Our kids have been to Birch Tree (BTA) over the past 4 years. We've had an amazing experience, and…read morerecently realized how exceptional it is compared to other daycares. We took for granted the high quality care and high standards set by the management and staff. We took a short break and moved our youngest to another daycare for a month just to be closer to our house (national chain daycare in Kenmore), and it was literally night and day. The other daycare was subpar in quality and extremely short staffed, even though the tuition was comparable. We decided to move them back to Birch Tree, and drive the extra miles. What we love about Birch Tree is the management, warm and caring teachers who give lots of hugs, home cooked food, facilities, quality education, classroom camera and Bright Wheel App. Despite the locations expansion, BTA still feels locally owned and the owner Natalie and head of schools Jessica are very much involved in all of their schools. You will still see them in-person floating around the different locations. They generally know all student's names, and the local staff are always friendly and greating parents. They hold their staff to high standards and also expect the same of parents. Kids are well behaved, they wear inside vs outside shoes. Food is better than my home cooked meals, classrooms are modern with high ceilings and large windows, and all teachers have open communication with parents via the instant messaging feature. The admin staff is also on top of communication, and they have an abundance of teachers and admin staff. They also offer weekly PE, music, and Spanish classes which are all included in the price. They also offer parents night-out occasionally, and host events and weekly summer field trips for pre-k. You can do 3, 4, or 5 days a week. Speaking with staff, they enjoy working there and say that there's opportunity for them to grow and take on different roles within the school or office. Other parents we've met have moved from other daycares to go to BTA and seem very happy with BTA. They have well prepared our oldest for kindergarten and we are so thankful. None of these things we observed with the national chain daycare.

Wonderful place for kids to learn and thrive! Truly appreciate the work they put in and my child is…read moregrowing and learning a great deal as he prepares for kindergarten and elementary school!

We've been at Brighton for five years after coming from public school, and our experience has been…read morewonderful. With 3 kids who have spanned the range if preschool, elementary, and middle school, I can say the middle school especially has exceeded expectations. Initially, I was nervous because of its smaller size, but it's been fabulous, the teachers embrace the middle school years while preparing students for real-world situations. We've had the honor of having both Ms. Shippers and Ms. Savage twice. Ms. Shippers has years of experience yet brings fresh enthusiasm every day, and Ms. Savage's connection with the kids is remarkable. Brighton truly offers a nurturing, dynamic environment we're so grateful for!

Brighton School is wonderful and we love it!!!!!…read more I've had my kids at Brighton for at least eleven years? I've lose count. My son attended Brighton from first through eighth grade and my daughter started in preschool and is now in sixth grade. My kids are completely different and they have both absolutely thrived at Brighton. Brighton does an awesome job of providing an excellent well-rounded education for many different types of learners and kids. Brighton offers an excellent academic program, but also offers an amazing drama program with Mr. DC, some great sports programs, after school extracurriculars, yearly overnight field trips that get longer with each grade level and culminate in a 10 day East Coast trip for the 8th graders, etc. The greatest asset to Brighton is its staff. Brighton attracts some truly talented, caring and highly invested staff and teachers. There are teachers at Brighton who have truly changed the course of my childrens' lives. Ms. (formerly Gabriel) Savage is my daughter's idol. Ms. Savage is the perfect role model for my child, as she is strong, confident, smart, kind and encouraging. My daughter is a gymnast and she has talked to my daughter about mental blocks. She is a great teacher but she clearly cares about her students in a way that goes beyond what her job requires. Her assistant Ms. Carrie is also so caring, patient and kind. Ms. Durbin is another teacher that made a real difference in my daughter's life. Ms. Durbin was like a second mother to my daughter, or my daughter's stand-in mother at school. My daughter has always had a ton of anxiety about overnight field trips, but knowing that Ms. Durbin would be on the field trip always made her feel better. Ms. Durbin knew when to be serious and get the class under control but could also be so silly and have fun with the class. Mr. DiLorenzo is another incredible asset to the Brighton community. Mr. D. was my child's third grade teacher, and he was an incredibly gifted educator then, and now he is the head of the middle school. Mr. D. can be so fun and silly with the kids, but he also knows when to be serious and address serious issues. My son had an awesome middle school experience at Brighton and during his years there built up a community of friends who carried over into the same high school. Ms. Livingston has been serving the Brighton middle school for years in various capacities and she is AMAZING!!!! She is currently teaching math and she is an awesome math teacher, but she also handles a lot of the administrative stuff for the middle school. She's very friendly, great with the kids, great with the parents, and easy to get along with. Ms. Bodnar, according to my 17 year old son, is "the GOAT" (greatest of all time). Ms. Bodnar teachers study skills and math (I think) but she connects with the kids in a way that few others do. My son emphatically thinks that she is the best teacher at Brighton. Ms. Thaler is also a great language arts teacher. She definitely knows what she is doing and I appreciate that she actually challenges the kids. This is Ms. Parks Lobbs' first year as Head of School, but she has been involved with other parts of the school for years and she appears to be 100% in charge of what is happening and in control of things. As a very long-time parent of Brighton who has observed three separate Heads of School, I think Ms. Parks Lobb is doing a great job. There are a lot of other amazing staff members at Brighton who I am going to forget to mention. We love Coach Matt, who is the kindest, funniest guy to have around. He always greets my daughter in the morning with the biggest smile and it makes me feel so good about dropping her off. He also love Coach Brandon, who has been there for years and is super well loved by all the kids. He made the summer camp a blast for my daughter. We really loved Ms. Becca, who is a former aide who is no longer there. We wish the school brought her back. My son had Ms. Schippers for both hers and his first year at Brighton (first grade) and she made him feel super welcome and safe. I don't remember the full names of my daughter's pre-K teacher and aide (the aide was Sarah) but they were both so amazing! Oh yeah, the parents, kids and community at Brighton are also awesome. Both my kids have made amazing friends and we have done all the playdates, the sleepovers, the skate nights (thanks, PTO!), all of it. My son has friends he literally made in FIRST GRADE and now are JUNIORS in high school and they are part of the same friend group and in some of the same advanced classes. My daughter and her best friends met years ago, some as far back as preschool. I've known those parents just as long. The parents are great and the PTO is currently thriving. I've never been involved in the PTO, but I am very, very grateful for the amazing parents who run it and all that they do. Best money we ever spent!

The Clearwater School is a true testament to the values of diversity, inclusion, and community…read more Within a year of being there, my 8-year-old son (then six), who had never before felt comfortable in social groups outside his family, began calling this place his second home. He was given the time and space to build relationships with staff and other students at his own pace, always supported but never rushed. Children at Clearwater learn what they are interested in, developing one of the most valuable lifelong skills--how to learn. Through observation and thoughtful discussions with students, staff, and family, my son has deepened his understanding of people, the world around him, and, most importantly, himself. In his two years at Clearwater, he has learned to navigate conflicts through the Justice Committee, advocate for his needs through the democratic process, and appreciate the significance of friendship, culture, and responsibility within a community. And along the way, he has also learned to read, perform arithmetic, estimate probability and statistics, and explore physics through hands-on construction. He loves drawing, music, and the logic of computer programming--all interests that have flourished in an environment where curiosity is nurtured. I am incredibly grateful for the existence of this school and the role it plays in my son's life--and in our family's life.

Our kids have been at Clearwater for the past six years. We love that they are empowered to be…read moretheir authentic selves, have time to pursue their interests, learn to advocate for themselves and what is right AND get to be on a beautiful, large campus that they are working together to restore. The mixed ages were a concern for us at first, but our experience has been that it creates a beautiful caring community that accommodates different ages and abilities. We love the staff (most have been there for over 5 years) and our kids are thriving!

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.

This will be lengthy. I would rate the district with five stars for my normal child. It's very…read moredifficult for me to give a rating based on my slightly autistic child. Autism is becoming more prevalent and the need for teachers that are trained specifically to deal with autism isn't required (not in this state, and I'm honestly not up to date on what is required here or other states). Even our special Ed teachers, or teachers working in CLC classrooms. For the most part, I think our experience is average, and I wouldn't equate that statement to a compliment. IEP's are stressful, and at times I feel that specific needs aren't met. By law, schools are required to be inclusive, meaning our special Ed kids should have as much time in their regular grade level classrooms as possible, which is good for the general education classes to experience as well. I can understand (having a regular kid) some debate against this; I wouldn't want my general Ed child having less of an education because the teacher is spending all their time with a special needs child. And I'm uncomfortable with the cost of an aid standing by my child full time, even though he should have it if he needs it. The last couple of years my autistic child was in school, he wasn't aloud in a regular classroom setting. He does need a lot of support though, so, I'm somewhat understanding. I feel that this creates a breeding ground for bullying. He would be alone during lunch time, and excluded by the other kids who wouldn't allow him to sit at their table. He had to sit at the peanut free table while eating his pb&j, something that his teacher never did anything about. We have had some kind and compassionate teachers, and only one horrible general Ed teacher experience to speak of. I would say that my experience with having a child with autism in this school district has at times been very sad and heartbreaking. I have had other parents quit speaking to me entirely upon finding out that my child is in special Ed, and while that has nothing to do with the district, it says a lot about the attitudes you might expect. Certainly not all parents! Some haven't acted any different when they learn this. My general Ed kid goes to Crystal Springs, which unfortunately doesn't have a special Ed class. It seems like the most understanding parents I have met, have been here. I would rate this child's experience with different schools in this district with a one star. I don't wish to offend most of his great teachers with this rating, rather point out that big changes for these special needs kids needs to happen. There are so many aspects of the implemented system that can make a parent feel like their child is equal to dog poop, in the districts eyes. I would also like to add that if you met my son and didn't know anything about autism, you would never guess he had it, which can actually be a big disadvantage even dealing with teachers. I now have my child enrolled in Northshore Networks, which is a homeschool type program. Initially, when I tried to enroll him, the person I spoke with told me I had to get a new IEP written up and then the process would be started. I did exactly as directed but when I brought in the updated IEP, this very same person then indicated that they typically won't take kids on an IEP..... I felt so upset and angry about this. I am in a lucky enough position to be able to homeschool my child- not everyone can take this on! He did end up getting into Northshore Networks, and things are so much better. His teacher there is above fantastic, and my son is being educated now at his grade level, and he is no longer depressed. I am grateful to be able to do this for him, and that the district has this program. I would rate Northshore Networks with 5 stars! Great option and wonderful people here. I would still rate it this high even though enrolling him had its frustrating moments. I wish this program was a little bigger so as to allow more kids this option. That may be why they are selective? Please keep in mind that Northshore Networks is a homeschool program and means that as a parent you become entirely responsible for education, only meeting with a teacher once per week, to check assignments and get new ones. Thank you Northshore for letting us into the homeschool program, and for my daughters wonderful school. We have a ways to go though, for our special needs kids education and socialization. It's probably not the worst, but certainly room for improvement. One more thing I would like to add: my general Ed student has never had a teacher that we didn't love. Every single one. And they have all been above our expectations.

Great teachers . But this school will rip you off . They will charge force donation . If you have a…read morelot of money in your pocket , then you are fine !! Just because they do not have any competition near by , they are still getting lot of kids.

We spent 5 years at this school sending two kid there. We stuck it through bad and good hoping it…read morewill get better Pros: -Decent play ground for the kids. -Few teacher are decent. -Certified -More humble than Woodinville Montessori -Flexible ( when I had requested for changes Joe was able to make them) Cons: -They got rid of all the good teachers. Extra effort by these teachers gave were discouraged. -Watch out for teacher that talk well but do not follow up. These teachers will get your child evaluations wrong. Also, kids at this age are unable to determine if the teacher is bad or good. Look for attitude or behavioral changes in your kids and act quickly to reduce the damage of bad teachers. The damage maybe done quickly but recovery could take years. Our first child had a horrible teacher and we did not even know it until was too late. Once we took action we noticed positive changes. -Teacher turnover. Most years our kids get different teachers. Often the new teachers were worse. -Involuntairy Diana fund which is suppose to goto family that need extra help. Not sure where all the is spent. -administration -Not qualifed family members working as teachers and admins. -We taught them better at home barely trying than the school -Did not handle covid situation well. Montessori is all about the teacher relationship not with the school. Certificate of Montessori is also based on teachers which give the schools the claim to be certified. There are not great options for Montessori in the Bothell area. I heard Issaquah maybe better. Woodinville Montessori especially is all about making money from the most wealth and unfortunately this Montessori is the same, albeit less obvious than Woodinville. If we were to do it over we might of taken Heritage preschool with some emphasis on play based learning. It was not worth the extra money and time. We spent extra hoping the investment will be well worth it for our kids. After 5 years we are still believers of play based learning but this was just okay. When we had great teachers it was worth it but they were not around long enough for us.

My granddaughter loves her days in the Champions program at Crystal Springs Elementary. I find the…read morestaff friendly, professional, engaging, helpful, and eager to play with the kids. The website is just a little difficult to use, but when I call for help, the issue is always resolved. I'm thankful that the program opens early in the morning and that they offer the kids a breakfast if they want it. I will continue to use Champions for as long as my granddaughter attends the school.

We love Champions! the staff is amazing, professional and friendly with us parents as well as…read morenurturing and caring for the kids. My son loves going there before and after school. They make homework fun and provide healthy snacks. We highly recommend it! :)

Just absolutely superb!…read more My 16 mo old son just started attending UCiC and I just wanted to share about the exceptional experience I have had so far as a parent here. I toured about 8 daycares before choosing this place. This was actually the very first time that my son had been away from family. After months of prayer and research I felt like God led me to the right daycare and I'm so thankful He did. There were a few small bumps the first week of school and I feel the need to express what an amazing director Miss Abrams is. She really stepped into an issue and took ownership to reach out to me and cater to my son's needs. She did not wait even one day and right away took proactive measures to see how she could improve the situation. She made the issue her own and made me such a happy parent at the end of the day. I'm grateful for her acute leadership and her loving care. I could really sense her genuine love and heart for her students and I'm thankful that we have crossed paths. The outcome came out better than I could have expected. I manage a few businesses and I'm a fierce advocate for solid customer service. She is tremendous and if you are a parent like us, look no further.

Ucic has become like a second family to us in a city where we have no family in the area. Our three…read morekids are known by name and the staff are accessible, kind, and work hard to create a safe and welcoming environment for the kiddos. We love the ample enrichment opportunities throughout the school day and after school, and we know that the school aims to differentiate and personalize instruction for students, while maintaining high and rigorous standards for all. They truly believe that all students are capable of achieving and demonstrate this in their wide range of supports for students.