4712 34th Ave E
Bradenton, FL 34208

My oldest has been enrolled at Samoset since 2022 when we switched schools. She finished out the remainder of 2nd grade and is currently in 4th grade. My youngest just started kindergarten at Samoset this year. Both my kids have had good experiences so far. There are some fantastic teachers at this school that really love working with kids and making sure they understand the material being taught. After-school tutoring is provided for intermediate grades through 21st Century per request. Tutoring is also offered on Saturdays for intermediate grades to assist with learning components featured on the FAST test. Perfect attendance is recognized and celebrated monthly with prizes, snacks, or a party. They've implemented a new Positive Referral to recognize outstanding behavior in students of all grades. Samoset just had a new front office addition built which makes the school much more secure. The playground is brand-new as well, installed in 2022. Many of the students that go here need additional support, whether it be due to a language barrier, restricted income, behavioral challenges, etc. The school recognizes this and has corresponding staff and teachers to work with these students to help overcome obstacles. Teachers work together closely and are familiar with every student in the grade they teach, not just their own classroom. Fine arts classes are a daily part of the students' schedules and include STEM, Library Skills/Information Literacy, Music, PE, and Art. They also offer clubs like TSA and K-Kids. My oldest was in the Cambridge pre-AICE program last year, and if you have an advanced child who needs to be challenged more in school, I definitely recommend it. Cambridge is more fast-paced and covers current grade level as well as next grade level standards. Expect your student to have lots of homework and classwork if you elect to go this route. It can be overwhelming for students who aren't used to the high workload the program requires. Overall, my kids are happy at Samoset and get fantastic grades, their teachers work hard to ensure everyone is successful, and I believe the school is on the right path to turn things around. Test scores are troubling, but when you take into account that 44% of students at Samoset are English language learners, you understand why standardized test scores alone are not the deciding factor in whether this is a "good" or "bad" school.

Extremely Disappointed – Serious Safety and Mental Health ConcernsThis school has been an absolute nightmare for our family. Shockingly, the teachers are often the first to bully and humiliate students, setting a terrible example and creating a toxic environment. The student body follows suit—bullying is rampant, and physical altercations happen far too often. What’s worse, the school fails to notify parents even when their child has been physically attacked. Do not expect a phone call or any accountability.Fights break out frequently, and many teachers seem unwilling to intervene or break them up. It feels like the staff has become completely desensitized to violence and student suffering. The administration talks a lot about mental health, but their actions show little care for students’ well-being. The fact that they have suicide hotline posters everywhere is telling—but it’s no substitute for real support or prevention.This is the worst school experience we’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment for your child, I strongly urge you to look elsewhere.

My daughter is about to become a Senior at Braden River High and she is hoping to be accepted at one of the top State Colleges. She has been very happy and found a great group of friends with similar priorities. We were impressed with the AP courses offered and with one exception, they were also some of her favorite teachers. The Orchestra teacher is amazing! Well-loved by the students and parents alike and with her guidance, they earned top scores in all of the competitions. The theatre/dance teacher falls into the same category, well-loved and the performances have been outstanding! We have friends on the dance team and they have also won awards and scored very high in competitions. And, the school spirit is unmatched, just go to any game and you can see and feel the pride and school spirit in the students and the staff. I have friends whose kids go to nearby High Schools and they have told me they wish they had sent their kids to BRHS. All-in-all, we have been very happy at Braden River High School.