My son just completed his ninth year at Holy Cross (K - 8) and if I had to go back, I would…read moreABSOLUTELY choose Holy Cross again. School: There were realistic ups and downs which you will find at any school (and in LIFE!) I loved my kid's classmates and teachers. The other parents are supportive. The school (and the parish) has a working-class vibe to it (more working-class, less country club), which I am VERY comfortable with, because I come from a family of teachers, police officers, & firefighters. The student body is diverse (the outgoing 8th grade class was ~30% children of color). Scouting and band are our two favorite extracurriculars! Academics are the focus of this school. I am a public school teacher in Champaign, and I feel like a lot my time and energy is focused on behavior issues (which, unfortunately, leaves less time for teaching and learning). The kids at Holy Cross are still "squirrels" but they are not running the show. The Parish too... The biggest plus is that the whole family is now a part of a greater, Christ-centered community. We are a mixed-family: one protestant, 2 Catholics. We are known and loved, through our child, and through fun volunteer work for the school and the parish. It's actually changed my life for the better. When my kid was in Kindergarten I was a Catholic by name-only, and pretty-much living my life as an atheist. Without anybody hounding or harassing me, just by attending Mass and learning how to pray I've willingly come back into full communion with the church... and it's better than ANYTHING. (If you're on the fence, church is not about rules... it's about love and worship). Come on in! And make sure you volunteer for all the stuff... working together makes it feel like you're part of the family. : )

Bullying, racism, and even online harassment were often ignored, and it felt like little was done…read moreto protect students. While some teachers were great, others came across as unfair or disrespectful. The school clearly prioritizes the preschool and elementary grades over the middle school. Middle schoolers spend almost the entire day on Chromebooks but get old hand-me-down devices from the elementary students, who barely use them. There were also very few activities or privileges for middle schoolers, making us feel overlooked. The cafeteria was another issue. Finding hair in the food happened more than once, which was concerning. Overall, I hope the school starts taking student concerns, bullying, and fairness more seriously.

Some of the staff goes above and beyond! Wendy is someone I can trust and count on, DeeDees food is…read morethe reason my kids go to school most of the time. The two teachers, Carly & Ritz, are super helpful!

This is where I went to elementary school a few years ago. Okay... maybe more than a few years ago…read more This review is more about the outside of the school, including the baseball diamonds, playground and the basketball courts than the education I received while I was a student. It's a small school located on the southeastern edge of Montgomery County. School looks pretty much the same as it did when I was there except the trees have gotten a little bigger and the playground equipment has gotten smaller and "safer". No more metal and wood jungle gym or brown curly slide. Nope.. that's too dangerous for the kids today. It's been replaced with plastic equipment that seems tiny. I stopped by because I wanted a large space to practice drone flying in case I crashed, and the baseball diamonds at my old school always seem appropriate. The grounds have been updated and appear much nicer now.. electric scoreboards, announcer stand with speakers, electricity in the dugouts, etc. Lots of room for people to hang out and watch a game on the main diamond, and still an extra one in the back that the well-worn track runs around. It's a bit of a drive from Indy, but if the weather is nice, this is a peaceful place for a picnic (during the summertime when school is out, of course) or to practice flying your drone.

Stale limited curriculum that teaches to the middle. Uninspired teachers who are minions to the…read morezero-personality principal.The place operates more like a minimum security prison rather than an environment to foster creativity, talent development and academic achievement. Oh, and the parents! Lots of snotty little soccer mom cliques here. Many don't even make eye contact if you are not in the "group." For being a Catholic school, you would think the environment would be welcoming and supportive. Quite the contrary. It is isolating and lacks all signs of inclusivness and hospitality. Because the office staff are kind and caring with the students, two stars are warranted.

From the owner: St. Matthew Catholic Church in Champaign, Illinois is here to help all of Christ's children know,…read morelove and serve God and the community. We offer masses, devotions, ministries, programs and organizations for you to enjoy and share with others. Our ministries and programs include:Religious education Continuing Catholic Development (CCD) Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Liturgy and pastoral care Social programs for youths and adults Kindergarten through eighth grade parochial school Please be sure to see our schedule tab for information about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and our Masses. Guests and visitors are always welcome to join us. Our goal is to educate and inform our children and all members of our congregation about how to know, love, and serve God.Please call us today to learn more about all our wonderful services.