Seattle Amistad School

Our child had a bully one year and we were told by the principal once or twice incidents is not considered bullying. Our child expressed several times they didnt feel safe in the school and the principal and assistant principal did nothing and were very dismissing. The principal and staff admit and acknowledge safety failures but do nothing to address or communicate. They don't collaborate or listen but will tell you they are but provide no evidence to support any statement. My only advice is make sure you follow up in writing and get everything in writing. They will try and push you to in person and verbal only with any situation then drag everything along to not commit to what was spoken about. They avoid accountability at all costs and everything to put in the kid and anything but them. LISTEN TO YOUR KIDS when it comes to this school because the leadership in this school is toxic and it is trickling down into the teachers and staff. Several of us have had to pull our kids out of this school which is a shame due to all the connected resources at that school.

TOPS is a good school, there is a really great band and orchestra program. Also middle school science is really cool the students do actual experiments and they learn a lot. Also there is a Deaf/Hard of Hearing program.

Bertschi has an awesome urban campus that's grown out of some charming buildings and been enhanced through expensive development projects. The community is second-to-none - such a vibrant and fun and passionate group of parents, they will become your best friends. But the academics are sorely lacking, really not much better than public school and certainly not what you expect for this money. So what are you getting from Bertschi? It's a posh neighborhood school where your kids don't learn much more than they do at public school but you're way more comfortable than you would be there with unions and crumbling facilities and the unwashed masses. If this is ok with you, that's fine, just don't waste your money on the Pre-K because it is just a charming day care and they literally don't believe in teaching anything in that grade.