Bright Horizons at Mercer Island

Center · Mercer Island · 9555 SE 36th St

What kind of place is this?

Size 199 children licensed Larger than the middle half of Seattle centers, where the middle half licenses 43–121. Measured across 576 Seattle centers, 2026-08-17.

Who runs it

Chain Bright Horizons
Owner Public shareholders (NYSE: BFAM) Public company, NYSE: BFAM (SEC reporting; CIK 0001437578). sec.gov

Bright Horizons runs 27 licensed locations in Seattle.

Will it fit our family?

Days / week 5

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Early Achievers Enrolled
License status Active

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
August 27, 2025
On file
3 visits since January 2024 — 1 cited nothing
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
Immediate4) a wading pool was seen set up with some standing water in it and several plastic animals. 7)A blow up pool and a blue tub were seen with standing water in them. Dispute Description: 110-300-0175 (4) wading pool The center does not use a wading pool for water play purposes. There was a family event on Friday evening where toys were placed in the pool (without water). It rained over the weekend and licensing came for an inspection on Monday. We hadn’t had an opportunity to clean that playground area and it had not been used by children. 110-300-0175 (4) wading pool The center does not use a wading pool for water play purposes. There was a family event on Friday evening where toys were placed in the pool (without water). It rained over the weekend and licensing came for an inspection on Monday. We hadn’t had an opportunity to clean that playground area and it had not been used by children. · August 19, 2024

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Aug 2025 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)
Aug 2024 Licensing visit 5 findings

Licensing visit · August 19, 2024

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(8) · Short Term

CCB for BH The certificate was available in the employees file. The center had previously reached out about adding it to the employee’s merit profile and it was not completed. 110-300-0106(3) CCB for BH The certificate was available in the employees file. The center had previously reached out about adding it to the employee’s merit profile and it was not completed.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(3)(g) · Short Term

2c) walking ropes are seen dangling in several classrooms accessible to the children. music ribbons were seen in a basket next to the head of a child during nap time. Several cords were seen dangling from the wall, near children napping. 3g) a garbage can outside was seen with a cracked lid. Handles on a cabinet and drawers in a classroom were observed near the diapering area. The collapseable tunnel was seen with rips and exposed wire. Outside a pad around the umbrella was seen to be ripped. A couch and chair were seen to have rips or peeling surfaces of their material. The fall pads at the rock climbing wall are worn on the edges and corners creating holes in the material. 5d) most classrooms were seen to have outlet extenders at the teacher counters where many items were plugged into one outlet, not directly into the outlet itself. Dispute Description: 110-300-0165 (3)(g) walking ropes & musical ribbons The walking ropes and musical ribbons are used under adult supervision. The cord seen is for a smart board and is tucked securely behind the board, it had come slightly loose but was easily put back in place. 110-300-0165 (3)(g) walking ropes & musical ribbons The walking ropes and musical ribbons are used under adult supervision. The cord seen is for a smart board and is tucked securely behind the board, it had come slightly loose but was easily put back in place.

Water hazards and swimming pools

WAC 110-300-0175(4) · Immediate

4) a wading pool was seen set up with some standing water in it and several plastic animals. 7)A blow up pool and a blue tub were seen with standing water in them. Dispute Description: 110-300-0175 (4) wading pool The center does not use a wading pool for water play purposes. There was a family event on Friday evening where toys were placed in the pool (without water). It rained over the weekend and licensing came for an inspection on Monday. We hadn’t had an opportunity to clean that playground area and it had not been used by children. 110-300-0175 (4) wading pool The center does not use a wading pool for water play purposes. There was a family event on Friday evening where toys were placed in the pool (without water). It rained over the weekend and licensing came for an inspection on Monday. We hadn’t had an opportunity to clean that playground area and it had not been used by children.

Safe food practices

WAC 110-300-0197(4) · Short Term

3) a bottle of terriyaki sauce was seen on a shelf with other bottles of the sauce. But this bottle was mostly consumed with about an inch of sauce remaining. The cap to the bottle was removed. The bottle clearly said to keep refrigerated after opening. The bottle was room temperature to the touch. It was not used for any meals this day. 4) a bag of cereal was not in the manufacturer packaging to reflect proper labeling with dates.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious

1a) Cleaners were seen stored under a sink in a classroom that was not locked or made inaccessible to children. 2ab) Many classrooms are being used for storage as they are not in use currently. Dishwasher detergent was seen sitting out on a counter in one of these classrooms. The storage classrooms are not made inaccessible to children, preventing their access. Dispute Description: 110-300-0260 (1)(a) cleaners in closed classroom These classroom doors are kept closed and there is signage telling individuals that the room is closed and that they need to seek a member of the leadership team for access. 110-300-0260 (1)(a) cleaners in closed classroom These classroom doors are kept closed and there is signage telling individuals that the room is closed and that they need to seek a member of the leadership team for access.

Report (PDF)

Jan 2024 Licensing visit 4 findings

Licensing visit · January 10, 2024

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(2) / 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

Provider needs to arrange a training from parents of NB, DL, and HN for staff on medication administration. SM allergic to peanuts and kiwi- no subsititute foods listed on the individual care plan, missing staff signatures for medication training. HN-no individula care plan for dairy allergy.

First-aid—CPR certification and supplies

WAC 110-300-0230(2)(b) · Serious

Emergency bag with containing a 1st Aid Kit accessible to children in the playground area.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

Dishwashing liquid accessible to children under the sink in Toddler 2 classroom.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) / 110-300-0106(8) · Serious / Short Term

Staff MP, ED, and KB have expried CPR/1st Aid trainings. Staff MP, ED, KB employed over 3 months. Missing CORE training. Program director, SV, has expried safe sleep training.

Report (PDF)

Before you tour

Bright Horizons at Mercer Island hasn’t published

Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

Ask what changed after the six findings Washington DCYF ranked Immediate or Serious, most recently in August 2024.It does not publish whether a finding was fixed. The rest carry its lower risk levels.

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.

Who runs it

  • Owner — Checked September 2026 · sec.gov

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, schedule, holiday closures.

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run Bright Horizons at Mercer Island? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.