i walked in this church and you can feel the toxic in there....They have security day and night…read more there's a black short man with glasses i was in there praying and the security bangs on the bench thinking i was sleeping i guess kind of threw me off and made me upset a bit not only that he threatened me as well i guess he got upset that i checked him umm idk that's not apropriate behavior for a security guard....definitely not church welcoming i hope you guys do shut down just like there school did.

My son is graduating this year from St. Stan's. We just love the school, faculty, the programs they…read morehave, etc. it feels like being a big family.I love the fact that the students go to mass every Sunday. The o Lu thin I would love to see is more confession days for students. May be once a month. Thank you so much to the principal, teachers, and staff that work very hard for our students. Thank you Father Anthony for inspiring students and for all you do for them. Recommended 100%

I could not imagine going to a better school. I attended HCA from kindergarten through second grade…read moreand later returned for seventh grade and graduated from high school. If you are looking for a school where your child is not just a number, but a special individual then look no further. The teachers care about every student as if they were their own. I truly believe this school helped shape me into who I am today, not only professionally but also spiritually. If you are on a search for your child's schooling, please do yourself a favor and take some time to meet with someone at HCA. It could be exactly what you are looking for.

My children have attended HCA for several years. I love the sweet, family atmosphere and the…read morecommitment to academic excellence. The teachers and administrators truly care for my kids and they work hard to make sure they succeed. Each year my kids score at least one year ahead of their grade level, as do most students. The tuition is comparable to other private schools its size, and I am pleased with the friends and relationships my children have made. I'm grateful my children are able to be in such a great learning environment everyday.

I've had children at St. Clement for 10 years and cannot say enough wonderful things about the…read moreeducation and community. The teachers and staff are exceptional--meeting each of our three very different children where they are and helping them grow as individuals. For a small school, St. Clement offers an incredible range of sports, music, and clubs. Our oldest graduated fully prepared for high school with a true love of learning and a strong sense of self. We couldn't ask for more from a grade school.

All four of my children have been enrolled here for over 7 years. This school has been an…read moreincredible community for our family the entire time. St. Clement has a true family feel. The teachers are supportive, dedicated, and genuinely care about each child's growth. Academics are strong and do an excellent job preparing students for the very competitive Chicago high school environment. We feel lucky to be part of such a warm, engaged, and high-quality school community and highly recommend St. Clement to any family looking for both academic excellence and strong values.

As a former student, There are good and bad things about…read morethe school and parish. Pros: School and parish have lots of fun activities, examples being: carnival, sports, theater, Vacation Bible Camp, fish fry There are devout Catholics, with school Masses prayed each week and many more Catholic devotions. Most of the teachers will want to inspire your student to be a better version of themselves. The teachers usually listen to parent complaints and try to stop bullies, The teachers usually get along with the students, except for the ones who act up. Mostly accessible. The church has a ramp going in and out of its doors and they also have an elevator. Most people will help others. Cons Some of the students aren't the nicest, but that should be expected of any school. Not all pros and cons listed, just the ones I thought of off the top of my head

I'm writing this for both the school and the church because they really are a single institution…read more The school is K through 8. The staff is good overall but I know they have a difficult time finding and keeping talented teachers. Most of the really good teachers gravitate to public schools with higher pay. The biggest problem is that some of the math teachers are terrible. It will be interesting to see if any changes are made to personnel in the future. The school has a high enrollment. With this high enrollment comes problems though. The school has some cliques. I know this is a problem at many schools also. There are some families that have taken over all of the parent groups. Whether its the Family Board, the School Board, the Athlete Board, Carnival Board, Facilities Board, the same people are holding power and doing favors for each other. It's nauseating. I suppose if you are in the right clique then everything will be fine. If you are not in the right clique then your children will be treated as second class citizens. I've seen alumni of the school get blackballed because they did not play nice with the power families. Maybe I'm getting carried away but it can be unnerving. The church is nice. It's not the fanciest church in the area but it is clean and inviting. The pastor is always asking for more money but name me a church that isn't asking for money. You can get married, baptized, and have funerals here. There is a big parking lot and they installed a playground which looks really nice. So here are your choices: Send your kids to public school, St Catherine, St Linus, St Gerald, and St Germaine. The good thing is that there are many choices in the Oak Lawn area for elementary education. You will do good with any of them.

FCC Preschool is Amazing! The clean, warm, and inviting atmosphere make it an ideal place for any…read morechild to learn. Their teachers genuinely care about the children and they go above and beyond to help them grow and develop both socially and emotionally as well as academically. They truly mean it when they say they focus on okay based learning. The extra curricular activities are awesome and are a great way to help your child make new friends. This is a loving community of parents and teachers focused on the positive growth and development of our children. Cannot say enough wonderful things about this school!!

The church has a nice facility for preschool and the director was always very responsive when I…read morefirst met with the school. The standard of education is also very high and reflected when teacher's present your child's work, improvements and what is expected for their grade level, I think that is a big plus. Unfortunately, this school did not work out for us. The teacher was nice but I did not care for the assistant teacher. It seemed the students were a drag and burden for her, particularly when they needed help. She kind of groaned, rolled her eyes at the thought of winter when preschoolers most likely need help with their coats and boots. These are preschoolers I speak of here but the mentality was figure it out on your own. Now I understand parent responsibility but this was to another degree. It was pretty much a disgust face by her with hand washing, where other preschools help the kids. Not saying teacher is supposed to wash the kids hands but just being present & helping if needed. I had a meeting with them about our son which could have been best resolved with them saying my son was not ready for preschool or that he needed a shorter schedule. I have now learned that happens where children just need another year before they start preschool or maybe just need a shorter schedule, but it was implied like something was wrong with him. We immediately took him out of the school. I was very dissapointed. We ended up commuting to a preschool the following year 30 minutes from where we lived that worked way better and was worth it, given the distance. My son is now happily in 1st grade and an avid reader. When it comes to education especially in the area of early education and young children, a passion or care for small children should be a factor. The atmosphere should also be inviting and positive where teachers have a genuine interest to teach kids. This was my first born and new experience. With that said, it is red flag when teachers express any disdain for students, especially for preschoolers who are learning what school is like. Looking back, I believe the teachers were inexperienced and not qualified. I would not recommend this preschool.

Chicago Jesuit Academy is the best option for my child to enjoy a free faith base education…read more Students are given rigorous assignments that push them to master grade level content and beyond. All of the staff is welcoming. Teachers communicate effectively. There are multiple opportunities for parent engagement through out the year. My daughter is excited for school and I enjoy being part of the CJA community.

I absolutely love this school. The structure, curriculum, staff, parent nights everything. I am so…read moreglad I was referred to this school.

My children have attended St. Helen since we moved here two years ago. The school has a thriving…read moreparent-school association which puts on a four-day festival with music, rides, and a full-entertainment beer garden as well as many other community fundraisers to contribute to the school's operating budget. The school's enrollment has steadily increased since the current principal took over the operation and direction of the school and it is no wonder why. My children are getting an education by people who care and it shows in their development and well-being.

We love this school. My 3 year old started preschool here this year and we just love it. The…read moreprincipal is exactly what you'd expect - stern, fair and helpful. She's not there to make friends, she's there to make sure your children get the best possible education. She listens to the parents feedback and if it warrants a change - whether it's adding a new program, or handling an issue, she tries her best to do the most good. It bothers me when the principal puts on a happy face for the parents. Most of the teachers are wonderful, but do your homework - go to open houses, and make requests. I will say that like every school - not every teacher there is fully committed. I have come across one or two who always seem to have a sour puss on their face. And the work with kids under 6 - they should be smiling in their sleep! The tuition is affordable, especially for what you get. The hot lunch program and the after-care schedule family friendly. I would definitely look into this school - we really love it here and now feel like we don't *have* to move to the suburbs. There's a ton of diversity - socially and racially. The parent-groups are great - very involved but none of that stiff competition you see in other religious based education facilities in the city. Ranked top 25 in Chicago private schools!

I am writing this because parents deserve to know what kind of "Christian" high school Chicago Hope…read moreAcademy really is. As a child of God, I stand firm on my faith; I also believe that right is right and wrong is wrong and no matter what entity. This educational establishment is not above reproach and due to their lack of integrity where their actions have been inconsistent and disreputable, leads one to believe that the people leading this school is not suitable for ANY trust or leadership and must be held accountable. What happened to my child -- and to our family -- was not just disappointing. It was shocking, heartbreaking, and completely at odds with the values this school claims to represent. My child was expelled without a single real explanation. No meeting. No conversation. No attempt to understand what was going on. As parents, we were left standing there, stunned, trying to make sense of a decision that the school refused to justify. For an institution that talks endlessly about integrity and transparency, the silence was deafening. And let me be clear: this wasn't just a disciplinary issue. My child, like so many teens after COVID, has been carrying real trauma. Anxiety. Emotional exhaustion. The kind of struggles that any school -- especially a Christian one -- should be prepared to meet with compassion, patience, and support. Instead, they responded with the coldest, most dismissive approach imaginable. The counselor, who should have been a lifeline, was nowhere to be found in any meaningful way. No advocacy. No guidance. No effort to understand the emotional reality of a teenager trying to navigate a world that has been anything but stable. Their role felt symbolic at best, nonexistent at worst. And the disciplinary dean -- the person who should model wisdom, empathy, and discernment -- acted with a level of rigidity and detachment that was honestly disturbing. There was no trauma informed lens, no attempt at restoration, no recognition that teenagers make mistakes and need adults who can help them grow. Instead, the response was swift, punitive, and utterly devoid of grace. This school had a chance to live out the Christian values it advertises: redemption, forgiveness, compassion, partnership with families. Instead, it chose the path of least effort -- remove the "problem," avoid the conversation, and pretend that's leadership. It's not. It's cowardice dressed up as discipline. It's easier to expel a hurting teenager than to actually support them. It's easier to shut parents out than to admit that maybe the school mishandled something. It's easier to hide behind vague statements than to practice the honesty and accountability they demand from students. There's a name for this type of action - HYPROCRISY!!! By definition, the practice of professing beliefs, virtues, or feelings that one does not actually hold, often engaging in the same behaviors one criticizes in others. If you are a parent considering Chicago Hope Academy, especially if your child has any emotional needs, any trauma, any challenges at all -- please think twice. A school that cannot extend compassion to a struggling teenager is not a school prepared to guide them. A school that refuses to communicate with parents is not a school that values partnership. And a school that expels a child without explanation is not a school that understands the responsibility it carries. We expected a community rooted in faith and humanity. What we encountered was a system more interested in protecting itself than supporting the young people entrusted to its care. This experience was devastating for our family, and no parent should have to go through it.

Chicago Hope Academy has been a great choice for our son. Prior to attending Chicago Hope our son…read morewas not involved in any organized sports. Chicago Hope encourages every student to participate in a sport or extra curricular activity. Our son began running cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and track in the spring. He has since dropped wrestling to participate in indoor track during the winter season. This has been a great experience for him as it has provided a place where he can feel part of a team, understand the work it takes to be an athlete, and the benefits of working hard to achieve progress toward a goal. The administration and staff at Chicago Hope have been fantastic. They are very receptive to parent involvement, and are willing to work with each student to make their high school experience a success regardless of the students future goals regarding college, trade school, or whatever choice is made. We have been very satisfied with our experience.