St Brendan Parish School

10049 NE 195th St

Bothell, WA 98011

33 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 15, 2023

The longer we are part of the St. Brendan's community, the deeper our appreciation for its teachers, leadership, students, and parents has grown! With three children currently at the school (K, 2nd and 4th), we have been continually amazed by the staff and their dedication to the kids. On a daily basis, we continually feel welcomed and supported by this dynamic community, who are all incredibly invested in our children's success! This principal focus on the kids was undoubtedly evident with how quickly the school adapted to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Not only did they reopen in-person opportunities for our children months ahead of other local schools, but they did so with great intentionality on safety measures and parental feedback. This example highlights how St. Brendan Catholic School is ever evolving for the better while preserving key components from its rich traditions and history and while continually keeping its community engaged. As for the typical day at the school, you will find that there really is no such thing as the children's minds are stimulated in a variety of ways! I have found that St. Brendan students are extremely busy with a plethora of extra-curricular activities including CYO sports, STEM enrichment programs, and community service opportunities. What has impressed me the most is witnessing how well balanced St. Brendan students develop! Graduating students have cultivated diverse passions while taking ownership of their academic success. What's even more impressive is through their many achievements, our students mature into caring and courageous leaders with mutual respect for all those both within and beyond our school's walls. We count our family blessed as we are in awe each day of our children's growth at St. Brendan's! Whole heartedly, we recommend St. Brendan's school and the Christ-centered education it affords in true partnership! (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2022

This is our seventh year at St. Brendan and we absolutely love it. The teachers and staff care about your kids and will do anything to ensure their success. The perfect example is how the school navigated Covid, finding creative ways to offer hybrid learning opportunities as soon as possible (September 2020). We also appreciate that there's a single class for every grade, and so you get the opportunity to really know the parents and the students, as the school has a very high retention rate. The community, academics, and activities are all outstanding. This has been the right choice for our current 6th and 3rd graders, and we couldn't have been happier.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2022

We have been apart of the St. Brendan community for 4 years now. We appreciate the nurturing and qualified teachers and staff. Our children are learning in a safe and happy environment.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2020

We started 2 years ago in Preschool and Kindergarten. Our children are enjoying the learning environment and leadership that this school has to offer. I was hesitant with the reviews, but thought to give it a try knowing there had been a lot of changes when we enrolled. We have not been disappointed and are enjoying the St. Brendan community just as much as the curriculum.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2019

Don't just felt on the reviews. Go and meet the principal in person!
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2018

Our family loves this school. It is warm, welcoming and an all-around caring environment. We love that there is a strong academic focus that integrates faith and instills the values of service to others. The school focuses on moral development and our children are learning respect, self-discipline and how to be good people. The bonds among both the students and the parents make this school an extension of our family.
Submitted by principal on March 19, 2018

St. Brendan School has been an excellent community for our two children. They are challenged academically and supported socially and through their faith. The teachers are excellent - motivating, encouraging, supportive, collaborative . The new principal has amazing vision for the school and is very present and accessible to parents and students alike. The communication with families is great - I always know what's going on and what is coming up. The pastor is very supportive of the school and even teaches the 8th grade religion class. The parent community is fantastic - it really feels like a big, supportive family. I can't say enough about how happy we are to have our children at St. Brendan School. Best decision we have ever made!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2016

New principal with a definite vision for the school. He has hired some excellent new teachers and is very engaged in correcting any past or current problems. The class sizes may be the same as public school but your have way more aid time this is huge when trying to break kids down into small groups. There is also more of a focus on challenging the kids who need it and helping the kids who need extra help. This is a very down to earth middle class private school definitely not elitie. The relationship with the parish is a work in progress but is moving in the right direction. The best thing about this school is that every teacher and staff member know your student and wants to see them succeed they are not just another number.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2015

I love this school! Three of my children have graduated from St. B's and are doing amazing in high school and college. St. Brendan prepared them well for the next level of education. Parents and teachers are wonderful and caring. The science teacher is amazing, and I have high hopes for the new principal. I would definitely recommend this school. Do not believe ridiculous reviews talking about 40 kids in a class or a falling down building!. Come see for yourself!
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2015

When the "retiring" principal no longer shows up at school after giving her notice but is somehow still the principal for the rest of the year there is a huge problem. I agree with other reviewers St. Brendan's need a total overhaul. There is way too much truth bending and lack of accountability from administration and staff. Parents who keep salaries paid and the lights on have no rights and no voice. Such a shame. St. Brendan's used to be a model Catholic school.
Submitted by other on March 22, 2015

I have attended the school. The fifth to eighth grade science teacher is amazing. He is very engaging and enjoys teaching. The eighth grade teacher is also an amazing teacher. Some of the other teachers on the other hand are quite the opposite. A girl was being bullied a bit from about third grade until sixth grade. None of the teacher (until sixth grade) did anything about it. The fifth grade teacher at the time had been informed and said she would pay closer attention to the student harassing the girl. Nothing changed. The sixth grade/seventh grade language arts/literature teacher was the first to step up and make a change. She arranged a meeting between the two kids, had them talk, and then had them make some decisions to avoid conflicts in the future. The school needs electives. Art, music, and technology are mandatory. These classes had some major problems in the past. Especially music and technology. Art was great for a while until the teacher left part way through the year. Other classes are typically fine, but the principal should come around the classrooms more often.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2015

My family has been at St. Brendan School for 7 years. We are very happy with the teachers and the principal. Our principal is retiring at the end of this school year. I am sad to see our principal go as she has been a great principal. She is strict and effective and that is what we need at our school. She may be to strict for some parents and students and that may be the reason for the bad reviews below. I am amazed at how thoughtful and caring the students and parents are when our family has gone through rough times due to health issues. I feel lucky to be a part of this school and community. My kids have done very well at St. Brendan, not only academically but also are respectful and caring individuals.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2015

As a past parent, I agreed with this post 1000% Posted July 07, 2013 - a community member I'll leave an accurate review as soon as I know the principal is no longer working there. When our child was at St. Brendan, the current principal did the right thing but she went back on her words to us three days later; she did not follow the school handbook that she approved. I went two steps higher, a register letter with return signature, still no acknowledgment, still no reply. FIVE stars for the excellent, caring teachers and staff
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2015

St. Brendan asked its School Commission board members to write positive reviews on Greatschools.org at the October 2014 meeting. The board includes the priest, the principal, and a handful of involved parents. This is unethical, and it doesn't address some of the problems addressed in these reviews. The school has a great science program. The teacher is enthusiastic and gets the students excited about science. The art and music teachers are exceptional as well. The homeroom teachers are hit and miss. Some grades have excellent homeroom teachers, but others are weak and don't live up to the mission of the school. Unfortunately, many parents are cliquish, snobby, and rude. And since parents are required to volunteer during the school year, there is no avoiding them.
Submitted by other on January 13, 2015

Catholic schools that are thriving have engaged pastoral leadership. St. Brendan's does not. Catholic schools that are successful have compassionate principals. St. Brendan's does not. Catholic schools whose teachers nurture their students have happy children and waiting lists. St. Brendan does not. This school needs an overhaul from top to bottom. Trust what the majority of reviewers on this blog have to say. It's true.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2014

Our oldest child graduated from the school last year and we have another chlid still at the school. We have been there for the past ten years and are very happy with the principal, the teachers and the community of parents. We would like to see the pastor more involved in the school though.
Submitted by other on October 29, 2013

Students, very cliquish. Parents, some of the meanest people you'll ever meet. Teachers, not helpful. Principal, needs to be fired. School Building, will collapse any day. This school is going nowhere, trust me, I went through it, whatever you do, don't send your kids here, it's a living nightmare, don't listen to anyone that says this school is good. All the principal cares about is money, and she hardly helps anyone. The reviews you see by students, were the ones told by teachers to write those reviews since they all know the school is a complete dump. If you're sending your kid there, think again, you could be doing the opposite of a favor for them, and maybe even ruining they're childhood...
Submitted by other on October 18, 2013

I'm graduating St. B this year and I seriously don't want to leave my friends...no they're my family. Even the people I'm not really friends with, I still love them like brothers and sisters. Sure, the school has it's goods and bass but don't all schools? The teachers are great and try to help you as much as possible without giving you the answers. However, they challenge you, but only as much as you can handle and they really prepare you for high school. The science teacher is AWESOME! He answers your questions with a question and makes you think about the possibilities, but in the end you always know what you need to know. Also, the 6th grade homeroom/ 7th grade Lit and L.A. teacher is the best writing teacher in the world. I came to her as a terrible writer, but with her help, I can know say what I have to say clearly and thoroughly in any form of writing: expository, persuasive, stories, fiction/ nonfiction, etc. Since there is only one class per grade, everyone knows everybody. We function as a group so no one is left out. Everyone gets a chance in the spotlight with different roles and jobs. I love this school and honestly I wish it went through high school up till college.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2013

We sent our daughter here for the smaller/Christian school environment. She made friends quickly but we were unhappy with the "cliquish" parents more than anything. They have their own little groups, excluding others, even kids. I think the principal has a lot of responsibility placed upon her, not an easy job. A vice principal might help the school a lot. We moved our daughter over to a Northshore School and she is doing great. Parents seem so much more welcoming and accepting. I would not recommend this school, some of the parents need to take a look in the mirror and remind themselves why they are sending their kids there because they are not practicing what they preach.
Submitted by other on July 07, 2013

I'll leave an accurate review as soon as I know the principal is no longer working there.