The Bear Creek School

8905 208th Avenue NE

Redmond, WA 98053

36 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by student on November 28, 2024

As someone who has gone to Bear Creek since Preschool, I am so grateful for the community that it is. I have teachers from elementary school that still smile and wave at me in the hallways and I have created deep friendships that have lasted for 14 years. I love the small class sizes, because I am able to have personal relationships with my teachers and have meaningful discussions with my classmates.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2023

The Bear Creek school is a perfect combination of superior academics and a Christian nurturing environment. I really feel like this community of professional faculty, fabulous teachers and supporting parents are doing missional work. This unique community is investing in future leaders.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2023

Our kids have attended Bear Creek since Preschool and Kindergarten, and our experience has been excellent. The teachers truly care about their students and that makes all the difference in the classroom. Teachers are also willing to work with parents to help kids grow academically and socially. Our family appreciates that faith is woven into all subjects. We wholeheartedly recommend Bear Creek!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2023

Our three children attended grades K-12. The school prepared them to be capable and successful at college and in life. One particular example of how the school came along side one of our students was in preparation for the Calculus AB AP test. Our student was not particularly enjoying the subject, but the teacher offered after school tutoring which increased their confidence and preparation resulting in a successful test outcome.
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2023

The Bear Creek School understood and accommodated the differing needs of each of our children. One child needed demanding classes and intellectual challenge. Another child needed scheduling and coursework flexibility to accommodate club sports activities. Both were graciously accommodated by a attentive and caring staff.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2023

My three children have been at Bear Creek since preschool. I now have an alum, high school, and middle school student. Bear Creek has been a different but rich experience for all of them. One of my kids is very bright and also has significant ADHD, and while Bear Creek doesn’t offer one-on-one support, they have been flexible throughout the years as we’ve had appointments and therapies off campus. We’ve been there long enough to see how the school has grown so much in understanding and support. The partnership we experienced when my youngest was diagnosed with dyslexia late in elementary school has been wonderful.Teachers set students up to learn how to advocate for themselves in a supportive and encouraging environment. I’ve seen my kids be embraced for who they are and make true, caring friends where I don’t feel confident that they’d have had the same experience at other schools where quirkiness can be shunned.We also so appreciate the support and advocacy of counselors hired during COVID and retained after as Bear Creek understands meeting kids where they’re at and supporting mental health.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2023

My brother and I attended Bear Creek for middle school and high school. I had it better than my brother and at best, my memories were focused on getting through high school and making it to college. While the majority of my graduating class attended high ranking colleges, not everyone got along peacefully. Very cliquey and clearly evident of which students came from families with money. I left with an understanding that Christianity is extremely hypocritical and judgemental. The punishments enacted upon students were lacking of respect and awareness of mental health of the student and the rest of the student body. For example, one student had to apologize publicly for hooking up with her long term boyfriend off of campus after being reported to the principal by her best friend. My brother was bullied so badly that he was pushed down a stairwell and severely broke his arm. The students who did this to him had to say sorry once but then my brother was told it was an accident and he should move past it. I wasn't openly bullied but I didn't feel like I fit in. Luckily I had friends through sports outside the school that helped me get through highschool. The best part of the school is the teachers. Most of them were fantastic and were the highlight of the time I spent there. However the social dynamics and overall culture of the school overshadows this. In my opinion not worth the tuition and you would be far better off sending your kids to public school in the area.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2022

We came to Bear Creek when our oldest was in 6th Grade. We have been there for 5 years and now have experienced lower school, middle school and the upper school. We can't imagine a more perfect environment for our children. They are each so unique in terms of academic interests and challenges and personalities yet Bear Creek truly educates them individually and nurtures their spirits.
Submitted by student on January 28, 2022

I've been going to bear creek since I was in 5th grade and am now a junior. Never have I ever thought I'd be saying this about the place I grew up in but it's what has to be done. While some of my core childhood memories take place in these buildings those are taken away by the environment and ways of this school. In lower school everything was great. we all got along and it was really fun, but then through all of the middle school, we're separated by gender, creating an awkward and tense environment. Separate them for two years and then all of a sudden throw them back together. The beginning of Highschool was dreadful because of trying to bridge that social gap that was created between us for 2 years. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to be new in the upper school because the amount of bullying I saw, especially to new students and students that were seen as "nerdier" was horrific. If you are not considered "popular" in bear creek you are automatically a total weirdo and can expect to be pushed around by the people whose parents are high donors of the school because everyone knows the school wouldn't dare do anything to them. Another thing that's hard to miss at Bear creek is the lack of diversity. As an Asian student myself growing up I was only ever surrounded by the boys at this school who would make "funny jokes" about my race as a way to look cool. The amount of racism I've experienced in this school is unlike no other, watching my culture being laughed at daily and having to pretend it didn't bother me because I didn't want to be called "soft" has been so damaging to me. To be honest, a lot of the upper school teachers are wonderful people but the school's approach to homework is awful. They just constantly pile work on us and nobody does it. Every student here cheats on everything. The middle school teachers were awful, some of them shouldn't even be educators. I had teachers in middle school be openly transphobic and other teachers laugh at world religions because they were different from Christianity. When I signed up for a Christian education I thought it would bring me closer to my faith, but instead, I found myself constantly questioning why the people around me who were simply "spreading the love of Jesus" could also be so hateful. You walk down a hallway in the high school and I promise you'll hear at least 3 different slurs being said by groups of rich white boys whose parents donation money is keeping them out of trouble.
Submitted by other on January 31, 2021

All our children found their niche at Bear Creek. My youngest daughter is a senior now. She was able to participate in sports and speech but narrowed her efforts to ASB and drama. There are many ways a student can get plugged in - they just have to find it. They can even create their own club if they can't find one that suites them. :) The liberal arts curriculum does produce people who think for themselves. Our Christian faith is important to us and I appreciate the teaching from a Christian worldview. I appreciate how teachers pray for their students too. Bear Creek's school culture does emulate the Core Values all community members agree upon. I appreciate how student's mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth.The admin, staff, and faculty work hard - you can tell that they believe in Bear Creek's mission. It is what drives them.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2021

Hands down - the best decision we ever made for our kids. The list of pros is extensive:- Small class sizes- Teachers who care and are engaged with the welfare of both students and parents (parents need support too! :-)- A Christian education with Christian educators - which helps take a lot of the "ick" that you experience in the public schools out of the equation- Solid sports curriculum to choose from along with the flexibility built in by WIAA (public school sports) that allow you to play sports for your local public school if that sport isn't offered by Bear Creek- Honors & A/P curriculum- High school guidance counselors that know you by name and help you plan for the future- And, hoping this isn't something that will matter in the future - but for now, a solid Learn From Home curriculum that is optimized for this COVID-19 environment
Submitted by other on September 25, 2020

I'm honestly surprised I didn't write the review from 1/16/2020 because my experience was nearly exactly the same. I entered in 9th grade, which was a mistake. Everyone else had already known each other for years and I never fit in. Along with the fact that they gender segregate middle school, this made for a very strange environment socially. I tried to make friends, but I overheard getting laughed at behind my back on the second day of school and I guess everyone avoided me ever since.The school has a very strange ego, where teachers are constantly talking about how Bear Creek is better than everyone else, which is objectively untrue. They seem to think that Bear Creek is the top of the world, when in reality, most people outside of the school seem to agree that it has a bad reputation in terms of bullying and academics. I was discouraged from a lot of people to go to Bear Creek, and I wish my parents had listened to them. There are no clubs in the school except for school spirit clubs (or, at least there were none when I went there). They also basically require you to play sports for the school. If you don't have school spirit, you're basically done for. It got to the point with me where the upper school head and the counselor got involved because teachers were noticing that I was depressed. They tried, I guess. They forced some people to have lunch with me once. That was it. They never talked to me again.I spent four years in complete isolation and didn't say goodbye to anyone at graduation. I haven't talked to anyone since. That's just the way it is, unless you start early enough and have a personality that clicks with the school. This may be over-focused on the social life and other silly things, but it was really a miserable experience. I didn't ever participate in classes and I did the bare minimum of work because I was so miserable, leaving my grades to be a disaster and my education struggled. I'm still struggling heavily with the effects of having gone to Bear Creek and I'm a few years out of it -- how can you succeed in college and life when you haven't talked to anyone in four years and never bothered to do any work because you were miserable?
Submitted by other on February 05, 2020

My experience at Bear Creek could not have been better. I found the teachers to be passionate about their subjects and invested in the student experience. My peers were a diverse group of students from many different backgrounds (many of whom I am still friends with today). Bear Creek is unique because the school values both academics as well as faith. I found myself prepared for the launch to college and remain connected to the community in Redmond. The school is very focused on empowering students and advocating for their success. If you value community and want to attend a faith based school, then Bear Creek is an amazing choice!
Submitted by student on January 16, 2020

Please read if you are considering sending your daughter to this high school: The elementary school used to be great, small and a fun and inclusive community. However if you have a daughter please do not consider sending her to Bear Creek for high school. Bullying comes in the form of mean boy cliques whose parents donate money to the school and get away with anything they want. Many say the academics are great and in some ways that is true, but most subjects are taught through a christian lens (even math!). Overall my experience at this school was absolutely horrible, I can't even drive past it anymore without being triggered and I know many other female graduates from my class feel similarly.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2017

Our children have flourished in their years at The Bear Creek School and we look forward to many more years ahead. The Preschool and Lower School are focused on building a foundation for life, the children learn academics, but also learn the character qualities that they will need to be successful (self-control, patience, kindness, etc). The curriculum is individually-paced so each child feels both successful and challenged every day. The teachers genuinely care for each child and celebrate their unique gifts as they gently guide them to develop a love of learning. Our children have flourished here academically, spiritually and socially and we are so glad we chose The Bear Creek School.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2017

Our kids came to Bear Creek from public school. We are blown away by how invested the teachers are in the students and how passionate they are about their subject matter. At Bear Creek, it is cool to be smart and work hard. Yet they balance the work load and encourage every student to participate in activities, sports, & leadership. My kids have tried and excelled at new sports and loved the coaching emphasis on character and sportsmanship along with the skills. The college advising program is outstanding. The college advisor organizes career panels, mock interviews, college visits and meets 1:1 to help students find their best fit university. - Parent
Submitted by other on March 01, 2017

We were very happy with Bear Creek up through middle school but have had a very different experience in high school. For the upper school, our experience has been completely different and if we had known then what we know now, would have opted for another high school experience for our children. In our experience, the upper school does not foster a love of learning, a supportive community amongst the students nor an environment where a student that has passions beyond academics can thrive. The environment is overly focused on grades and scores (both teachers + students) such that it negatively impacts the culture and level of cohesion amongst the students. Socially, the student body is crippled due to the pressure to obtain grades. This intense academic environment where students are constantly competing with each other may be ideal for some kids, but for ours, they will leave the school proud to have made it through but without strong friendships or happy memories of being there.
Submitted by other on October 14, 2016

Great team of teachers and staff. Administration is proactive and professional. Mission is intentionally seen in all aspects of the curriculum and core community values. Students are fantastic.
Submitted by other on June 11, 2016

Our son just completed his first year at TBCS. We are very happy at his development - both academic and character. Compared to Public Schools, TBCS curriculum is much more rigorous and he is being challenged. The teachers are for the most part, caring and will work individually with each child if required. The administration has been fantastic and will make time for any issues. The school has been a blessing to our son and we're very satisfied. The Christian-based education has helped him become a better, more compassionate young man.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2015

Our kids started in 5th and 6th grade respectively. They both wished they had started sooner. The Lower school teachers were uniquely caring, supportive, and invested in each student. Our kids are now in Middle School & Upper School, and we are appreciating how thoughtfully and intentionally the curriculum and road map has been laid out for them. Recognized as the only 2014 Blue Ribbon School in Washington state.