Our children attended The Branch School for many years. It was a wonderful experience. They received a top notch education.. They teach respect for others, peace making, compassion, team work, as well a love for learning. We could not have found a better school for them. read more

My experience with Ms. Lifsey as a first and second grade teacher has been very disappointing. I witnessed her speak harshly to children, including insulting, yelling at, and unfairly punishing students, including my own child. A teacher working with young children should show patience, encouragement, and care, but Ms. Lifsey consistently failed to do so. It also seems these concerns are known by the administration, yet little has been done to address them. While many other teachers at The Branch School have been caring and supportive, this review is specifically about Ms. Lifsey and the administration's handling of these concerns. I would encourage parents considering first or second grade placement here to ask careful questions before enrolling their child. read more

Best school for grand daughter so far. Really like it. Christmas program was fantastic. Check it out.

This school is good for perfect kids. But if your child isn't perfect, this is not the place for you. They preach empathy constantly. They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. They are all about respect, but not when it comes to the kids. There is an administrator here, that literally pulls kids out of class to get dirt on the other kids. There is a bully at this school, and it's the administration, and the head of school constantly protects her at the expense of the child. Many parents have complained, but nothing ever gets done. I am writing this as Anonymous because if the school knows who I am, this administrator will make the rest of my kid's year unbearable. read more

Our daughter attended The Branch School for six years. Everything went pretty well, and we were happy there until she hit the 5th grade. There she encountered a racist "Language Arts" teacher that was determined to push Critical Race Theory and make her feel guilty for having white skin. He exposed his students to much of the ugliness of the world -- like the KKK, and BLM -- that we as parents had previously shielded her from. The "Language Arts" teacher told the class that they were teaching this stuff (CRT, and social justice nonsense) so the kids "could grow up and do something about it." The required reading list had not a single piece of classical, Western literature on it, and consisted instead entirely of works written in 2012 or later, much of it having social justice content. They couldn't read "The Diary of Anne Frank." or "The Hobbit" in his class, but he did let them watch CNN. In "Language Arts" class. We asked for accommodations from the school--for her to have other reading material besides black kids getting shot by white cops, for example -- and our request was denied. We said we didn't want our daughter to be indoctrinated into this radical far-left worldview, and the school, of course, denied this was happening. The head of school told us all those classic books (that have been standards in Western Lit for decades) weren't "engaging or relevant to today's kids." When we tried to talk to the "teacher" about it, he dared to tell us it was easy for us not to understand his curriculum or his methods because of our white privilege! We reported this to the head of school and were basically told that no accommodations would be made. So we quit the school immediately. Other issues: The school makes no accommodations for learning differences (we know of several families that left the school because of this). They do an okay job of developing character, but not in a way MLK would agree with. Their "Love. Learn. Lead." mantra is not very well supported. The kids don't treat each other respectfully -- like kids do -- but the discipline seems to be somewhat arbitrary, and borders on the draconian when it is meted out at all. And even in relative lulls during the pandemic, kids are made to wear masks all day -- even when they're outside at recess. Homework levels are not bad, but one of the math teachers never seemed to check the work, or help my daughter when she had questions about it. My daughter was barely passing 5th-grade math here, and has a A- in 6th-grade math at her new school. Bottom line: This school is great up until 5th grade -- if you don't mind your kid being indoctrinated into a far-left worldview, where Marxist concepts like "equity" (equal outcomes for all) is a core value, along with "diversity," "inclusion, and "justice." To be fair, we did not get a whiff of politics from the other teachers -- but the "Language Arts" teacher is an unavowed Marxist and the administration supports him over parents. If this is what you're looking for, you'll be quite happy at this school. If your values are more traditional or conservative, you do NOT want to send your kid here. I would give this school 4 stars, maybe even 5, if it weren't for their commitment to CRT. Most of the teachers are great, but this 5th-grade experience completely changed our minds. read more

The Branch is an amazing school where children are loved and nurtured, taught academics, character building, peace making, about nature(hands on) and kindness on an daily basis! No wonder our little ones love it there and we are happy to take them and also enjoy the family involvement and family feel of this school. Highly recommend! read more

This is a school that is focused on the kids more than anything else. The community is small and so it becomes like a family. The lower school has multiple recesses per day, minimal homework, excellent outdoor opportunities. The school is focused on kindness, character development, and academics in equal measures. Small class sizes provide opportunities for the school to respond to children's needs and to allow even quiet children to have an opportunity to lead. STEAM based curriculum with project based learning provide kids with hands-on learning opportunities and deep understanding of the curriculum. Low/competitive tuition rates make this an affordable but high quality educational experience. The administration is open to parent ideas - not only hearing concerns but implementing changes and additional programming based on parent feedback. read more

The Branch School is an amazing school that our kids love going to every day. From the outdoor classroom to reading buddies to helping them develop critical thinking and peacemaking skills, it is a school where our children are loved and are flourishing. The curriculum is state of the art and a test or a specific religious view isn't thrust upon the children like other schools. It is a very special place. read more

My grandson is in kindergarten at The Branch School and he, his parents, and we think it is a fabulous school. With less than 100 students and only 12 in his class - the student body is so tight knit and the parents are extremely active in their involvement in the school. My son is the "Room Mom" for his son's class!! Lots of great sports with a pro football player as coach!! Just a wonderful school in a beautiful setting! read more

The Branch School is a top notch school in terms of academics, character development, and leadership development. There is an emphasis on kindness that is woven into the culture of this school that stems from the intentional teaching and messaging from the head of school and counselor to the teachers and to the administrative staff. Every grade has peacemaking classes which teach students inclusivity and how to care for each other and outdoor classroom which teaches students to appreciate and care for their environment. Recess multiple times a day plus PE and outdoor lunches (weather permitting) give students plenty of fresh air and opportunity to move. Parents have plenty of opportunity to become involved and the leadership is open to hearing from students and teachers and often takes suggestions and implements them. We have a Third grader and Kindergatener and here and have loved our experience with both. I highly recommend this school for anyone who is seeking a school that will develop their whole child in a caring and loving environment. read more

My son is a student at The Branch and he has thrived at the school. The Branch emphasizes kindness with the kids as well as a strong focus on academics. My son looks forward to going to school everyday. read more

I love this school. I am a picky professional and do not recommend things easily but this school goes above and beyond my expectations. My children have been there for several years and have blossomed there. They have had some challenges and the supportive nurturing environment has been a very positive part of their growth. The academics are challenging and adapted to inspire a love of learning in kids of all abilities. The middle school teachers are very good at capturing the kids imagination and making lessons interactive. The school teaches peace making and empathy and I have seen how well this is embraced by the school administration teachers and children alike. When issues arise they are dealt with professionally, respectfully and promptly with children and parents alike. I've had to deal with issues raised to me as a parent and have had no problems dealing with the school admin. Overall an excellent school and although small the environment is amazing. I highly recommend it! read more