Brighton School offers a private school education for students ages 3 through 8th grade, one of the most complete educational continuums available in the greater Seattle area, carrying children from their earliest preschool years through the pivotal transition to high school within a single, deeply connected school community.

Academic day hours at Brighton School are structured by grade level to reflect the developmental needs of each stage:

• Preschool: 8:50 am to 2:30 pm
• Kindergarten and 1st Grade: 8:25 am to 2:45 pm
• 2nd through 4th Grade: 8:10 am to 3:00 pm
• 5th through 8th Grade: 8:00 am to 3:10 pm

Extended hours are available from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm for families who need coverage beyond the standard academic day.

Brighton School maintains an average class size of 18 students school-wide, with ratios of 10 or smaller in preschool and Pre-K. In addition, every grade level is supported by at least one dedicated classroom aide, ensuring that individualized instruction is not the exception at Brighton, but the standard. These are not simply numbers. They are the structural commitment that makes it possible for every Brighton student to be genuinely known by the adults responsible for their growth.

Brighton School students take the CTP assessment and consistently score significantly above the state average and above students in nearby school districts. These outcomes are a reflection not of test preparation, but of the depth of academic engagement and individualized instruction that define the Brighton School experience every day.

Yes. Brighton School is fully accredited by Cognia, a nationally and internationally recognized accreditation body that holds schools to rigorous standards of academic quality, institutional excellence, and continuous improvement.

Lunch is available for purchase through our lunch program partner, Lunch Link. Families can download the Lunch Link app or create an account on their website to browse the menu and order meals for their student. We encourage families to explore the platform and take advantage of the convenience it offers.

Brighton logo wear is available through our PTO’s Brighton Gear sales, held twice a year. Ordering windows are announced via email. We encourage families to watch for those notifications and take the opportunity to show their Brighton pride.

Brighton School is located in Mountlake Terrace, approximately 15 minutes north of Seattle, and proudly serves families across a broad range of Snohomish County communities including Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Bothell, Woodway, Shoreline, Everett, Mukilteo, Lake Forest Park, Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish, Kenmore, and Woodinville.

If your child will be absent or arriving late, please send an email directly to their classroom teacher. We appreciate timely communication and will ensure that your child’s day is adjusted accordingly.

Full-day kindergarten creates something that cannot be compressed into a shorter day: the time and space for children to build the kinds of relationships that actually shape who they become. At Brighton School, that begins in kindergarten with Grandpals, a program in which students visit a local nursing home to sing, read, and share stories alongside residents who become genuine, meaningful connections in their lives. It also means joining a Family Group in kindergarten, a small, mixed-grade community that each student remains with from kindergarten all the way through 8th grade, creating bonds that deepen year after year across the entire span of a Brighton education. More time at Brighton in kindergarten is not simply more time learning. It is more time becoming.

At Brighton School, the benefits of private school are visible not in what is described in a brochure, but in what students actually do and remember for the rest of their lives. Third graders raise Pacific Northwest salmon from eggs, observe the full arc of their life cycle, and carry them to the river to be released into the wild. The Brighton FIERCE initiative builds character around six foundational traits: Fearlessness, Innovation, Enthusiasm, Responsibility, Compassion, and Enlightenment; values that are not posted on a wall but practiced in every classroom, every grade, every day. And every grade takes overnight trips to places like the San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier, because the Pacific Northwest is not a backdrop to a Brighton education, it is part of the curriculum. Explore more of what makes us unique on our Only At page.

Brighton School offers after-school clubs across the fall, winter, and spring. The full club catalog is available on our Before and After School page. For our middle school students, Brighton also offers a variety of athletic programs throughout the year. Please visit our Athletics page for current offerings, schedules, and how to get involved.

Parent involvement is a genuine and celebrated part of the Brighton School community. Classroom volunteering opportunities are available throughout the year. Our Parent Teacher Organization is also a meaningful avenue for involvement, bringing families together around school events, fundraising, and the kind of engaged community participation that makes Brighton feel like home. We welcome new families into that tradition from the very first day of enrollment.

Yes. Brighton School’s summer camp program offers a rich and varied experience designed to keep children learning, exploring, and enjoying their summer break in the fullest sense. We feature a range of activities across the camp season that reflect the curiosity and creativity at the heart of the Brighton experience. For schedules, activities, and enrollment information, please visit our Summer Camp page.

Yes. We are excited to welcome children from across the Washington community to our camps. Summer camps are open to all children regardless of Brighton enrollment. Holiday break camps may be reserved for currently enrolled students depending on availability. We encourage interested families to inquire early.

Brighton School offers something that no combination of programs can simply replicate: a coherent, deeply intentional educational community where academic excellence, character development, outdoor learning, and cross-grade relationships are not separate offerings but a single, unified vision of what school can be. We are proud to be recognized as one of the best private schools in Mountlake Terrace by Niche.

Brighton School in Mountlake Terrace is one of the greater Seattle area’s most distinctive whole-child educational environments, a school that develops academic excellence, personal character, creative thinking, communication, and the collaborative spirit required to thrive in any setting. Contact us to tour and see us in person!

Brighton School teachers are highly qualified educators who typically hold a Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, with many also possessing Master’s degrees in specialized areas like curriculum or subject-specific instruction.

Beyond their academic degrees, our educators are state-certified and licensed, bringing deep expertise in instructional practice and classroom management. To maintain our Cognia accreditation, teachers also participate in ongoing professional development, ensuring they remain at the forefront of student-centered learning and best practices.

Brighton School invests in its teachers’ growth through a dedicated commitment to professional development, instructional coaching, and collaborative support. Educators regularly participate in specialized training focused on high-impact practices, including differentiated instruction, student-centered learning, and project-based learning.

By providing the necessary time, resources, and coaching, the school ensures teachers can successfully integrate new strategies and technologies into their classrooms. This continuous investment is rooted in the belief that well-supported, lifelong learners are essential to maintaining a nurturing and innovative environment for our students.

Brighton School benefits from a stable and mission-driven faculty, with many educators choosing to remain for years because they are deeply aligned with our focus on diverse learners. While natural turnover occurs as staff members relocate or advance their careers, our robust induction and hiring processes ensure that new team members seamlessly integrate into our community. Our current teaching staff is comprised of second year teachers up to staff who have been at our school for 20+ years.

Brighton teachers are exceptional because they combine professional expertise with a deeply personalized, student-centered approach. As state-certified educators, they specialize in differentiated instruction and whole-child development, allowing them to adapt lessons to each student’s unique needs while maintaining high standards for growth.

What truly sets them apart is their focus on relationship-building. By creating classrooms where students feel known and emotionally supported, they establish the safety necessary for academic risk-taking. This responsive environment is sustained by a collaborative staff culture and continuous professional development, ensuring instruction remains engaging and effective across the entire K–8 journey.