Pacific Learning Academy has been life-changing! The fact that it is located right in Sammamish…read moreand has such wonderful tutors and staff, we are so thankful and grateful to have found Pacific Learning Academy. From the first phone calls and our first meeting with Ms. Jacobson, we felt taken care of. She really manages scheduling wonderfully and listens to you amazingly- she will find the right fit for your child and help them succeed. We had a struggling junior, and have used an IB LA tutor and an IB Calc tutor. Our son loved both, and we have seen the improvement. I highly highly recommend Pacific Learning Academy!

We have worked with Pacific Learning Academy for 8 years and 3 children. We have taken a mix of…read moretutoring, for credit classes, test prep, and college essays. We have always been very pleased with all of the tutors and staff at PLA!

The school has an excellent teaching staff, and the teachers have a great relationship with the…read morechildren. My child enjoys going to school very much

We used this place for 'emergency' child care need. Very thankful to certain employers to have this…read morebenefit. Very nice and clean facility. Administrator are very prideful and helpful. My child had a good time over summer. Projects weee fun and facilities are spacious to accommodate a variety of activities. A great place for older kids (kindergarten and above) Would return for sure. Thank you for providing a safe and fun place for this community.

Our daughter has been at ECS since 1st grade and is now in 2nd. She's built such strong bonds with…read moreher classmates, and we've seen how much those friendships actually help her in the classroom. When they hit tough topics--like some of the more advanced math concepts--having that supportive group of friends keeps her motivated and makes the challenges feel much more manageable. We also really value how the school handles social growth. When a conflict came up, the teachers and the principal didn't just 'fix' it; they helped her develop a real strategy for resolution and taught her how to navigate things in the future. It gave her so much confidence. Most importantly, we love that the school is centered on God and faith. Seeing her so excited to talk about Jesus after chapel is a huge blessing to our family. It's a wonderful, supportive community and we're so glad to be part of it.

Our three children have been attending since 2020, and we couldn't be happier with the experience…read more ECS has nurtured not only their academic growth but also their character, and we're truly grateful for the school's impact on their lives. Although located in Bellevue, the ECS community is refreshingly down-to-earth and welcoming. As a parent, I deeply appreciate the teachers' attention to detail and commitment to each student's success. For example, if a second assignment is missed, teachers proactively reach out and keep us informed about our child's progress. Each of our children is known and valued as an individual. They are seen, supported, and encouraged in their own unique ways. ECS is a special place--what we lovingly call "God's little school on the hill." I hope it continues to thrive and bless families in our community for many years to come.

Sammamish Children's School is our two-year old's home away from home. Every morning when he wakes…read moreup, he's excited to go 'play with friends' at 'new school'...he's been attending for two months, but this is his name for school. Our son is in the 'Dippers' class, and his teacher, Ms. Melissa and assistant teacher, Ms. Bella, are amazing. There are stations setup each morning with age appropriate and engaging activities (water play, sand play, Mr. Potato Head, etc.) which our son loves! There's music class every Monday and Thursday, an amazing outdoor play space on acreage, and nutritious, diverse meals served. Emotionally - Ms. Melissa and the staff helped reinforce preparing our son for the arrival of his baby brother by talking about being a 'big brother' and reinforcing our son's role in our family. It made the transition of bringing baby home more exciting than nerve racking. Above and beyond a typical school experience in my opinion. Operationally - SCS also has many less closure days than some of the schools my friends kiddos go to in the area, so much more predictable for work schedules. It did take us a little over 7-months to get off the wait list, but Ms. Kelly (assistant director) was awesome at helping us plan for a reasonable date to possibly join. I cannot say enough positive things about this school, the faculty, the activities, the food, and overall experience. Highly recommend to any families looking for a long-term 'home' for their kiddos.

The absolute best! Both of our kids have gone from 1 year old day care all the way through…read morekindergarten at SCS and it's the best money we've ever spent. Great Teachers (even at the early age, 1-2-3, they have a curriculum) Well run operations (sign ups, billing, updates) Awesome chef (yes, they feed the kids healthy food, you don't need to pack fruit by the foot) Safe! (Before, during, and all the way through the pandemic) The kids love it and it's really set them up for success.

My daughter attended the toddler program at Arbor, and unfortunately, our experience was not very…read morepositive. From the beginning, she was reluctant to go to school, though at her age (3 years old) she couldn't clearly express why. On the administrative side, I often found communication confusing and overly bureaucratic. The primary care director frequently stepped in when issues arose in the classroom, but her messages did not always align with the teachers', and she did not appear to have decision-making authority. When we finally decided to withdraw our daughter after several difficult months, the process was particularly challenging. We submitted our withdrawal notice one day later than the contract required (on a Sunday rather than Saturday). While I acknowledge that this was our oversight, the financial impact was in the thousands of dollars, and the school was unwilling to make any accommodation. Discussions with the primary director, assistant head, head of school, and eventually the owner all reinforced the sense that policies were rigid and prioritized the business side over the child's well-being or the family's situation. I later spoke with another parent who had a very similar experience regarding withdrawal fees, which made me realize this was not an isolated case. To be fair, there are dedicated teachers at Arbor, and I know some children do well there. However, if challenges arise, families should be prepared for limited flexibility and a process that may feel more focused on contractual obligations than collaborative problem-solving.

very unfriendly, not welcoming staff. Atmosphere/ environment is dingy not well lit, a bit…read moredepressing in-fact. not family oriented and to say it lightly biased.

at my previous school, I was bullied, depressed and hated learning. none of the teachers were nice…read morebut, hillside is the complete opposite all the teachers are nice, obviously care about their students and what they teach. all the students like each other. I'm still recovering from my past experiences, but hillside is doing a darn good job at helping me heal and helping nourish my gifts.

Flashback to 1989: I had just learned my parents had enrolled me at Hillside and I was furious. How…read moredare they enroll me in private schooling instead of buying me a car?! Needless to say, looking back, I'm glad of their decision. I hadn't been the most social kid in middle school and Hillside provided the perfect mix of supportive community, yet challenging academic environment, to enable me to succeed. If you're not familiar with Hillside, take a tour. They have one of the best college-prep, personality-development and real-world training programs in the area.

My Kindergartener comments out-of-blue several times a week that he loves his school and said this…read moremorning he wishes he could rate it, so here we are :) I'm extremely happy with the school: It seems all the lower school specialists manage to work physical activity into their lessons, children are treated with respect and have SEL built into daily activities. The teachers and staff are highly conscientious, constantly revising their curriculum and methods based on outcomes, the latest in educational research, and community feedback. Just driving onto campus each morning feels good, because everything is done so well. The active and supportive parent community is wonderful. Lots of helpful parent Ed talks and resources (and plenty of nerdy, type A parents as you might imagine, that tend to knock whatever task they've volunteered for out of the park). Of course, each year is going to be different depending on the mix of parents, students, and faculty but the institutional structure of constant improvement and community involvement is one of the best I've seen. I also really appreciate the fact that my son is now middle-of-the-pack in terms of intellect and assertiveness, finding friends with similar interests and abilities. And I've been able to relax around the other parents who share similar experiences of parenting exceptional kids. Hope this is helpful; I know picking a school is a big decision and the cost is significant. All I can say it that we really love Open Window.

Open Window School Is a mediocre school,…read more As a current student it excels in programs for gifted students and for kids in need of special help. However, it lacks in some areas, it does not provide enough support to kids with mental health struggles and passes over kids they do not consider diverse. other than that, the teachers are the best teachers I have ever come to know and they always make sure that you will excel. overall open window is a mediocre school that is great if you are diverse and gifted.

Pine Lake Co-Op Preschool has been amazing for my daughter. Play-based learning, exposure to…read moredifferent skills/activities and time spent outdoors playing makes my child beg to go to preschool! The teachers are wonderful and knowledgeable. Co-op model means great student-teacher/adult ratio and very affordable tuition. Getting to volunteer in the classroom has helped me learn more about child development and felt more confident as a parent. It is a great use of my time. There's a reason Pine Lake Co-Op Preschool has been a central part of the community for over 50 years! My daughter is a second generation PLCP student!

We moved to Sammamish in the middle of the pandemic, and I am so happy to have found Pine Lake…read moreCo-op Preschool (PLCP)! It is exactly what my son needed after being home for so long without regular interaction with other kids his age. At PLCP, we have found the perfect balance between flexible structure and the freedom to just play and be kids. Our family has had nothing but wonderful experiences the last two years with Teacher Kim! It's very evident that she is thoroughly experienced with these age groups and provides a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and lessons for the kids. There's no better feeling as a parent than seeing your child thrive in their first experience of school! I am grateful to have found a preschool where my son is safe, positively engaged with his peers and teacher, and excited to go to school each day. As a former K/1st teacher, I have no doubt that Pine Lake Co-op is a wonderful place for both you and your child to grow and learn together. The co-op model is unique and we have loved building connections with other families. Our younger one will be starting at PLCP in a few months, and we're so excited to see his education journey begin!!

heaven. i attended this school from pre-k up until 3rd grade and it was the best school ever. i…read moremade so many friends and so many memories and every day was a good day. i now have PTSD because in 3rd grade i was criticized by some teachers for having special needs and was sent to a crappy public school against my will that was absolute hell and i also got PTSD from that school. so i have trauma from being practically abused by being transferred to a terrible school against my will but it was worth it

To recommend DWs post from 10 years ago - this is statement is still accurate in 2025…read more This school is fine for easy-going kids who would do well anywhere. They absolutely do not focus at all on the social or emotional development of the children. Any and all problems are considered the parent's problem to fix. They also hire teachers with no secondary education background, and have no business calling themselves a dual accredited school when they can't support a class structure - it's chaos in there

Eastside Community School has been such a gift to our family. The teachers are not only deeply…read moreknowledgeable and grounded, but they bring a calm, centered presence that creates a truly nurturing environment for the children. The setting itself is peaceful and never overwhelming--exactly what we hoped for in a learning space. What has surprised and delighted us the most is the sense of community. The other families have become more than just school connections--they've become chosen family. The level of support, care, and shared values among the parents is rare and beautiful. If you're looking for a school where your child can truly thrive--emotionally, socially, and intellectually--while being part of a heart-centered, thoughtful community, Eastside Community School is it. We couldn't be happier.

We love this school…read more They educate with intention. Most of my class parents say they wish they went to school like this one :) We found this school at perfect timing when my daughter was in 3rd grade. The admission process is unique & experiential. I attended the open house with my daughter who made an instant connection with her class teacher and was happily engaged without me. At this point, I had toured another school in Seattle, and seeing my daughter's comfort and confidence blossom we knew this was the right place for our family. The part I found most significant in Waldorf admission, my daughter has 3 day visit where she could experience how it is for be in new classmates and teacher. I think respecting school policy as stated on the website is a no brainer to me. In my opinion, to fully enjoy your child's milestones, it's beneficial for adults to orient themselves to Waldorf education. The teachers are amazing. They deeply listen to your challenges, and partner with you to raise a well-rounded child. If you know a student here, do check out their handwork, main lesson books. As a parent, I feel centered in this environment given the busyness of work and day. I find strength to keep going with perspective our teachers provide, events like the Winter Spiral, Crafts & Tea. It takes a village, and I found a like-minded community, and people I can lean on, fostered a thriving academic journey for my middle schooler. The highly trained teachers and wonderful staff work tirelessly to create a learning environment that emphasizes connection with nature, a robust curriculum, handwork, and the art and play block. No tech has provided a foundation for mindful screen use and fostering focus in early years for us. Check out the instagram page!! Good luck!