St Agatha's School

This is a great school if your public school is lacking in facilities and teacher expertise. If you come from a great school system, why spend the money on a school where the experienced teachers are retiring and the younger ones are seeking better paying positions and the chance to work with a principal who sees education as a team effort? This is what is going on at this school. The two resource room teachers have no background in identifying learning disabilities or dealing with learning difficulties. The afterschool program is expensive, and in a basement room of the school with old furniture that is never cleaned. The program makes more money than it expends and is not a line item in the school's yearly report so parents do not know how their money is being spent for their children. There is only one language taught, that being Spanish, where other schools offer this along with French and Latin. There is no band, chorus or drama taught as electives for middle schoolers. As for behavior issues, the kids with these are kept on as long as the tuition is being paid and it interferes with the learning process. It does have a wonderful English and math curriculum and a kindergarten program dedicated to the educational and emotional growth of the young child. Pros: Amazing teachers Cons: Not many extracurriculars, afterschool program mediocre more

The teachers are wonderful, hard working and love what they do. Great for younger grades, but the middle school has no electives like Chorus, Honors Art, Band and only one language offering. No advanced classes are offered, and those who are bright get bored. Teachers have to deal with discipline issues time and again. The afterschool program is ok, no gym time for exercise if it is being used for Bingo or basketball. The staff is kind and helpful to the kids. Pros: Wonderful teaching of values and morality Cons: Limited offerings in middle school more

This school needs change at the top like an old house needs a coat of fresh paint. The school is showing its age and has no room for modernization. There is no playground for the children to play that is grassy and comfortable, only a parking lot. The assistant to the principal is daughter in law of the secretary in the CCD program, the office secretary is the aunt to the afterschool program director, two of the afterschool staffers have no experience with children and are either related to a teacher or once again, related to another staff person. A subsitute teacher is the Principals niece. The only person in the afterschool program who is not related to someone has been there for a few years and knows each child by name and personality. I know of someone who has children in the program and feel more secure with her there than with the other two. The school has more out of parish minorities who are fleeing their school systems than in parish where the public schools are quite good. Pros: Great young, motivated teachers Cons: Principal hires relatives of older staff and her relatives more

This used to be a wonderful parochial school for the money, now it is outdated in facilities. There is a resource center, or Learning Center, but the staff is not SPED certified and gets pulled out to act as substitute teachers as needed. They do not have to follow state guidelines as they are a private school. There is a new computer center, but no library with books to take out. This room is not available after school for use. Students with behavior issues are not dealt with sufficiently, instead of being expelled, they are kept on to appease parents . The principal cares about the students and parents, but can be difficult to communicate with. The cafeteria is grimy and outdated. \r \r more

I loved this school when I visited, but was turned off by the Principal's cavalier and demeaning way with the staff. I heard her shouting at someone behind closed doors and the person coming out in tears. Other parents have said they have heard the same things going on. Some also said that there have been behavioral issues with some older students, but they are kept on at the school. Classrooms were cheery and the teachers are so nice as were the students we spoke to on our tour. Spanish is the only language offered the upper grades, no Latin like some of the other parochial schools. Love the uniforms, but the tuition out of parish was too steep for what you get. The afterschool rooms are in the basement and lack a cheery feel that makes kids feel welcome. Pros: Great teachers, wonderful education Cons: Teachers cannot teach students to think creatively more