We absolutely love Bear Creek. It's our third year at the school and it has been a blessing. Our…read moredaughter came out of Covid from public school and unfortunately schools were trying to catch students up who were the most behind rather than teaching at grade level. The teachers, staff, administrators, and family community are amazing. The academics are challenging; they push the kids outside their comfort zones with opportunities for public speaking and large presentations. In fact, Bear Creek is now ranked 5th for best college preparatory high school in WA. They also teach the kids to be good citizens of the community at large. Whenever we have had an issue, the Division Head has helped and addressed the concern. The student body is diverse and we have never experienced any racism. I felt compelled to write this after seeing the one star review that unfairly paints the school in a negative light. Perhaps this school is not for everyone, however, that's why school tours and meet and greets are imperative. We actually toured the top ranking middle/high school, and knew immediately that it wasn't a good fit for our daughter and family. If you are looking for an academically focused school that is nurturing but still has high expectations, Bear Creek fits the bill.

We send our daughters here and they really enjoyed going to school. I did ask if they are open to…read morego back to public school to save their father some money for a new fancy boat and both kids almost had a melt down. It sounds like I am not getting that new boat.

In 2020 I was a career paraeducator for LWSD. My son was an 11th grader at RHS. When schools closed…read moreon March 11, 2020 this would be the last time my son would see school. They never issued a laptop or hotspot to connect to online learning. I believe they did this because in March of 2018 I saw egregious harm of students with disabilities at the middle school I worked at. Following the law I filed a mandatory report. The district did not fully investigate and brushed it under the rug and I was instantly retaliated against(like my fellow coworkers-paras warned me I would be). At first I dealt with it, when I did not leave the district went after the learning access of my own Autistic son. Denying him access to dyslexic reading curriculum and failing to provide him with a post high school transition plan. They also denied him field trip access during his Junior year to go to Digipen. Despite being one of the first to turn in his permission slip to go, I was told the next day the field trip was full. Which was a lie. So in February of 2020 I filed an OSPI complaint against district on behalf of my son. Within two weeks the pandemic started. OSPI would go on to error on complaint, the district never did the corrective action. I filed a second complaint to OSPI on June 12, 2020 because of no learning, no services like OT and Speech from March 11 to the end of school year in 2020. OSPI ruled in favor of the district despite my son not learning one second from March till the end of June, disconnected that entire time with no access to laptop or hotspot to access online learning. The district covered this up, the parents of the students I saw harmed over and over again were never notified. Again it was not fully investigated and I was not the first person to report on this teacher. They violated the educational and civil rights of every student in the Transition room at RMS. I was told by other employees when I transferred it had been going on for years and I was not the first to say something. This district HARMS DISABLED STUDENTS. I witnessed it. They have a history. A history they do not want anyone to ever learn about. Please homeschool if you can or private school. Do not trust this school or anyone in the Special Needs Parent PTSA. I used to also be a member of that advisory council. Everyone in that group in 2020 knew what was happening to my son and I. They chose not to speak up. Please find another school district. This school operates with a "key communicator network". They will not care to cause harm if you try to follow the law and speak up for students. For proof I uploaded a snippet of my mandatory report I filed. Stamped. Again brushed under the rug and never investigated and never shared with parents of students in the Transition room. No accountability, no transparency. The district, more specifically the leaders in the special education department and Holmen and those superintendents who have come and gone, broke laws and took away the rights of students with disabilities. As punishment for me following the law of my job, they took away the access for my Autistic son, a Junior at the time to graduate. They took away is last four years (until 21) of schooling. He would never graduate. He would never access a post graduation Transition program. His name was Marley Smith - mine Tracy Smith. They destroyed my son's overall wellness and happiness and the trauma he went through, well I write this to warn others so it doesnt happen to your child, especially if you work for the school district. Also don't post on the non-LWSD Facebook group called Parents of Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers. I thought it was a private group only to find out it was not just parents in group, sitting board members were on that group during the time I was being retaliated. It is a group to spy on parents and students. It is a group that should have never been allowed to continue. It was created by an employee. One I used to work with who was a librarian, she may have had good intentions, but bottom line the creation of that FB group went against employee policy. Yet the district did not care because again they could use it to spy on community and students who may not see things the same way the district does. I do believe the group is still in existence. For your protection please do not join that group, what you type there will be seen by the district and if your an employee's your supervisors will also have access to see.

Policy Review: Reasserting Parental Rights and Academic Focus…read moreThis review addresses the recent initiatives within the lake Washington school district concerning the integration of gender identity and sexual orientation topics into the curriculum and school environment. I'm drawing attention to Horace Mann Elementary in particular. While inclusion is a necessary community value, the current approach represents a significant overreach that undermines the authority of parents and distracts from our schools' fundamental academic mission. Lack of Parental Transparency and Consent The most alarming aspect of these initiatives is the systemic lack of transparency and collaboration with parents. Sensitive topics related to gender confusion are being introduced to students without prior notification, easily accessible resources, or, in some cases, without the ability for parents to opt their children out of these topics being discussed very openly at school. Education on deeply personal values belongs first and foremost to the family, and the district is obligated to act in partnership with parents, not in opposition to them. Any policy that encourages staff to withhold information from parents regarding a child's identity or emotional state creates an unacceptable breach of trust between the home and the school. Age Appropriateness and Curriculum Drift We must question the age-appropriateness of the materials being used, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. Introducing complex, abstract concepts about sexuality and gender identity at young ages risks confusing children and exposing them to emotionally mature content before they are ready to process it. It's also causing a divide between students socially and if they don't believe it's ok to become the opposite gender that they were born as or date the same gender, they are being bullied by kids who are confused by this. Furthermore, this increasing focus on social and ideological issues is causing an undeniable drift away from core academic subjects. Our district's primary responsibility is to ensure every student graduates with strong foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, and science. Resources--including classroom time, teacher training hours, and budget--that are diverted toward social engineering detract directly from measurable academic achievement. Call to Action I urge the school board and district administration to immediately review and revise all current policies related to these topics. We demand: 1. Mandatory Parental Opt-In/Out: Clear, simple mechanisms for parents to consent to or decline participation in non-academic instruction regarding gender and sexuality. 2. Increased Transparency: Full disclosure of all training materials, external consultants, and library resources related to these topics. Students at this age shouldn't have to books showing girls kissing girls. 3. Refocus on Academics: A commitment to prioritize the core curriculum and ensure that all classroom time is dedicated to rigorous academic instruction. 4. Create an environment where kids aren't bullied for not supporting Lgbtq so they feel safe coming to school again The district needs to step back and remember its role: to educate academics, not indoctrinate, and to support parents, not circumvent them.

Such a shame of a school. There are some truly amazing teachers there. Mrs. Jones, and Mrs…read more Colbert we're truly exceptional teachers who truly cared for their students and wanted the best for them. Unfortunately, it seems the rest have all moved on or been replaced. But the administrative staff is still in place and that is where the real issue lies. They were unable to help my son with his ADHD and dyslexia. My son was harassed and bullied by one of the paraeducators and the administrative staff at the time let it happen and encouraged it. It leads to my son having suicidal ideologies and we need to move him to private school. Unfortunately, he did develop PTSD due to the treatment from the staff at Redmond elementary.

My child is studying in Redmond Elementary since Kindergarten now he is in 5th grade. I must say…read moreteachers and management are doing a fabulous job in maintaining security, culture and teaching beyond the curriculum. The principal of the school Ms. Kirsten Gometz is amazing. She is always on her toes, available in the ground when kids are outside. Her attentive and friendly behavior makes students' parent comfortable. It is hard to find a principal like her! Thanks for making Redmond Elementary a wonderful learning center for kids.

I want to share my wonderful experience at Cascadia Montessori School over the last 5 years…read more In our interview, Mrs. Franklin said that compared to the rest of the kids heading to K, my daughter was behind academically because of her delay in speech. (My daughter, Emily did not say the words "Mommy and Daddy" until 3.5 years old. Emily would point instead of talking.) Mrs. Franklin indicated that to help my daughter accelerate, parent involvement in the school and homework are essential, and her strict vacation policy is not negotiable. Nevertheless, Mrs. Franklin accepted Emily to Cascadia for K. Mrs. Franklin takes the time to talk to each parent on the progress of their child. If your kid is doing well, she will tell you. If you kid is doing poorly, whether it is academically, an attitude adjustment or something not right, she will tell you. She spends time with every child, knows their behavior, strength and areas for improvement. The kids in Cascadia are loved, they treat their teachers and classmates with respect. The kids do not use foul language in school or at home. They are happy, idealistic, safe and can be kids at this age. At the same time, they are learning so much. Each summer starting from pre-K to 3th grade, the kids are given packets for the summer so that they will retain the work and not have to spend 2 months re-learning the work in the fall. The kids learn to type in 1st grade and proficient by 3rd grade. The kids start to write 3 to 5 to 10 page-type stories and essays by 3rd grade. By the 4th grade, the kids writing proficiency at the middle-school level. Fast forward to the present, Emily is in 4th grade. She is intelligent, witty, a vivacious reader and writer, and extremely talkative. My husband and I really appreciate the attention and love Cascadia Montessori has shown to our daughter.

oth our kids have attended Cascadia since PreK. We had heard about this wonderful institution from…read moreour colleagues and were very intentional in our choice. Mrs Keeton's leadership and high bar for the teachers and students is amazing. Cascadia provides our kids with a safe environment (home away from home) where there is focus on academic rigor but also on whole child development. Mrs Keeton and all the teachers/staff genuinely care for the children and set a high bar for them both academically and socially. It is also very well recognized amongst other middle/high schools of the region (Overlake, EPS, Lakeside, Eastside Catholic etc) and Cascadia alum have made great impressions at these schools. If you are looking for a nurturing yet academically rigorous school, this is your place!

Incredible school and staff. We were looking for a bilingual school for my oldest son so he could…read morelearn Spanish. I also loved the mindfulness and breathing they bring into everything. The school is run by parents who truly care, and even set up amazing after school care and activities for the kids. Highly recommend!

Amazing little school, all the teachers are so attentive, caring and professional. My daughter…read moreleaves easily in the mornings, and wants to stay as late as possible - what could be a better signal!

My son has been going there. I see a marked improvement in his comprehension and essay writing…read more One of main challenge was to get him to use English words instead of Gen Z slang. Ann is a truly amazing and genuine person, who cares about the kids and parents equally. Tony my son's tutor has been so amazing, patient and so much empathy for him. The best thing is that my son looks forward to going to Brightmont. Truly happy with Brightmont. Highly recommend giving them a try, you never know that may be the missing piece, before it all clicks for you kid.

A wonderful school that offers self paced one-on-one instruction with kind staff and workers…read more Excellent for students seeking more support/credits academically. Also a great place for kids that struggle with the distractions and noise of big class sized schools. Brightmont Academy offers flexible scheduling with the seamless ability to transition from in-person classes to online classes.

Unprofessional, not compassionate, only offers Islamic education to children they deem "perfect",…read moreas in NO HANDICAPS. No compassion, hardly a reflection of Islamic values. If you believe all children have worth, and deserve an Islamic education you may wish to rethink Madina Academy. My child is still living with the scars this place gave him.

Worked formerly as a teacher here so this comes from my own personal views and opinions, although I…read morecan say that many former colleagues would agree with me... I can say with confidence this school is the worst school I have ever seen, been to, or worked at. To start, the tuition rate is outrageous, they have a turnover rate of almost 50% of staff every year, and they barely pay teachers with Masters and PHD's a living wage. In working at public schools before this, I can say the curriculum here is substantially worse and far less engaging. Parents get scammed into thinking this is some elite school for gifted kids. Your child will be far better off at any public school than here. Save your money for a good college or a real private school, not this horrendous place that calls itself a "school". PS after paying over $30,000 a year per child for tuition, that doesnt even cover school lunches, field trips, or any after school enrichment opportunities or activities. They just want your money, and if you pay enough I am sure they will give your kid amazing grades without them having to learn anything! (The school will pressure teachers to give students better grades so it will reflect better on them and make student look more capable than they are)

I'm so glad that we chose BCA a year ago and here's why:…read more 1) I see my son's remarkable progress in Math. Thanks to the engaging curriculum and teacher helps kids to build a solid foundation. Learning is fun. Each kids has their personalized math journal books. 2) Presentation skills have blossomed, with lots of opportunities to present in front of peers. Each child seeks the spotlight, showcasing their ideas with confidence. 3) The peer groups are exceptional, with students excelling in various fields like ice hockey, chess, dance, art performance, etc. 4) The school culture fosters a sense of inclusivity and compassion, emphasizing that everyone is a winner. My son's desire to raise funds for street kids reflects the school's values of community contribution. Special thanks to Mrs. Wilson, our classroom teacher. Not only myself but I've heard from several other parents in this class mention how much the kids love her.

Our daughter attended CHA from kindergarten and will be completing 4th grade this year. The school…read morehas been incredibly supportive from the beginning. Each of her teachers from K-4 were engaged and provided regular feedback on matters related to academics, social, and well-being. We really enjoyed the school programs from performing arts, field trips, winter activities, and leadership opportunities. CHA also did a great job connecting parents and building a strong community with the school.

This school is so good! We have been with this school since 2016, and might I say, it is so good. I…read morelove how not only to they teach the kids to strive in academics, but they also encourage leadership using the 8 habits. I also love the staff, who teach and encourage the students daily. This year, my fifth grade daughter is graduating, and we are so sad to leave! Last of all, thank you to the Head of School, who made their Washington D.C trip so fun!