Best school ever I want to I wish I was 16 again lol keep up the good work hillbilly'sread more

DCS has been the perfect place for my family. With space for children from nursery all the way to…read more12th grade, it's a place for children of any age to get plugged in. As an employee, I love that I am free to share my faith and I am surrounded by others who do the same.

My daughter started attending DCS last year in middle school. She had a hard time in public school…read moredue to all the negativity and such (cussing, fighting, etc). She has grown in many ways -- especially in her reading level as she has some issues with reading and has an IEP. Her teachers work with her and allow her to learn however best she learns -- which usually means turning tests into verbal tests. Because of this, she has gained so much confidence and actually is reading before bed now! She has also learned about the Bible and has grown emotionally due to chapels and character development.

Watkins is a great school. It has safe procedures in place for dropping students off and picking…read morethem up. The staff is quite young but they are obviously a team in the effort. The school hosts lots of events to include families like Breakfast&books, PBS kickoff, and an annual talent show. Communication between teachers, parents, and students is solid.

Pipkin itself is a good place. The principal (mr cox) is why it is so bad. As a student there for…read moreall 3 years of my middle school years (I'm a current freshman) the school itself is good, it's a bit dirty. Mr Cox pressures the students to make a better image of Pipkin and puts the blame of the bad reputation on the students. The IB program is good and they have good opportunities. The rules are a bit stupid, kids aren't allowed to have hoods or hats on, they can't have their phones on them, etc. When an incident happens between a student and a sub or even a teacher the teacher is always the one that is believed, if an incident between students happens the student who has the "good kid" rep is the one that's believed even if they are lying

Great place for kids to learn. The teachers go above and beyond to help the students.read more

Please read before enrolling your child…read more I attended this school in middle school for one semester, and it was one of the most disturbing and harmful environments I've ever been in. I've waited years to write this because I needed distance to truly understand how wrong it all was. But now, as an adult in college, I feel a responsibility to speak up -- for myself, and for any family considering this school. During my time there, I witnessed staff justifying slavery using religion (Mr. Arnold). I heard Black students referred to in dehumanizing, offensive ways (We were called blacks all of the time). These weren't slip-ups or ignorance -- they were intentional, repeated, and normalized by the culture of the school. I was a mixed-race student trying to survive in an environment where racism was brushed off and spiritual language was used to mask harm. Let me be clear: this didn't happen "nine years ago" like the school's Google response claimed. I transferred there six years ago, right after a family vacation, and I remember everything clearly. The school is lying to downplay the truth and discredit former students like me. That alone should raise concern. The physical environment was just as unsafe. The building had visible mold, and the facilities were unsanitary. It wasn't a place that felt safe, supported, or clean -- emotionally or physically. To the parents reading this: I know how hard it is to choose a school that feels right. But please don't let the word "Christian" blind you. What I experienced here was not Christ-like. It was damaging, dismissive, and deeply hypocritical. This school hurt me in ways I'm still unpacking. I would never send a child there. No one deserves to feel what I felt.

Heartbreaking how religion was used here…read more I attended this school briefly and I still think about how damaging it was. Not just because of what was said -- but because of the way it was said in the name of God. This school openly excluded and shamed people based on their beliefs. I specifically remember being told that "Catholics don't go to heaven." That moment stuck with me -- not just because it's wrong, but because it made me realize how twisted things were here. The leadership didn't just allow discrimination -- they taught it. Students of color were talked about in ways that were absolutely racist, and any concerns were dismissed. The environment didn't feel safe, spiritually or emotionally. It felt like control masked as Christianity. Even as a teenager, I knew something wasn't right. Years later, I still carry those memories, and I can't stay silent knowing other kids could be walking into the same experience. This school does not represent the love or compassion that faith is supposed to stand for. Parents, please look deeper. You deserve to know the truth.

The teachers, staff, and volunteers are amazing. They genuinely love and care for the students and…read moreas a parent we couldn't ask for anything more. Unfortunately, the current Principal Angela Stevens is not someone we trust with our child. If not for the love that the teachers have shown we would have already left. We are determined to finish the school year knowing that the teachers wouldn't let anything bad happen, and to ensure we don't interrupt our child's education but next year we will be at another school. In speaking with our child's teachers it's obvious we are not the only family with these concerns nor are we the first to voice our opinions. Unfortunately, it appears the school administration would rather keep an inept leader in place at the expense of everyone that walks through those doors each and every day.

July 2016. St. Joseph Catholic Academy is a treasure located in the downtown area of Springfield…read more The pre-K through 8th grade school has small class sizes, with a maximum of 16 students per grade. All the teachers are certified and experienced. My children have attended for years and I am extremely pleased at their progress. The students have physical education, computers, Spanish, public speaking, art, vocal and instrumental music. The religion education program is appropriate for most Christian traditions. There is a very high percentage of non-white students and 3 teachers from central and south America.The variable, income-based tuition rates make the education a great value. If you are looking for excellence, look no further.