I love Friends School. The atmosphere feels loving and genuine and I think they really have things…read moreright when it comes to developing the WHOLE child. I am so glad they exist!

The Best school ever I went to the school a couple years ago and all of the teachers are nice and…read moreall of the students are nice especially the science teacher EDDIE F

Used to be a great school. Always near the top in test scores, great teachers, wonderful community…read moreinvolvement. But this year a new sheriff rode into town. She's a first time principal and seems to feel a need to make her mark on a school that was superb before she arrived. First thing she did was to ban the annual dance because student's feelings might get hurt. We've been having the dance for years and I seriously doubt that anyone's feeling have gotten hurt. That's more a junior high and high school thing. Next she banned high fives and handshaking, again because people might get hurt. When I was in school we had classes in etiquette that included shaking hands, but I guess she feels she knows what's best for our children. Lately, she has removed the door between a busy hallway and the girls bathroom because of an act of vandalism. Apparently she feels that exposing a couple of hundred girls to the eyes of any passerby when they're in the bathroom is an appropriate punishment for an act of vandalism by one student. Group punishment rarely works - can only work if the group knows who the offender is - and should never be used to shame and embarrass children about using the bathroom. When asked about her decision she replied that she wasn't punishing anyone, she just removed the door. Looking for a great school? You're a few years too late for this one.

Very mid... This…read moreschool is very meh. The education is good but but all of the people there seem wacky. Not a huge fan of the crowd at CDH. They are very loud and cliquey. A lot of gossip and drama happens and it's a lot. But that's with any high school you go to.

We came here to help deliver meals on wheels on thanksgiving day…read more I think I would have loved being a HS student here. All stone and old unlike my mid 60's faux ranch style HS...

Best school ever When I started, I didn't know any English,…read morebut that school showed me all the English. I could get to pass middle school. It's the best elementary school in Saint Paul. It will always be in my heart.

I adore The Little School! My son has been going here for about 1.5 years, first in the older…read moretoddler room and now in the preschool. My 7 month old also just started in the infant room. The teachers here - and owner Erin! - are absolutely the warmest, kindest, and most genuine people. I'm constantly amazed at the creativity they put into each day for the kids: from building forts, to the dramatic play station, to themed crafts and working on letters and counting, they do such a wonderful job at providing an environment that is fun and safe. And the ratios! You truly can't beat them. The fact that there are only 3 (!) babies in their infant room and 4 toddlers in each group (younger and older) is something you just don't see anywhere else. I also love the parents here, several of whom have become "real life" friends! It's such a joy hearing all the stories of his day from my preschooler, it's obvious how much he loves his teachers and this school. Highly, highly, highly recommend!

The Little School came highly recommended from a close family member who had her two children…read moreattend. It seemed to be fate that there happened to be an opening that came up when my daughter turned two and a half, just in time to start the preschool program. The philosophy and teaching methods that this school bases itself upon are far superior from absolutely every other preschool that we looked in to. The staff consistently maintains an overall higher level of expectation for these kids. Which was so impressive to me because at such an impressionable age these young kids are being held accountable for themselves. They take such pride in the work that they accomplish either by themselves or in a group. They are respectful of not only the boundaries of their peers, but more importantly of themselves. As a result they are rewarded by having more freedom in their choices. From science lessons, to music class, yoga, art classes, dramatic play (my daughters fave!), weekly sharing day, to hearing what creative game they made up that day while playing outside. The amazing staff, conferences & daily progress reports, the ever so anticipated Halloween party, and sincerely wonderful families and parents, I could go on forever. Overall the three years at The Little School was a tremendously positive experience for our whole family. We now have a first grader who is reading at a fourth grade level with impressive comprehension skills. As well as going above and beyond her schools curriculum in math and science. I'm so proud of her, and I attribute so much of her early successes to her time at The Little School.

Attending a concert at this fine school I was deeply impressed with a tour and explanation of the…read moreprograms and achievements of this institution. In a beautiful setting in a scenic St Paul neighborhood there is a large parking lot with school next to the church. I have relations that attend this place and they are thriving. The music program, which I saw, is very professional providing a great variety of different music genres which surprised me. A jazzed up version of the Sesame Street theme would have Ella Fitzgerald beaming.

This church and school is tucked away on a side street in the heart of the Highland Park area in…read moreSaint Paul. They offer reconciliation before each daily mass , which is offered twice a day Monday through Friday. They have a vibrant community and plenty of activities for all age groups. If you are new to the area, this is a great community with lots of opportunities to meet good hearted people!

If you are a devout and doctrinaire member of the WELS, you will not agree with what I have to say…read morehere. Read it anyways. Opposing views aren't evil. Different isn't evil. I am a former student who was born and raised in the WELS. This school and the denomination (WELS) it is affiliated with are anti-gay. While attending SCLHS, despite multiple attempts to speak to administration, nothing was ever done about the pervasive anti-gay bullying here, to my knowledge. It certainly didn't get any better for me. Teachers and coaches didn't do much, if anything to discourage it. This was a decade ago, but based on conversations with other more recent students, I doubt much has changed in this respect. I also, during my time there, witnessed a student with special needs see those needs ignored. Instead, the administration and many teachers did little to find out how to reach him, how to teach to him, and how to educate fellow students on his difference. This student was bullied worse than I was. To my shame, I was a part of that bullying. I hope that they have learned since then that there are better ways to accomodate a student. I also hasten to point out that the bullying problems at this school are hardly unique to private schools or schools in general, but that does not absolve the administration and many of the teachers for their failure to provide a safe and effective learning environment free of harassment. I hope that this has changed, but if you are a parent of a child with special needs, TREAD CAREFULLY, do your homework, and don't accept basic assurances that your child's needs will be met. ASK FOR DETAILS AND A DETAILED PLAN BEFORE ENROLLING A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT HERE. DO NOT ENROLL LGBT CHILDREN HERE. It is also the policy of the denomination/school to teach Young Earth Creationism. This means that the school will not seriously credit any possibility that evolutionary sciences, astrophysical sciences, and geological sciences are correct about the origin of the solar system, the formation of the planet, and the course that life has taken to develop upon it are accurate. They favor instead the ancient writings of Middle Eastern nomads, treating them as divinely inspired and literal accounts of Earth's history. This is fine if your student want to be a pastor in the WELS or pursue a career in retail management or be an Army Officer, and the school has produced many excellent graduates who have gone on to do these things and more. Unfortunately your child(ren) will be presented with significant hurdles if they wish to have a career that requires knowledge of geology, natural history, anthropology, astrophysics, evolutionary biology (or even regular biology), advanced medical science, or any other field related to a science that this church school has deemed heretical. I'm still a Christian, by the way. I believe that God gave me a brain and meant for me to use the rational capacity contained within it to understand the world. It makes the world no less glorious to me that it has clockwork processes and laws and order and it makes life no less miraculous to see an evolutionary process bring function and beauty to chaos. It does, however, undermine the authoritarian view that the only true and correct way to read Scripture is the one adopted by the clergy of the WELS. And that is the biggest flaw within this school: THEY WILL NOT TEACH YOUR CHILD TO THINK CREATIVELY. THEY WILL NOT TEACH YOUR CHILD RESPECT DIFFERING OPINIONS OR VIEWS. THEY WILL NOT TEACH YOUR CHILD TOLERANCE FOR DIVERSITY. Lest you think my entire time at this school was a negative experience, I did enjoy parts of it. The music program was excellent and I had good instruction from many teachers, including in English and US History and various math classes. Much of that is tainted by the intolerance of the denomination and their generally hostile attitude towards "unrepentant sinners," but I have hope that some day even the WELS will see their error. Until then, in every aspect in which this school excels, I am hopeful that you can find a healthier environment for your child that will not teach them intolerance and self-righteousness, and will encourage them in Christian love. (The Catholic school De La Salle comes to mind as a better, if not perfect, alternative.) And please do note that I graduated with good marks, but that I am also (by the standards of the denomination) an "unrepentant sinner" who grew up in the WELS. Take what I have to say with that in mind, but also remember that the denomination claims to hate the sin and love the sinner. I assure you that it has been my experience that the "love" is only extended to the "repentant" and usually that's mixed with a high dose of shaming. (You don't even want to get me started on how they treated teen pregnancies while I was there. Reprehensible. Sexist. Not worth discussing.)

I couldn't be happier with this school and we agonized over our selection, four years ago. The…read morestudents and the staff are Excellent and teach morals and values as well as academics. My son is graduating in a couple months and we are going to miss this place!