Brownell-Talbot Schools

I agree that this school is shockingly bad. There is a lot of bullying, and it is handled poorly. The academics are substandard, and they do not have a proper program for high ability learners. I regret all the time and money I wasted on this school. Be smarter than I was and send your child to Millard or Westside.
—Submitted by a parent

We switched to Brownell after I felt like my son was neglected in the public school. We are very happy with our decision, and so is he. The school is a great mix of kids- white, black, asian, indian with different religious beliefs. The teachers have expectations and give them a reasonable amount of homework. I absolutely love the fact that in 5th grade they have a different teacher for each subject, and he has a well equipped classroom for those subjects. Learning a foreign language is mandatory. They have PE every day, and swimming once a week. Through Veracross I can follow his grades, assignments.... Investing in my sons future through Brownell was the best decision.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school if you are a very smart person. I was recognized by the state for my academic achievements and i still find Brownell-Talbot as a challenge. However, I am also a very dedicated student athlete and the sports at this school are less than okay. People don't take sports seriously at all and it was a great disappointment to me. So I am now transferred to Millard North and I love it very much because the sports are great and the IB program is very rigorous. However, I really miss the small and traditional feel to the school. If you want to pay for a bubble to prevent your kids from bad things then come here, you won't be disappointed.

I'm a sixth grader at this school and I think it is just amazing. I went to 2 schools in India, but they were so horrible compared to BT that we moved back. The school has a strong focus on academics while still being good at sports. It's not like the snotty private schools on TV shows. It's also using state of the art technology like giving students email accounts, Veracross, Worplay.com, and individual domains. I also love that most of our computers are macs, so we get experiance with both major OSs.

It is a great school for education. It also has a very traditional feel to it. It is certainly among the top private schools in the region.
—Submitted by a parent

We gave our local public schools a really fair chance to educate our children and prepare them for the future. The experience became increasingly disappointing. They are simply too overwhelmed to give the individual attention and guidance necessary to help children succeed. Brownell-Talbot School has been an outstanding experience for our children. They are learning AND they are excited about learning, doing well, competing academically, in speech, in sports. They are meeting children from various ethnicities, religions, socio-economic backgrounds. They are benefitting from the most enthusiastic teachers, dedicated staff, an active parent-teacher association. We're just sorry we took so long to enroll our children here!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is shockingly bad! I discovered that more time was spent disciplining than educating the children. The education they did receive was substandard. I question why some of the teachers chose the teaching profession, they were so very inept. The attitude of the administration is appalling. Luckily, we have enough money that I can afford to pull my kids out mid-year. But I now realize that on the admission form the tuition refund insurance box to check is there for a reason.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent place for education, we are very happy with the academics and communication of the staff with parents
—Submitted by a parent

This is a college preparatory school that does MUCH more than preparing students to succeed in college. Brownell-Talbot teaches their students to succeed in LIFE.
—Submitted by a parent

Our experience with BT has been very positive. Our kids are encouraged to try new things, and take on leadership opportunities. The small class size is the main reason we chose Brownell. We are just starting the college application process, and are receiving a great deal of guidance. If you apply yourself, and follow the schools advice, this school will get you where you want to be.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a school where it is cool to be smart.. Students are constantly challenged to excel in academics as well as extra curricular activities. The faculty is dedicated to help and encourage students to succeed in anything they want to pursue. The students are very well prepared for college and to succeed in life. We definitely recommend this school for all grade levels.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have attended Brownell Talbot since pre-school and their experience has been very good. The small class sizes have allowed them to participate in multiple extra-cirricular activities and decide for themselves what activities they want to continue to pursue. Our kids are quite the opposite of one another yet Teachers' and Administrators' are able to motivate both of them in different ways to be no just good students but good people as well. The Brownell Talbot experience has prepared our childern for life after high school.
—Submitted by a parent

We started at Brownell-Talbot when my son was in 3rd grade. To be honest, I had my reservations about putting my son in a private school but was very disappointed with the Mc-Education he was receiving in the Millard School District. Not only was I pleasantly surprised by the diversity that Brownell-Talbot had to offer, I was very pleased with how the school offered various financial aid options. My son is about to enter the high school level at B-T and he has been involved in nearly every activity they have to offer. Because the school's primary focus is on college preparedness, he has already earned scholarship money for college from one of the various academic competitions he participated in. I am very grateful for the opportunities this school presents their students and for the well-rounded individuals that they help create. This is a GREAT school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was a great disappointment. We bought the hype about the rigorous academics and then when we moved our child to Westside, we found out after 4 years at B-T in elementary school he was behind on both math and reading. There were a lot of social problems at the school including bullying. Several of the teachers in the elementary we just awful and bordering on incompetent. This is a country club for rich kids. Save your money and go to Westside or Millard.
—Submitted by a parent

If you are financially well off and are looking for a school for your child to associate with other 'well to do' children, then B-T is the school for you. While it does provide rigorous academics, the economic disparity is quite evident throughout the school. Parental involvement in the school is high, especially by those who are 'financially secure'. I have taken my child out of this school and not only do I not regret it, I have found the public schools offer just as good an education where students do not develop an attitude of entitlement.
—Submitted by a parent

Brownell-Talbot School is a magnificent institution with a great legacy and superb current offerings in academics, sports, arts, drama, speech, college placement and nearly everyhthing else. The faculty are - with few exceptions - exceedingly dedicated and interested in the total growth of their charges. The atmosphere is intimate in part due to the pretty campus and, especially, the small scale of the school. Brownell has a wonderful quality of genuine diversity that draws from its Episcopal heritage but now extends a warm to scores of religions and all races. The legacy is unique and impressive. Founded before Nebraska became a state it was ' ... to assure the daughters of the pioneers a standard of education as is available on the East Coast ...'. Indeed, if this school were located in an eastern city it would not only be nationally famous but wildly over-subscribed - not to mention far, far more!
—Submitted by a parent

This school i have had troubles with, but the academics. The addmisstration can be disrespectful to children at this school. I have taken my child out of this school and do not regret it.
—Submitted by a parent

I had a fantastic experience at BT. Whether it's sports, play productions, journalism, or art, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. The great thing about Brownell being so small is that students can be involved in anything they want. Nobody gets turned down for sports or activities, there is always space. The best part of going to BT was definitely that I felt completely prepared to apply for college. Starting College Counseling in eighth grade may seem excessive, but it definitely helps. By the time I started filling out college applications the summer before my senior year, I already had a fantastic college essay written that had been proofed by two different teachers. College Counseling allowed me to keep (most of) my sanity during a very hectic senior year. Making the switch to BT was the greatest decision of my life.
—Submitted by a student

Fantastic school in all respects. We have had children attending for the last 14 years. Students leave with a great foundation, all attend college, all receive scholarships, and many are accepted into Ivy League and very competitive colleges. All students have the opportunity to participate in sports , music, and academic extra-curricular activities. School has won state championships in Speech and Academic Decathlon.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very good in the academics. Unfortunately some of their administration lacks the professionalism in social skills.