buying and selling of alcohol, it can happen right in front of a faculty and they'll do nothing, at most just give the kid a slap on the wrist. The overall environment of this school is gloomy. I can have fun but at the same time it's just sad. There are classrooms with no windows and the tint of the tungsten lights can just put you to sleep. That is why I enjoy being on the second floor where windows line of the top of the hallways and let some natural light in. Anyways, thanks for reading this if you do.

My son attended this school for only a few months but the teachers as well as the staff was always…read morewilling to help. Mr. Daniel Lee was my sons counselor and when contacted he also responded in a timely manner and was always willing to help. I expressed to him that I've never experienced a staff member at any school who has was as helpful as he was. The professionalism , empathy and kindness he exuded was a plus. This is what schools need; people willing to take those extra steps to ensure that the kids are acknowledged and supported! As I've communicated with him I appreciate that and will be forever grateful! Thank you.

This is to the principal especially Ms Byrne I say no to the no phone policy it it's annoying for…read moresome students who are desperate for the sure some have found another freedom to get around the policy but why fucking bother with that #End the policy NOW!

I can't say enough positive things about our family's experience at The Perkins School in Seattle…read more Our son joined as a 4th grader, and from day one it was clear he was genuinely known, supported, and cared for. I asked him recently what he liked most about Perkins, and he said, "the community -- I really liked the teachers and the kids." His teachers prioritized getting to know him; at our first parent-teacher conference, we were amazed when his teacher described details of his strengths and weaknesses the same way we would have. We watched his confidence grow as he was challenged in ways that felt supportive. That foundation has truly paid off--he's thriving in middle school, both academically and socially. We are forever grateful for the love and care the entire Perkins community showed our son and our family.

Our kids have loved their experience at Perkins! We've been at Perkins for five years now, and…read moreregularly make the 30-minute drive (one way) to school because it's such a wonderful place for our kids! Unlike many other independent schools, Perkins places a very high level of importance on building community within the school, and on the social and emotional health of each child. Perkins has a down-to-earth, kind and loving feel that runs through the faculty, staff, parent community and the kids. It's such a rare find! In addition to building a strong academic foundation for success, every Perkins student enjoys the experience of being truly known by every teacher, and most of the students know each other. This creates a truly "small town" community feel and one that is overwhelmingly positive! This school does differentiate for ability in the core subjects, and also provides enriching "specialist" subjects for a well-rounded overall education. We can't imagine our kids being anywhere else!

One star because zero isn't an option, this is the reason I hate living in this neighborhood. Not…read moreonly do the parents of kids attending this school suck at driving and my kid can't walk to their school anymore because they've almost been hit over 10 times by students and parents alike but the students are terrible drivers and incredibly disrespectful of the community around them. Typically when you live next to a school sure there are some annoying things but you get the benefits of community spaces and groups. Not with this private religious school, all you get is knowing a catholic person somewhere is rich and no you can't use their field or gym. I want to move out of the neighborhood I've loved for 10 years because of this school. The staff I've contacted about this are incredibly rude. The students I have seen doing some incredibly questionable projects over the years. All in all, Blanchet makes this Seattle neighborhood absolute garbage.

I have to agree with previous reviews that the staff of this school features some serious duds…read more While many of the teachers are great, some of them lack the motivation to not be complete doofuses, one teacher in particular comes to mind who is seriously lacking in intelligence, and overall personality.

Coming back to stay I still love this school! Our family has been at University Cooperative School…read morefor 10yrs - my 15yr old attended K-5th grade, and I currently have a 4th grader and my youngest is in PreK. We are incredibly grateful for this school, the holistic education it's provided our children and the community that has been the anchor for our family life. The teachers are excited about what they teach, care deeply for the students. With enthusiasm for their subjects and the freedom and support they need to follow that enthusiasm they make engaging, responsive, project based learning the norm all through the program. The kids stay excited about learning, comfortable asking questions and learn to ask for what they need as a learner. Our modern lives are designed in a way that is isolating and can wearus down with the load of demands of parenting- but the model of cooperative school (that's very flexible/understands we work too!) means that you can build real relationships and community in a society where that can be incredibly hard. At U co-op our children end up with so many loving adults who know and care for them - I can't overstate how valuable that is. Especially when life brings rough seasons or crisis. We know each other's kids and support each other through this parenting journey. The nurturing, adventurous environment helps kids be comfortable and confident in themselves -quirks and struggles included. My kids love going to school and I love the joyful childhood it has given them.

We have loved this place…read more We've been with U Co-op for the last two years, with almost a year and a half of that during the pandemic. I can't express how incredible the school has been. The most extraordinarily compassionate teachers and staff, and a parent community that has been supportive, resourceful, kind and caring. There is a warmth to the building (which we are thankfully back in - and masked) that we fell in love with from the first tour. It didn't feel cold or modern; it felt like creativity and childhood. There are nooks for reading, spaces for found art, paintings up everywhere. The teachers allow the children to follow their curiosity and even adjust the lessons to be relevant to the things that interest them. The kids are learning just as much as peers at other schools, but in a way that focuses on their self development and self esteem. This school has been a great find and has helped carry us through this difficult stretch.

Bertschi is an incredible school! They truly care about and invest deeply in students. Kids are…read moreembraced as whole people and are developed on an emotional and academic level. The teachers are dedicated, capable and passionate, and the administration adds to the collaborative community feeling. The opportunities kids have for unique learning experiences is amazing. A built in drama, art and music program fosters creative learning along with math, science, reading, etc. Small groups settings are in constant use to ensure each kid is getting the specific material and attention they need to be challenged and supported. Most of all, they foster a community that values kindness and inclusivity. We are a proud Bertschi family.

Greatest school ever. Son went there and now he is about to head off to college. They laid a…read morewonderful foundation for him and it will last his life time.

Holy Rosary was a breath of fresh air for our son after his Kindergarten year at a public school…read morewhere he was "lost in the massive shuffle" of kids. HRS was able to get him caught back up to 1st grade level after slipping in Kindergarten. Since then he has thrived both academically and socially. The level of education provided by caring teachers and staff definitely helped him become the well rounded student he is. The teachers, their curriculum and dedication to student development is evident in the kids and provides every student the base to move on comfortably into High school. An equally important and valuable part of HRS is the family and parent community. Definitely one of the best group of people to share the challenges of raising children through elementary and middle school. The way that everyone comes together to make sure fundraising is a success and traditions are handed down is absolutely special. A final point that stands out to me is how HRS handled the events of Covid. Terrible as it was for everyone, HRS anticipated the possible impact on our kids and literally days before the "shutdown" we were told that as a precaution each child would be given a box of work and supplies. Then when the unfortunate happened, the teachers and staff stepped up immediately and prepared for families to pick up the remaining supplies needed to work remotely. It happened so fast and seamlessly, it was awe inspiring. Hopefully, we are never faced with that again, but I can't imagine a better place to be. I can't recommend HRS enough, from the front office ladies that keep the day moving smoothly, to the after school aids that provide such care, Holy Rosary is worth every penny and more.

As our 15 years at Holy Rosary come to an end, I am so thankful for the education and community…read morethat Holy Rosary has provided my three graduates and our family. The balance of social, emotional, academic and athletic opportunities that Holy Rosary School provides is unmatched in our neighborhood. We did not join as a Catholic or parish family, but found immense value in the focus on kindness, community, service to others and becoming your best self that Holy Rosary embraces. It has been a wonderful experience and we wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again. 8th graders graduate confident and well prepared for high school (and beyond).

My younger sister and I used to go to BF Day, and our baby sister goes there now, and let me tell…read moreyou, that is dang good school. It's a small-ish school (as most elementary schools are) in Fremont, near the Woodland Park Zoo. BF Day is rather diverse in all meanings of the word, and does a good job of teaching kids that everyone is important and loved. The parents are generally lovely, as are the teachers, though many of my favorite staff members have retired. It can be a bit of a hippy school, but that is far from a negative, it just encourages kids to explore their creative sides and embrace themselves. I haven't heard a single negative thing about BF Day, though I do know that due to some zoning issues, a lot of kids have lost their transportation, which is a majorly sucky, but I don't believe that the school is at fault there. tl;dr BF Day is pretty much the best and everyone who went there loved it

NOT CLOSED, people! Not at all! When I moved my boys and me…read morenorthward from Portland to Seattle, I had researched the "cluster" school system (never was a name more appropriate for a system or situation), though my research was clearly insufficient. Because I made certain that I moved into what I thought would be the perfect cluster for my kids' schooling needs and profile...I just failed to realize that would make no difference whatsoever to where they went to school. My boys are half hispanic, and I wanted very much to continue with the Spanish language education I only sporadically inflict on them at home. So I moved into the Laurelhurst-ish "cluster." What Seattle did not advertise is that its school zoning situation is not just a cluster, but the mother of all godforsaken clusters. They found no availability in any ONE school for both my boys. That's because clusters at the time were only "suggestions" of where kids could attend schools. Suggestions that were largely completely ignored, and no matter where you lived in Seattle, your kid could be bussed into nearly any zone at all. So you can basically move your family onto a tent settlement ATOP a particular school, and not be allowed to enroll in it until the 300-child wait list of kids from a school 15 miles away takes their priority. W, as the kids say, TF. So the last years have been a constant cluster indeed, with my boys in two different schools and and in and out of several. Having tried or toured quite a few schools in the area now, I can say, this one is my favorite elementary school in Seattle so far. My son has a wonderful teacher, Miss Jackson (and yes, it is so punishingly hard not to say, or at least think, "If you're nasty!" every time I say her name) who despite being forced, as all teachers are, to teach to a strict test curriculum imposed by the lowest-common-denominator-encouraging "No Child Left Behind" legislation, is still highly dynamic, wildly flexible, and very encouraging of creativity in all its manifestations. I absolutely love her, and I love the diversity of the students and the parents--a graceful blend of the privileged and the struggling, chaotic and the orderly, the uber-hippies and the uber-hipsters who all somehow manage to be very empathic and very likable. It also sits at just the right notch on the spectrum of academic rigor. We tried John Stanford International with Nico, and he called them "The Von Trapp Family Singers." Whistles to encourage hallway lineups? No talking in the corridors? Boys' and Girls' lines for 5th graders? No dark sarcasm? In the CLASSROOM?! Yikes. Plus every mom I met there without a single exception kind of gave me the impression that the only hard decision she has to make in any three-week period is whether to give her cook, nanny and housekeeper massages or Lush bars as holiday gifts. I'm extremely grateful for this school and for how happy Maximo is to attend it. Teaching excellence here is clearly valued, as is parental involvement. If you're in the area AND in the market for an elementary school, stop in and say hi. They're great people.