Hillside Academy has been an incredible fit for our family. Both of our kids have grown so much…read moresince starting here, and the small class sizes have made a meaningful difference in their confidence and learning. The teachers are genuinely invested, the leadership is strong and supportive, and the overall environment is welcoming and engaging. We're so grateful we chose Hillside--it's been one of our best decisions. Highly recommend!

My son is there for two years and he grew so much academically and socially. We love hillside.read more

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.

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.

I competed at Monroe High School when I ran middle distance in track and field during my freshman…read moreyear of high school (Spring 2007 season for Shorewood High School). The stadium had bleacher outdoor seating. During the meet we were allowed to sit in the bleachers, which was nice because they were high enough compared to the surrounding landscape to get a slight breeze. The track was well marked and in good condition. Returning to see what I could see today, Wednesday 19 July 2023, I found the stadium and track and field were open to the public when the gates were not locked. As the gates were open, I did some exploring and reminiscing about competing here. I appreciated being able to return and reflect on my experience(s) here.

Shame on Monroe high school for not having any working drinking fountains around the schools I'm at…read morea track and field event, multiple sports are going on at the school and there's no working drinking fountains. The first entrance should also have signs saying no parking, or no driving, instead of leading people down a dead end.

Football games are fun to watch! school has good education. although 30,000$ kinda pricey nglread more

A hidden gem! This school is both academically challenging, yet meets each student where they are…read moreat, so each student will grow within themselves. Each student is recognized for his/her accomplishments and not compared with another. They believe in the whole student approach. Kids can have successes with class work, homework, sports, clubs, drama, music. Each students supports other whether they are like them or not. Nurturing community.

Evergreen Academy Montessori has been such a gift for our family. From the start, we felt welcomed…read moreinto a warm, thoughtful environment where children are encouraged to be confident, independent, and kind. My son's teacher, Leslie West, has been truly extraordinary. She listens to the kids with real interest, respects them as individuals, and creates a classroom culture that is both joyful and caring. With her guidance, my son has grown in so many ways; he takes pride in caring for himself, loves to help others, and feels capable of learning and doing things on his own. The school clearly values educators who nurture the whole child, and that shines through in everything they do. We're so grateful for Evergreen Academy and can't recommend it highly enough.

Ms. Leslie West has had a wonderful impact on my daughter's learning journey. Through her teaching,…read moremy daughter became more independent and confident, learning everyday life skills such as table manners, making her bed, and cleaning up after herself. She always looked forward to school, especially the weekly Friday show-and-tell, where she felt excited to share her thoughts. The hands-on, theme-based activities--like growing a pumpkin in the fall and observing a ladybug's metamorphosis in the spring--made learning engaging and meaningful. My daughter truly loved her class, and we are very grateful to Ms. Leslie West for her care, creativity, and dedication. Thank you for making such a positive difference in her early learning years.

Not very fitting or inclusive. At my time there I was a 5th grade student and my teacher was quite…read moretoxic (this goes for the students as well). Perhaps it focuses more on an IB-Curriculum than their students mental health. Throughout my time there, I felt so alone, so isolated, and yet I carry that trauma with me to this day.

My son is loving his first year here (6th), and the other kids I talk to are really happy. They…read morehave strong academics, good social support, and small class sizes. He has a large enough peer group to be happy with but small enough classes to get the attention he likes. They are a newer, growing school, so there can be minor issues with logistics and new procedures as times, but overall it has been a very positive experience.

I first started taking online classes here back in 2015 to get a head start in school. The online…read moreassignments work well and are easy to access/use. You also have a way to easily message your teacher so getting questions answered is not a problem.

From the owner: Our goal is to educate- guiding students and families through options that best fit their student…read more An education plan is designed that strengthens a student's skills, guides current academics, and fosters a connection to learning. The blended learning plan may include online, small group, and one-to-one coursework. Our continual support and communication fosters learning and course completion. Earned credits are transferable to all public and private schools, and a NWLS diploma is recognized by colleges and universities.

I hate to post reviews about things that aren't the core business of a place -- in this case the…read moreschool itself. But since every other current review is about things other than academics, here goes. (I'll write about academics when my boy gets here for school.) My boy just started soccer "camp" at the school's sports field. The camp is staffed by the school's own girls' soccer team. What a great way to get a lot of coaches for younger kids than a team of players coaching and sharing a sport they love! The web page for the soccer camp is a part of the high school girls' team pages, so it's possible to mistake it for a camp for girls. No, it's just _staffed_ by the girls' teams. It's for girls and boys and nonbinary. The check-in wasn't as organized as a commercial "camp" (like the bicycle and Lego camps the boy has attended), but it was functional. Best I can tell, it was 100% volunteers, and everyone was smiling. The camp serves as a fundraiser for the teams, which is so much better for everyone than selling stuff. The camp includes a good quality t-shirt and a cheap backpack, plus three days of coaching, for $85 -- less than half the hourly price of the bike camp. The boy never admits to learning anything, because that would mean acknowledging that he doesn't know everything already. But he had fun, and played two matches with teams apparently assigned by t-shirt color. So, until the boy is old enough to attend high school himself, go team!

I worked as a volunteer at Redmond High School and am also a retired certificated teacher. In fact,…read moreamong other subjects, I taught high school "Tech Theater". My interactions with Ruth Barton were fraught with difficulty. She was demeaning and insulting, often raising her voice and making sarcastic comments to adult volunteers as well as students. Her dictatorial manner did not contribute to the psychological well-being of anyone in her periphery. I would not recommend voluntarily working with this person, even though the facility is adequate.