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!

We have two children in the school: one in 1st grade and one in the one year old classrooms. Our…read moreoldest child has been in the school since 4 months. We have had a top notch experience over our 6 years of working with Kipling for our children's education. The teachers have been amazing and so wonderful communicating with us on our specific concerns and issues. My children love the teachers. Any issues that we have had with the school have been addressed directly with us in a professional and timely manner.

Our son went here for a year and i wish we would have taken him out sooner. There are good teachers…read more(some) but the lack of care from administration is very clear. They do not respond timely to safety concerns. You actually can only get ahold of them when you stop by their office. Then they say they will follow up but do not.

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.

The Fay School offers a truly exceptional elementary education experience and is one of Houston's…read moretop-tier private schools. It is a nondenominational institution, and the faculty is incredible, so welcoming, and deeply invested our children's growth, both academically and personally. Its outdoor education program is amazing. Students are given opportunities to explore, take risks, and develop confidence beyond the classroom. Fay is intentional about shaping well-rounded individuals, not just strong students. They teach emotional intelligence which is invaluable. Beyond academics, the sense of community is truly special. From the moment you join, you feel like part of a family. You are supported, valued, and connected. The school also has a unique way of "doing everything big," whether it's events, programs, or celebrations, creating a vibrant and enriching experience for both students and parents. Our time at Fay was incredibly positive. They have frequent alumni reunions as well, and I am still friends with some of the teachers.

The Fay School does not do anything about bullying. Both my sister and I are Fay alumni, and we…read morewere both bullied terribly during our time there. For example, the administration actually attempted to suspend my sister when her bully pushed her, and my sister--who had a broken foot at the time--merely pushed back lightly to defend herself. This girl bullied her for years, and nothing was ever done. In my case, I was bullied to the point where I was completely isolated, unable to learn social skills, and had no friends. The mental health toll was so severe that I am almost not here today because it was so incredibly bad. They do not teach empathy or individuality. There are basically no extracurriculars. Furthermore, they do not teach history or science in nearly any regard. The teachers near-exclusively focus on the children who are already the best in their class, completely refusing to teach or adapt to struggling children. For instance, I was told I was horrible at math, even though I tested at a 12th-grade reading level in 5th grade. I am now earning an AAS degree while only in the 10th grade. I was never stupid; the school just refused to teach me. I would not recommend this school. It is probably one of the worst choices in Houston next to Linear. The only upside is the Fay Forest, because that was super cool, and the big playground.

My student applied to and was accepted by St. John's School as a Freshman. The experience this…read morefirst month has been wonderful; my child is focused, happy and expressive. The teachers and administrators have been very supportive. For a child/student who is not meeting their potential through the public school system, SJS is an excellent educational option.

I had same experience john. Attended open house where they portrayed you had a good opportunity to…read moreapply in both 6th and 9th grades. I think they said there were 50-60 openings in each of those grades. I did query the one brunette lady from admissions to make sure before applying. Her response was like "we know that school well and their curriculum is rigorous." Also, "we do not expect applicants to have straight A's otherwise they will be bored. B's are fine." When I also briefly explained my child's credentials, she was euthusastic and said you are just what we are seeking. Like you, we were not accepted. Not even waitlisted. I spoke with a half dozen parents that I also know that applied. Same thing. All of serious students. Involved in the community. I don't know about all the seats going to legacies but I only know 2 people in the past that got accepted and both were legacies. What a shame if they are really advertising 60 open seats when they all just go to legacy accept a few. I know they deceived me. I would never apply to St. John's again. Waste of my time. Waste of my child's teachers time making the recommendations. Waste of hundreds of dollars on useless fees for St. John's. Very disgusting what they do to honest hardworking people in thier community. ------------------------------------------------- received a nice note from a st j. Mom or staff today. How uplifting from the women with 14 negative reviews within few years and st. J mom. ------------------------------------------------ Paulina L. Paulina L. Houston, TX 0 friends 32 reviews 6 photos Just a Note 4/12/2017 For your review of: St John's School ..you wanted to apply your child there. Sore loser? Approve

There is no school in Houston like The Post Oak School. It is a rare and special gem, and we are…read moreso grateful to have found this amazing place of learning, community, and kindness. We have been part of the school for 10 years and have experienced multiple classrooms and grade levels across 3 children who each started in the Young Children's Community (as toddlers). Our eldest is on the verge of entering the Middle School, and it is clear that her experiences at the school thus far, along with the experiences of our other children, have established a deep love of learning, curiosity, self motivation, and innovation. It is such a special place. If you are looking for a place where your kids can both excel academically and also understand the importance of kindness, gratitude, and service, this is the school, and it is without equal.

This is a great school for pre-K through Middle School. When I first learned about this school, I…read morecould not believe I hadn't heard about the amazing Montessori method before. As a member of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), this school is one of the top. The children learn thorough academics, develop a true love of learning and exploration, and become very independent and responsible. "The Post Oak School is an educational leader both among Houston's top private schools and among the more than 5,000 Montessori schools across the country. Post Oak serves students from age 14 months through 8th grade, and is one of the U.S.' oldest Montessori schools (the oldest in the Southwest and one of only three Houston AMI schools). It has attracted an accomplished team of faculty and staff and built a campus dedicated to learning. The Post Oak School helps shape consistently high achievers."

hello, I'm an old student from there. I was at Bayou Village until I was in fifth grade and I'm in…read moremiddle school now, but it was literally the best years of my life. I loved it and sadly it is closed but I do hope maybe it can reopen or something like that happens again. peace and love and I truly do miss everyone.

I moved my little guy here in the middle of the spring semester because I wanted him to be in a…read moregentler environment, one that was holistic to his being, and also a place that really appreciates the outdoors and caters to that. My child has really grown in his language skills (he came from a Spanish immersion school where he really was learning a lot of Spanish, but he was also missing a lot of English). The best part is that while there isn't anything formal about the pre K class as there shouldn't be anyway for this age, he has retained everything he learned from his two prior schools which means the school is still integrating that learning somehow. He loves being able to take off his shoes in the classroom and that it feels like home. He comes home singing the meal time song (he's been there less than two weeks). He's proud of the work he does there and asks us to hang it up. If we didn't have to move schools for other reasons I would keep him there as long as I could because my three year old who was partially potty trained (just urine) has become fully potty trained after two weeks there. I think a lot of the influence is that the school goes up to the 6th grade so seeing and being around older kids who are leaders has really encouraged him to feel like he is going to a big kids school too. We absolutely love this school and the people there.

As a previous teacher at Kipling Street Academy, I would like to say how wonderful, professional,…read moreand caring the establishment is. The building is kept very clean and the staff is very friendly. KSA makes a point to teach children to the highest of their abilities and expose them to new and wonderful things. Previously being a Pre-K teacher, students were taught much needed skills like, skip-counting, months of the year, days of the week, counting to 100, geography, citizenship, and even were exposed to basic addition. Many of these skills are taught in Kindergarten in public schools so students attending Kipling Street Academy are building their knowledge in these many important areas earlier. The majority of students (in the year I taught) knew their letters and were beginning the early stages of writing. I was amazed at how far the students were academically at such an early age. If I had any children and lived in the area, I would definitely try to send them to Kipling Street Academy. All teachers are also certified and are provided/required to attend training seminars (different topics related to education) to further promote their performances as educators. As for the staff, in my experience they were always very kind and welcoming, offering support and advice if I ever needed any. Mrs. Pierce was very supportive and truly cared about her establishment (staff, children, and how KSA was ran). Many times I observed her giving appropriate feedback to parents as well as welcoming/saying goodbye to students at the end of the day. She is very proud of KSA; it is a very impressive and excellent school (I would be too). To address the possible thought of being a "previous teacher" regarding high turnovers of teachers, I unfortunately had to move out of Houston for personal reasons that I could not control. If I would have been able to stay in Houston, I would still be there right now as a teacher. Kipling Street Academy is an impressive academic school for early childhood and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who asks. Hope this was helpful!

This is the first online review I've ever written, but if it were my children at Kipling, I'd want…read moresomeone to tell me what is happening behind the scenes. The school philosophy starts at the top with the owner, Jennifer Pierce. She is not interested in developing, educating, or even meeting your child. Her priority will be only to telling you why your child needs to enroll in her lower/elementary school, and why they won't be successful elsewhere. She will find ways to collect fees from you, and is only concerned with her monthly tuition checks. There is very high teacher turnover, and excessive screen time (you can see it when you log in to the cameras). A few of the teachers do their best, but some (Kristin) are so rigid and hard on the children, that when combined with the VERY small spaces, it creates a lot of frustration for your growing boys and girls. We removed our children from this environment, and it's like they are different people overnight at their new school. There are so many better loving environments and spaces for your children in Houston, make the change and stay away!