Brownell-Talbot Schools in Omaha | Military Town Advisor

Posted: January 19, 2026

My experience at Brownell Talbot was deeply negative. The teachers, lower school counselor, and headmaster are inept, both emotionally and academically. The headmaster is cold, shows no care for students or teachers, and has allowed her own family to bully both staff and students. Her poor leadership and the resulting inequality and ill-treatment have driven away many families and staff.

I would have received a better education and been treated with more dignity at a public school. With decent leadership, this school could be much better. I do not recommend Brownell Talbot to any family looking for a positive academic and personal experience.

Posted: January 19, 2026

Posted: October 27, 2025

Im extremely disappointed with how the administration handles serious issues, especially when it comes to threats and safety concerns. Reports are often ignored or brushed off, and it feels like theres no real system in place to protect people or take complaints seriously. Communication is slow, accountability is lacking, and nothing ever seems to improve. Its frustrating and honestly concerning that something as serious as a threat isnt treated with urgency or respect. The administration really needs to step up and take responsibility before things get worse.

Posted: October 27, 2025

Posted: February 9, 2023

Brownell Talbot students are diverse, compassionate learners who come to school curious and prepared to learn. Our ninth grader and her classmates have access to the most talented educators and have benefitted from extraordinary academic, athletic, artistic, and interpersonal experiences. Exposure to different perspectives allows students to think both critically and creatively, while never losing sight of individual strengths and passions. At BROWNELL TALBOT, the educational environment, teachers, staff, and families all work together to form a vibrant community that provides students with the foundation necessary to become something bigger than themselves.
Nothing compares to the rich history and tradition of educational excellence weve experienced at Brownell Talbot. Tomorrows leaders and changemakers are made at Brownell Talbot. The schools unique culture and strong focus on excellence ensure every student is well-prepared for the next step in their academic careers. They also emerge confident and able to contribute richly to their own communities.
We love BT

Posted: February 8, 2023

Brownell is a small, loving environment. The staff is very friendly and the teachers are amazing. The class sizes are small so the students get lots of attention, one-on-one and hands on learning. The high school has a very challenging curriculum but my son was more than prepared for college.
The sense of community is very evident, high school students are buddied up with lower school students for reading or community projects. All grade levels participate in homecoming and halloween!

Posted: February 8, 2023

Posted: February 7, 2023

The teachers do a great job knowing my child and supporting them in ways that are well-tailored to their needs and strengths. For such a small, hands=-on environment, they also offer a lot of different options for students in terms of courses and extracurriculars.

Posted: February 7, 2023

We love Brownell Talbot. Every person at the school seems to know my child and almost every conversation starts with a genuine story about her that demonstrates to me they care for her a great deal. Her teachers are very good at connecting what's happening in the class to the bigger picture, explaining the why behind what they are doing. I value that the teachers are subject matter experts with dedicated teachers in science, World Languages, and guidance. There is a lot of emphasis on social emotional health, inclusion, and belonging. Because it's an independent school, it seems like they are more quick to address problems and make changes when they see an opportunity to improve. Icing on the cake - swimming is part of the PE curriculum.

Posted: February 7, 2023

Posted: February 6, 2023

Teachers here are not it, they act like children and the administration does nothing about it. extremely unprofessional and disrespectful. I would not recommend coming here as the teachers don't know when they have crossed the line. My child is not treated with respect by some of the teachers here as they gossip and also humiliate students in front of their peers as a power play. Some teachers are overly sensitive and complain to the students taking their anger out on them instead of going to the administration like an adult.

Posted: February 6, 2023

Posted: March 6, 2021

My children have attended BT for 6 and 7 years respectively. I couldn't have designed a more perfect environment for a child to learn, grown and explore their who they are as a person. The staff is full of highly-educated leaders with a knack for connecting with all kinds of people. The student body is culturally diverse and tremendously positive. The makeup and dynamics of my children's grades are quite different -- one being more mellow, supportive and cohesive and the other more competitive and driven. However, even the competitive group are kind children, good friends and come from families who are raising young people who serve others and care about their friends and community. The academic rigor is exactly what we wanted when we enrolled them. While it is difficult at times, the rewards are beyond anything we imagined possible in a regular American school setting. They are limited by nothing at this school. One way I know they are in the right place is that no matter what they try -- from band to sports to the school play, they are NOT AFRAID TO TRY. It's just the kind of place where they can put themselves out there without fear of being mocked by their peers or the adults around them. My children have tried lots of things they ultimately don't love, but I have no doubt the experiences were genuine and positive. This school is worth every penny in tuition and every sacrifice we have to make to write the checks.

Posted: March 6, 2021

Posted: November 22, 2019

My 3yo son started preschool at BT this year. Everything you already know about BTs reputation for academic excellence is true. But I have found BTs commitment to social-emotional development just as meaningful. For example, on our first day on campus my husband held the door for a group of upper school students. Each student looked my husband straight in the eye and confidently and politely said thank you. I visited 6 preschools before finding BT and it was obvious that Brownell Talbot was the best fit for our family. The sense of community at BT is something I did not anticipate going in, but now realize makes BT a very special place. All families have the opportunity to be engaged in the classroom, at activities and events, at PTA, and on school committees. You will get to know families with students at all grade levels. BT is a very special place and there are not words to truly thank the faculty and staff for their commitment to each family and every child.

Posted: November 22, 2019

Posted: March 19, 2019

This school was a mistake that cost a lot of money!

Posted: March 19, 2019

Posted: October 18, 2018

Unfortunately they did not live up to the hype. All four of my children left before graduating for various reasons - all related to problems with the leadership and teachers.

Posted: October 18, 2018

Heavy homework but it appears to be a way to make them seem like they are into education

Posted: October 18, 2018

All the good teachers and administrators have left.

Posted: October 18, 2018

Honestly, the worst administration ever. They do not listen to parents and protect certain students.

Posted: October 18, 2018

NO. Unless your child comes equipped to excel they are just lost in the shuffle.

Posted: October 18, 2018

Bullying is actually encouraged and rewarded. Even teachers bully certain students.

Posted: September 5, 2018

NO! If your child has special issues they expect you to pay for private tutors.

Posted: September 5, 2018

WORST PLACE in the world. Teachers turn the other way and even the parents get in on the bullying.

Posted: September 5, 2018

They took a big chunk of my child's time and a lot of cash and we were left to pick up the pieces. We have even been removed from their alumni and their publications because we spoke up. Pitiful.

Posted: September 5, 2018

Too much busy work. No substance. Teachers are only interested in the rich kids.

Posted: September 5, 2018

Their leadership has changed again and again over the years and all the good teachers left or were forced out.

Posted: January 24, 2017

I have a child in lower school and one in middle school. The education is top-notch, the teachers are dedicated, and the families are committed. The community feel is real, not just a marketing promise. Kids are encouraged to be who they are, whether that be an athlete or a mathlete. There is no pressure from the teaching staff, nor is the homework useless busywork. The comments regarding bullying are patently false. BT is an excellent school that offers opportunities unparalleled in any other school or district in Omaha.

Posted: January 24, 2017

An issue that one of my children had last year was resolved swiftly and definitively.

Posted: January 24, 2017

The headmaster is a thoughtful, well-educated, well-qualified, solutions-oriented leader who is respected by the staff.

Posted: January 24, 2017

Kids of all ages have a weekly guidance class as well as 9-week lunch bunch sessions in order to help develop the kids' emotional intelligence.

Posted: January 24, 2017

Teachers work to make our kids the best that they can be.

Posted: January 24, 2017

Posted: August 29, 2016

The only good part of this school is the teachers. Most are passionate about teaching and care about their students. The administration is far removed from what is really happening with their student body. The disparity is wide between what the school projects themselves to be and who they really are in the community. Of all the educational institutions that should be teaching emotional intelligence, this school should be on the top of the list. Brownell Talbot is too busy trying to spin how wonderful their community is when, in fact, their students are bullied, categorized, and isolated. They push their students too hard to perform so much so that the pressure causes a large majority to develop anxiety and suffer from stomach issues as early as first grade. By the time these students reach sixth grade, they are well versed in the art of cheating. The drug and alcohol problem is horrendous. Brownell Talbot touts that their students have the highest ACT/SAT scores compared to other private schools, but the fact is that there is no data reported to suggest that this is true. They tout that their students are widely accepted to Ivy League schools; however, this is false. In fact, if you throw enough money at them, your student can graduate with a "D" average, be given an award for some ridiculous category that means nothing, and be given a stellar recommendation letter so that he/she can actually be accepted to a sub-par college. The tuition is ludicrous. If your son/daughter attends all the way through high school, you can expect to pay as much as the cost of a four-year college education out-of-state. The teachers are paid less than any other school in the Omaha district. Until the administration is really interested in creating a safe environment for students to learn at a pace that leaves the student excited about learning instead of dreading the process, free from bullying by other students and takes an honest look at the heightened substance abuse issues, it is not worth the time or money to send your child to this school. With exception to the teachers in this school, Brownell Talbot is unworthy of holding a position of a great school in this community. Don't believe the hype and the status of this school. You will be disappointed. Do your family a favor and save the extra money for your child's college education.

Posted: August 29, 2016

The problem in this regard is that teachers are not sharing with one another the amount of homework each class is giving out. For example, it is not uncommon that a student will have 4 or more tests given on the same day.

Posted: August 29, 2016

One cannot promote honesty, integrity and fairness in students if the school's administration and board of directors lack the same qualities.

Posted: April 1, 2016

Brownell-Talbot has been my home ever since I was a toddler. Ive grown up in the small class sizes, the loving faculty and staffs arms, and have grown to love going to school. Yes it has had its bumps in the road, but with a new Head of School things are starting to look up! I enjoy the small class sizes and the relationships that form out of them. The teachers always make time to help with anything from school to personal life. The academic rigor puts public school to shame, and i felt more prepared for college my SOPHOMORE year of high school than my friends at public school felt their SENIOR year. The College Prep aspect has an amazing councilor, who works tirelessly to have each student ready when application season begins. The School is also taking leaps and bounds in technology, as our infrastructure and resources grow yearly. A huge robotics lab with 3-D Printers allows students to begin their adventure in creativity all the way down in Lower School. The school has often been known as a "rich preppy school for snobs", but this stereotype has been mostly washed away. The students who work the hardest are those who are lucky enough to get scholarship to this amazing school. Most students aim to go above and beyond anything previous classes have done. The competition pits classes against each other occasionally, but also creates a strong sense of school pride. So while the school does have its occasional flaws, the reviews here fail to capture the amazing experiences available at BT. - A lifelong Student

Posted: March 19, 2016

I have a daughter in the third grade with a severe, life threatening peanut allergy. The school promised me they were a peanut free zone but there is peanuts and peanut butter everywhere. When I complained I was told they can't police other parents. My child can die from this allergy. I am sure other children have the same severe allergy and a written policy is not enough.

Posted: December 9, 2015

My son has been a student at Brownell since he was a toddler. The teachers are dedicated and my son's classes are challenging with plenty of individual attention because of the small class sizes. Best money we have ever invested.

Posted: July 10, 2014

Notice how a large portion of the positive reviews were written about the same time in October 2013. The truth is that this school is a huge disappointment. The education is fine if your student is average or slightly above. The school does not have the resources for gifted students as they will lead you to believe. The athletics are substandard. Bullying is a big problem. There are some interesting families in the community, but the school is "run" by moms who are basically middle-aged mean girls. One of the worst examples of bad behavior was the BTPA President last year (2013-2014), which says a lot about the school's values. It is not even close to a straight path to the Ivy League as someone suggested. Just take a look at what colleges their graduates attend. The bottom line is that there are many other school options in town that will provide your child with a better education, better overall experience, and they will get into just as good (and probably better) college when they graduate.

Posted: May 18, 2014

This school used to be a great school, but in less than 2 years the new headmaster has destroyed the community and the integrity of the school with her unethical decisions and untruthful statements. There is no proper process for evaluation and at any time, for any reason (real or made up), faculty and staff members can have their contracts revoked. Since there is no union or advocate, faculty and staff members have no one to speak on their behalf. As one student recently said, "The teachers are why we come to this school." The community and sense of family and security has been destroyed. In less than 2 years, over 15 faculty and staff members have left or are leaving. Some have resigned because they can't work in the environment she has created, others did not receive a contract or had theirs revoked, and some were fired and escorted from campus immediately. Everyone else is living in fear and updating their resumes.

Posted: April 23, 2014

Brownell Talbot it a great a successful school. All kids have a phase/attitude in their middle school years. In public and private schools, it's going to be hard to send your kid to the perfect school. Brownell Talbot has everything to offer and knows how to give a great education. Just like any other school, Brownell Talbot has some non mature kids in middle school, but they will mature as they get older. The teachers are great and try to help the students as much as possible. I am so happy to have my 2 sons here. They love it and always tell me stories from school.

Posted: November 11, 2013

We currently have our 7th grade child attending Brownell, and our son graduated from brownell in 2013. Brownell has been the best thing we have done for our kids education. Our son that is now in college has stated that he has felt well prepared for college and he credits his education at Brownell for that. To us Brownell feels more like a family than just a school and our kids love it.

Posted: October 25, 2013

There is a terrible bullying problems to this school that is constantly overlooked, someone needs to address it. As soo a so it is addressed the school will be 5 stars for sure. The academics are very rigorous and challenging. Straight path to the ivy leagues but not without being bullied.

Posted: October 20, 2013

Great leadership, nice and profeesional teachers, smart and hard working students. small class size, over 80% studenst involved shcool actives. Highest acdamics standards Best shcool to send kids to the top colleges.

Posted: October 16, 2013

This school is a small, but competitive school. They include many options for fine arts, AP classes, and extra curricular activity. We are a small school and it's easier for teachers to concentrate on every student. If you need help with a class, then they will help you out right away. They want you to succeed. We also have a college counselor who tries her best to get you into the best college possible senior year. You have classes starting in 8th grade called college counseling where you learn about colleges. You also know almost everyone in your school since we are so small. It's easy to make friends and you don't have to worry about being popular or not. There are no groups/cliques, everyone includes everyone. We also have a house system (similar to Harry Potter) which I really enjoy. Freshmen year you are put into a house. It really helps you get closer with upperclassmen. I'm also in volleyball and we only have 11 girls on our team. It's really nice and enjoyable because you don't feel excluded.

Posted: October 16, 2013

As parents we are the people who have the primary responsibility to guide each of the children under our care from conception to commencement. We are truly blessed and assured that having our son attends Brownell-Talbott is one of the best decisions that we have made. We have already seen positive results of that decision. First and foremost our son understands how fortunate he is to have a trusted, proven academic curriculum, qualified and caring faculty, available in each and every classroom through- out the campus. We are truly satisfied and most excited about the far reaching effect that will be a positive impact on anyone, anywhere that a capable, caring, educated student can have for a lifetime. We are unable to come up with a downside to sending our son to Brownell-Talbott. He is our son but we have no doubt that he will provide warmth and light to all who cross his path.

Posted: October 15, 2013

We moved our two kids to Brownell-Talbot after becoming completely disillusioned and then finally disgusted with our highly rated public school system. We were stunned at how fast BT became a second home for our kids. They are both extremely challenged and highly engaged. They have developed study habits they never had before (and never really had to develop before), and they are outpacing their friends in the public school system. The focus on excellence permeates the school - being smart and doing well is the standard and the norm not the exception. The teachers are fantastic and our kid's new base of peers is just amazing. It's not cheap, but it's the best money we've ever spent and we'd move into a cardboard box if that's what it meant to keep our kids there.

Posted: October 14, 2013

BT is a wonderful school. He is excited to get up and go to school! It is a quality education impacting all fascists of his life. The teachers are wonderful!

Posted: October 14, 2013

I am both an alumnus of BT & a proud parent. The things I loved about it during my time there are still present for my children to enjoy. The student body is diverse both culturally and philosophically. They offer a quality faculty with a fantastic teacher:student ratio. In addition to the curriculum, there are many sports & extra-curricular activities and the smaller enrollment offers students the chance to try multiple endeavors instead of perhaps being forced to specialize. The school uniform is not overbearing and helps eliminate any social divisions by keeping expensive fashion statements out of the equation. In short, I enjoyed my experience there and am proud to have my children attending & see them doing the same.

Posted: October 14, 2013

Omaha does not have many quality schools to choose from so if parents can afford Brownell Talbot it is worth the investment.

Posted: October 14, 2013

We are in our third year at Brownell-Talbot School, and we absolutely love the school. From an academic perspective it is beyond what any of the other schools in Omaha offer; and from a community perspective it truly is like having a second family. Because we believe so strongly in the school, we support the school in a vareity of ways, including financial, volunteering, donations, etc.

Posted: October 14, 2013

Our daughter attends Jr Kindergarten at Brownell Talbot and it has been an amazing experience. The teachers are very supportive and understand her needs and thinking style. We know the parents and we were welcomed to the community right away. Our daughter is excited to go to school each day and we have seen her growth as she has begun to think critically through problems. We are very happy that we chose Bownell Talbot, we looked at public schools but it felt like a factory education. Our daughter is shy and it takes a bit for her warm up to others. I think that she would have been lost in a public school. The financial sacrifice has been worth it for our family.

Posted: October 13, 2013

My daughter WANTED to go here so badly. She was bored in public schools with no hope of any offerings of advanced classes. They welcomed her at Brownell -Talbot, both staff and students. She has made wonderful friends in the 1 1/2 years she has been there (not an easy feat when you are in high school) and most importantly for her is that she is challenged on a daily basis academically. My only regret is not being able to send all my children there. If only all schools were this good at what they do, we as a nation would not be lagging behind but charging ahead of the world once again !!

Posted: October 13, 2013

Brownell is a great place that allows students to grow and mature while remaining a part of one big family. I'll forever treasure my time at B-T. It's a nurturing and caring place that produces students of high-caliber, ready to make a difference in the world.

Posted: October 13, 2013

I appreciate the small class size and the challenging curriculum. I have seen many students graduate from B-T and go on to great college careers. The comment I hear most often from past grads and their parents is that they were so well prepared for the challenges of college.

Posted: August 29, 2013

PK, JK, K-12. Early childhood program starts for 3-year-olds (by July 31). The school has small class sizes elementary through high school. French and Spanish taught in elementary. Teachers are outstanding. Parents are very involved.

Posted: February 16, 2013

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.

Posted: September 5, 2012

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.

Posted: January 21, 2012

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.

Posted: May 1, 2011

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!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Cottonwood	Area of Town	Papillion	NE	7.3 mi
2	Papillion	Area of Town	Papillion	NE	8.5 mi
3	Shadow Lake	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Papillion	NE	9.8 mi

Brownell-Talbot Schools

Omaha, NE 68132

Refine Search

National Ad

Brownell-Talbot Schools

Omaha, NE 68132

Refine Search

National Ad

Email Address *

*We take your personal information very seriously and will never give it to a 3rd party. If you don't enjoy the email series, you can always unsubscribe at anytime.*

We take your personal information very seriously and will never give it to a 3rd party. If you don't enjoy the email series, you can always unsubscribe at anytime.