St. Thomas School

8300 Northeast 12th Street

Medina, WA 98039

42 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 18, 2023

I have a very mixed review of STS. The current headmaster is wonderful and has hired many incredible teachers. It’s a wonderful community of parents and we have met some of our favorite friends here. However there is a big cultural change happening at the school. It is this perfectionism at all costs point of view which our family really struggles with. There is a bit of an attitude that if your child doesn’t fit that mold, you don’t belong. The ELC is very nurturing with some of the most amazing educators, but once you hit the EC, things get very serious. I don’t think they really understand children that don’t fit that “perfection” mold and I get the sense they don’t really want to.There is also an intense academic subculture in certain classes where children are getting tutored to be pushed grade levels ahead. The school knows this, and does nothing to discourage. My child for example is meeting all grade-level norms, but constantly feels behind bc others are getting tutored to be so far ahead. It’s hard to keep self-confidence for the kids.
Submitted by other on June 14, 2023

I have gone to this school for 8 years, and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. The students are some of the nicest people I've ever met. The teachers are always supportive, and I really enjoy coming to school every day.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

We are in our 5th year at St Thomas, with 3 kids in various grades. We've had experience in the Early Learning Center, Elementary Center, and the Middle School. All in all, these years have been very positive. My kids have had wonderful teachers who've all had long tenures at the school. The curriculum is progressive & seems to be ahead of what the local public schools are doing. The school has a strong focus on building character, teaching the kids how to be a part of a community, and opportunities for leadership roles in the upper grades. The one downside in the middle school is the size. The classes are small & remain in the same building as the rest of the lower grades.The middle schoolers don't feel much autonomy from the rest of the school. Although I don't agree with all of the decisions that were made through the pandemic, I feel that the leadership was strong & steadfast in the decisions they felt were the safest for the staff & students. During remote learning, the curriculum stayed consistent & they were even able to pivot some of the main projects & assignments so the kids could still participate. STS has an amazing community of families & this is one of the major benefits of the school. I would recommend STS to anyone.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2021

I love this school! Great faculty, great community. I appreciate their focus on character and leadership, as well as academics.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2021

St Thomas has a really good technology program. They first introduce coding through code.org in first grade. Our son loves it! The teachers gave him supplemental projects he could do at home and introduced him to Scratch etc. Even in K, they already had robotics toys.We also love their art program. Our son loves art and is always excited for art class. Their teacher is an artist and is very encouraging to everyone -- especially important in the elementary years.Their writing program is exceptional. They have writing workshop almost every week. They are encouraged to write about the things they love - like favorite animal, favorite vacation, even persuasive writing etc. They split up into small groups and have a teacher guiding each group.The staff we have interacted with so far have been extremely pleasant. Such a far cry from our previous school.The homeroom teachers our son has had so far have also been very supportive and have taken time out to talk to our son one on one when he has concerns to let him know he could count on them and that he could always talk to them.Their ELC (Early Learning Center, preschool - K) is great, probably the best in the area. We started at K and really regret not coming in earlier at preschool or pre-K.Everyday, they have "chapel", which is not religious in spite of the name. They listen to stories and then talk about how to be kind to others, how to resolve conflict amongst their classmates, learn about inspiring people, community projects etc. When they were doing part remote last year, we were able to listen in during chapel and it was really nice.. like a calm and meditative approach to the day.Also, their lunch program is incredible. Very tasty (we got to try their food when our son was still doing remote learning) and healthy. They take no shortcuts with food. I think they only have pizza for lunch once a year. Our son loves their green beans! Incredible for a kid who does not like to eat anything green. They have an app that shows you the menu of the day and you can order for your child. It's also very convenient for kids with allergies because the app enumerates all ingredients of every dish they have. They even have a vegan option every day.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2021

We have had 2 children at St. Thomas (boy & girl) for the past 8 years spanning grades preschool through 7th grade. I have to say this it truly an exceptional place. My children have both been SO happy here. Every school has it's positives and negatives. No place is perfect. But our experience at STS has been really great. We are a diverse family (not White or Asian) and my kids have only been embraced from day one as part of this great community. Parent and family involvement is of great importance at STS - something many schools in this area shy away from. It truly is about community. The physical structure is immaculate and beautiful. Academically, overall, my children have had a solid education. Values and morals are a core aspect of everything they teach at St. Thomas and character development and self esteem are specific areas of focus, woven throughout the curriculum. My children have learned to be great advocates for themselves while at the same time respecting those around them (including adults and teachers). This is a hard balance to strike. While the school is associated with an Episcopal church, the daily morning 30 minute "chapel" focuses on broader aspects of growth and development, such as leadership, self advocacy, mindfulness, respect, gratitude, life balance, etc. The chapel lectures also span across multiple "religions" and customs providing children with a global view of the world. Both of my children find this to be a special way to start the day, together as a school community. And as a parent I have stayed for may of the chapel lectures myself. The uniforms are a blessing. I have gotten to know the teachers of STS quite well over the past 8 yrs. and they are truly wonderful people, trying their best to do what is best for all of our children and always look out for them. When Covid struck and we had to pivot to remote learning, at first things were a mess (specifically for the elementary center). But once they had a bit of time to work out the details and get things running appropriately coming into the 2020-2021 school year I was so impressed with how the school day went (I'm at home so I had the opportunity to see what the kids were doing day to day). There was a great flow to the day with live teaching sessions one after the other with full engagement by both teachers and students. Good digital citizenship for students was always reinforced and ultimately I feel like my kids got the best they could academically this past year.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2021

The school has great facilities, marketing, a big budget, and is focused on attracting applicants. You'll be impressed when you visit. The early learning center is good as well and you'll most likely be happy there. If you remain for Elementary and experience many years at the school however your experience will be more negative over time. When things go well at STS you'll be happy, but if you have the bad luck to get one of the many sub-par teachers or a rushed in long term sub due to their high teacher turnover and difficulty hiring solid replacements you'll discover the school ignores and brushes off all parent feedback or concerns. You'll watch your student become more unhappy, maybe the next year will be ok, but the situation will repeat soon. If your student isn't white or Asian (STS's main demographics) they will likely experience bias from many of the almost entirely white staff as well as from other students as the kids get older. If you raise any concerns on even very clearly racially motivated incidents you'll be brushed off. The school pays lip service to culture, diversity, and community, but the bottom line is they are primarily interested in protecting the interests and reputation of the school. This has never been more apparent than during Covid where the school has consistently had a focus on avoiding any risks/liability rather than on student needs. They constantly talk up how amazing the remote learning program is, but it's a disaster with every activity forced digital using software the IT team doesn't understand and can't support and teachers constantly disappearing in and out of meetings, leaving assignments unposted, and leaving students unsupervised. The culture of students and parents is largely that of wealthy status seeking Medina and your student will experience others regularly bragging about and comparing their wealth. You'll pay a small fortune for a school that ignores all issues and feedback and listens to you less than the public school would. In the end our student had a number of very positive early years, but also very difficult and disappointing years. The academics were great in the ELC but worse each year as he progressed in the Elementary center. You'll be better off with a school that listens, truly values your family, and accepts and acts on feedback such that it can respond to challenges your student or the school itself meet with true care and support.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2020

Amazing school and community! My family was about to move back to Los Angeles and have our kids start Kindergarten and Preschool at our alma mater Chandler School but after spending some time in the Pacific Northwest we were leaning more towards staying up north. We had to make some serious choices regarding work, school, family, and friends. While researching schools in the area, my wife gave me the assignment of either finding a school that was at least similar to Chandler and if I could not find one then we were going to move back to LA.So after weeks of touring schools all over Seattle and Bellevue, I finally walked onto St. Thomas School's campus and knew almost immediately that this was the school for us. From the school logo (acorn) to the uniforms (forest green and khaki), it was already visually looking similar to Chandler, which has the same uniform colors and a shamrock logo.I'll spare you all the details of what the school is all about (check their website - it's all true!), but by the time I finished the tour I knew walking back to my car that this was it. St. Thomas School's focus on Character, Curriculum, and Community is spot on in parallel with Chandler's core values.Today, 3 years after being accepted to the school, I can confidently and without hesitation say that our already high expectations have not only been met but in many instances have been exceeded!Tour the school as soon as possible. You will witness yourself the greatness of what is St. Thomas School. Expensive as hell, but worth every penny...I promise.There are also programs to help those who may not have the capacity to fund this type of education so don't let the price tag scare you.Amazing new changes coming this Fall that are literally being built as I write this review including a brand new Athletics & Performing Arts Center along with a brand new Center for Leadership & Innovation.So much good...only getting better.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2019

Absolutely incredibly school....Three years ago we conducted a tremendous amount of research on private schools within a 50-mile radius of Seattle. My husband went on countless tours and after attending an Open House at St. Thomas School he knew in his heart that he had found the right place for our children. Two academic years later there are a great number of reasons why we continue to feel St. Thomas School is the best place for our sons.Firstly, I believe that the STS guiding principals continue to have a great impact on our sons. The school’s dedication to the development of the “whole child” has help shape their understanding of ethics and morality. I have found that there is a philosophical and moral code that runs deep through the students, faculty, and administration. I also firmly believe the STS community demonstrates that above all else it is important to be a good person. Secondly, the faculty and staff at St. Thomas School embrace the differences in students and are dedicated to understanding how each child learns. Our younger son currently attends Kindergarten in the Early Learning Center and we appreciate that the teachers support learning through exploration. Through our two years in the ELC we have seen found-object galleries, alphabet and reading/phonics artwork, and cooking projects; since our son has a tendency to retain knowledge through hands-on experiences, we feel the schools current ELC curriculum supports our son's learning-style through many tactile-based opportunities. Lastly, I deeply appreciate the value St. Thomas School places in leadership, stewardship, and community and demonstrates true dedication by holding Chapel every morning. Chapel offers our sons the unique opportunities to learn the value of teamwork, open discussions, group consensus, healthy opposition, and most importantly, leadership in service of others. I wholeheartedly believe that the experience of Chapel has made a lasting and eternally positive impression on our children. We believe this modality of fellowship is a wonderful way for young children to experience spirituality-based gatherings, public speaking, and companionship.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2019

We are so pleased with our decision to send our daughter to St. Thomas. Since attending the school her confidence has grown. She is articulate, curious and kind. The community at St. Thomas nurtures the development of the whole child. The faculty are approachable, I feel a real sense of partnership and community at St. Thomas.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2019

Overall the school greets you with a warm and welcoming feeling. All teachers know all the students at an individual level. My kids love the school and feel they are part of the school community. As a parent, I feel the school provides us with constant feedbacks, ongoing support and innovative directions throughout the year.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2019

We have been at this school for a few year now, and absolutely love the environment and focus. We have seen our child thrive and build confidence here.
Submitted by parent on July 17, 2019

Our children have been very happy at St. Thomas School and we have experienced all 3 divisions now -the Early Learning Center, Elementary Center and the Middle School. At each point on our children's path through the school, we have found engaged, dynamic teachers who care about our children, a challenging and rigorous curriculum which is intentional and developed to an extremely high level whilst remaining cognizant of learning styles and differences, and a focus on developing the character of our children through experiences and opportunities to speak up and speak out. Where St Thomas School excels is in developing a child in their leadership skills, strengthening their moral compass and preparing them for their bright future.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2018

St. Thomas is not just academics but developing the whole child. The teachers know and understand each child on an individual level. The children get tons of public speaking and leadership opportunities. My children who go here are both on the gifted spectrum and are challenged on a daily basis. Many of the local CEO's children attend here and stay through 8th grade.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2018

I have to strongly disagree with the prior postings. I have two children, who have both attended St. Thomas, one is a current student. The teachers and faculty know every child, they make learning fun, and my oldest was able to get into a very rigorous school and is doing well because of the platform at St Thomas. I can't say enough about the warm faculty and teaching staff, who all care. We are not big donors, although aspire to be successful enough to give back to a school that has provided so much for our family and children. The teachers from 1st and 2nd grade still ask about my oldest, because they truly care. One comment my son made during his first year at this new difficult school, was how happy he was that St. Thomas required speaking and presentation skills from Primary. He noticed how uncomfortable other students were at presenting, and due to the education and experience he had with St. Thomas his year has been outstanding. The school teaches great academics, and highlights character. We are so grateful to be affiliated with this school.
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2015

The school is beautiful - shiny, new and with environmental awards - but as parents you want more for your children than a pretty 'green' building. Like others said, our expectations were high but ultimately the school was a disappointment time and time again. There are too many examples to share. But a few...Teachers stated that children who are quiet are understandably left out of activities in the classroom and outside. Although it claims to be Independent, children attend Chapel on a daily basis. The communication is that this is a "non religious" time to come together as an entire school community, focus on world religions and build on the lessons from the classroom. Sometimes this is correct but be aware that your children will also be singing and saying 20 min of prayers before and after that lesson - every single day. For the money you pay, feedback is important - and you will get it from the staff...if your name is well renowned in the community or you are a major donor. Your rank is very apparent. Follow up is also very delayed and often incorrect. It is a cold sterile environment...with no warmth. Very few parents, teachers and children smile and even in volunteering, the lack of joy among the children is shocking. I am satisfied with the academics but feel that there is more to education and for the price I should be overwhelmed. I would like well rounded children which I'm confident would not happen at St Thomas.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2015

My son and daughter LOVE to go to school. They have been so happy at St. Thomas School. The teachers have made themselves available in the morning when my daughter needs extra help and they know the strengths and weaknesses of my children so well. They have been able to help my kids become strong writers. My son is a math wiz and they have been able to keep him challenged. Things they are doing with technology are so progressive. Plus, I love the community. Some people think everyone in Medina is a snob but the friendly atmosphere inside this school is unlike any I have ever experienced. It is truly a great school! I've seen some of the other comments and no school is perfect but this one is pretty awesome.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2015

In our experience, we found the administration weak and even defiant at times. The school counselor is unprofessional and divisive. The building is beautiful. There only seems to be joy in the early learning center. The ELC teachers are the shining hope for the school. They are the only private school that always seems to have space available. We left the school and while we loved the community, it was a great move for us and many other families we have spoken to. If you're searching for a great school, keep looking.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2014

I fully agree with the comments by a parent posted on August 16, 2014. I decided to transfer my child to a different school for these reasons.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2014

Beautiful eco friendly building, but inside these walls is a lack of depth. Administration misrepresents the educational quality and teaching style within the school. This school is very similar to public school system and will not challenge your child, but leave them bored and wanting.