Best In Class Education

This is our family’s third attempt at a tutoring for our now second grader, after failed attempts at Kumon and abacus classes. I figured I’d give it one more shot now that we recently moved from Bellevue to the Plateau/​Highlands area.
I purchased a bargain voucher for six sessions for one subject, admittedly not expecting much. (hint: their name ends with «on») Originally learned about this BIC location during kids’ swimming class when I saw a pair of third graders doing their BIC tutoring homework in the bleachers. When I ran into a former neighbor of mine on our second week, I knew I might be onto something.
The Issaquah location is open three times a week (Tue, Thur, Sun) and is managed by Mr Victor Ho. Victor also started a new Wednesday sessions at the EX3 Teen & Rec Center on the Samm. Plateau.
BIC «Enrichment Courses» are divided into English and Math subject. Each session is 75 minutes long for one subject. Victor Students seems to be grouped by age/​grade You have several students under the supervision of an adult teacher, and the students are expected to work on their own, «study hall» style, until they are stuck or otherwise have a question. Private tutoring this is not. Most of the hard work is at home, where the parents have to establish ad maintain a daily study routine for each kid.
I’ve also noticed lot of anxious parents prepping their 6 – 8 year olds for the Cogat and achievement exams (I’m no sure if the latter is ITBS or Stanford10). Basically it’s whatever BSD, ISD and LWSD are dishing out. I have no opinion on this particular offering, other than that it’s popular and probably worth checking out if that’s your focus.
Ultimately, what sets the Issaquah operation apart is the dedication and accessibility of the branch manager, who has been receptive to and patient with my many questions and concerns about our kids progress (or sometimes, the lack thereof). Victor has been willing to tweak things so we can emphasize topics where there are gaps in understanding or merely insufficient mastery. Vic is also eager to hear about any errors /​typos in the problem sets, as well as of any subpar tutoring sessions.
As you’d expect, the tutoring competition is stiff on the Eastside but they seem to be thriving. Don’t let their unassuming exterior and frankly, dingy interior fool you — what they save on rent /​furniture, they pass on the savings to you! (Seriously, BIC rates are lower than our previous tutoring programs.) This is a system that appears to be working for our children.