Saint Mark's School

I just graduated from saint marks last year, (2011), and miss it so much. It is an amazing school with teachers that make learning fun, and a friendly, welcoming community. The facilities are beautiful, and the class trips are incredible. In fifth grade, the students embark on journey across the country to washington D.C, which is wonderfully fun. Saint marks is an amazing school, and should deserve 6 stars, if it existed.

Wonderful community - great kids! Excellent placement for graduates. Offers a variety of resource classes. Well maintained facilities - big grass field and large playgrounds.
--Submitted by a parent

I looked at many preschools & kindergartens in the area and my child attended 2 previous schools before we settled on Saint Mark's. From the moment she started, my daughter LOVED this school. She is in kindergarten now and seems so happy and is learning so much, We have had a great experience at St. Mark's and we highly recommend it. It is true that parents are expected to volunteer and to give to various funds, but we have not found it to be any more than with other schools. Also, the faculty and families there have been terrific. We have found it to be a great fit for us.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had our children at this school for 5 years so far, and we absolutely LOVE the school. The atmosphere is very friendly and stimulating at the same time. Our kids love the school and are learning amazing academic skills while they are having a great time with friends. The kids at the school are kind and caring. We love the values the school stands for and could not have chosen a school with a better fit for our values.
--Submitted by a parent

St Mark's is a wonderful place. Our kids have been here since preschool & consider it to truly be a second home. At other private schools in Pasadena, the volunteer requirements are similar. If you are used to dropping off & picking up your child, with no need to share your time - this will be different. The school prides itself on the involvement of families - but not everyone is that actively involved. Some families go above and beyond the requirements - they are part of what makes this place special. It's an honor to have them on the cutting edge of technology. The students have access to iPads in their classrooms and are being asked to consult other schools on how to implement this environment. Interactive technology: SMART boards & interactive devices are used to ensure that all students are engaged in the learning process. The entire school is dedicated to Differentiated Instruction - focuses on each child learning thru different means. Definitely NOT a school where your child must be "cookie cutter" to excel. Teachers at schools that recruit from St Mark's tell me they get some of the most well-rounded children from here. A unique place that merits a visit, for sure.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a student at St. Marks since P-K and I am now in 5th grade. The teachers, students and families and very nice and supportive. I love the field trips, fund raisers like the Country Fair, and being with friends. In addition to the academics there are fun resource classes such as P.E., art, and music. There are some bad reviews on this site, but I think they are totally wrong. I don't know one student that is unhappy here. I love Saint Marks!
--Submitted by a parent

Good, though spotty, academics. Charming campus. Important to determine what you want for your child and family for the long-haul: energy put into connections with and feeding into local expensive, elite, secular schools. Ending at 6th grade is good if these schools are your goal, but difficult for the others who have to apply and attend middle school with students who have been together for years - and then reapply to high school so soon afterward. Episcopal identity and values present in weekly chapel but not in administration or in the classroom, for the most part. School chaplain and church rector are gems, but mostly disconnected from the school Great trips in 4-6th grade. Not much activity after school with average daycare program. Some very energetic and involved parents. Overall, a mixed bag.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school, location and campus. Family like atmosphere and dedicated faculty. Teachers are great and willing to help when needed.
--Submitted by a parent

Saint Mark's is a great school for my family. My family has not had the chance to experience any of the other great schools in the area, nor do we feel the need. I do not agree with some of the poor reviews on this site. The school does demand that the parents give much of their time. It has been great for myself to spend so many hours at school. We have a true connection with the staff and the other families. I would not want to have my children at a school where parents were not so connected. If you are looking for a great school for your children in the Altadena or Pasadena area, I suggest you consider Saint Mark's. Visit the school during the annual County Fair, and talk to some of the families and the older students.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family loves Saint Mark's School. We have been at Saint Mark's for three years and have our two sons here. We will also be bringing our daughter to Saint Mark's. In our first year we were worried about meeting the required volunteer hours. It was very easy and such a great experience. We got to know other families, the staff and administration. The more you put into Saint Mark's the more your family gets out of it. There are some negative reviews on this site. While one school can not satisfy all people, some of the reviews are sad. Dr. Oleson is a treasure and also one donates a large portion of her salary to the annual fund each year. I have found the staff to be very helpful to resolve any problems. The extra fund raising goes to tuition assistance and to pay for the many wonderful field trips that are paid by the school. Those trips include Washington, Philadelphia and Gettysburg. Anyone who has had a bad experience at Saint Mark's will probably have a bad experience at any private school in the area.
--Submitted by a parent