Both of our children attended Chestnut Hill Academy, and our youngest just graduated from 5th grade…read morelast week. Throughout their K-5 journey, every teacher was exceptional, supportive, and genuinely caring. Communication between teachers, staff, and parents has always been outstanding. We love CHA's focus on community building, leadership, strong academics, and the emotional well-being of its students. Both of our children loved their time at the school and formed wonderful friendships that will last a lifetime. As parents, we have had the privilege of watching our children grow into confident, resilient, and well-prepared middle school students with strong leadership skills and perseverance. We are incredibly grateful to the entire CHA community for the positive impact it has had on our family.

Our daughter attended CHA from kindergarten and will be completing 4th grade this year. The school…read morehas been incredibly supportive from the beginning. Each of her teachers from K-4 were engaged and provided regular feedback on matters related to academics, social, and well-being. We really enjoyed the school programs from performing arts, field trips, winter activities, and leadership opportunities. CHA also did a great job connecting parents and building a strong community with the school.

Worked formerly as a teacher here so this comes from my own personal views and opinions, although I…read morecan say that many former colleagues would agree with me... I can say with confidence this school is the worst school I have ever seen, been to, or worked at. To start, the tuition rate is outrageous, they have a turnover rate of almost 50% of staff every year, and they barely pay teachers with Masters and PHD's a living wage. In working at public schools before this, I can say the curriculum here is substantially worse and far less engaging. Parents get scammed into thinking this is some elite school for gifted kids. Your child will be far better off at any public school than here. Save your money for a good college or a real private school, not this horrendous place that calls itself a "school". PS after paying over $30,000 a year per child for tuition, that doesnt even cover school lunches, field trips, or any after school enrichment opportunities or activities. They just want your money, and if you pay enough I am sure they will give your kid amazing grades without them having to learn anything! (The school will pressure teachers to give students better grades so it will reflect better on them and make student look more capable than they are)

I'm so glad that we chose BCA a year ago and here's why:…read more 1) I see my son's remarkable progress in Math. Thanks to the engaging curriculum and teacher helps kids to build a solid foundation. Learning is fun. Each kids has their personalized math journal books. 2) Presentation skills have blossomed, with lots of opportunities to present in front of peers. Each child seeks the spotlight, showcasing their ideas with confidence. 3) The peer groups are exceptional, with students excelling in various fields like ice hockey, chess, dance, art performance, etc. 4) The school culture fosters a sense of inclusivity and compassion, emphasizing that everyone is a winner. My son's desire to raise funds for street kids reflects the school's values of community contribution. Special thanks to Mrs. Wilson, our classroom teacher. Not only myself but I've heard from several other parents in this class mention how much the kids love her.

The 4th grade teacher and some office staff were not very friendly…read more Ms. Ibrahim is the best. Overall not very pleased. But still one of the good schools in the city as WA is the most unchurched state.

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.

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.

As a family, we had a terrible experience with this school. I will not give details on this…read moreplatform. You can reach me if you have questions. dilanurkomar@gmail.com

Sometimes I see online reviews for an item that someone just purchased, and has only experienced…read morefor 5 minutes, and I question how helpful that review really is. "I just got this roomba 2 hours ago and it is the BEST!" This is not one of those reviews. I think it was almost 12 years ago, my daughter started at The Little School in 1st grade. She was a sensitive, talkative, curious young girl. She enjoyed art projects, and writing stories. She struggled a bit socially, sometimes feeling more at home with her thoughts and the trees than engaging in play. At the Little School the teachers there got to know her well, understanding her as a learner, and identifying her strengths and weaknesses. Her first teacher identified that while she may rarely be the first one to answer a question lobbed out to the group, he found that she was often the one taking the time to seek the deeper understanding. We loved that The Little School takes the time to recognize that attribute and celebrate it for what it is instead of penalizing her for not always being the first. While at The Little School until she outgrew after her 5th grade year, she practiced her social skills, made friends, and was supported by the educators there in learning communication skills and conflict resolution skills to navigate the inevitable challenges that accompany navigating school. After outgrowing she went on to a another local private school, and we were really pleased how prepared she was for Middle and High School there. Not only had she learned the important academic skills, but she also quickly made herself known in her classes because The Little School taught her that she has valuable ideas to share, and that her educators are expected to be her partners in her education. She was able to appropriately speak up in class, ask questions, and contribute to conversations. We believe that her formative years at TLS were vital to developing that confidence. She graduated high school recently near the top of her class and is now at a UC school as a freshman. In case you are thinking that The Little School is only a good fit for loquacious, nature-loving girls, let me tell you about my son. He started at The Little School about 11 years ago in kindergarten. He was twitchy and restless, kind and caring, and loved playing pretend games with building toys. He had a super-quick mind, and could memorize facts and trivia easily. While at The Little School, until he outgrew after 5th grade, we love that they challenged him in the areas where he needed improvement, without getting overly distracted by his twitchiness. They made accommodations for his physical energy, recognizing that even though his eyes were darting around, he was listening carefully, could remember virtually everything said during the lesson, and could immediately apply it. They challenged him in his writing. Pushing him to get better at punctuation and grammar, and flesh out his ideas further. He did not always like it, but we watched as they encouraged him to try harder and expand on his writing. This summer he spent two-weeks at a science camp hosted on a university campus, learning about the microbiology of cancer, and in the fall he will start running-start at Bellevue College as a high school junior. He is looking forward to the challenge and the variety of classes that will be available to him. He is FAR less twitchy, gets along well with others, and remains friends to this day with people he met at TLS. In case you are thinking that The Little School is only a good fit for sensitive, talkative, curious little girls, and twitchy, clever, gentle young boys, let me tell you about my other son (don't worry, this is the last one). He started at The Little School about 7 years ago in kindergarten. He was a typical little kid, played really well with others, loved playing competitive games outside, but also played imaginative games with stuffed "lovies" inside with boys and girls. As he grew and matured, the TLS educators, just like with my other two kids, learned about his strengths and weaknesses and encouraged him along the way. He had a severe lisp when younger, but the lovely thing about TLS is that they walk their talk when it comes to belonging, kindness, and community. I don't ever recall him coming home sad or upset because someone teased him about the way he talked. He was a confident, charismatic social leader by the time he outgrew at the end of 5th grade. Their outdoor education/physical education program there nursed his athletic abilities and as a 5th grader he was helping the TLS mountain beavers win ultimate frisbee games in the local league, as well as teaching his classmates about other sports which he played outside of school. He is now an 8th grader at our local public middle school, where he is in advanced math, loves social studies, and was invited into their selective programs for young mentors and leaders.

I strongly advise parents to think twice before sending their children to this school. Our…read moreexperience has been filled with severe safety oversights, poor academic planning, and a complete lack of teacher accountability. Severe Safety Concerns: The school utilizes its own forest area, but supervision is shockingly poor. My child was lost in it multiple times. In one incredibly negligent incident, a teacher completely walked away from the group without even realizing my child was left behind. Substandard & Unlicensed Staff: We found out that multiple teachers on staff do not even hold proper teaching licenses. The English instruction is highly unprofessional; the teacher struggles with basic verb tenses and passes these grammatical errors and incorrect English habits onto the students. Disorganized Curriculum: The academic planning is entirely backward. The principal pushed the curriculum into multiplication before the students had even mastered basic subtraction. Because of this structural failure, my children were left severely behind in math when they finally transferred to a different school. Lack of Care & Blame Culture: The staff consistently shifts blame onto the children instead of taking responsibility. When the kids complained about being freezing cold outside, teachers dismissed them and blamed them for "not wearing enough layers." In art class, teachers stand by while students' clothes are ruined with paint, later claiming it is the child's fault for not wearing a poncho. I have had to throw away numerous pieces of ruined clothing.

Our son was at IFS for 3 years. A few key takeaway from our experience (and why we will enroll our…read moredaughter in the next couple years when she is ready: 1. Mandarin immersion school I think of it as going to school, but you go the extra bonus of Mandarin language (with all benefit that come with growing up as bilingual child). One can argue their preference of home based daycare, regular daycare, or school. I personally prefer school (compared to daycare) to have less students turnover, more organized activity (no one come at 9.30, 10am, and 10.30 - which break the focus of the activity), and better curriculum. 2. Reggio Emilia/Project based learning I prefer not to focus too much on academic for kids under 5. There will be time for that later on. I believe that should not be the focus for 3 years old child. Project based learning allow children to play while learn. 3. Outdoor space They do not stay at "sterile" room. The school intentionally allow students to explore and play with nature. Our son (5 years old in non Mandarin speaking household) received a lot of praise from native speaker during our trip to Taiwan that he spoke fluent Mandarin. During our time here, we enjoyed all of his teachers. We are aware of some turnover impacting some other students, but at the end of the day, some of them are out of school's control. We definitely sad that we have to leave IFS family as our son was accepted at Jing Mei. Otherwise, IFS is a strong candidate for our son's continued education.

I was very unhappy with the way this school handled my son's behaviors. They did not have enough…read morestaff to manage the children and they immediately chose to reduce my son's hours when we had paid the tuition in full as a full time student. We ultimately chose to leave the school midyear and he was very successful at his next school. They also refused to give us the proper credit back for the tuition we paid. Do not recommend BMS at all

Hello this is my first time reviewing this school. I was at this school when I was 7 and 8 years…read moreold. The teachers there were so terrible and mean because I was trying my best and they always get mad at me especially the science teacher. The science teacher was not very helpful and always kicks me out by going down stairs to the classroom I hope their boss kicks them out and the names was named Mrs appeah and the female science teacher

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

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

My daughter was treated kindly and as though she was highly valued as an incoming 6th grader during…read moreour school tours. We felt that our daughter would have been given small classes, individual attention, and a unique all girls perspective at Forest Ridge. The administration and teachers were teaching innovative things that my husband recently had emphasized in the corporate world. Each time my daughter had an experience with one of the FR students, she felt very happy and excited to attend this school. We ultimately are not able to send her to the school because of potentially moving closer to family due to health reasons but feel this would have been the perfect school had it not been for these circumstances.

Forest Ridge is a school where people look at the ground as they pass by someone in the hall…read more Students are throwing up, CRYING or having panic attacks in the bathroom. Teachers don't last more than a few years, max. Administration doesn't care if a students are so stressed that they end up causing HARM to themselves. The thing to be happy about? Graduation. The academics are AMAZING, I can't deny that. And most teachers are pretty incredible, some of the best in the country. But mental health care is non existent, and without healthy students things such as academics and teachers cannot be enjoyed or be helpful to students in the way they should. Being a recent student at Forest Ridge in Bellevue WA, I cannot emphasize enough how much I REGRET my decision going here for High School. When I entered as a freshman, I was a happy, cheerful, friendly, hardworking girl. When I left as a senior I was still a hardworking girl but I was also sad, depressed, reserved, anxious, distrustful and tired. For many people, everywhere, the high school experience is less than ideal. However, my experience as well as my classmates experiences were horrendous. The amount of emotional damage we sustained was simply unacceptable, and even now the school denies there is a problem. So many students were so miserable and mentally challenged that I would have to worry about my peers' physical safety and lives. This is NOT a normal thing. Forest Ridge administration consistently responded/responds to mental health concerns with dismissal. The safety and lives of students are NEVER a priority. What is a priority? GRADES, GRADES, GRADES and academic achievement, success and competition. Forest Ridge makes success out as being smarter than everyone else and getting the best grades, with no regard for emotional well-being or mental health. There are a few ways you can have an okay to good experience at Forest Ridge: A) Be a favorite. There are a few special students favored and adored by the school who are used as the public face of the school wether it be for admissions pro-forest ridge speeches (which are, by the way, completely ingenuine) or college acceptance advertising. (FUN FACT: you probably have a much better chance of getting into a prestigious college at a public school anyway). Pretend to love the school and never object to anything, be the top of your class, don't tell anyone how you feel or use your voice, and you might have a shot at this special status. You'll get rewarded with good grades and a full-time teacher's pet status. B) You have the pushy parents. If your parents yell enough at teachers, or perhaps threaten administration that they will pull you out and therefore your $$ might not be going to FR next year, watch your C's magically turn to A's. Or you can go the route of hiring an outside specialist and paying them to have Forest Ridge make your workload and academics easier without the situation on record. Another interesting note-- the campus "counselor" doubles as a college counselor and does not divide or separate the two programs properly. She is not qualified to be helping teens with psychological issues, and she does not appear to care about helping them either. The administration is no better, and is likely the root of the problem. In general, the teachers care about the well being of students but are so scared of loosing their jobs or being PUNISHED that they will not speak out about the situation. Honestly, I feel bad for the teachers. The majority of the teachers are GOOD people who could run the school a whole lot better than the recent administration ever did. I think it is also important to note that Forest Ridge was not always like this. My middle school experience was FABULOUS. But, today, the environment and atmosphere is truly toxic. Until there is a significant amount of change at Forest Ridge, I would highly advise parents and potential students to think hard before choosing to attend Forest Ridge. A place for youth that doesn't care if students are SAFE or HAPPY is not a place anyone should have to endure spending 40 hours a week at. Someday, the school will HAVE to make a change, or the place will simply FALL APART. At the rate teachers, administration and students are leaving, it won't be long. And the way mental health is handled, there will be a lawsuit any day. I hope parents take this warning seriously and continue to search for the TRUTH. Current students, life DOES get better after, and the rest of the world does NOT operate like Forest Ridge--don't worry. What you are told is normal...is not normal outside of that campus and community. And teachers- thank you for sticking with us. We know its not easy at FR for you either and we appreciate your willingness to stay and try to make things better. However, we don't blame you at all if you leave. We get it.

Physical punishment!!! My son (3 year old) constantly saying…read morethat One of the toddler teachers pinched his hand because he was not sleeping after lunch (BTW, the policy is that the nap is not mandatory for kids). It was strong enough to leave redness and bruise even after 24 hours, and we informed DCYF. Any policy, any condition; is really physical punishment allowed??? When we shared our concern with the director and expected to fire that so-called teacher or move her to another class by EOD, she refused and just asked if we want to withdraw and get refund. If your child safety and and health is important, please take this review seriously.

Pros: - we got lots of picture updates…read more- they do tons of activities with the kids - my kid liked all the teachers - covered playground for the rain/sun (though it gets pretty cold without the sun) - decent food Cons: - not the cheapest (not the most expensive either) - my kid seems to get sick more here (they have floaters in the morning & late afternoon, and a lot of teachers send their own kids in other classes, so it seems like viruses will not be contained to a single classroom) - parking lot is a pain during pickup/dropoff Overall I think this is a well-run school that cares about kids & its staff.