Broadview-Thomson Elementary School

13052 Greenwood Avenue North

School District

Seattle Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 18, 2019

Every single person working at BT, teachers and staff, are giving 110% effort, no question. This school has an EXTREMELY diverse population (racially, socioeconomically, ELL, culturally, etc), which, yes, is going to affect the test scores, as you'll see here. However, I would say that the skills my child is learning, both academically and socially, are as good as he would get in most public schools, and in some areas much greater.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2019

My experience is very positive. We have been at Broadview for several years now, met many teachers and staff and they are always very nice and helpful. When my child started preschool there at 3yo he wasn't able to speak, now several years later he is one bright sweet boy who reads chapter books. We are not native English speakers, unlike him. Now he translates for us. Everything thanks to this school.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2018

We have had a wonderful experience at Broadview. We were nervous going in as the reviews leave something to be desired...but the leadership is excellent and we've had nothing but good experiences here. Thankful for a great community, wonderful teachers and so much diversity.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2017

We had concerns going in based on the mixed reviews from other sources online, but as a Kindergarten parent, we couldn't be more pleased. We really enjoy the multi-cultural element of the school (29 different languages spoken by the student body) as part of a well-rounded life education. My daughters gets great attention as there are only 20 kids in her class (and a student teacher assistant!) We've had no real issues with bullies, her reading, math and social skills have all taken off, and we all have an excellent relationship with her teacher and staff. They teach a lot of empathy as part of their social studies as well, and how to communicate their feelings. Overall, I've been nothing but impressed as college educated parents wanting the best for our daughter.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2016

My Daughter has been at B-T since Kindergarten and is now going into the 2nd grade. We love it, she loves it! The teachers are very supportive and involved, the PTA is a power-house and the staff is always there to help. The diversity has been so educational, the culture night alone is so fun. Our daughter continues to teach us about her friend's cultures from around the world....so cool! Last year she participated in the discovery dance program and got to "train" with Pacific NW Ballet. This school might not look like much from the outside......but's that's changing too! Highly recommended.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2016

We have loved having our daughter at B-T and can't wait for our son to start kindergarten there next year. The staff is friendly and keep the students as their top priority. We have loved being able to have play dates in the neighborhood. Programs like Ruler for students to monitor their feelings and anti-bullying focus has been really been a positive way to get the students involved in their learning. A new playground is under construction thanks to the amazing PTA and we can't wait to see how it turns out. The diversity, different learning styles have all been bonus elements for our daughter to learn more about the world.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2016

I've had two children in this school, one for just two years and the other for six. Our experience has been very good! B-T is a large, culturally diverse school, with students from literally dozens of other countries, and to me that's a big plus, because my kids have some concept that not everyone in the world is exactly like them. When one of my children needed extra help, the teachers and counselors were great about working with us to make an IEP (Individual Education Plan) that fit her needs and that challenged her to grow. They've been very supportive this whole time; I've always felt my challenging child was in good hands. The young male teachers at B-T are especially wonderful -- when I was growing up, all elementary school teachers were women, and it's just so wonderful to see that gender barrier getting broken. (It's especially great for young boys who can relate better to a male teacher.) The theater program is pretty advanced for a K-8 school, and even young students can participate. AND, there's still a music program! My student participated in "Discover Dance" one year, and last year worked with a visiting artist! We have really enjoyed our combined 8 years at B-T, and I will miss it next year!
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2016

I have two daughters at Broadview-Thomson K-8, a third grader and a first grader. Both girls have attended since kindergarten. They have had wonderful teachers in all classes who have challenged my kids and encouraged them (and me as a parent) to reach higher and do better. On the occasions when we have had trouble (kid-to-kid interaction, need for greater academic challenges, etc.), I found the principal, teachers, and counselor to be responsive and very helpful. I am thrilled that my kids get to attend a richly diverse school (36 languages spoken at home!), with teachers winning awards on a national level (this year Mrs. Brown was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Great Educator). BTK8 was named a 2015 School of Distinction (awarded to schools showing sustained improvement in reading/ELA and math, over a 5-year period). I love the arts enrichment at our school; my kids danced in Discover Dance with PNB, and my older daughter played the recorder with the Seattle Symphony and recited her poem (written during the Writers In The Schools program) at Benaroya Hall.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2016

My oldest daughter started kindergarten at BTK8 in 2010. Since day 1 we have had an extremely positive experience. She is currently coming to the end of her 5th grade year and we have decided that she will continue at Broadview for Middle School as I am convinced that the quality of the education she will receive in this smaller environment will be far superior (academically speaking) to Whitman. She is not in the Spectrum program but is still able to "walk to math." This means that as a 5th grader she has been learning 6th grade math all year. She will now go into 6th grade working a full grade level ahead. Something that I don't think is possible at a K-5 school. Big advantage to a K-8! Our youngest daughter also attends BT and is currently in 3rd grade. Her experience has also been very positive but very different as she is not as academically inclined as her sister. She has been diagnosed with ADD and the teachers and staff have done a spectacular job of working within her 504 plan.Our family has been really involved with the PTA since the beginning. We love the diversity that exists in this school (over 36 languages spoken!) but recognize that cultural differences are sometimes a barrier to parent involvement. I agree with another reviewer that if more Broadview area families actually gave this school a chance than the overall community would be much stronger. Don't use test scores as your defining factor, if your native language was Amharic you may find it difficult to take a standardized test in English too! Take into consideration that we were named a 2015 School of Distinction! Heck, Mrs. Brown (6th grade teacher) was just selected as a US Department of Education Great Educator. She was even honored at the White House! Tour the school, talk to families that attend, give it a chance. Broadview-Thomson really is a great school and should be rated much higher than a 6!
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2016

Don't listen to all the other reviews!! AND don't judge a book by its cover!! If you didn't notice there is not a single review for this school in 5 years!!! New principle (Sammons) is wonderful and so is this school! They have a hugely diverse population and do wonders with underprivileged kids. Our daughter has attended Kindergarten here and she has flourished in the school with a greater understanding of different cultures and people. The class size is tiny,16 students in her class with one teacher and 2 TA's. Too many times I meet neighbors in our neighborhood that don't attend Broadview Thomson as their reference school and go to another school or private school. It is so unfortunate that people don't give it a chance and base their opinions on what others have said years ago. No wonder Seattle is lacking in community and has bad public school image. If people attended their neighborhood schools more think of all of the resources it would draw from and how it could improve. AND the PTA is really casual downhome and does amazing things for these kids!
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2011

My children attend this school, and I just love what it has to offer. For the little ones (first grade - 5th) Spanish and science enrichment before school, art, music, and a huge anti-bullying curriculum push, K - 8. Onsite before and after school care, and a dance program with the PNB, artist in residence, and really amazing PTA. Upper grades have too much to mention in a little review (National Junior Honor Society, Japanese--they went to Japan last summer, high school math, three computer labs, winning sports teams, I could go on). The staff are caring, smart professionals overall, and I've been incredibly satisfied with the rigor of the Spectrum classes as well as the individual attention my children receive in their instruction. Class size is 22 - 24 and the principal is on the ball and responsive. My only criticism is small: no grass play areas. But they make up for it in play structures reserved for primary and upper grades. They have a separate kindergarten play area so there is a comfortable place to go at recess when they want to get away from the "big kids." I'd come visit if I were you. It's a hidden, diverse gem! There are over 36 languages spoken there!
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2011

My child is finishing 2nd grade right now and has attended Broadview Thomson since Kindergarten. To sum up our feelings about BT, we are applying for a transfer to another school. I have personally sent the principal several emails about the issues my child has had throughout the year with her teacher, about bullying incidents, and about the teacher s indifference to the incidents, and have never received a response. The only time he responded to me was when I bought the school several new books for the library. I was told that he would be attending a meeting with himself and the 2nd grade Administrator, yet he failed to show up to the meeting. This level of unprofessionalism has unfortunately become more frequent in my interactions with the school. There are several standout employees and teachers, but the overall problems at the school outweigh the positive aspects. This school has a bullying and behavior problem, period, and the administration seems to be largely in denial about this.
Submitted by other on April 14, 2011

I went here for 1st through 5th grade and absolutely hated it. Once, somebody punched me for no particular reason, so I told the teacher, but she said that it was not her problem and I got in trouble for "tattling". Do not send your children to this school unless you want them to be miserable.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2011

My son is a kindergarten student at Broadview Thomson. When we started school here I was a little worried, due to the poor scores and the poor reviews online. However, I really wanted my son to be in his neighborhood school. After talking to Mr. Jessee and touring the school several times we decided to send our son to Broadview Thomson. We had a rough start, as most kindergarten kids do. Kindergarten is so much more than preschool in many ways. Now that the year is half over, It has become clear to us that our son is learning to read, to write and to do math. His progress has been noteworthy. Broadview Thomson also has a great counseling department. They make great efforts to teach the kids how to solve their disagreements in a healthy way. They work in a proactive way before disagreements come up and in a cooperative way once a disagreement has taken place. Broadview Thomson is a wonderfully diverse environment, and I feel my son is learning to appreciate different races and cultures in a way that he would not be able to do in a typical Seattle school. Overall we are very happy with this school and we will be continuing here next year.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2011

My 5th gr. son has been here for 2 yrs (xfer'd from Viewlands upon closing). This year I grew a strong dislike for this school. The past teachers have been unorganized, impersonal, and lacked communication. I like keeping in the loop with my child's education and such, other than conferences. This is the first year when my son has had a teacher with all of the elements- personable, creative, fun, organized. The school as a whole seems to strive for diversity & promotion of anti-bullying, but they don't seem to know the signs, as my son dealt with being picked on early in the year. The principal & counselors were completely unaware of the situation. The principal used to be VP and does not make for a good principal at all. They are also apparently low on fundage, and to many of our dismay, they are not having a 5th gr. Camp this yr! That is a pivotal event for a child! I was also informed that there won t be band (or at least adv band) next year. For these reasons, I will be transferring my son to a different school next year.