Everyone I have encountered at Marian has been professional, pleasant, and truly interested in my…read morewell-being. This is exactly what a Catholic - Chrisitan experience should be. Keep it up Knights, you're doing a great job!

I live in Mishawaka and there is a box truck that belongs to Marion highschool parked in front of…read moremy house. I have kindly left a note asking them to please park on the other side of the street where there are no houses. They got the note and ignored it. Then I called the school and was routed to the cafeteria. Where a very rude woman told me that she's owned the house next door for 35 yrs and she can do whatever she wants. She has numerous people over all the time. They all park in front. There are very limited spots available and the house I live in has 4 apts. But we have only 2 spots available in front of the home. She does not care about being a good neighbor and she is very rude. If this is the type of person this highschool employs..., shame on them. So much for Christian values.

Following a thorough review of South Bend Junior Academy (SBJA), encompassing several in-person…read morevisits, classroom observations, and discussions with staff, I've compiled an objective analysis across key areas. **1. Religious Identity and Integration:** SBJA clearly prioritizes the integration of religious values throughout its curriculum and environment. Faculty and staff actively incorporate these principles in their interactions. We recommend considering how this aligns with your family's values and expectations for your child's spiritual growth. **2. Academic Quality and Academic Reputation:** My observations indicate some uncertainties regarding the school's current academic standing and reputation. While the curriculum's rigor and its alignment with our child's specific strengths and needs appear to be areas for consideration, the qualifications and professional development of the teaching staff should be carefully evaluated. The fact that the current principal also holds teaching responsibilities for kindergarten through third grade is noteworthy. Further examination of overall student academic outcomes and the breadth of enrichment programs (arts, athletics, afterschool programs, busing, hot lunch services, extracurricular activities), which seemed very limited beyond social and church-related events, is warranted. **3. School Culture and Environment:** The school aims to provide a caring, orderly, and safe environment. However, the comfort and support levels experienced by all students, particularly in relation to the student-teacher ratio per classroom, may require further inquiry. While there is a clear emphasis on child development, including spiritual and social well-being, the complete absence of on-site counselor, nurse, or psychoeducational services and paraeducators for student illnesses, injuries, bullying incidents, or specific learning or emotional needs is a point to consider. I did observe a positive level of diversity within the student body and staff, along with efforts to foster community. Teacher interaction with students and the general classroom atmosphere appeared somewhat constrained, potentially related to the teacher-to-student ratio across multiple grade levels in single classrooms. **4. Practical Considerations:** The perceived cost of tuition and associated fees seems relatively high compared to the perceived quality of the educational experience. The physical facilities, including classrooms, and athletic areas, appeared limited in capacity and adequacy. The school's location and accessibility are excellent for our family. The observed student-teacher ratio and class size suggest a potential negative impact on individualized attention and tailored learning. Based on comprehensive assessment, I have concluded that South Bend Junior Academy may not be the most suitable fit for our family at this time. While acknowledging that other parents may have different perspectives, my observations have led us to this decision. My review of the school's mission statement, brochures, and website suggests an institution that is still in a developmental phase and may require additional staffing to support its growth. Furthermore, my discussions with the principal regarding religious practices, academic programs, and overall philosophy indicate a potential strength in spiritually based devotional learning, but possibly less emphasis on certain Indiana state academic standards. The school's accreditation through the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), is based on "voluntary peer recognition" and "peer action," which involves evaluation and certification by peer institutions, with the aim of promoting quality and accountability. I have some reservations about relying solely on peer review for ensuring our child's academic success, as this system can be inconsistent and potentially subject to bias. I hope this review is useful and contributes fairly. My aim was to provide valuable insights that can be used for future improvements.

I love my school. Everyone is so fun and inviting and I learn a lot every day. Thank you Niles…read morestaff and students:)

Only reason I won't be completely honest and specific with with review is because I am almost…read morecertain the Niles faculty will cause even more issues for me as some kind of "revenge". Without putting my personal experience in too much, let me say things all students will experience. The school has a rodent problem. Multiple people, including staff, have found dead mice or rats in lockers. The school has also been redone in 2018, and faculty complains that it was done badly. Even basic features are messed up. The tile is off centered. The outlets by sinks are not water proofed, so they get ruined easily. The school set up is just strange. In some hallways, there is only a bathroom for one sex. The school has an attendance policy that can easily ruin your child's grade and definitely cause unneeded issues. Your child is allowed 5 absences a quarter. After that, every absence takes 5% off your grade. 5% is big, and niles wonders why 25% of their freshman were failing (according to the principal). Even if a parent calls in and/or the child has a doctors note, it doesn't matter. You can try to "appeal" the absence, but that basically never works. You can, however, serve detention to make it up. But detention makeup ends before the quarter/school year ends. The school is also not high in national or state rankings. The efficiency rate in English is only 60%, and math is only 30%. The high school also pushes New Tech severely. New tech is a form of learning where all work is done as group projects. That literally sounds like every child's nightmare. If you fail one class in new tech, you automatically fail two because the subjects are "bound". They don't educate children on their many other educational programs. They offer Andrews University (math and science, very competitive), SMC and LMC (college level classes at the campus), and early college (take classes at LMC and SMC, graduate a year later than you should with a degree). Multiple students have said the school counselors lie to them about these programs, saying "you're not allowed to do that", even though they have every right to participate. They also tell students they're not allowed to test out of classes, even though Michigan legally allows students to test out of any class. Many parents have expressed concern about this.

Upon pulling up I found that parking was a nightmare. However there were plenty of no parking…read moresigns. My class was set for 3:15pm, but I arrived 2:50pm, only to find the instructor was not there until about 3:10pm. Once everyone was in the doors were locked. The instructor was very friendly and asked if we had a music playlist or if she could play her own. She played her own which was pretty good. It was a mix of seductive dance music. All in all it was a good session and I would recommend this place for a safe environment and athletic fun. Once they get the parking situation fixed, they will be a four star recommendation easily.

This studio is so great. Friendly and knowledgeable instructors, the students are welcoming and fun…read moreas well. The studio is clean and a super inclusive environment. Open to anyone and everyone! 10/5 stars

I cannot write a more enthusiastic recommendation for Good Shepherd Montessori. All my children…read moreattend this school and beyond the hands-on learning of the Montessori method, this school instills a joy and love of learning that I am grateful for every single day. They believe in purposeful, engaged learning and to that end the children spend half a day every week on a local farm. They have a wonderful faith based component that encourages an individual exploration of faith. And having volunteered on a weekly basis i can say why absolute certainty this school can work wonders on children who struggle in other environments. It's not cheap but it's worth very penny and the school works hard to support families with more need. I would absolutely encourage you to learn more about the method itself but also this school.