Our Lady of the Valley School

Caring teachers, good leadership from principal, strong academic program and involved parents. OLV won the prestigious 2011-2012 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the US Department of Education and earned the Third Place Award at State Science Olympiad. The prinicipal is very involved with the students, she knows most of them by name. The teachers are very caring and I have seen a big difference in my daughter's deportment (how she interacts with others) in addition to her advances in education. I would highly recommend the school to anyone and my husband and I are very glad we decided to make this investment in her education. We cannot wait until our son is old enough to start going to OLV. My only criticism (and it is a mild one) is that many of the mothers do not work and are available to attend the numerous plays and school functions, which makes it difficult on those who do work as my daughter always wonders why I don't visit her school and attend the various activities as much as other mothers.
--Submitted by a parent

OLV is an incredible school. The teachers are top-notch, and they truly care about their students. The school provides an excellent Catholic education and prepares students very well for the future. Students are challenged and offered numerous opportunities to explore their talents and interests. The school community is like a family and I am proud to be a member of it.
--Submitted by a parent

Most of the teachers are excellent. There are a few who are not Catholic and the social studies teacher for middle school has the children coloring more than learning. My oldest graduated from OLV on 08 and has done excellent in HS and is taking honors classes in every class except history. I attribute this to her middle school social studies teacher. She did not prepare them for high school. They have an excellent drama department and Science Olympiad program.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at Our Lady of the Valley. Parents who send their kids here expect their kids to be getting a quality Catholic education, but half the teachers aren't even Catholic. There's also a teacher who can barely teach, and another who grades a bit harsh. But, there are a couple good teachers, and a wonderful principal who work with students. there is also a great drama department and thespians.
--Submitted by a student

I agree with everyone that it is clicky. I also found incompetence with one of the teachers in constantly grading my child's work wrong in elementary. In middle school, I felt that the grading was too harsh. One of the teachers believes in giving a child a '0' if they forget to do 1 of their problems in homework. Of course, your child can never get an 'A' in the class after receiving a zero. They believe this teaches the child responsiblity where I think it is too harsh as no one is perfect. The drama program is clicky but also excellent and the principal is very good and involved.
--Submitted by a parent

Parents are a bit cliquish yielding kids of the like. Good academics and enforces behavior. Great teachers academically. Teachers seem to really care about students.. Compared to public schools in the area they rate superior!
--Submitted by a parent

I have 4 children taht have attend OLV. There are various opportunities for parent involvement. High academic challenges aid in preparation for high school. A large percentage of the 7th grade students have qualifided for the Duke Testing in recent years. Our teacher's do an excellent job of sharing the Catholic faith with the children at OLV. My children have developed strong life long friendships. But, most of all the christian faith has aided in molding their character.
--Submitted by a parent

OLV is a good school. Its got good academics and fair athletics. The only problem I have with OLV is that athletics are not taken very seriously.
--Submitted by a student

This is a wonderful school with high academic and moral standards.
--Submitted by a parent

Student to teacher ratio is very high. I tried to contact principal for 8 weeks to discuss my child, I never got a call returned. In my opinion in the 3 years my child was there it has gone downhill. Since changing my childs school from OLV the progress as a student and general well being has gone up dramaticly.
--Submitted by a parent