This school has been such a disappointment. There is a teacher there who bullies the students, and…read moredespite multiple attempts by students and parents to advocate to the teacher, the principal, board members, etc. - they double down and say that they approve of his teaching. This is so extreme that many students have had private testing to note their skill level as above average or even gifted, but the teacher tells the students to their faces that they aren't smart, can't read books, insults their disabilities, reminds them of every mistake they have ever made in his class and does so with insults and stern. He is harsh in his presentation and grading, and only teaches rote memorization without critical thinking or interest in the ideas of his students. It has made many kids hate going to school, and many are leaving the school at the end of the year, but regardless the principal would rather stay the course and actually try to punish students who speak out. What you are told by the admissions is not what is actually true of the school. There are very limited options for learning outside their standard curriculum, much of which is quite remedial and with the assumption that your kid will not go to a good college. I've seen multiple students have soul crushing experiences. They have been without a school counselor for almost 4 months despite that many of their students are in major mental health crises. I have even seen them call the parents of a student that they know is in an abusive home to complain about speaking up for themselves to abuse from this teacher. It's so heartless and dangerous. Multiple students are showing signs of anxiety from things happening with this teacher and the principal. They will make no adjustments at the school to address these issues, even if the students have written diagnoses. There are major issues regarding racial/ethnic/religious equity and inclusion. The school isn't ADA compliant despite having a student that needs an elevator - it has been broken all year. They refuse to have parent meetings including conferences have a zoom/phone option despite having a parent that requires that for participation. I have seen almost no hands on learning in any class. I think that this school has probably changed and likely used to be better than it is now. I've never seen a school think so poorly of it's own students and be so eager to push out anyone who needs anything. There's also a lot of mismanagement. There are a few teachers who are real gems, but go elsewhere if you can unless they have some major staffing changes.

If you're browsing Yelp for a good lunch spot, but suddenly decide to look for a small, private,…read moreliberal school for your children, you're in luck! This place is very special, and my daughter has thrived in the small, customized environment. Kids are encouraged be themselves, and the only cookie cutter I see is they're all different. Check this place out especially if your child marches to their own beat. Art, theater and music programs are standouts (shocking, I know, based on the first five sentences of this review). Here's a picture from a middle school science field trip, though.

For those of us not attending high school, the school is a community resource as well. SME is a…read moreplace where you can vote/caucus, go to college fairs or plays, or just take a few laps around the track on the weekends. The IB program is the envy of everyone in the District, and even people who don't go to school in Shawnee Mission. Some great teachers, and a decent campus.

Just the place for a student to fit in. Kudos to the ever successful theater department and the…read morework they produce. Crappy, Dafeo, and Summer are behind the scene helping these kids be all they can be.

My company has a special tie to Sion because, frankly, it's where we got our start in KC. Our…read morestrategy was to offer our classes nearly free to the first round of students and hope word of mouth would spread after that. At first there was some understandable resistance and hesitation, but then the principal, Michelle Olson, graciously consented to let us teach our first group of Sion girls, and I had my first chance to teach these young women myself. Now, mind you there are two all-girls schools in town, and while I have a special tie to one of them, I do really enjoy the students who come from both. Apart from the individual consideration of each girl (how she feels when she visits that campus) the two other big considerations for attendance are alumnae and and geography. STA is up in KCMO, Sion is in South Johnson County. While there are girls from KC who drive down to Sion and vice-versa, the vast majority of the girls from that area go to that school. Both are great, and are producing among the best-educated young women in Kansas City.

When one understands that there are no good public school options for students in the urban core of…read moreKansas City, and that there are just two private schools in midtown of any quality, then the attitude at Sion makes sense. The administration knows that there are few options and treats parents that way. That indifference is astounding, particularly in consideration of the tuition. We moved to a quality public school district prior to the last year of our student's time at Sion, but decided to keep him there - HUGE mistake. Particularly if you are a boy, 8th grade at Sion is an afterthought as they groom the girls for attendance at the all-girls Sion High School. Our elective selections this year? Crochet, knitting, music for life, and poetry. The Math program is an absolute disgrace, taught by an individual better suited to be a prison warden. There are committed teachers at this institution, but they are let down by an administration that simply does not care to address its own and the school's shortcomings. Stay far, far away.

Our family had a wonderful time at WPP and I would recommend this program to any family with young…read morechildren. The teachers are incredibly caring and the entire team does a great job communicating with parents. My daughter looked forward to school every day while she was at WPP!

We absolutely love Ward Parkway Preschool! I cannot sing enough praises of the staff-- from the…read moreadministrators to the classroom teachers, everyone is so genuinely kind and caring, and it is obvious they're there because they love what they do. They have a special way of making every child feel seen and loved, and their communication is topnotch. This is our daughter's first year, and we plan to keep her enrolled until she starts Kindergarten. We highly and enthusiastically recommend WPP!