I am posting this at the request of my daughter as our family's experience was the opposite from some of the recent concerning posts. We found our way to St. John's after leaving other schools due to bullying, and it was a turning point for us. Our journey to St. John's began after a difficult time at a small private school where the teaching environment was harsh -- too much yelling, derogatory remarks, and constant anxiety. We tried to tough it out because on paper it was a great school, but our child became withdrawn and her grades dropped -- completely out of character for her. We tried a larger public school next, but on the very first day, she was physically threatened by another student. We lasted only two days! We were lost. I cried for three days straight. My husband and I felt terrible for putting our child in such tough situations. Then came Ms. I. at St. John's. She welcomed our family with open arms and helped us navigate the paperwork so our daughter could attend orientation before the first day of school. From the moment our child walked into St. John's, we saw a visible change -- relief, joy, and confidence. That first week felt like a dream. After school, students hung out together at the village, grabbing ice cream and boba, and quickly settled into routines with sports, leadership meetings, and more. I cried again -- this time from relief. Our happy child was back. And she only grew from there. Yes, of course our child made mistakes, but the disciplinary process was fair and supportive. Ms. I, Coach Z, and several teachers stood by her, creating a village that truly supported our family. She applied to all the top high schools -- the ones everyone hopes to get into -- and was accepted into every one, including their honors programs. I credit St. John's teaching philosophy for this. Students are encouraged to ask questions, engage in discussions, and be themselves. It's not rigid or confining -- individuality is celebrated. Throughout our time there, families, teachers, administration, and especially Ms. I were always kind and welcoming. Whenever I had concerns, I felt safe voicing them. Meetings were arranged quickly, and even when we disagreed on outcomes, I always felt heard and respected. For 10+ years I have been actively involved with my children's schools, serving in various leadership roles such as Room Parent, Head Room Parent, Faculty Liaison and PTA. During this time, I consistently experienced respect, collaboration, and a strong sense of community from the administration. Though we were only there for two years -- 7th and 8th grade -- we consider ourselves Eagles for life. Our only regret is not finding St. John's sooner. With gratitude, Nenette & Family read more

Our Family's Experience at St. John's School Our family has been part of St. John's for four years, and it's with sadness that we are withdrawing our children this week. Unfortunately, our experience has been deeply disappointing. Both of our children have faced ongoing bullying at the school. While many of the teachers genuinely care and do their best to support students, the principal consistently fails to take accountability or address serious concerns. Communication and organization at the leadership level are extremely poor. The principal often does not respond to emails, avoids meetings, and minimizes legitimate parent concerns. Promised resources and support services are routinely mentioned but rarely, if ever, implemented. The school itself also faces significant challenges it is underfunded, the facilities are outdated, and the bathrooms are consistently unclean. These issues have persisted for years without improvement. We had truly hoped for a different experience, but based on our time here, we cannot recommend St. John's School. There are other schools in the area that offer stronger leadership, better communication, and a more supportive environment for children and families. read more

This is our third year at St. John's, and we continue to feel so grateful to be part of this wonderful community. The sense of connection among families, teachers, and staff is truly special. A lot of family went to St. John's, many of our friends and coworkers have sent their children here too. Many alumni have gone on to attend excellent high schools, colleges and do amazing things in the world. Our own child has thrived academically and socially, and we've seen so much growth and confidence in them over the years. We're even more excited that our second child will be joining in January, and we know they'll be welcomed with the same warmth and care. The principal is the most energetic, enthusiastic, and faith-filled leader we could possibly ask for, and the staff is equally amazing, dedicated, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile for their students. St. John's is everything we hoped for in a school, strong academics, sports,parent groups, special education programs such as drama, art and robotics programs as wells as a nurturing environment, and a community rooted in faith and love. We highly recommend St. John's for any family! read more

Please consider other schools. I'm writing this with sincere care for families who want not only a strong education, but a truly supportive learning community. Whether you are currently enrolled or considering enrollment, I strongly encourage you to do thorough research and ask hard questions before making your decision. We recently withdrew our student and feel it's important to share the key factors that shaped our choice. Areas to carefully evaluate: 1. Curriculum Look closely at how current the curriculum is--when it was published, what reading materials are available to students, and how subjects like history, math, reading/writing, and science are taught. In some classes, science exposure is minimal, and math is taught using only one method, which can limit depth of understanding for different learning styles. 2. Teaching Staff There are kind and well-intentioned staff members at this school. However, families should consider whether teachers are consistently supported, credentialed, and actively developing their skills to teach in ways that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and engagement for diverse learners. Teaching is about learning and growing and there are ways of teaching and projects that have been in-cycle for 15+yrs that could use revisiting. 3. Leadership While some leaders genuinely care, there appear to be challenges with execution, follow-through, transparency, and communication. Caring is one part of leadership, but there's also the importance of making sharp decisions that shape the future long term. Leadership maturity and consistency matter greatly--especially during times of widespread educator burnout. I recommend asking detailed questions about both short- and long-term plans for the school and how leadership supports teachers and students, along with how your tuition funds are being used. Be sure to ask about the role of the priest and main/VP principals. St. John has a strong family community, but in our experience, the academic rigor, social-emotional learning support, and overall quality of curriculum fall well below what we believe children need to thrive now and in the future. ----- Concerns we encountered: - Use of television or YouTube on rainy days or to fill time - Outdated curriculum materials - Surface-level teaching, lacking depth and promotion or critical thinking - Rigid classroom management approaches, including frequent yelling and "don't do that" guidance for young children - Inconsistent staffing and hiring practices, including teachers leaving mid-year - Inconsistent Spanish and art programming - Limited experience supporting different learning styles, particularly hands-on learners - Environments that did not feel consistently clean or well-maintained - Integration of ICA (high school students) who have promoted immature behavior on school grounds ----- Things we appreciated and found difficult to leave: - A warm, engaged family community - Caring students who truly deserve the best - An on-site cooking/lunch program - The school's location and accessibility Every family will make the decision that's right for them. I'm sharing this because online reviews can only go so far. I encourage you to be proactive--ask direct questions, speak with current and former families, and look closely at day-to-day classroom experiences. Note: Over the past year, approximately 20 students have left the school. Many families we've spoken with are now working to help their children catch up on key learning milestones. This points to broader operational and leadership challenges that deserve attention at a higher level. Families who remain may continue to feel the effects of limited leadership initiative and accountability. I hope this helps you make the most informed decision possible for your child. read more

Personal experience - My daughter has been at this school for 5 years Title: Concern Regarding Lack of Action on Bullying Incidents Our family enrolled our child at this school with high expectations of a faith-based education that promotes respect, compassion, and integrity. Unfortunately, our experience has been overshadowed by the school's inadequate response to repeated incidents of bullying. Despite multiple reports and meetings with faculty and administrators, there has been little meaningful intervention or follow-up. The same students continue to engage in hurtful behavior, and those affected are left feeling unsupported and unsafe. While staff have expressed concern in conversation, the absence of concrete action has been deeply disappointing. A Catholic school should model the very principles it teaches--empathy, justice, and care for others. Regrettably, this has not been our experience. I sincerely hope the administration takes these concerns seriously and implements stronger policies and practices to ensure every student feels protected and valued. At this time, I cannot recommend this school to families seeking a safe and nurturing learning environment. read more

We've been part of Saint John's for five years and have always loved the community, until this past year. A new 2nd grade substitute was appointed without proper support or guidance, and as a result, our children lost 6 months of valuable learning time. When I reached out to the principal by email, I never received a response. I scheduled a meeting with the principal, teacher, and counselor to discuss my daughter's academic progress and the classroom disruptions, but the principal did not attend and never followed up afterward. Unfortunately, accountability seems to be lacking at every level. When I brought my concerns to the Archdiocese, I was dismissed without meaningful discussion. Several other parents have reached out as well, but our collective concerns have been ignored. The most recent communication we received essentially suggested we find another school. It's disappointing to see such a strong school community decline due to poor leadership and lack of responsiveness. I hope sharing this helps prompt real change for our families who still remain there. read more

I am deeply disappointed and heartbroken by how St. John School in San Francisco handled my daughter's bullying situation. For years, I reached out to the school about the ongoing bullying and emotional abuse my daughter endured -- body shaming, being made fun of for her home situation, and constant ridicule. Despite my repeated pleas for help, the school failed to protect her or take any meaningful action. When the situation reached a breaking point, the principal's "solution" was to have me sit face-to-face with the parent of the child who had been bullying my daughter. During that meeting, the parent showed no accountability and even laughed as my daughter's trauma was discussed -- and the principal just sat there and allowed it to happen. I was so disturbed and hurt that I had to walk out. After everything my daughter went through, the school never followed up with a phone call or email after the meeting to ask if she was okay -- or if I was. Instead, I received an email releasing my daughter from the school, leaving us without any support or placement. The lack of response to communication from the administration staff and the archdiocese to the bullying was nonexistent. No child should ever have to experience this kind of neglect, especially at a school that claims to follow Catholic values of compassion, respect, and care. What we went through at St. John School was the opposite -- it was deeply damaging and disheartening. read more

Disappointed and Concerned Parent Our family had high hopes for this Catholic school, but unfortunately, our experience has been very disappointing. While some teachers genuinely care about the students, the administration seems unwilling to address serious issues. Bullying has been brought up multiple times by several parents, yet there's little follow-through or transparency about how these incidents are handled. Many parents, including us, have tried to raise concerns about the curriculum and some noticeable gaps in communication, but the response has often felt dismissive. There are also rumors of financial troubles within the school, and while that might just be speculation, the lack of openness from leadership doesn't help ease anyone's worries. The priest assigned to the school community has also not been particularly approachable or friendly, which makes it harder for families who are looking for genuine spiritual guidance and community. It's heartbreaking because this school could be wonderful with the right leadership and accountability. Sadly, until there's meaningful change, I can't recommend it to other families. read more

The classroom size is very small. The teachers and principal very nice! The whole school is small. The students get along well. read more

I absolutely LOVE St. John!! The principal to the staff is amazing!! St. John is my family!! The learning environment is the best for my child!! Go Eagles!! Thank you for all that you do!! Thank you to Ms. I ( Principal) for always making time for the children regardless of how busy her schedule is. read more

St John's is an underrated Catholic/Christian school located in the heart of Glen Park We have been a part of the community for 6+ years and love it. Not only is it a great community but the school has strong academics built around caring teachers and fantastic Principal in Ms. I. We also have a strong sports program with a lot of participation from grade 3-8. I think the biggest thing that stands out is that the kids that graduate from this school have great morales and values and you see them back on campus at school and community events sharing their high school experiences and mentoring the younger kids. Go Eagles! read more

This was the worst school. They allowed My daughter to be bullied all year long. Spoke to anyone that would listen and nothing was done. The principal Miss I did nothing. Sat outside her office for two hours only for her to send out somebody else to ask us to leave. We pay tuition and we can't speak to anyone. I was the head coach for there volleyball and base ball teams and that meant nothing. We couldn't even let our daughter finish the school year. Many others have had the same issue. Do your child a favor and pass this school up. Horrible experience for our child. You figure being a private school that you pay tuition to they could control the bullying but they couldn't control anything they couldn't control their teacher from yelling at my daughters mother in a prior meeting.. read more

I could not be happier with the education and the environment at St. John. My youngest daughter had always been extremely shy so finding a school that has smaller classroom sizes was a necessity for me. She immediately felt comfortable during her tour and we knew right away that this was the school for her. We thought it would be an issue because we are not catholic but were happy to learn that St. John's accept all religious beliefs. They do teach Catholicism, which my daughter is enjoying learning. St. John is nurturing with strong academics - my daughter is thriving is this school. Thank you to the staff at St. John! The new principal, Ms. I, is amazing - full of energy and ensuring strict compliance with all the COVID mitigation this last year. Another big plus is that St. John is TK - 8 so my daughter can go all all through junior high in the same educational environment. read more

Great, loving teachers who genuinely care about the children. This is our first year my middle school son joined the school. They have been very diligent and organized throughout the pandemic. The principal is super dedicated and hardworking. The folks from the office knew my other children's name even though they didn't go there. The only issues are that academic books are a bit outdated and some teachers are less creative than others. However, it is affordable and overall my experience has been good. read more

We have had our son at St. John's for the 4th year now. He started in the kindergarten class I must say; I could not feel happier with the Faculty, Staff and parents. His teachers have been very warm, comforting and welcoming; what more can you ask for. My child has learned a lot in these four years at St. John's. I love the administration staff, principal, and their means of communication. They have everything we need, extended care and various sports he can choose from. He has great friends that I know will be with him a lifetime. I could not complain and couldn't be happier with the deciding this school for my child's education. read more

I love St. John's School! They have a great principal, Kenneth Willers. He works hard to make sure that his students are technically savvy. The office staff is amazing too! My son attended this school from 3rd grade with Mrs. Lynch through 4th grade with Mrs Beeler. Both, were AMAZING teachers. I am so glad that he attended St. John's simply for the instruction he received from those two. I removed him to place him in KiPP...believe me it was a TOUGH decision. But, it turned out to be for the best. So, although my child did not graduate from here; I am very fond of St. John's. It's infrastructure is sound and the parents are active and continuously involved. The staff is creative and the curriculum is good (not stellar). The teacher turnover rate has always been very low. I like that. Mr Willer's is an effective leader and communicator. If you are looking for a moderately-priced parochial school for your child check out St. John's. Plus, it's in an awesome neighborhood. Glen Park ROCKS! read more

I love this school for my kids. Education wise the school has so much to offer. Unfortunately, as of this year Mr. Willers is no longer the principal but even though some may disagree with the way he ran things, things seemed very organized. The school and teachers have been pretty steady since my children were attending. They did have a couple teachers come and go but if it is not the right fit then it's better to be dealt with then ignored. Technology wise the school was really high up there but now that Mr. Willers is gone there is a little more of a relaxed feeling for the teachers. I know my children have learned so much attending this school glad I decided to transfer my kids out of the public school system that really sucks to this school. I made the right decision. This is a tight community and someone is always hearing you out. That is one thing I have noticed. The parents have so much input that you would be amazed. read more