We love this preschool, all three of our kids have had a wonderful experience here. My oldest son…read morewent here in 2012 when it was at a different location and Caroline was his teacher, when my second was ready for school in 2015, I put him in this bilingual preschool as well. Now my youngest daughter is attending this preschool, she is enrolled in the Chinese and English and her Chinese has significantly improved. We don't speak Chinese at home and because the school has sparked a curiosity in her, she requests Chinese words throughout the day and asks, "how do you say this in Chinese?" We were at a preschool before whose values did not align with our early learning philosophy. That school had wanted to teach every child exactly the same and ignore the needs of the child's developmental stage. We wanted a preschool that deepened our child's love for learning while treating them each as individuals and Language Garden does both. We feel so blessed to have found them. It's been over a year for my daughter and the teachers in both Chinese and English classrooms have been the same which helps build that stability a child needs to thrive. I highly recommend them!

TL;DR: We found the owners extremely inflexible, unreceptive to parent feedback, and rigid about…read more"school policy," even when those policies weren't clearly communicated. The school made a great impression during our tour, and our son's homeroom teacher, Ms. Chloe, was wonderful. Unfortunately, our experience with the owners/administration was terrible. I originally considered giving one star, but reconsidered solely because of Ms. Chloe. (More below) During our tour with the owner, Catherine, I was genuinely impressed. She knew the children by name and remembered details about their development, and I loved that she had 35+ years of childcare experience. We were also excited that the toddler teacher, Ms. Chloe had Montessori training and experience, and that the school is dual language Mandarin & English. During the tour, we saw teachers preparing what appeared to be homemade seaweed soup and other homemade food, and we were specifically told that if we sent food from home, it would be heated before serving to our child. Unfortunately, after enrolling, our son barely ate his school lunches, and the leftovers coming home provided by the school were frequently things like hot dogs and hamburgers, chicken nuggets. We started sending homemade meals instead that he would usually eat, such as stir fry and dumplings but unfortunately he continued to not eat much of his lunch. Six months later, we learned the school actually had a policy against reheating food from home. Our son started in December, and we didn't learn this until June by a new teacher. I wonder when we would have found out otherwise. This policy wasn't in the parent handbook we received and contradicted what we were told during our tour. For months, we were sending food expecting it to be warmed without realizing our son was being offered it cold. No wonder why he wasn't eating. For something as basic and important as whether our child was eating during the day, this was incredibly appalling. We also found the school extremely inflexible with scheduling. We paid for three days per week, but couldn't switch days or make up days missed due to illness or other situations. For example, if our schedule was M/W/F and we needed M/W/Th one week, Thursday required an additional payment even if our son didn't attend Friday. I understand that daycares need predictable staffing and policies, but there seemed to be very little flexibility. If we are paying for 3 days and they are saving the spot for my son, why does it matter which 3 days of the week? Another frustration was the administration's response to parent feedback. The school uses Brightwheel for communication, billing, and daily updates, but photos are uploaded separately to Flickr. Photos from the entire school are posted together, usually a day or two later, meaning I had to scroll through hundreds of photos just to find a few of my son. I repeatedly asked if photos could at least be organized by classroom so parents could easily see their own child's class. The request was repeatedly rejected because of "school policy." I also wasn't comfortable with every other parent or grandparent of the school having access to photos of my child. Eventually, I stopped checking Flickr because I simply didn't have time to scroll through 400+ photos. The best part of our experience was Ms. Chloe. She genuinely cared about our son, shared stories about his day, and made us feel like she really knew him. We also saw significant improvement in both his English and Chinese vocabulary during his time at Language Garden. Most importantly, he felt safe and comfortable with her. During the months when drop-off was difficult, we always felt relieved when Ms. Chloe was there to receive him. There are caring teachers here, and the school made an excellent first impression. Unfortunately, the gap between what we expected from our tour and what we experienced--particularly around food, scheduling, communication, and the administration's receptiveness to parent feedback--ultimately left us very disappointed. PS: my son's new daycare posts photos of him DAILY in brightwheel itself. Clearly it's possible. AND we still drop him 3 days a week, and they don't require a set schedule. We just drop him any 3 days and they are fine. That's what we should be paying for! I have done many daycare tours at this point, and am happy to share my experience with various daycares in the Eastside that may be a better fit, if anyone parents would like to reach out. Best of luck!

I was so thrilled to have found SCS! Immediately impressed by how organized and dedicated the…read moreteachers and administrators are. As with most educational organizations, parental involvement and volunteerism are vital to its success. Currently, the Seattle Chinese School utilizes the Interlake High School facility at 16245 NE 24th Street in Bellevue, for its Saturday morning classes. They teach Traditional Mandarin Chinese, not simplified, from age 3 and up. It follows public school calendar, with 30 weeks of classes per year. For parents who prefer a more structured educational setting, I would highly recommend to take a tour, talk with other parents to see if it's a good fit for your child.

From the owner: As the flagship Chinese School in the US Northwest, Seattle Chinese School teaches 3~17 year-old…read morestudents Chinese language (in traditional Chinese characters) and culture in our preschool, bo-po-mo phonetics (class 0) and level 1~10 classes. For non-heritage, 6 years old or older students and/or whose families don't speak Mandarin Chinese, we also offer Chinese as Second Language (CSL) classes. We aim to help these students learn the commonly used Chinese vocabulary and sentence patterns, so they can communicate in Mandarin Chinese and traditional Chinese characters. Enrollment for the new families starts in May through September. School hours are on Saturday mornings for 30 weeks from early September to early June. For more information, please check the school website. Seattle Chinese School (SCS) is a self-supporting, non-profit organization and has no political nor religious affiliations. Its primary goals are to provide the education of the Chinese language and culture for overseas Chinese, to raise the awareness of overseas Chinese of their own ancestral roots. The volunteer school administrators and teachers have always strived to plant the seeds of the Chinese culture in our hearts by offering quality Chinese education.

We sent our little one to Birch Tree academy which is a russian immersion program (no we don't…read morespeak russian) and were impressed by the quality care, strong curriculum, and kindhearted staff. We were looking for a childcare that was both educational and nurturing and Birch Tree has gone above and beyond to provide the best care for children. They also speak english to the kids, but ours can now speak bits of Russian along with English at home. The facility itself is homey and well organized with each child welcomed with their own cubbies for coats, shoes, and extra clothing. The space is great for kids to learn and explore with toys that are well organized and not overwhelming the environment. It allows the kids to interact, develop and form relationships. The staff are well trained and we are always greeted at the door for optimal security. They love children and are always so friendly and welcoming. You can tell they care and provide the best care. The director Stephanie is so organized, on top of everything, and is always willing to help. Her dedication and that of the teachers shows in the positive nurturing environment they provide for our little ones. Shout out to Ms. Ksenia for her big heart, amazing art activities and unique curriculum. Our toddler has learned so much and they helped us with many milestones through noticing his personality and helping him grow emotionally and mentally. For curriculum, the daily routine is well structured and full of exciting activities for the children. On top of daily activities they have spanish and music class which is so fun and great for the children's brain development. They are STEM based which is rare to find in the area. They also take the kids outside frequently which is good for their health and physical strength. The food is made in house and is organic and delicious, my toddler told me it is yummy himself. They offer a good variety of well rounded food, the appropriate numbers of snacks and even a dinner snack. They also keep us updated on any changes to menus which is a bonus. Overall, an excellent daycare/ preschool well worth it as they will provide the best care for your little one. We love Birch Tree!

Birch Tree Academy is a wonderful place for our family. Our child has learned so much, and has a…read moregenuine bond with her teachers. They have great hours (7:30am-6pm) to accommodate flexing work schedules, and they feed the children delicious meals and snacks throughout the day (no need to prepare food during the morning rush!). We're grateful to have found such amazing childcare.

I have so many positive things to say. I looked for a long time and visited, interviewed and…read moreconsidered many options before selecting this academy. The curriculum is advanced and individualized to a degree you won't get in public school. The staff takes time to ensure all children are taught how to learn, learn, and (most importantly) to enjoy learning and staying curious. I won't say more about the academics, you can look up how great they are online. But I will say they don't break kids like other aggressive academic private schools, they make them love learning. The nutrition is top notch. They feed them "home cooked" healthy organic meals 4-6 times a day. Allergies accounted for. No cakes or sweets allowed and each child gets a classroom bday celebration. Arts are built into the curriculum: culinary arts, painting, music and dance with performances, gymnastics and you even get a speech therapist. Kids are with two teachers: English speaking and Russian speaking. This was a major deal for me in terms of importance. The school is high in security and cleanliness. I know my kids are safe and I get photo updates of their time here. The school doesn't teach religion, politics, or gender stuff. That stays with the parents. I love this. It's one of the main reasons I'm here. But they are still teaching kindness, diversity and are strict on anti bullying. The school has hundreds of options for after school programs and care inclusive of science, robotics, musical instruments etc. But most importantly... I love the people. Everyone knows my kids from the daycare to the administration to the cooks to the director of the school. It feels like a warm and safe home. My kids feel comfortable and safe. They are welcomed with kindness. And I feel like they really care. The director of the school called me on the phone to tell me about my son's Iowa test and how she was concerned that someone as smart as him wasn't trying harder to take it. That level of care is so impressive to me. Hands down one of the best decisions I've made for my kids coming here. It is expensive! But very comparable to other private schools in the area. Only thing I can say is I wish the big school events (like graduation and festivals) were a bit more seamlessly organized.

We visited Sarodgini Children's Academy because we were considering it for child. Unfortunately,…read moreour first impression was very disappointing. From the moment we walked in, the administration did not seem welcoming or friendly. The communication felt rude and uncomfortable, and instead of making us feel welcome and explaining the school, we were immediately met with many questions in a manner that made us feel uncomfortable. The school itself looks beautiful and attractive from the outside, which is why we were interested in learning more about it. However, the attitude of the administration left us with a very negative first impression. For parents, the way you are welcomed and treated from the very first moment says a lot. Unfortunately, after this experience, we did not feel comfortable considering this school for our child.

My two eldest children have been attending RLS since their preschool years. The education level is…read morevery good and homework is assigned daily. The classes keeps my kids challenged and engaged without being too overwhelmed. I highly recommend this school!

My children have been attending RLS for over 5 years now, staring when they were 3 years old…read more RSL has fantastic teachers - dedicated and carrying, giving each child the attention he/she needs. Their classes are small - no more than 6 children per teacher, and every child is provided with textbooks and appropriate notebooks. You can attend classes in person, but there is an option to sign up for private classes over zoom. The school has a lot of classes to choose from, and they always help parents like me with multiple children who want to attend a variety of classes get my schedule just right. The classrooms are clean, the staff is professional. I highly recommend it!

Here's We have had a great experience at Birch Tree Academy Lake Hills so far. The staff are caring…read moreand do a wonderful job making the kids feel comfortable, and they actively teach important skills -- from building new vocabulary to self-sufficiency skills like dressing themselves, eating independently, and potty training. Enrolling our daughter here was genuinely life-changing for our family. It enabled both of us to return to work full-time with the peace of mind that our little one is in good hands. Communication from the teachers and staff is timely and thoughtful. They keep us informed about any incidents or needs as they come up -- nap-time challenges, behavioral hiccups, and the like -- always with our child's best interest at heart and always in a kind, informative way. Big shout-out to Miss Julie and Miss Kate, who run this location so smoothly -- they've helped us with everything from enrollment questions and arrangements around medications (our kid has an allergy, and they walked us through the entire emergency process) to updates on events. And the classroom teachers -- Miss Lakshmi, Miss Shomika, Miss Zamira, and Miss Raja -- clearly have our daughter's best interest at heart. We couldn't be happier.

Just in case Natalie will explain my review from below in a long and overwhelming format. But you…read morecan always give me a red heart after you enrolled you kid and really learned about what I said in a hard way. And, you are welcome. We enrolled our child here for a few months and experienced so many problems that we decided to withdraw. Honestly, it's hard to put everything into words. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be chaotic. The management is extremely disorganized, and it shows in every aspect of the school. They promise everything during the tour, but nothing is actually realized. For example, my son's potty training regressed while he was here, yet on his very first day at his new school, he was completely successful again--clearly showing where the issue was. Staffing is a major problem. The school feels understaffed, and instead of hiring enough people, they move teachers around constantly. Teachers are pulled from classrooms to cover the front desk, which leaves children without consistent caregivers and disrupts their sense of safety and stability. Sometimes multiple teachers sit at the front while classrooms and playgrounds remain short-staffed. When teachers are missing, children may be moved into other classrooms without parental consent or proper camera access. The facilities and environment are also concerning. The classrooms and floors are often dirty, even in the morning when children are first dropped off. The food quality is very poor, meals look like leftovers, often just cereal porridge with tiny bits of vegetables or meat, and not the organic quality that was promised. Supervision is lacking both indoors and outdoors. There are no cameras outside, and playgrounds are regularly understaffed. Our child was seriously injured outside and no report was provided. During one unannounced visit, I even witnessed children crying hysterically with no teacher comforting them, while other teachers raised their voices harshly at kids in full view of parents. Another disturbing concern is the culture: the school head's own child is in the school and acts as a bully in the classroom without intervention. Other staff members' children also receive special treatment. If teachers dislike your child, they may even allow or encourage other children to mistreat them. To make matters worse, they openly supports physical punishment, something every other preschool we toured explicitly prohibited. Unfortunately, our child experienced this firsthand. He was two years old, but punished in a harsh and rude way. The teacher had segregated and neglected him during nap time. We are contacting the agencies for the abuse. Hopefully they'll get punished soon. Communication with management is evasive and never provides reassuring answers. Overall, this school fails to provide the safe, nurturing, and trustworthy environment that children need. I cannot recommend it.

it sucks. 3 hours of class, 24 hours of homework, and if you don't pass at the end you repeat the…read moregrade.

My 8-year old son had a great experience at GE Chinese School. He made great progress in the past 6…read moremonth, I'm really happy with the result. I think it is a great school for serious Chinese learners. The school developed its own apps to help kids do their homework everyday.

During our sabbatical in Seattle, enrolling our daughter at Pikake was hands-down the best decision…read morewe made. From our very first tour, we were struck by the professionalism and warmth of the school director -- organized, thoughtful, and immediately welcoming. The teachers carried that same spirit throughout the year. Our daughter's teachers, Ms. Maple and Ms. Tristen, were truly exceptional. Our daughter learned so much and genuinely thrived -- by the end of the year she could out-quiz her elementary-school-aged brother on world geography! The curriculum let her choose her own projects and go deep into each subject, which made learning feel meaningful and self-directed. We also deeply appreciated how warmly the teachers and families welcomed us, despite having no personal connection to Japanese culture. We got to experience traditions like Hinamatsuri alongside families who made us feel like we belonged. The food deserves its own mention. Every morning we walked in to the smell of freshly made Japanese food -- homemade, seasonal, and genuinely delicious. Our daughter's palate grew so much that year. (Her current school's lunch, by contrast, has us packing her meals daily -- nothing compares!) If we had stayed in Seattle, we would have continued to send our daughter into kindergarten. We are so grateful for the year we had there. And in our daughter's own words: "I had an amazing time with you! I wish I could be there right now. Pikake is the best preschool " -- said everything.

My child has been going to Pikake School for a couple years now and we couldn't be more pleased…read more Our child has really enjoyed the teachers and environment and has blossomed since they started going to school here. The teachers and staff are knowledgeable and caring, they go above and beyond for all the children. The school and staff worked very hard through lockdown and the covid pandemic to offer a safe and nurturing environment for all the children. Pikake School has continuously added new features for children safety, like a new padded astro turf area on the playground. My child loves it and tells me about it every day! It brings my heart great joy to hear about all of the wonderful and positive things my child experiences throughout the year... things like the Reptile Man, meet and greets with Fire Fighters and Police Officers. They even had a visit from Santa during Christmas! We are so happy that we found Pikake School, the director, teachers and staff strive to provide the most loving and nurturing environment for all children. I have to say thank you for all that they have done and still do.