Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Brightworks School

    4.4 (13 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Brightworks School Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Brightworks School

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Email to school about the lack of financial transparency

    This school failed our child socially, emotionally, academically and in every other way it possibly could. We had enrolled a vibrant, communicative, inquisitive child, an avid tinkerer (it's hard to overstate how much he loved and loves building and making things) with a wide-range of interests and when we pulled him out three years later, he was a nervous ball of anxiety, with low self-confidence and self-esteem, unable to even respond with grace to a stranger asking him his name. The students at this school spend a nominal amount of time on projects, perhaps just a few hours every quarter, and that is meant to be their sole process of learning. So evidently, children are learning very little about anything ('deep dive' is patently false). The rest of the hours, are tightly scheduled and regimented (children learning to 'advocate for themselves' is another of a long list of falsehoods), into what basically amounts to the child doing nothing - morning circle, choice time, reading time, quiet time, park time, snack, lunch, closing circle - occasional math & literacy time. Going into a building every day with nothing to do, almost drove our child crazy. The inefficiencies and incompetence we saw also stressed us out to no end. Most families' refusal to share openly what they (we were all) experiencing, did not help. In general, deep & meaningful community engagement was non-existent but there were endless emails and narrative building & spin about 'community'. During school hours, children are faced not only with exhausted teachers and support staff (both categories are routinely fired at will), but the poorest quality of learning, tinkering materials & tools, and even after 10 years, this school hasn't figured out how to get children to do basic math and reading. Not only were we spending thousands of additional dollars on projects and skills like wood-working, outside of school, but also on basic math and literacy. After failing to teach the child elementary academic skills, they had the gall to suggest our child was dyslexic (after 6 months of home tutoring, including 3 months at a new school he reads with ease, sitting with books for hours). Taking them seriously would have cost us tens of thousands of dollars more - but honestly, they couldn't care less for our money or our child. The apathy runs deep and what we found over the last few months left us seriously troubled. For starters, parents should know that Brightworks is part of a larger non-profit called Institute for Applied Tinkering or IAT. IAT also runs Tinkering School camps and has been sued in the past for leaving a child with PTSD after an overnight camp ( Google 'JOHN DOE ET AL VS. INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TINKERING ET AL'). When we read the details of the case, it sounded exactly like what a night camp run by Brightworks might look like. Secondly, the school is always short of funds. There is not an extra dollar for anything. Everything at the school is old, overused and donated. When I asked if the funds from Brightworks were kept separate from other IAT activities, I never received a response. The financials are a complete black box and I never saw any of the stated objectives - both big or small - from the Annual Fund met (I am still waiting for the tiny house from last year). On the other hand, as a non-profit, the Form 990s are all public and shockingly reveal that ~1/2 a million has been spent on travel over 6 years. It also looks like from older filings, the school has spent several hundred thousand dollars on meals (this has to be in addition to the potlucks that families were participating in!) and ~ 100,000 dollars on field trips. There was never a free meal when we were enrolled or even obvious use of paid services as parent volunteers seem to do everything from washing towels (yes, you're reading it right) to changing air purifier filters - in addition to donating funds, furniture and even plants. I also heard at a board meeting (Nov 2023) that the school has never raised funds to offer tuition aid to families, when I followed up with how on earth the school managed to offer aid to 40% of the families but did not get an answer. Which led to me ask how much is the Brightworks education actually worth - with no materials, enrichment, athletics, art, languages - and at $40,000 a year - and in the absence of any real tangible break-up, are families receiving aid, even receiving 'aid' or paying the actual fee or maybe even more! Last but not the least, Gever Tulley, although doesn't put his name on any written communication to parents - is the lead of the 'Leadership Team' (which will now include the new Head of School) and is the de facto Chief of the school, the non-profit and all its fundraising and grant writing initiatives. This is not all of it, and I hope families will use this as a starting point for their research before enrolling their child.

    Showing of his Raspberry Pi Emulator with over 2000 games

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Terry C.

    Terry C.

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 6
    Love this 0
    Oh no 4
    Photo of Marc R.
    389
    159
    5

    12 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L A.
    0
    23
    1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cyd H.
    0
    14
    0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Ask the Community - Brightworks School

    Review Highlights - Brightworks School

    BWX has taught them, if you have a problem (here, they wanted this kid on their team), figure out a way to try and solve it.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Elementary Schools 1,275 times last month within 20 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Convent & Stuart Hall

    Convent & Stuart Hall

    4.1(7 reviews)
    2.0 miPacific Heights, Marina/Cow Hollow

    Academically single sex but socially coed - the best of both worlds. Convent (girls school) and…read moreStuart Hall (boys school) have separate classrooms but share the campus and resources. Really amazing administration and leadership - very active in building connections and on going projects between the boys and girls. They all know each other. My children have so many resources - reading specialists, math specialists, etc - that allow for differentiated learning within the classroom. For example, it is common for children in the same class to be learning at different math levels. While we are not religious, my favorite thing about the school is their global approach. The children are very educated about current events, world religions, world languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin, Latin), art, and music (Music Conservatory program). While academics and teachers are top notch, the global approach and emphasis on school community is very impressive. We love the school and all our kids are thriving! Also, great sports program!

    I volunteered at the Stuart Hall for boys, a Catholic School of the Sacred Heart, as part of Bay…read moreArea Scientists in Schools in 2017. Two of my fellow graduate students from the Earth and Planetary Science department at UC Berkeley and I prepared and gave an interactive lesson and experiment on earthquakes and geological faults to a class of boys. Students interacted with the handout we prepared electronically via tablet technology and we broke the students into three groups, one with each of us volunteers. The students in my group were well behaved, contributed to group discussion, and not afraid to partake in the hands-on experiment. On the whole I had a good experience. One of the other volunteers was male, the other female, and I am female. I had no issues getting the male students to pay attention, nor did the other male volunteer, though we were both geophysicists and earthquakes fell in our realm of graduate studies. The other female volunteer, a geochemist, said she had a little difficulty with the students in her group, but not bad. Our conclusion was maybe it was related to our knowledge background and area of study in graduate school and how that translated into our teaching style, though there were lingering concerns it might have been related to her being female.

    Photos
    Convent & Stuart Hall
    Convent & Stuart Hall
    Convent & Stuart Hall - Diane Feinstein went here, Nancy Pelosi sent her girls here, and you should too.

    See all

    Diane Feinstein went here, Nancy Pelosi sent her girls here, and you should too.

    Hillwood Academic Day School

    Hillwood Academic Day School

    4.7(30 reviews)
    1.6 miPacific Heights

    We feel incredibly grateful to be part of this school community. The school is small -- truly like…read morea family -- and that has made all the difference for our child. For students who thrive in a small setting with individualized attention, this school is a wonderful fit. There is a strong sense of belonging, and every child is truly known by their teachers and by students across grade levels. The school places strong emphasis on academics, while also recognizing that each child progresses at their own pace. They really practice individualized learning and meet students where they are. When our child first joined, they were shy, socially awkward, and often anxious. Over time, we have watched them transform into a confident and happy child who feels completely at home in this "school family." They interact comfortably with teachers and students from different grades, and they genuinely enjoy going to school every day. Communication with parents is excellent. Teachers provide regular updates and address any concerns promptly and thoughtfully. Problems are never left unattended -- they are handled with care and collaboration. Another huge plus is that the school is very low-stress for families. There are no fundraising pressures, drop-off and pick-up are smooth (no long lines!), tuition is very affordable, and there is free after-school care. The school even provides freshly prepared hot lunches, included in the tuition, so parents don't have to worry about packing meals. In addition, there is a two-month summer school program, which is incredibly helpful for working families. Most importantly, our child is happy, feels secure, and is making strong academic progress. We highly recommend this school to families looking for a nurturing, small, personalized learning environment where children can truly grow and flourish.

    Absolutely don't recommend this school! Both Eric and Gayle are rude and unprofessional. They have…read morean outdated and non-inclusive way of handling things. My 5-year old was bullied in the school every day. Someone would use a pair of scissors to cut a penny-size hole on the knitted leggings/pants (on right knee) every single day for 2-week. My kid was terrified and scared. We initially thought maybe they are just having fun. We observed it that the kiddo was coming home with a hole on pants (same spot every day) and raised it to Gayle. Gayle didn't like it and "escalated" to her husband, Eric. The day after I spoke to Gayle we tried to have a conversation with Eric during drop off next morning. He literally took us outside the door and closed the door and told me "you are over the top" and "we don't have scissors freely available in the school." I tried to show him the pictures and the pants that I carried with me for proof so he can understand what is going on. I was hoping that he would hear us out and do something about it but instead he got in the defensive mode. Eric returned our tution check on the spot and said this is not working out and they can't accept our kid in the school anymore from the next day and dismissed any concerns about bullying. We were dumbfounded as the kid had no fault and was doing extremely well academically under Teacher Anna (great teacher). The last day we intentionally decided to do an early pick up after our morning conversation and surprisingly that's the only day she came home without any hole. Later we learned a boy named David was behind this. However, we are not sure if the name is accurate as she is still super scared. How many little kiddos need to go through bullying before adults accept that bullying is problematic and is a personality disorder. Stay away from this school!

    Photos
    Hillwood Academic Day School
    Hillwood Academic Day School - Hillwood Academic Day School, K-8th Grade

    Hillwood Academic Day School, K-8th Grade

    Hillwood Academic Day School - A class performance

    See all

    A class performance

    Marina Middle School

    Marina Middle School

    1.7(11 reviews)
    1.8 miMarina/Cow Hollow

    So..I'm currently an 8th grader right now,and I got to say is not that bad.6th and 7th grade we…read morehave a lot of trouble makers.But then suddenly in 8th grade they became more mature. Now your middle school experience depends on 3 factor -the teacher you going to have -friend -the kind of student in your class The staff is nice and all I guess,to be honest I don't really talk to them.If you came to this school for education then Hahahaha pls go to another school m8te.Depend on what teacher you will get,you either will learn something or don't learn at all.8th grade is the best year since more people have become more mature and not a**hole. BEST TEACHER? Mr.tom and mr.lamborn is the two class I been to and feel a community in the classroom.basically they are the cool and good teacher that try to understand The situation and listen to the student have what to say.Mr.kornow and mr.Doyle are good teacher too. Electives(some may change) -journalism(exclusive to 8th grader) -art -computer -drama (exclusive to 7th grader) -mandarin -Spanish -music(band and orchestra) And other class I may forgot Since I'm in journalism class base on what I recorded, most people like computer class. COOL THING WE DO IN PE -biking -wave board (kind of like skate board) -judo for Doyle class only -circus trick? -kick boxing I thought this some pretty cool stuff we get to do. So how is marina school? Meh,is not as bad as you think.

    My experience with Marina Middle has been disappointing. Many students feel unsupported, and some…read moreteachers come across as harsh or unkind instead of encouraging. There's a sense that student concerns aren't always taken seriously, which affects the school environment and makes learning stressful. The administration could do much more to ensure that teachers treat students with respect and create a safer, more positive atmosphere.

    Photos
    Marina Middle School
    Marina Middle School
    Marina Middle School - Basketball gym court

    See all

    Basketball gym court

    Presidio Hill School

    Presidio Hill School

    5.0(14 reviews)
    1.1 miPresidio Heights

    My daughter loves her school. She is in fifth grade now and began at Kindergarten. Art being her…read morefavorite subject. They have ceramics, painting and all kinds of creative projects. They go into the Presidio one-two times per week and value being outdoors and learning about nature. We have felt supported as a family with educational classes for parents, teachers and a counseling group with other kids when she needed it. The community of families share in volunteering for events and class outings, which brings together a close network. The teachers and staff have been wonderful and I can't say enough about how well they fostered her education, projects and time here. I'm so proud of who she has become and it's due to Presidio Hill's values and academics. I highly recommend Presidio Hill.

    Presidio Hill is a gem of a school that makes excellent use of the nearby national park and has…read morethoughtful and caring teachers. It is absolutely worth visiting first-hand. Two of my children transferred in midway through 3rd and 6th grade; the older graduated and is now at University High School, and the other is still at PHS, entering 7th grade. As an educator myself, I am aligned with progressive, humanist, and constructivist movements, and the ways those teaching philosophies prioritize internal motivation over external motivation aligned with more behaviorist philosophies. That's not for everyone, of course! Again, worth just visiting first-hand to have a look.

    Photos
    Presidio Hill School
    Presidio Hill School
    Presidio Hill School

    See all

    San Francisco University High School - School Logo

    San Francisco University High School

    4.0(6 reviews)
    1.4 miPacific Heights

    UHS has stellar teachers and offers a supportive environment for high school students. The school…read morepushes students hard on the college-prep route. Advanced Placement courses and tough courses all-around. They get you in to college and make sure you do well there. Top notch school. Very greatful for having gone there. They recently added a new building at 3220 Sacramento Street which houses Ceramic and Art Studios, a film lab, offices, and much more. They are in the process of renovating their lower campus on Washington Street and have already completed a new library on Jackson. A new theater was added in 2001.

    I was spoiled by my four years here and received an education that is on par with (if not superior…read moreto) that of many universities. Make no mistake the coursework here pushes students hard, but the opportunities here are endless and display an incredible diversity of passions and talents. During my time at UHS, I played on the varsity tennis and badminton teams, played intramural sports, performed in the spring musical, wrote for the school newspaper, founded a club, sang in the chorus, took a photo class...oh and I took a few academic classes in between. The kinds of classes I took included AP US History, Mandarin Chinese, Literature of the Vietnam War, Western Civilization, Calculus, and the list goes on. My only regret? Not studying harder and pushing myself to try more new things. You can be an artist or a businessman. You can explore the sciences or delve into the literature of your favorite foreign language. It really is as much as you want to make of it. The faculty is top notch, with credentials from outstanding academic institutions and more importantly, a great ability to encourage the students to WANT to learn. And let me save the best for last. The students. The people. Ambitious, talented, and bound to do amazing things. Yes, I sound like a propaganda tool. But I cannot say enough about this school. Alumni events connect me to a wide array of grads in locations and industries far and wide. If you are considering sending your child here, you are doing them a great service. Don't let the finances deter you - the education is first rate and financial aid is available to those who qualify.

    Photos
    San Francisco University High School - UHS from above.

    UHS from above.

    San Francisco University High School

    See all

    Brightworks School - elementaryschools - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...