Shining Mountain Elementary School

21615 38th Avenue East

School District

Bethel
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 September 13, 2020

My children came in the middle of the school year and the teachers were amazing at helping them integrate. The next year, was even better. COVID-19 happened and distance learning became the new thing, but teachers were open, honest, and communicative about the situation. As we start the next year distance learning, things were a tough start but they are committed to my kids.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2018

Shining Mountain and the entire bethel school district is one of the worst I have ever seen. In the 5 years of schooling here my children have had 1 great teacher a couple descent teachers and 1 very poor teacher! Bullying has been a constant issue. They have been on lock down more this year than anyone should ever be in their entire school career. I would strongly recommend staying away from the entire Bethel school district!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2017

I really love this school! The office staff is very helpful and welcoming. The Teachers and Administrators are good at communicating with parents.Excellent School!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2017

I have nothing but great things to say about Shining Mountain. Love it!!
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2015

I like the way they treat our children as they are always looking to involve parents to participate together with the school for the good of our children. Excellent school!.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015

I think every year, there is no way we can outdo the last teacher, they were so great. But it happens, every year. The entire staff of Shining Mountain is a family. Everyone that enters those doors is welcomed, cared about and receives an excellent education. The office ladies are amazing, always smiling and always able to answer any questions. The PTO is very active and does a wonderful job bridging the gap from parents to teachers and back. For a working parent this huge. I never feel out of the loop. Thank you Shining Mountain!
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2015

The school is very warm and welcoming! The teachers are always smiling and eager to help. The principal is very generous and caring. The staff are always on point and we appreciate that!
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2014

I have been a parent with at least 1 child in Shining Mountain for 8 yrs so far and have moved twice in that time but stayed inside the school boundary to keep my children in this Amazing school! All of my children exceed grade level and have never failed a state standard test. The building, teachers, Pta and parents are everything you could ever hope for in a community. The most amazing thing about Shining Mountain Staff/Volunteers is that they have become more then just the adults at my child's school they have become their family. They truly care about each and every child.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

I use to live in Monroe WA, and ever since we moved out here and I put my kid into this school I was so happy and thankful that we did. I love Shining Mountain, this is my sons 3rd year attending and we have loved every teacher he has had. I now have two kids attending and they both love it here.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

We are a military family and chose to put our son in Shining Mountain Elementary. We have only been a part of the Shining Mountain Family for just under a year now, but I love the school, the faculty, and the PTA. The principal is very interactive with parents. He is always outside before and after school. He makes sure to the greet the students and parents everyday. The teachers have been very understanding with my Soldier's deployment situation and have done an awesome job working with me through it. I have never had such a positive relationship with teachers than what I have experienced with the Shining Mountain faculty members. They are very understanding and more than willing to work with parents to create a positive learning environment for the students. I would recommend this school to any incoming military families.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

My daughter went to Shining Mountain for 6 years. They have an amazing PTA and support from the parents who volunteer. My daughter has some special needs and the social worker and principal made it their business to be closely involved in her welfare. They have good communication and truly care about the kids placed in their care everyday.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

Shining Mountain elementary. This is the 4th year that my son has attended this school. I must say that the PTA is amazing! They along with the teachers and the students have made this a great school. The amount of involvement that the give and include the parents in the everyday happenings ...words can not describe the impact they bestow upon the school. I would never consider another school for my son.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2014

Worst choice for my kids. We moved into the district from out of state. I have never seen such chaos in a school before. My kids seem to have "laid back" teachers. This has been awful for them. I have found ONE great teacher there! The PTA is a joke. Parents make the school, the lack of involvement from parents here is astonishing. The rudeness and glares we get on a daily basis is unbelievable. They have not been welcoming to us as a new family. I feel useless every time I volunteer to help with an event. I get stared at and ignored. I'm almost positive we are removing our children from this school and possibly the district next school year.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2013

Shining Mountain has very large class sizes (30+). At the begining of the school year it can take six weeks for them to make class adjustments causing stress on students that they move from one class to another. The principal as well as district administration tend to tell you what you want to hear, but don't back it up with any type of action. Parent involvement is horible although the PTA works hard to help. They also will not allow any student to ride their bike to school, even though there are 350 homes connected to the school via private roads, and they have a bike rack. The only thing I have seen good about this school is that they have a incredible brand new building and the PTA works very hard to help students.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2013

Muy buena formacion . Estoy contenta de que mi hijo este dentro de esta institucion pues a avanzado mucho ..y le doy las gracias a quien a colaborado con su educacion
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2012

Shining Mountain has the most involved staff my children have had the pleasure of being taught. The principal is also very involved with fire drills being more organized then I can ever remember even from my old schools growing up. The kids all are eager to get to class and my children are definitely no exception to that.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2012

Well to start with the PTA is amazing! Along with every single teacher. Shining Mountain really goes ABOVE and BEYOND and not just teaching our kids, but for anything! They are there for them with encouraging words or just someone to listen to our little ones when they need someone to talk to! Staff is always friendly and helpful! Wishing my boys don't grow up, or all the teachers/staff move with them (i.e middle school, high school)!
Submitted by teacher on April 24, 2012

Shining Mountain is a great school and has really made an effort the past few years to become even better. Recently recognized as a "no excuses university" school, it is showing improvement and that every class is making efforts to help ALL students succeed (no excuses!) we believe in academic excellence for all of our children and are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. I have worked in over five different area schools and I am so impressed with the commitment to the students that Shining Mountain has, I hope to be here for many more years!
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2011

I am so proud that my children go to Shining Mountain. The teachers are awesome at keeping communication open between home and school.My kids love their teachers and they WANT to go to school every day and are proud of what they learned. If my kids are excited to go to school and excited about what they are learning, this school and these teachers are doing something very right. I read below that it is hard to speak with the Principal. I disagree strongly. The Principal is outside saying goodbye to kids almost every day. I have seen her in classrooms and walking in the hallways and she is always friendly. I would say if it's hard to find time to talk to her, it is because she is busy doing her job and as a parent I appreciate that! For the parents who are complaining about the school, I would suggest talking to the teachers and staff at school. They can't help you feel more comfortable if you don't tell them your concerns.
Submitted by teacher on September 27, 2011

I really wish the person who posted about movies all day had contacted me, the teacher. Instead of there being a misunderstanding, I could help clarify what is happening. Students brought pg and g movies in for their lunch time only. So they watched a movie for about 15 minutes at a time during their lunch. That was the extent of the movie watching. The students were working throughout the day focused on the standards for 5th grade which we referenced regularly. I'm truly sorry that you felt like they did not work. Please, in the future no matter who the teacher is, ask questions to clarify for understanding.