Baton Rouge International School

BRIS is an INTERNATIONAL BACCUALAURE PROGRAMME (ibo.org) accredited school. The students test several grades above level. IOWA test scores are posted in the lobby! The principal and teachers have an open door policy and respond quickly to concerns. Our second grader and Pre-K children are flourishing in math, science and music, in addition to fluency in English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. There is homework and there are fundraising obligations. All are manageable. You are getting a $25,000 a year education for about $8,000. A small price to pay to give your children the world. This is an education for both students and parents.
--Submitted by a parent

Sending our child to BRIS was one of the best decisions we made. The school offers outstanding curriculum in 4 languages, the teachers are always supportive and go out of the way to help the children learn and succeed. My child looks forward to going to school every day and performs two years above the grade level.
--Submitted by a parent

EXCELLENT SCHOOL! I am a teacher at Baton Rouge International School and I love it! All teachers must be certified, unlike some private schools. The school has a wonderful positive atmosphere. The teachers are welcoming and always happy. The students are brilliant due to their one on one time with teachers.My biggest class has only 17 students. The students test scores on standardized testing are some of the highest in country. If foreign language is important to you and you want your child to be in an atmosphere where they can be an individual without being teased or bullied, this is the school for you. At BRIS the teachers and staff make sure students get an individualized education. Hands down BRIS is the best private school in the Baton Rouge area.
--Submitted by a teacher

I am a parent at the Baton Rouge International School since 2008. My daughter loves the school and her teachers. The nurturing, loving and safe environments are beyond our expectations. Our family is treated with respect and dignity on a daily basis. We consider ourselves partners in the educational process of our little angel because it is our responsibility to do so. There is a mutual feeling of trust and respect between parents and teachers and it helped build a lasting positive relationship between us. I honestly think there is nothing comparable to this education in Baton Rouge and beyond.
--Submitted by a parent

BRIS promises, promises, yet never delivers, no matter how long you wait. The teachers do not communicate well with one another or with the parents, so my child frequently ended up with multiple tests on one day, in addition to the already overbearing homework load. Gripes or concerns are met with scoffs and uncaring attitudes. We gave the school lots of money and many years, and all what we have in return is a child who doesn't believe in himself and a whole lot of excuses from the staff. I actually feel guilty for bringing my child there and keeping him there for so long -- and we paid dearly for this luxury! Thousands and thousands!
--Submitted by a parent

EXCELLENT SCHOOL! I wanted to start off with how I really feel. If you looking at private schools and you believe that languages other than English is important then you have come to the correct school. The school staff are not "certified" in languages they lived the languages from around the world and bring their culture to Baton Rouge. I have yet come across a certification for that. EVERYONE at this school are TOTALLY dedicated to teaching and caring about the students, each and every one. I have one child at this wonderful school and could not be happier. This school is for people that want their child to be a future leader. This requires teaching independence early and coaching excellence, in a supportive environment. Take a look at the Iowa test scores. WOW! The head of school is world class! If you are reading this and truly care about your child's education then visit this school, talk to the parents that have children here. (Parents beware that this school has culture and is very diverse, just like the real world.) Kris Hutchinson
--Submitted by a parent

I was shocked when I found a little girl, maybe 2 years old, who left school via an unlocked gate. She was in the area where cars pull up for drop off (by the gate farther from front door, at end of playground). I was even more shocked when I brought her inside and they didn't even know she was missing. I was so scared as she could have been abducted by a pedophile, hit by a car or wandered even further and drowned. When I then told my girl's teachers what happened I was treated in a hostile manner. I was already unhappy as I heard my girl's teacher yell at the kids before and my girl would always complain about being beat up on by a boy at school. This time I really saw not only how they neglected a child but didn't seem to care about safety at all. I had to pull my girl out of ELIC immediately as I lost faith in the school and they yelled at me and treated my like garbage. My girl is so happy at her new school and is not beat up on. She says that her new teachers are happy and don't yell like at BRIS. And I drop her off knowing she won't leave school on her own because her teachers actually care and watch the children. Shame on BRIS.
--Submitted by a parent

have known about this school for years. Early on the parents ran a once a week math club for the 5 - 8 year old kids to play a math ed game my company makes. Their 5 year old students could work with negative numbers, variable, solve word problems and construct and evaluate (simple) algebraic expressions. My 4 year old grandson has been a student there since he was 6 months old and is taught in Spanish and French on alternate days. He is not yet in their Mandarin class. The recent studies of the effect of being multilingual on learning, cognition and long-term memory predict a lifelong befit for him. No amount of technology can provide this. I have visited the school several times and have never seen the teachers be anything but good-humored, concerned and caring. Carter Waid, PhD

I am shocked at some of the negative reviews on this board and cannot believe they come from parents of BRIS students! The faculty, staff, and fellow parents are always warm and welcoming. There are numerous sports programs for the students. Most importantly of all, BRIS's foreign language immersion program is the only one offered between Houston and Atlanta. The education at BRIS is superior to most other private options in the area. As the school continues to grow and develop, I have no doubt it will be THE best and most coveted acedemic program in Baton Rouge. To be fair, the facilities do leave much to be desired...but, this school is only 11 years old and is already embarking on a master expansion plan to bring the campus up to date. Bottom line, I wouldn't consider sending my elementary-aged son to another school.
--Submitted by a parent

The below review bothers me. We do have technology in the classrooms and all students K and up go to technology class each week. We do have sports: on campus Fall and Spring soccer, basketball, off campus tennis and golf. We also have a drama, choir, chess, and gymnastics club. We are starting phase one of our beautiful master plan. That will leave us with wonderful buildings. We are in our infancy and t-buildings do not reduce our children's education. The are learning English, Spanish, French, and Chinese. They are offered piano, violin, and ballet. I think anyone who does not visit for themselves and get involved with the current parents is really missing out.
--Submitted by a teacher