East Aurora

We transferred our GT/2E 2nd grader to High Peaks mid-year after attending a private school since 2020. When they started, their mid-year literacy testing showed mostly red-zone scores. Within the same email sharing the results, the school had already created a plan for 4x/week literacy small-group support. Four months later, their end-of-year scores are now all green zone/benchmark for grade level in literacy, along with scoring at a 4th-grade level in math. The growth has honestly been incredible. We are even stopping outside tutoring because of the progress made in just one semester. Beyond academics, our child is genuinely happy to go to school every day. They’ve done more writing in one semester than they did in years previously. They transitioned from a class of 8 students to a class of 21 and are thriving socially, emotionally, and academically. One thing we especially appreciate is the school’s commitment to social-emotional learning. The school counselor provides weekly SEL lessons for every grade level, which adds up to 200+ lessons by the time students leave for middle school. We’ve loved the community events and school culture as well — the Color Run, Ancestor Doll Museum, field trips, and the overall calm, grounded atmosphere. The teachers and staff have been responsive, supportive, and clearly invested in the students. The parent involvement is strong, and it shows. While declining enrollment is affecting many BVSD schools, High Peaks continues to maintain a waitlist. If you’re fortunate enough to get a spot, we absolutely recommend it. Our younger child starts in August, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience so far.

My son has attended BCSIS since kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade. I chose BCSIS because his dad went there, and because I wanted a nurturing environment that was an alternative to a model that forced kids into boxes and to sit still. My son is neurodivergent and has a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I felt the arts integration would help support different types of learners. I have not been let down by my expectations here. The community is rich and supportive, the teachers are valuable, the learning environment is unique and well rounded. BCSIS really makes elementary school fun for all members of its community.