St. Gregory College Preparatory

I strongly encouraged my grandson to attend St Gregory's now 3 1/2 yrs ago. I am overwhelmed with the broad education he has received, many of the courses being advanced. The school has provided a medium for him to excel as a leader, as a very creative contributor to the audiovisual needs of the school, as a poised liberal arts educated young man and involvement in school athletics. To put a number on his education, his pre-college testing has placed him in the top 1% nationally. A retired U of A professor.

This is a great school! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for great academics, fun athletics, and to educate the whole child. There are many extracurricular activities and opportunities, for example summer trips to a foreign country to immerse yourself in the language and culture (a big part of learning a language here). Students participate in activities having to do with the core values: character, scholarship, leadership, and innovation. This is not just a school for rich kids. While many of the families here are well-off, many are not. 1/3 of the school is on financial aid, and several students are on scholarship. The teachers here are excellent and very on the ball. Academic-wise, the students are very challenged. They can test into higher level classes, such as those having to do with math or languages. Socially, students are very accepting compared to students from a public middle or high school. Again, this is a wonderful school!

St. Gregory has an outstanding academic course with attention that you will not find at ANY other school. All the grades make a special bonding with each other even though ages differ. You make a special bonding with teachers and the environment is just so welcoming and comfortable that help you study at your fullest.

My children have been at St. Gregory since middle school. We have been very pleased and impressed by the incredibly dedicated, caring and involved teachers/staff. They know my children. They take a special interest in their progress (or lack thereof if there is a problem, the teachers are right on top of it!) The work that my kids are doing in class far surpasses that of any of their peers in town. They are taught how to think critically, how to ask the right questions and to write well. They have to make presentations to their peers and to the school. Learning how to speak in front of groups is a wonderful skill. These kids will be extremely well prepared for college and for whatever career/life path they pursue. St. Gregory is an accredited Independent School, the only one in town. There are national standards that must be met to achieve this.(NAIS.org) This school strives to educate the whole child, not teach to the test. This is a personal choice. If you value that then this is the place for your child. I feel that the school has very strong leadership and a clear direction. The school is also very diverse and has 1/3 on financial aid. Dollars do not talk.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Gregory is a wonderful school. My child has been at St. Greg's from middle school and will be here until high school graduation. This school is just as wonderful as the very selective Independent Private Schools where we moved from. The teachers are very caring and committed to bringing out the best in each student. The environment is very positive and the kids are happy. I'm sorry that the person who left the dismal review had such a poor experience. I have spoken to many, many parents and former students and can say that person is definitely in the minority. If you are looking for a school, I can highly recommend St. Gregory for a superb education and a great all around school experience that will benefit your child for a lifetime.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is all about money. If you have a lot of money and give a lot to the school, then your child will do well even if they are a substandard student or have a discipline problem. There is a big bullying problem at this school, especially in the high school. The school has a large turnover of teachers and leaders. The middle school is much better than the high school as far as teacher quality and leadership. The high school has many teachers that are complete duds. But the biggest dud is the head of school. That man is a creep and a social misfit. And the board of trustees that hired him are to blame. All they care about is status and he was only hired because he graduated from Harvard. Maybe the school will be better after he leaves this year but I really doubt the board has the ability to hire anyone decent. And the athletics are a joke. They do things like hire the uncommitted and unqualified head of school's wife to coach middle school volleyball. The hefty price tag of attending this school is definitely not worth it. Unless all you care about is money and status. Then send your kids here, just make sure to get your checkbook out and you and your kids will fit right in.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an amazing school. My son is in his 4th year at St. Gregory and has received a great education there. We are grateful for the educational rigor, individualized attention and commitment to excellence. My son is a top student and really values being appreciated by the staff & faculty for his intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm. There are many, many bright kids at this school that are thriving. St. Gregory just celebrated their 30th anniversary and has grown in attendance every year that my son has been there. We really believe they are committed to the promises they make in preparing students to be leaders and innovators for the 21st century. It makes me crazy to read reviews like the 2 before this one, undoubtedly written by the same parent, because they clearly had expected an exclusively academic experience and were surprised to find out that St. Gregory offers their students so much more!
—Submitted by a parent

To whomever may have read my comment from August 22, 2011. I owe a huge apology if your choice was influence in anyway by that comment. St. Gregory is a sinking ship. The honeymoon period wore off quickly and it was a great disappointment. The curriculum is substandard! There is no expectation and therefore no performance. Every one gets an A as long as they show up. Most of the teachers are okay, but the liberalness of the school is "crazy". I removed my daughter as soon as possible and she return to BASIS. A school I highly recommend, if your student is hardworking. St. Gregory's was a HUGE MISTAKE!
—Submitted by a parent

There are some major problems at this school. Staff turnover is high, many of the teachers are disorganized and lacking in ability to control their classes. The discipline of students is sporadic at best and no matter what the infraction a donation will make it all go away. Complain about a teacher and the stock response is your kid is a troublemaker. Teachers use innapropriate language to students. There is a lot of bullying.

If you have been looking for a great middle school, look no farther! Tucson really lacks in this area and is fortunate to have St. Gregory. Students have many opportunities for learning. The faculty is great. The school prepares well for high school.

I am commenting on the Upper School. Our children started at St. Gregory during their freshman years. We wanted them in a good school that was safe. Words can not describe how wonderful we think this school is. The headmaster is one of the finest human beings you will ever meet. Susan Heintz, the upper school head, is the most 'with it' person I know. The faculty members are incredible teachers as well as wonderful human beings.There has been very little turnover and both of our kids have had the same solid core of teachers. We are not wealthy but our kids have been treated just like anyone else. We have never regretted the money we have spent on this school. It has been worth every cent.
—Submitted by a parent

The Great teachers never seem to stay more than 1 yr. Head of middle shool has changed a couple of times in 2 yrs. Their commitment to Character is not true. This school used to be known for it's academics and integrity, now it's all about the kids whose parents donate the most.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a review for the Middle School. Our child was at St. Greg for the 3 yr. Middle School Program. Something is very, very wrong at this school. High, high, high staff turnover, no leadership. Every leader has left, most teachers (in the middle school) have left in the three years our child attended there. Very high pricetag for the 'quality' of teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I echo the words of praise for St. Gregory. The faculty is a collection of some of the finest educators in the teaching profession. They are truly caring human beings. There was never a doubt that my child would be safe and supported at SG and now that he is excelling in college, I know we made the right decision. It really is a college preparatory school.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Gregory Middle School is definiatly the best middle school in the city. I tried sending my kid to Orange Grove Middle School, and found St. Gregory was way ahead in everything. Even though at St. Gregory middle school you might find your child struggling because of the tough curricular, then ends benefits will highly pay off. The middle school prepares their student to be very succussful at almost any public highschool. If you have the money and value education, then send your child to St. Gregory.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a 6th grader and loves St. Gregory. The teachers are wonderful and are always willing to help the children reach their maximum potential. The school has a wonderful curriculum and great environment for this age. The schedule and small class sizes are fabulous.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school, and worth the $15,000 a year. It has such a friendly atmosphere, and with such few students, everyone pretty much knows each other and there is a sense of community. With small class sizes, the teachers (which are fabolous) make sure everyone understands what he/she is teaching. The students have half of their classes one day, and the other half the next, just like college schedules. They also have tutorial during the last 30 mins of lunch which allows students to go get help from teachers if they need it. St. Gregory is also very safe unlike other schools such as Sabino or Tucson. The only bad thing about this school is that they do not have football or cheerleading. But this school does a great job in getting kids ready for college.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school with excellent teachers. High academic standards are expected from the students. Would highly recommend for the high achiever child.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school-great environment-worth every penny.
—Submitted by a parent