This review is a little long because I have a lot to say about this school. TL;DR -- lots of…read moreschools have great academics but not so great social environments. Saint Nicholas has top-ranking academics, sure, but, what my children learned about themselves and their peers, and how deeply their teachers cared about and fostered that, is what really made this school the very place for my 5 preschool through elementary children. To put this review in perspective: when I was a child, my family moved to Houston and surveyed top local private elementary schools to enroll me in. I attended one, then another top local private school. Both were academically quite excellent, completely in keeping with their reputations. Unfortunately they were also very cliquish, and because I was the new kid, it took quite a lot of time and effort to fit in, despite having experienced a very loving, inclusive, and thoroughly enjoyable social life at my previous schools. Looking back now, I can understand that the social environment was simply unhealthy at both these Houston private schools. In fact, though I loved learning, my ability to learn and thrive academically was severely compromised by the social situations at these schools. So here's my review of Saint Nicholas: when it came time for my own children to find a private preschool, kindergarten and elementary school to attend, I wasn't going to assume the social environment at a private school would be healthy, inclusive, loving, or provide a positive social foundation. And, though of course I wanted my children to have the very best educational foundation possible, to provide them with the greatest optionality for later educational and career choices, I also knew that the social and emotional environment at a school is equally important -- possibly even more important, because of the foundational nature of what a young child comes to learn about their own innate value as a human being by how others relate to them. I, and more importantly my children, found Saint Nicholas to be the same kind of positive, inclusive, encouraging environment that I had experienced myself at the private schools where I had thrived as a child. Classmates were friends. Positive and respectful interactions with classmates were expected, encouraged, and fostered. It's all about the teachers! The teachers at Saint Nicholas are actually aware of how the students interact, they actually care about this just as much as excellent teaching and excellent curriculum, and, they are very gifted at not only helping the students learn greater social skills, but inspiring them to want to. And these teachers have been at Saint Nicholas school for a long time. Saint Nicholas will probably show you their top-ranking academic test scores and student accomplishments, or maybe you'll hear anecdotal stories from other parents about how their child went from being behind academically, to being ahead academically in just one year. But that's not what mattered to me, and I don't think it happens just because of academic excellence. I certainly don't think high national test scores tell the whole or even the most important part of the story. I think what matters most about a school is what the child learns about themselves, and the value of every human being. At Saint Nicholas, my children learned that they were smart, capable, and valuable. They learned that they could thrive in both inter-dependent and independent endeavors. They learned that they were worthy of both respect for who they were, and being called into the greater self they were growing into. Again - it's all about the teachers. The school administration is capable enough, but I don't believe a school can administrate this. Saint Nicholas has somehow gathered and kept some truly phenomenal and caring teachers.

I just wanted to share that my daughter, thanks to the excellent instruction and personalized…read moreattention that she received at SNS, had absolutely no problem acing HISD's G&T testing this year in Kindergarten. She consistently gets top grades in her class, and we thank SNS for preparing her so well, academically and socially, in their pre-K programs. SNS transformed my shy little girl - who had spent the first years of her life at home during the pandemic - into a confident, smart little social butterfly. My son, attending SNS for summer camps, has also benefitted from SNS academically and socially. Being with slightly older classmates over the summers pushed him ahead of the curve, and he was popular among the younger kid crowd, as the older brother to my daughter. P.S. I believe first responders and BCM employees receive a discount on registration, and the school offers a sibling discount on tuition, as well. Cannot recommend this school enough!

This school is absolutely TERRIBLE. The children do not learn, and teachers are not certified! This…read moreschool needs a lot of fixing inside and out, missing sinks and restrooms, holes in the roof, and dirty! My child tells me that they are fights EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Also the average school grade is dropping at a rapid pace. THE FOOD IS HORRIFYING. My daughter tells me the milk is literally ice! and my son got strep throat from the hot dogs. But there is a amazing teacher miss rasmus who helped my daughter and son with their writing so much!! overall do not let your child attend this school.

My daughter attends this school and the crazy thing about it is they don't have a principal and…read morehave not had one for sometime now. They do not have a nurse, whenever the kids are not feeling good. They just ask the parents to come pick them up immediately. They do not have any kind of law-enforcement at this school. I've been hearing about multiple incidents where they have had to call the police and wait until they arrive to handle a situation that could have been resolved if they only had someone already there on campus. I do not feel like my child is safe there. They are very last minute with informing the parents about anything, most of the time they don't communicate at all.

Great school. Have not had any issues since my daughter has started there. Very happy with it.read more

FunDaMentals For Education os doing great things on this campus.read more

The best elementary school. I went to Mark Twain elementary school when I was a kid. The teachers…read moreand students are great and diverse.

I'm been going here since I was 4 years old the teachers not disrespecting there teaching us .read more

Fun Da Mentals for Education is doing great things on this campus.read more

I highly not recommend not to go to that school because when I went to that school as a student…read moresince 2012-15. As a kindergarten student my former teacher and favorited substitute teacher used to helped me a lot when I didn't understand nothing. When it was my 1st grade and 2nd grade year, I was diagnosed with ADHD and no body helped me to get through all these assignments on that time. Sometimes I got bullied by some students for no reason, and I tried to tell teachers, and P.E coach, they just don't even cared about me what they did to me. Especially P.E Coach was being rude and disrespected to me, I also asked my P.E Coach "What did I even do?" She yelled at me "Shush! Keep walking around the corner." So after I done with my 2nd grade year I finally moved out to different school campus. If I was there I would highly recommend to leave and never come back to that school ever again for good. I kinda missed my kindergarten year when they used to treat me fairly and well.

We love this school. Great vanguard program, great dual language and a good staff selection. One of…read morethe top 10 in HISD in my opinion.

This is my experience with Herod since they add this new Director. i been asking appointments with…read moreher( director) and never get responding from her since a year ago. always they said she is so busy. My son is on specials needs program ans he talks and i understand hows hard for them dealing only they were calling me for reports and demanding sign papers for get medicaid and services of course get money and every time i ask for homework some of the staffs tolds me no homework we dont send homework and if i dont speak laud they started at the beggining send and they stopped. this year i ask again over and over i been two weeks asking and not respond,seems like because i am hispanic andlooks we are not on the list of their preference only selecting their own race because it is true i cant ask this help for my son progress. my husband is paying kumon classes because i dont see progress neither here. my son is very smart but depends on teachers and staffs and parents i cant be begging and getting angry for everything. also i ask for the after classes information at the beggining of the year, they denied whole two weeks miss richard and gave to me last day of inscription. always she watch me like get out of here. this is my experience with herod

My daughter is now in her 4th year at St. Thomas - and over those years I have come to know several…read moreof the faculty and parents, including the headmaster, Michael Cusack. They truly have my respect, not only as teachers.. but as thinkers, innovators, and leaders in education. The curriculum is challenging and encourages an understanding of the liberal arts and sciences, balanced by the values of forgiveness, love, and understanding deeply rooted in Christian belief systems. Their Scottish Arts program is unbelievable to see and I am constantly amazed at the artistic abilities of the students who have been encouraged over the years by the school. My daughter, who deals with sensory issues that affect her learning, has always been treated with the utmost respect and has been encouraged to embrace new ideas while being challenged by proven methods of teaching that instill an understanding of the world around her while teaching her to effectively communicate those ideas. I am not an alumni and I was only aware of the school through long time friends. But, having faced the challenges of the current public school system with our oldest child, my wife and I came to believe that a private school was our only acceptable option for our youngest child (and any future children). We explored several private schools in Houston and decided on St. Thomas' based on a tour of the school and talking with faculty and others who knew of or had experienced the school. Also, I believe that the tuition is quite reasonable compared with other private schools in Houston that we considered. We intend to keep our 8 year old at St. Thomas' through 12th grade and we plan to send our 3 year old there as well when she reaches school age. I would also encourage any parents considering a private school education to meet with Mr. Cusack and the faculty and see it for yourself. I believe that you will like what you see.

My daughter attends school here. She is currently in 9th grade and as been attending since 4th…read moregrade. This school offers a great classical education to its students. The teachers are awesome and the administration is very helpful. They also have a Scottish Arts program which is excellent. The band is full of bagpipers and drums. There is also a Scottish dance program which has produced many U.S. champions. If you are around the Meyerland plaza area around 4pm you will hear the bagpipers practicing.

Amazing little school! They always have the coolest events and seem to have lots of involved…read moreparents/community. More importantly, the kids seem to love their school & teachers. This is the kind of elementary school you probably have envisioned for your kids to be in. Hopefully, they will be able to keep their "specialness" and autonomy in these trying unprecedented HISD times. Bravo to this school, its teachers, admin & staff. Great job!

This is the closest elementary school to me. They have 6 basketball goals. Two 10 feet goals that…read moreyou can play full court. There are also 4 smaller goals around 8 and a half feet. The goals are covered so it helps with the hot summer sun. There is full playground equipment for the kids, soccer goals, and a mini running trail. I come here pretty often just to shoot around. On Sundays, there's a group of adults that play here after church. The competition isn't great but a nice bunch and always welcoming.