Brownell-Talbot Schools

400 Happy Hollow Boulevard

Omaha, NE 68132

37 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 09, 2023

Brownell Talbot students are diverse, compassionate learners who come to school curious and prepared to learn. Our ninth grader and her classmates have access to the most talented educators and have benefitted from extraordinary academic, athletic, artistic, and interpersonal experiences. Exposure to different perspectives allows students to think both critically and creatively, while never losing sight of individual strengths and passions. At BROWNELL TALBOT, the educational environment, teachers, staff, and families all work together to form a vibrant community that provides students with the foundation necessary to become something bigger than themselves.Nothing compares to the rich history and tradition of educational excellence we’ve experienced at Brownell Talbot. Tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers are made at Brownell Talbot. The school’s unique culture and strong focus on excellence ensure every student is well-prepared for the next step in their academic careers. They also emerge confident and able to contribute richly to their own communities.We love BT
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2023

Brownell is a small, loving environment. The staff is very friendly and the teachers are amazing. The class sizes are small so the students get lots of attention, one-on-one and hands on learning. The high school has a very challenging curriculum but my son was more than prepared for college.The sense of community is very evident, high school students are buddied up with lower school students for reading or community projects. All grade levels participate in homecoming and halloween!
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2023

The teachers do a great job knowing my child and supporting them in ways that are well-tailored to their needs and strengths. For such a small, hands=-on environment, they also offer a lot of different options for students in terms of courses and extracurriculars.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2023

We love Brownell Talbot. Every person at the school seems to know my child and almost every conversation starts with a genuine story about her that demonstrates to me they care for her a great deal. Her teachers are very good at connecting what's happening in the class to the bigger picture, explaining the why behind what they are doing. I value that the teachers are subject matter experts with dedicated teachers in science, World Languages, and guidance. There is a lot of emphasis on social emotional health, inclusion, and belonging. Because it's an independent school, it seems like they are more quick to address problems and make changes when they see an opportunity to improve. Icing on the cake - swimming is part of the PE curriculum.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2023

Teachers here are not it, they act like children and the administration does nothing about it. extremely unprofessional and disrespectful. I would not recommend coming here as the teachers don't know when they have crossed the line. My child is not treated with respect by some of the teachers here as they gossip and also humiliate students in front of their peers as a power play. Some teachers are overly sensitive and complain to the students taking their anger out on them instead of going to the administration like an adult.
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2021

My children have attended BT for 6 and 7 years respectively. I couldn't have designed a more perfect environment for a child to learn, grown and explore their who they are as a person. The staff is full of highly-educated leaders with a knack for connecting with all kinds of people. The student body is culturally diverse and tremendously positive. The makeup and dynamics of my children's grades are quite different -- one being more mellow, supportive and cohesive and the other more competitive and driven. However, even the competitive group are kind children, good friends and come from families who are raising young people who serve others and care about their friends and community. The academic rigor is exactly what we wanted when we enrolled them. While it is difficult at times, the rewards are beyond anything we imagined possible in a regular American school setting. They are limited by nothing at this school. One way I know they are in the right place is that no matter what they try -- from band to sports to the school play, they are NOT AFRAID TO TRY. It's just the kind of place where they can put themselves out there without fear of being mocked by their peers or the adults around them. My children have tried lots of things they ultimately don't love, but I have no doubt the experiences were genuine and positive. This school is worth every penny in tuition and every sacrifice we have to make to write the checks.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2019

My 3yo son started preschool at BT this year. Everything you already know about BT’s reputation for academic excellence is true. But I have found BT’s commitment to social-emotional development just as meaningful. For example, on our first day on campus my husband held the door for a group of upper school students. Each student looked my husband straight in the eye and confidently and politely said “thank you”. I visited 6 preschools before finding BT and it was obvious that Brownell Talbot was the best fit for our family. The sense of community at BT is something I did not anticipate going in, but now realize makes BT a very special place. All families have the opportunity to be engaged in the classroom, at activities and events, at PTA, and on school committees. You will get to know families with students at all grade levels. BT is a very special place and there are not words to truly thank the faculty and staff for their commitment to each family and every child.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2019

This school was a mistake that cost a lot of money!
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2018

Unfortunately they did not live up to the hype. All four of my children left before graduating for various reasons - all related to problems with the leadership and teachers.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2018

They took a big chunk of my child's time and a lot of cash and we were left to pick up the pieces. We have even been removed from their alumni and their publications because we spoke up. Pitiful.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2017

I have a child in lower school and one in middle school. The education is top-notch, the teachers are dedicated, and the families are committed. The community feel is real, not just a marketing promise. Kids are encouraged to be who they are, whether that be an athlete or a mathlete. There is no pressure from the teaching staff, nor is the homework useless busywork. The comments regarding bullying are patently false. BT is an excellent school that offers opportunities unparalleled in any other school or district in Omaha.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2016

The only good part of this school is the teachers. Most are passionate about teaching and care about their students. The administration is far removed from what is really happening with their student body. The disparity is wide between what the school projects themselves to be and who they really are in the community. Of all the educational institutions that should be teaching emotional intelligence, this school should be on the top of the list. Brownell Talbot is too busy trying to spin how wonderful their community is when, in fact, their students are bullied, categorized, and isolated. They push their students too hard to perform so much so that the pressure causes a large majority to develop anxiety and suffer from stomach issues as early as first grade. By the time these students reach sixth grade, they are well versed in the art of cheating. The drug and alcohol problem is horrendous. Brownell Talbot touts that their students have the highest ACT/SAT scores compared to other private schools, but the fact is that there is no data reported to suggest that this is true. They tout that their students are widely accepted to Ivy League schools; however, this is false. In fact, if you throw enough money at them, your student can graduate with a "D" average, be given an award for some ridiculous category that means nothing, and be given a stellar recommendation letter so that he/she can actually be accepted to a sub-par college. The tuition is ludicrous. If your son/daughter attends all the way through high school, you can expect to pay as much as the cost of a four-year college education out-of-state. The teachers are paid less than any other school in the Omaha district. Until the administration is really interested in creating a safe environment for students to learn at a pace that leaves the student excited about learning instead of dreading the process, free from bullying by other students and takes an honest look at the heightened substance abuse issues, it is not worth the time or money to send your child to this school. With exception to the teachers in this school, Brownell Talbot is unworthy of holding a position of a great school in this community. Don't believe the hype and the status of this school. You will be disappointed. Do your family a favor and save the extra money for your child's college education.
Submitted by other on April 01, 2016

Brownell-Talbot has been my home ever since I was a toddler. Ive grown up in the small class sizes, the loving faculty and staffs arms, and have grown to love going to school. Yes it has had its bumps in the road, but with a new Head of School things are starting to look up! I enjoy the small class sizes and the relationships that form out of them. The teachers always make time to help with anything from school to personal life. The academic rigor puts public school to shame, and i felt more prepared for college my SOPHOMORE year of high school than my friends at public school felt their SENIOR year. The College Prep aspect has an amazing councilor, who works tirelessly to have each student ready when application season begins. The School is also taking leaps and bounds in technology, as our infrastructure and resources grow yearly. A huge robotics lab with 3-D Printers allows students to begin their adventure in creativity all the way down in Lower School. The school has often been known as a "rich preppy school for snobs", but this stereotype has been mostly washed away. The students who work the hardest are those who are lucky enough to get scholarship to this amazing school. Most students aim to go above and beyond anything previous classes have done. The competition pits classes against each other occasionally, but also creates a strong sense of school pride. So while the school does have its occasional flaws, the reviews here fail to capture the amazing experiences available at BT. - A lifelong Student
Submitted by other on March 19, 2016

I have a daughter in the third grade with a severe, life threatening peanut allergy. The school promised me they were a peanut free zone but there is peanuts and peanut butter everywhere. When I complained I was told they can't police other parents. My child can die from this allergy. I am sure other children have the same severe allergy and a written policy is not enough.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2015

My son has been a student at Brownell since he was a toddler. The teachers are dedicated and my son's classes are challenging with plenty of individual attention because of the small class sizes. Best money we have ever invested.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2014

Notice how a large portion of the positive reviews were written about the same time in October 2013. The truth is that this school is a huge disappointment. The education is fine if your student is average or slightly above. The school does not have the resources for gifted students as they will lead you to believe. The athletics are substandard. Bullying is a big problem. There are some interesting families in the community, but the school is "run" by moms who are basically middle-aged mean girls. One of the worst examples of bad behavior was the BTPA President last year (2013-2014), which says a lot about the school's values. It is not even close to a straight path to the Ivy League as someone suggested. Just take a look at what colleges their graduates attend. The bottom line is that there are many other school options in town that will provide your child with a better education, better overall experience, and they will get into just as good (and probably better) college when they graduate.
Submitted by teacher on May 19, 2014

This school used to be a great school, but in less than 2 years the new headmaster has destroyed the community and the integrity of the school with her unethical decisions and untruthful statements. There is no proper process for evaluation and at any time, for any reason (real or made up), faculty and staff members can have their contracts revoked. Since there is no union or advocate, faculty and staff members have no one to speak on their behalf. As one student recently said, "The teachers are why we come to this school." The community and sense of family and security has been destroyed. In less than 2 years, over 15 faculty and staff members have left or are leaving. Some have resigned because they can't work in the environment she has created, others did not receive a contract or had theirs revoked, and some were fired and escorted from campus immediately. Everyone else is living in fear and updating their resumes.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2014

Brownell Talbot it a great a successful school. All kids have a phase/attitude in their middle school years. In public and private schools, it's going to be hard to send your kid to the perfect school. Brownell Talbot has everything to offer and knows how to give a great education. Just like any other school, Brownell Talbot has some non mature kids in middle school, but they will mature as they get older. The teachers are great and try to help the students as much as possible. I am so happy to have my 2 sons here. They love it and always tell me stories from school.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2013

We currently have our 7th grade child attending Brownell, and our son graduated from brownell in 2013. Brownell has been the best thing we have done for our kids education. Our son that is now in college has stated that he has felt well prepared for college and he credits his education at Brownell for that. To us Brownell feels more like a family than just a school and our kids love it.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2013

There is a terrible bullying problems to this school that is constantly overlooked, someone needs to address it. As soo a so it is addressed the school will be 5 stars for sure. The academics are very rigorous and challenging. Straight path to the ivy leagues but not without being bullied.