Bright Horizons at The Highlands

Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. Yes, Bright Horizons at the Highlands is the most expensive full-​time learning center option in Issaquah, but it’s worth it. We had our daughter enrolled there from 5 months to 2 years 5 months when we then relocated to the Bay Area. We are now having a difficult time finding an acceptable preschool for our toddler because thanks to BH at the Highlands, our standards are incredibly high. Tiffany the director hires amazing teachers who make a point to get to know every child at the center. Starting in the infant program, you receive a weekly lesson plan of all the learning experiences your child will have while you are away. You receive daily newsletters talking about what the class did that day and each newsletter includes pictures of the children fully engaged in each lesson. From Domi in Infants, to Dana and Maddie in Toddlers, and Camille and Kaita in Twos, we could both go to work with the confidence that our child was happy, loved, well-​nourished, *and* getting a great early education on top of all that. In the kitchen, Chef Kim puts together a very nutritious breakfast, lunch, and TWO snacks — and it’s not the mac and cheese and goldfish crackers you see at other centers — this is wholesome and delicious food with organic milk and other ingredients used whenever possible. Where else can you find a room full of two-​year-​olds enjoying tofu and curry over rice noodles? Amazing.
If I had to improve anything, it would be the parking situation for pick up and drop off, make the classrooms a bit larger, and the playground a bit more exciting, but none of that makes a difference in the big picture. Just remember: you can’t put a price on your child’s happiness, safety, and education. We miss the school so much and we feel very lucky to have had our daughter there for 2 great years.

Bright Horizons at the Highlands is a very good school. We had our child here for more than a year, and were really impressed with a number of things.
Pros:
— Flexibility: As parents, we could pick up or drop off our kids any time; and, we didn’t need to make an appointment to visit our child or see the classroom. Not all schools offer this.
— Food: The chef here, Chef Kim, is AMAZING! She makes accommodations for all sorts of diets and her menus are impressive (hummus, caprese salad, roasted zucchini, etc.)
— Caring staff: I’ve been in contact with a number of the teachers, and all are genuine and loving. They have a sincere interest in caring for your child.
— Communication: The communication about your child’s day is outstanding. You never wonder what your child did that day. Daily newsletters are emailed, and in some classrooms, individualized reports go home.
— Operating hours: The center is open on days when most schools are closed, and the center’s hours of operation are very reasonable for working parents.
— Facility: Clean and new. Some rooms are very large — all the toys and materials are quite clean and state of the art.
— Academics: I felt there was a nice balance in this area — my child learned quite a bit and was able to get his hands on things, the themes were great, and there was also great teaching about how to treat others, manners, etc.
Cons:
— Cost: This is one of the most expensive schools in the area.
— Outdoor play area: This center is in an urban-​type setting, so I didn’t feel there was a lot of natural light (blocked by buildings), and the playground area was a little small and had simple play structures.
— Start-​up feel: There’s still a sense of «trial and error» at this center I feel. Moving kids or teachers up or over seems to happen as the need arises, making the classroom arrangements a little rocky at times. I felt my child had a few too many moves, and also too many students in his class. I also wasn’t totally convinced behavior problems were addressed early enough and/​or aggressively enough. You sign a waiver, and the other parents sign a waiver.
— Parent involvement opportunities: I either didn’t understand how I could be involved at the school, or there wasn’t enough communication about it. I also had heard the same from other parents. For me, there was confusion between going through my child’s teacher or being in the Parent Partnership Group for volunteer opportunities.
It is not an easy decision picking a school. We toured a large number of schools in the area and feel this school is one of the better ones — if you’re interested in a mix of academics and extracurricular for your child, this is a great place to be, if you can afford it.
It does not follow a school-​year-​type schedule as some other schools do (a 9 – 3 format, breaking for summer programs, etc.), so I feel it’s a strong mix of childcare (as compared to other schools) and school prep — both of which have their advantages and disadvantages.

Bright Horizons at The Highlands really is a good as it gets! To start the physical space is fantastic– they have an amazing center where the kids can explore and learn in a safe, clean and Green facility. From the toys to the computers to the delicious organic food that is served to the kids, everything is top notch. The staff and faculty are fantastic. The administration is caring and attentive and wonderful to work with and the teachers are kind, loving and engaging with the kids. My children have loved going to this school and always come home with great stories of wonderfully creative things they have done, adventures they have had and projects they have made. I highly recommend BH at the Highlands if you are looking for a fantastic place to bring your infant through school aged child.