So our son went to this school for 5 months. Kids push each other around and horse play in the line…read moreoutside every morning before school on the playground. One kid punched my son while he stood with his Mom. No one even bothered to tell his father who was surprised to hear it from me. Counselor baits my son in to writing down his feelings while he is upset then is surprised when he writes angry words. Principle sits in his office writing platitudes amongst all the chaos. Great teachers, horrible leadership, bad atmosphere.

This is our 4th year at Our Lady of the Lake. Currently, our son is in 3rd grade and our daughter…read moreis in Pre-K. We love the warm, welcoming, inclusive community from the parents to the teachers to the staff. Classes are a great size, only 1 class per grade, with 2 teachers per class pre-school through 2nd grade. We are so fortunate for the before and after care program (called xcare), which also hosts full day summer camp. For 2 full time working parents, we wouldn't be able to make it work without xcare. The academic curriculum is top notch and well rounded from the Slingerland reading program to their math and science courses to a focus on the Arts (language, visual, music). Our Spanish program makes it fun for the kids to learn. The full time counselor focuses on the kids social and emotional growth, while there is a focus on bringing Catholic social teaching to life via numerous volunteering opportunities. Our Lady of the Lake is not just our school, it's our family!

Coming back to stay I still love this school! Our family has been at University Cooperative School…read morefor 10yrs - my 15yr old attended K-5th grade, and I currently have a 4th grader and my youngest is in PreK. We are incredibly grateful for this school, the holistic education it's provided our children and the community that has been the anchor for our family life. The teachers are excited about what they teach, care deeply for the students. With enthusiasm for their subjects and the freedom and support they need to follow that enthusiasm they make engaging, responsive, project based learning the norm all through the program. The kids stay excited about learning, comfortable asking questions and learn to ask for what they need as a learner. Our modern lives are designed in a way that is isolating and can wearus down with the load of demands of parenting- but the model of cooperative school (that's very flexible/understands we work too!) means that you can build real relationships and community in a society where that can be incredibly hard. At U co-op our children end up with so many loving adults who know and care for them - I can't overstate how valuable that is. Especially when life brings rough seasons or crisis. We know each other's kids and support each other through this parenting journey. The nurturing, adventurous environment helps kids be comfortable and confident in themselves -quirks and struggles included. My kids love going to school and I love the joyful childhood it has given them.

We have loved this place…read more We've been with U Co-op for the last two years, with almost a year and a half of that during the pandemic. I can't express how incredible the school has been. The most extraordinarily compassionate teachers and staff, and a parent community that has been supportive, resourceful, kind and caring. There is a warmth to the building (which we are thankfully back in - and masked) that we fell in love with from the first tour. It didn't feel cold or modern; it felt like creativity and childhood. There are nooks for reading, spaces for found art, paintings up everywhere. The teachers allow the children to follow their curiosity and even adjust the lessons to be relevant to the things that interest them. The kids are learning just as much as peers at other schools, but in a way that focuses on their self development and self esteem. This school has been a great find and has helped carry us through this difficult stretch.

My experience with Spring Academy was the best phone interaction with a school I have ever…read moreexperienced. Andy Smallman went above and beyond in helping me feel heard and offered suggestions for other support in the Seattle area (our son is a 5th grader and not qualified). I will not hesitate to reach out to Spring Academy in the future. Andy called weeks later after our first phone call to check in. His compassion and encouragement is wonderful.

We had a great experience with Spring Academy. My son attended Spring Academy for the second half…read moreof his freshman year and all of sophmore year. He is highly intelligent but had some challenges with anxiety. Spring Academy was great for him. He loved his teachers and enjoyed engaging with them one-on-one (the school he left was so large he wasn't able to connect with any of his teachers). His anxiety subsided and he had time and desire to pursue his own interests and found that spark of joy and enthusiasm I hadn't seen in him in a long time. Andy Smallman, the Principal, was very supportive and really made sure that we were able to communicate what our son needed and how we was doing there. I would say this was a real saving grace for us and provided our son with exactly what he needed to navigate a challenging period.

I went here for 4 years after essentially having no other choice. It was either here or Ingraham…read more Some of the teachers are OK, some teachers got fired.... Hey, I guess it happens (he had tenure, so it took a while to get him out). I decided after two years to do running start because I was bored with high school and its routines. I wish I had more to say, but I just feel so "meh" about my high school experience

What can I say? This school was my whole life! The teachers here are super engaging and very fun to…read moretalk to if you get to know them a little bit. Everyone is so welcoming here regardless of anything!

I went to Roosevelt and made many friends there. They have an amazing Jazz and Theatre program…read more However, their Choir teacher Mrs Kent was the worst teacher I ever had. She told me to stand up in front of my entire class to show them "how not to sing" knowing I had my wisdom teeth removed the day before. She was misogynistic, picked favorites and singled out the girls for laughing with each other before class. she said, "why would we expect men to respect us and not see us as objects when we act like that." Other than MRS KENT... Roosevelt was an amazing school.

This school has a great track and field that is open on the weekends. The parking wasn't an issue…read morefor me either. I would very much recommend this track to other runners.

Thank you to Billings for letting me be myself for three years. This will always be my favorite…read moreschool I went to. The teachers are so kind and everyone is just a weirdo as we all are during middle school. I wish they had a high school because most high schools are terrible places.

Billings is a very special place where middle schoolers are seen and respected for their unique…read morepersonalities. My child loves going to school every day and loves her teachers and classmates.

I can't say enough positive things about our family's experience at The Perkins School in Seattle…read more Our son joined as a 4th grader, and from day one it was clear he was genuinely known, supported, and cared for. I asked him recently what he liked most about Perkins, and he said, "the community -- I really liked the teachers and the kids." His teachers prioritized getting to know him; at our first parent-teacher conference, we were amazed when his teacher described details of his strengths and weaknesses the same way we would have. We watched his confidence grow as he was challenged in ways that felt supportive. That foundation has truly paid off--he's thriving in middle school, both academically and socially. We are forever grateful for the love and care the entire Perkins community showed our son and our family.

Our kids have loved their experience at Perkins! We've been at Perkins for five years now, and…read moreregularly make the 30-minute drive (one way) to school because it's such a wonderful place for our kids! Unlike many other independent schools, Perkins places a very high level of importance on building community within the school, and on the social and emotional health of each child. Perkins has a down-to-earth, kind and loving feel that runs through the faculty, staff, parent community and the kids. It's such a rare find! In addition to building a strong academic foundation for success, every Perkins student enjoys the experience of being truly known by every teacher, and most of the students know each other. This creates a truly "small town" community feel and one that is overwhelmingly positive! This school does differentiate for ability in the core subjects, and also provides enriching "specialist" subjects for a well-rounded overall education. We can't imagine our kids being anywhere else!