I am not sure if this is really a tool that people use to search for schools but after seeing the…read morereviews of my children's school- Three Tree Montessori, I would like to share my opinion. I LOVE Three Tree Montessori! I have a 4 and a 5 year old boy who have been at this school since 18months. The 5 year old boy is in his last year of "primary" which technically is his kindergarten year. I always pictured us transitioning to the public school as we are in a good school district after primary, but not anymore. I have seen amazing things with the development of my children and I can't imagine sending them anywhere else. It is an AMI certified school and to my knowledge the only AMI school in WA with a toddler program. This means it is held to very high standards. It does not mean it is cold, old fashioned, behind the times etc per some of the reviews below. AMI schools have the most rigorous and difficult to maintain certification. You know what you are going to get at an AMI school in terms of the academics/materials. What truly makes Three Tree standout is the staff. They provide a very warm, caring and welcoming environment. I fully trust each of the individuals there with my children. My children love to go to this school. Referring to the negative review below, it is just one person's interpretation and I have not seen anything but respectful, comforting and loving interactions between the children and the staff. This is an incredibly dedicated group of individuals who have been there for a significant amount of time, many of whom also send their children. I have seen my boys being given the independence and respect they deserve starting in the toddler age in a way you don't see very often. From being freed from diapers, learning to manipulate their clothing and dress themselves, put on their own shoes, to flower arranging, water pouring, food prep and countless other things that toddlers want to do but we don't always have the patience for. It is frankly a toddler's dream room. Everything is their size, even the toilets...or potties if they like them better. They now are in primary (roughly age 3-6 combined) and one is about to move into lower elementary next year (1st-3rd grade combined ages). I never would have thought that having a 3 year old and 6 year old in the same room could work, but it actually works out in their benefit. The older child gets to learn to be a leader and the younger child learns so much by observing the older ones. I also have been amazed at the versatility of the materials in the room, how the children can start using it in a simple way and expand on it in endless ways as they develop. The classrooms are beautiful and peaceful. They lead their own education within safe boundaries and move through materials as they are ready. There are no limits for them if they are ready to move on. The guides (teachers) are so good at observing the children and knowing just how far to push them and when to back off and when they are ready for the next step. Their intuition is remarkable. I can't tell you how happy this makes me that they are not held to an average pace, but can follow their own inner drive. They are learning respect, grace, manners, how to talk to people...so much of what is missing in society today. They are being allowed to grow, not stifle their innate curiosity and inner drive to learn and think for themselves. They are learning self responsibility. My 5.5 year old is reading, doing multiplication, division, addition, subtraction of very large equations thanks to the materials that allow him to touch, see and feel it...to really understand and not just memorize. He is much ahead of his peers in other schools academically from what I have seen. He is doing self led research projects and writing reports on birds of prey..because this is what is interests him. My just turned 4 year old in another primary class is doing exactly what he wants to do...cooking, practical life, focusing on tasks for long periods of time and working on fine motor skills to get him ready for writing and reading in the near future all at his own pace. On a side note, my youngest was just diagnosed with hearing loss and had to get hearing aids at age 3 which was a shock and incredibly difficult. The school is going above and beyond to accommodate him and provide what he needs. I have been so impressed by this. I really can't say enough about this school and found like we really have a hidden gem in Burien that I am so grateful for. Thank you Three Tree!

TTM is a pedagogically-observant Montessori school, which will come as a relief to those parents…read morewho believe in the method and seek something more for their kids (and their expense) than a glorified day care. The classes are appropriately sized and more than adequately staffed with Montessori-trained guides & aides, and feature a full complement of beautiful wood, metal, and fabric Montessori-specific works arranged to allow curious minds instant access to meaningful, self-directed learning. The administrative staff is exceptional, led by a 20+ year veteran of both Pacific Crest Montessori & Northwest Montessori School. While transparently placing the student experience first (as they should), this administration takes great pains to accommodate the needs of parents by being respectful of the scant spare time available to most parents, and by reaching out to parents with lots of pertinent information & updates. The building itself is a high-security cruciform arrangement where toddler, primary, and elementary classes are housed in their own wings. It appears to be a former hospice or nursing home, the practical upshot of which is wide hallways and doors, bright sunny rooms, and lots of 'safety' hardware in common areas. The outside play areas are securely fenced (with locking, key-coded gates) and include play structures, gardening, and opportunities to get messy in real dirt in the time-honored tradition. The location is a quarter mile off WA-509 in Burien at 160th Street, just down the street from Highline Medical Center. We make the drive from Capitol Hill every day in 20 minutes. The location is also served by several bus lines from downtown Seattle (#131 & #121 pass 1/8 mi. to the east @ 160th & 1st; #123 1/8 mi. to the west @ 160th & 4th).

Beautiful auditorium. Our family is in Washington for my…read moresister's girlfriend's graduation, and I honestly expected to be under the sun (or rain, for that matter--because DUH, Seattle lol), but the graduation is being held at a beautiful fully air-conditioned auditorium with pretty comfortable seats. A lot more convenient and comfortable than I though, to be honest. Always awesome to be perfectly comfy

When my wife and I moved out of our last neighborhood, we were just starting the process of…read morebecoming foster to adopt parents of older kids. School quality was not our first thought when we chose our home, we just wanted a safer neighborhood. We loved Bible Park, I had lived in the area previously, we knew it was a perfect fit for us. It was the perfect place for us until we were placed with a 3rd and 6th grader in September of 2013. And it wasn't the place that was the problem, it was the schools. tWe immediately toured our local elementary school and middle school. When we toured the elementary school, there was a real fear that our son would be quickly grouped with other kids in the area who have lacked regular schooling, maybe had no parental involvement at home, and who were among the 25% of kids that changed schools every year. And if our youngest was assumed to be part of this group of kids, would the teachers invest the time and energy into him that we knew he would need? We then found an opening at a different magnet school in the area. We were excited about the possibility of our 3rd grader and 6th grader going to the same school while they endured such dramatic changes in their lives. And this school was amazing for our third grader. They specialized in English as a second language students who had large gaps in their education. And our third grader was taken under the wing of some good hearted teacher and he made some huge advances. But our 6th grader floundered. See our oldest is highly intelligent. But he had 11 years of using his intelligence just having to do just enough to exceed the average of his peers. And his peers were mostly struggling with poverty. His peers had not had expectations to succeed in school. And when he started at this school it became quickly evident that his peers had not changed much from his previous 6 years of education. What you may not understand about the dynamic of being a foster to adopt parent is that our kids absolutely do not trust that our expectations and rules for them are ever associated with our love, care, or best wishes for them. They are just another thing that is different and wrong about the life they are now forced to live. So if their friends don't have rules, if their friends don't have to get high grades, if their friends don't have to do their homework, it reinforces their already held belief that their new parents are unfair, and don't get what they are going through. And our version of love is a language that they have no interest in learning. When we tried to be proactive regarding the education of our 6th grader, requesting regular status updates, we were assured that it would happen. But routinely we were surprised with disappointing grades, and the progress in our oldest's education seemed stalled throughout 7th grade as well. We could not trust him to be supervised if he hung out with friends. When requesting effort from our oldest, we were legitimately confronted with the fact that most of his peers were not expected to put effort into their education at school or at home. Our youngest had made good progress in this school in 3rd and 4th grade but we were scared he would face the same middle school future at this school. We knew it would be hard for a seventh grader to switch schools but we were determined to salvage his last year before high school. We did not expect that we would get into Highline. It was a long shot, and we were thrilled when we got in. The differences in this school were much more than we even expected. It starts with the front desk. Every other school we had encountered, the front dest was like the DMV. But the front desk at Highline was eager to facilitate any needs. The 5th grade team with Ms. Chandlier has taken our 5th grader under their wing as I see them doing with a number of kids. His academic progress is astounding. He was doing sight words and muddling his way through the occasional Dr. Seus book midway through 3rd grade, not registering on any reading ability scales. This year Ms. Chandlier and him set the high goal of reading Harry Potter books by the end of the year. This is a goal that has already been reached. And for all of our youngest's success I am just as grateful for what Highline has given our 8th grader. After 8 years of just getting by, after 8 years of just staying off the radar, our oldest has made tremendous progress in doing more than just using his high intelligence to be lazy. He has become an active partner in his education. He has made choices to try to be a successful student thanks to the partnership we have with his teachers. And his chances of high school success are much more than I could have hoped for when he entered Highline Academy. I am so jealous of all of these kids who have had this amazing experience for 9 years. All of this success does not just happen. It is a result of a team and community that that are all working towards the same goal.

This school has been a game changer for my kids. Public school wasn't working for us, and private…read moreschool tuition was out of reach. Neurodivergent and gender fluid kids and their families can find a welcoming and loving community here. My oldest transferred here to finish out their 5th grade year, as they were being beaten down by a public school setting that could not accommodate her needs. On day one at Bridge School I saw her relax and become themself again. Now our kindergartener goes to school at Bridge and loves it! The outdoor education component is especially important to us, as we spent their pre-K years at an outdoor preschool, and I wanted to continue fostering that love and connection with nature. All the teachers and staff care so deeply for each child, and do their best to meet them where they are at. Then there is the community of families here. I can't imagine facing the world and raising my children with a better, more open, and loving group of people. It's the chosen family of our dreams. If you are looking for a fresh start for your kid(s), and want to be part of a great community that loves and supports each other, join The Bridge School!

The Bridge School - Seattle, WA…read more Our family joined The Bridge School with a deep belief in its mission: a cooperative learning environment grounded in restorative justice, clear communication, and community involvement. Sadly, our actual experience was far from what was advertised. From the beginning, we faced repeated challenges with understaffing, unclear expectations, and inconsistent communication. As caregiver volunteers, we often found ourselves performing janitorial work and covering critical supervision gaps with little support. These staffing issues culminated in a deeply troubling incident where our child was denied access to the bathroom during recess due to a lack of available adults -- resulting in a completely avoidable and traumatic accident. When we tried to address this respectfully with the teacher, we were shut out. Despite multiple attempts to reconcile, we were denied a conversation and told we could no longer volunteer in the classroom -- a painful blow, especially for a school that claims to value cooperative engagement. Even more disappointing was the school's failure to follow the very standards and principles it promotes. The leadership later acknowledged, in writing, that they lacked clear policies around volunteering, communication, and accountability. While they publicly promised relationship repair and structural improvements, none of those efforts were ever extended to our family. Out of concern for our children's well-being, we made the difficult decision to withdraw them from the classroom on most days and pay out of pocket for private tutoring to ensure continuity in their education. We sincerely hope The Bridge School takes its own commitments seriously moving forward -- but families deserve a school that operates with transparency, safety, and follow-through. Ours simply did not get that. -- A Bridge School Parent Family

My boys went from preprimary through middle school at this school and I am so proud of the young…read moremen they are turning out to be. I strongly feel that they got more than just a strong educational foundation at WSMS, but a cultural awareness of kindness and caring, creativity and innovation. They are independent and proactive individuals who navigate the world easily. My mother often says that their emotional maturity is attributable to their time spent in this school. I will forever be grateful I made the decision to place them here.

I have 3 daughters enrolled at this school and we couldn't be happier! Warm and caring staff,…read moregreat organization and fun learning environments for all 3. We've never been more excited about school!

I just checked their website - thank God most staff are gone. The previous principal, Eve, was a…read moredonkey. She had no idea how to do her job. There were a few teachers who were GREAT, but are no longer there. All in all, let me put it this way: just because it's a private school does NOT mean it's good. When my kiddo went to public school, she was much much happier and really grew as a person.

My wife and I are not Catholic, but we tried two other much more expensive private schools before…read morediscovering how wonderful St Bernadette is. When we began to bring our boys there two years ago, our family was one of several who had moved from another nearby Catholic school. Contrary to the other one, the teachers at St Bernadette are surprisingly motivated and serious about teaching; and students are there to learn. Teachers are constantly interacting with parents, and parents are involved. Students pick up on this attitude, so the atmosphere is calm and focused on instruction, rather than behavioral correction. One can feel this when entering the building. In the other two nearby private schools, (one of them also Catholic), the battle to correct disruptive students was hopeless. In other schools, teachers admitted to deleting large portions of the syllabus in order to make up for time wasted on kids shouting out in the classroom. At St Bernadette, classrooms are calm, and students are divided into smaller groups based on learning speed. One of our boys even receives advanced level work packets prepared specially for him by the mathematics teacher. Unlike other private schools, we're not constantly hounded to keep contributing money. Every few months there are terrific ethnic banquets prepared by parents to foster a loving spirit of community.

If you are looking for a school that equips children for the tools they need in an increasingly…read moreunstable world, this is it! And they do it , while providing a fun, caring and strong community for all. Westside school moved into a permanent home a few years ago and hired a new head of school a few years before the pandemic. These changes have supported the school into a solid place for a child to learn and be amongst others. The balance between academics and Social emotional skills is good and the school has a wealth of talented and dedicated teachers and staff who care about education, the world and making positive change. There is nothing better than seeing my child run to school every morning. We have been there 4 years and I was hesitant to go to an independent school at first. I didn't grow up rich and was concerned. This is truly a great community of people who want to make a difference in the world and value children being seen for who they are.

I feel grateful that my children have the opportunity to be part of the Westside community. Great…read moreteachers, great learning and the other parents are cool too. I'm truly impressed.

I was just telling some friends how great our school is. Then I saw a bummer of a review on here,…read morebased on a short transition period, so I'm writing this. The short story is - it's a very good school run by professionals. A wonderful environment for kids who are neurodivergent or similar and have struggled in a larger school setting. It is supportive and non-judgmental, and we've found it to be a great balance of a place to learn and grow and a place to be supported and accepted. We were worried that it wouldn't be academically rigorous but found that it exceeded our expectations when our child was ready to learn. They meet all children where they are at every step of the way. Also, they do so many fun educational field trips. Here's the long version if you're interested: Our family started at Academy in 2024. That year, the old school director retired. Yes, there were staff changes. Yes, there was an interim director. Yes, it was a time of change and changes is hard especially when you are emotionally invested. Some families were so attached to the old director they didn't come back. Two years later and we're still very happily there. We found gold. Is it fancy? No. Is it exactly like a larger school? No. In areas where a child needs more support, they have it. The policy of "walk to math/language arts/science" allows them to learn subjects at a level and in a group setting difficult to access in larger private or public schools in a supportive way, whether accelerated or at a slower pace. Curriculum is solid and classroom size is excellent. As to the information concern - no. Many kids are district placements. The oversight and regulation involved in that is significant. No public school would partner with them if they broke any laws about information handling and they have placements from many districts. In May of 2024 they had just interviewed candidates for a new permanent director. I hope people will consider that Spring 2024 was just one rare season in the school's administration and while the other review was from someone that felt upset by how that transition was going, the new school director who was hired at the end of that year is awesome. I think she will be there for years to come. I never post reviews, but I hate that that review might be pushing families away from a truly excellent option for kids. To whoever you were it sounds like you felt like your school family was being ripped apart and you were afraid the whole place would be ruined, which must have been awful. Maybe you lost your job, maybe you pulled your child from the school. Regardless, please know that it is still "the little school with a big heart" and from my perspective as a very aware parent, it's in responsible hands.

Academy Schools was a buoy for our family after several years of struggling to stay afloat. The…read morestaff are compassionate, patient, and deeply dedicated to providing an individualized education in an environment that allows many students to feel accepted and safe in school for the first time ever. I'll forever be grateful for the tools and community they provided for both my kid and myself.

If I could give a negative, I would. The teachers are amazing, shout out to Ms. A, Ms. JJ, Precious…read moreand Taylor!! The teachers care but are not trained properly when it comes to reporting or being mandated reporters. When a sexual assault claim is made by a child, it should always be reported to the CPS mainline 1-800-833-6384. Upon the request of Directors' Cassie, Ms. GG and Ms. Jayden, this center did not call the CPS mainline or tell the teachers to. This daycare was just under investigation for non-reporting to CPS.

LET ME CLARIFY I DID LET THEM KNOW HE WAS Autistic when I enrolled him. mis Deana…read more It was a good place. The staff was great. It's just that the director Is singling out my Son. Because he has autism and his race . I did everything they wanted me to get him to stay. I got more money like they wanted to cause I get help from the state. She gave me 2 weeks to find a care for my son and there's nothing open there's a lot of waiting list that hes on. So now that my son was discriminated against because of his disability and race. Now I'm going to be out of work because she wants to get rid of my son because she doesn't like him. And I still don't have day care and they gave me 2 WEEK! What Kind of day care facility asked for more funding. And then just kicks a special needs get out.