Your Complete Guide to Bremerton Middle & High Schools: Programs, Ratings, and More

Choosing the right school in Bremerton isn’t just a checkbox, it shapes your child’s future.

With so many options across middle and high schools, parents often feel overwhelmed by websites that don’t open, outdated info, or missing details. That’s why we’ve done the research for you.

Below, you’ll find a complete breakdown of Bremerton’s middle and high schools, including Mountain View Middle School, West Hills STEM Academy, Bremerton High School, and Renaissance Alternative High.

From student–teacher ratios to after-school care and parent involvement, this guide brings all the key facts into one place, so you can make confident, informed decisions that fit your child’s unique needs.

Mountain View Middle School (Grades 6–8)

• Location & District: Situated at 2400 Perry Ave, Bremerton, WA 98310, part of the Bremerton School District .
• Enrollment & Staff: Approximately 811 students, with a student‑teacher ratio of roughly 17:1.
• Academic Performance:
  • Niche overall grade: C‑; Diversity rated A+; Teachers B‑.
  • Proficiency rates: only about 17% math and 31% reading proficiency on state tests US News.
  • U.S. News ranks it between #345–460 among Washington middle schools.
  • GreatSchools summary rating: 2/10, below average statewide.
• Curriculum & Programs:
  • Offers Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses, a STEM-focused curriculum for middle grades.
• School Culture & Activities:
  • Known for strong community traditions, awards night, band performances, grade-level career fairs, and the “Squire Players” drama club Mountain View Middle School.
• Overall Summary: MVMS serves a diverse student body with moderate academic outcomes. It provides some STEM-focused enrichment and rich extracurricular traditions but faces challenges in student proficiency.

Athletics & Sports (West Sound Olympic Middle School League)

• Offers competitive sports for Grades 6–8; 6th graders participate in all except football, which is limited to 7th/8th graders.
• Cut and no‑cut sports available. Students need an ASB card (~$25), registration via FinalForms, and a sports physical (every 24 months).
• Fall: Boys baseball, girls fastpitch, co‑ed track & field.
• Winter: Boys basketball, girls soccer; Winter 2: girls basketball and co‑ed wrestling.
• Spring: more track and field and baseball/fairplay activities.

Clubs & Activities

• Drama club called the Squire Players, which recently staged “The Trials of Alice in Wonderland” in the BHS Performing Arts Center.
• Other student groups include WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) leadership program, yearbook, ASB student government, and the Squire Store (school merchandise outlet).

After‑School Care & Support

• Offers before and after-school childcare programs through district childcare services listed under “Services & Support”.
• Students can ride the activity bus if they stay for athletics or after school clubs; volunteer opportunities for families exist too.

Parent & Community Engagement

• Hosts annual events like a Back‑to‑School Open House in early September and separate orientation events for incoming 6th graders via the WEB program, and parent‑family conferences in November / October.
• Uses ParentSquare, a platform for school‑family communication, volunteering info, newsletters, and district flyers (e.g. PeachJar).

West Hills STEM Academy (Pre‑K through 8; includes middle grades)

• Location & Structure: Located at 520 S. National Ave, Bremerton, WA, serves Pre‑K to 8th grade, including middle school grades 6–8, within the Bremerton School District as a K–8 STEM magnet school.
• Enrollment & Demographics:
  • Around 313–329 students; student‑teacher ratio ~12:1–14.6:1.
  • Very diverse: ~35% Hispanic, ~35% White, ~18% two or more races; ~72% qualify for free/reduced lunch.
• Academics & Ratings:
  • GreatSchools score: 3/10, below average for similar grade schools in WA.
  • SchoolDigger ranks it 1019/1168 statewide elementary schools (~12.8th percentile).
  • Test proficiency (2023‑24): about 28.2% ELA, 30.1% math, 35.7% science, well below district and state averages.
• STEM Focus:
  • Functions as a magnet STEM academy with a PreK–college STEM pipeline in partnership with Olympic College and Washington State University, aimed at early engineering and technology exposure.
  • Emphasizes hands-on experiences through PLTW and other projects. Parent reviews praise its inclusive environment and STEM-rich climate.
• Pathways:
  • Most graduates transition to Mountain View Middle School for grades 6–8 and later to Bremerton High School.

Enrichment & After‑School Programs

• Hosts summer camps (e.g. “Masterpiece Makers,” “Soccer MVPs”) as part of the Right At School enrichment provider, with full‑day and half‑day options, covering creative, fitness, academic and STEM‑driven activities.
• After school wraparound care through Right At School includes homework help, team sports, arts & crafts, leadership clubs, and community service projects such as “Right Club Gives Back” .

School Events & Parent Engagement

• Hosts a Back‑to‑School Meet‑the‑Teacher Carnival in early September, planned for September 2, 2025, at 4:30–6:30 PM.
• Communication primarily through ParentSquare, shared newsletters (“Griffin Gazette”), and district newsletters, used to share lost‑and‑found, calendar events, school updates.

STEM Environment & Facilities

• In 2016–17, the school added a new 14,000 sq ft STEM wing featuring flexible, project‑based spaces with garage‑style doors for hands‑on learning, among the first public STEM facilities west of Puget Sound.
• It operates as a PreK–8 STEM magnet in partnership with Olympic College and Washington State University, to support long‑term STEM pathways

Overall Summary: West Hills STEM Academy offers a STEM-based K–8 curriculum in a diverse setting, with small class sizes and a clear PreK‑college pipeline, but performance metrics lag statewide averages.

Bremerton High School (Grades 9–12)

• Location & District: Located at 1500 13th Street, Bremerton, WA 98337, operated by the Bremerton School District.
• Enrollment & Staff:
  • Enrollment: ~1,279 students (2023‑24).
  • Student‑teacher ratio: around 20–21:1.
• Academic Performance:
  • GreatSchools rating: 3/10, below average in the state.
  • Niche proficiency: ~20% math, 51% reading proficiency on state testing Niche.
  • US News includes it in their rankings, though details limited in summarized view US News.
• Curriculum & Opportunities:
  • Offers AP courses (e.g. Literature, Calculus, Biology, US/World History, Studio Art, Environmental Science, Psychology, Statistics) WikipediaGreatSchools.org.
  • Includes the Project Lead The Way STEM program.
• School History & Culture:
  • Founded in 1921. The current campus opened in 1988 at its original site.
  • Mascot: Knight; colors: Royal Blue & Gold, reflecting prior West/East high school legacies.
  • Notable alumni include Olympic swimmers Nathan Adrian, Tara & Dana Kirk; NBA player Marvin Williams; Congressman Norm Dicks; Bill Gates Sr.
  • Came to national attention via the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District Supreme Court case in 2022 over post‑game prayer rights Wikipedia.

Extracurricular & Athletics

• While detailed athletics listings weren’t directly captured, Bremerton High offers traditional high school sports as part of district athletics. Campus facilities like Memorial Stadium host events including graduation and community games.
• Students graduating often engage in Running Start, earning both high school diplomas and college credits at Olympic College, 15 students achieved this in May‑June 2025.

Academic & Co‑curricular Programs

• Hosts a broad offering of AP courses across STEM and humanities, and supports Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM pathways (covered earlier).
• Graduation ceremony held at the high school stadium, Class of 2025 had 229 graduates; 59% enrolled in college and awarded over $1.5M in first‑year scholarships (~$5M over four years).

Parent & Community Involvement

• Community celebrations include grad walk, graduation parade, and a public graduation ceremony, which families and community members can attend or view online

Overall Summary: As the main public high school in Bremerton, it serves a large student body and offers AP/STEM pathways, though overall academic proficiency remains below state averages. It features a rich alumni history and a strong community identity.

Renaissance Alternative High School (Grades 9–12)

• Location & District: Located at 3400 1st Street, Bremerton, WA 98312, part of the Bremerton School District.
• Enrollment & Staff:
  • Enrollment ranges between ~89–102 students; student‑teacher ratio approximately 15:1.
• School Purpose & Mission:
  • Designed as an alternative high school, providing a more flexible, supportive learning environment.
  • Emphasis on helping students build confidence, progress at individual pace, and graduate, especially for those who struggled in standard settings.
• Academic Performance & Reviews:
  • GreatSchools score: 1/10, significantly below average.
  • Niche reports reading proficiency of about 35%, though test data sparse.
  • Parent/teacher reviews highlight inclusive culture and responsive staff, e.g. “teachers are like family… treat you with respect and motivate everyone to succeed”.
• Culture & Outcomes:
  • Small-scale setting (~12 staff), with ~32 graduates in 2024, emphasizes values of inclusivity, responsibility, and excellence.
  • Offers autonomy in pacing, fewer formal dress codes, and supportive atmosphere.

School Climate & Events

• Graduation ceremony held June 6, 2025 at the Performing Arts Center for its 19-member Class of 2025, families invited and ceremony info posted online.
• Culture is characterized by close-knit support with small class sizes; staff and parents often commend its inclusive, respectful environment (per earlier data).

Supportive Programming & Flexibility

• Designed to help students who thrived less in traditional settings, with flexible pacing, small group settings, and individualized support.
• Provides opportunities for students to re-engage academically and emotionally, with values focused on responsibility, inclusivity, and empowerment (as earlier summarized).

Overall Summary: Renaissance offers an alternative diploma pathway for students needing smaller, flexible settings with individual pacing. It serves under‑performing students with a compassionate, supportive culture, though standardized academic outcomes remain low.

Summary Comparison Table

Final Observations

Educational Strengths: Bremerton High and Mountain View Middle both provide AP and STEM programming, while West Hills STEM Academy prioritizes early exposure to engineering and technology. Renaissance offers critical support to students needing alternative settings.

Areas of Concern: Across the board, academic proficiency rates are generally below state averages, particularly in math at all levels. West Hills and Renaissance show historically low performance measures.

Culture & Diversity: All schools reflect Bremerton’s diverse community; West Hills and Mountain View Middle receive high marks for diversity. Renaissance consistently receives positive feedback for its welcoming staff and student climate.

Pathways: Most students in West Hills feed into Mountain View Middle, then onward to Bremerton High, while Renaissance serves as an optional alternative high school for non-traditional learners.

Every family’s path is different, but when you know what each school offers, it’s easier to choose a place where your child can thrive.

Whether your student is passionate about STEM, needs a smaller learning environment, or wants access to early college credits, Bremerton and Kitsap County schools offer a wide range of opportunities.

And if you still have questions or want local insight, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you navigate the journey, with clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of Kitsap community.