St. Martin of Tours Elementary School

St. Martin of Tours is an excellent school with a nurturing learning environment. I don't understand what these other parents are complaining about. I have never met a parent who is unhappy with the school. Not only does it have a cordial faculty, but the students are family. Whenever I pick my child up I see the 8th graders playing with and hugging the younger children, all the children are laughing and merry, and the teachers encourage this amicable behavior. Although the environment may seem a bit too harsh and may give the student's little leeway, I look out the children who have graduated and how successful they are and this thought is effaced from my mind. My child loves the school. It is like going to her family everyday. The academics are superb and the physical education is promising.
--Submitted by a parent

Concord is a small, but very successful school. They send all this gifted children to the best Universitiesand colleges. To Ivy League to the UC and Cal State systems.
--Submitted by a parent

Run, don't walk from this school! The principle and staff take all morale out of students because the school has a ZERO nurturing environment. The school is marketed by the head as "the best bang for your buck and tells you the school is in the ranks of Carlthorp and Brentwood but at a third of the price". I realized early on that I made a huge mistake and pulled my child out of St Martins in kindergarten because I did not want my son to grow up heartless with a lack of spirit. There is a strong disconnect between the school and the church which turned my family off. The school is only interested in status seeking and it is a very cold environment. I would not recommend this school to anybody who doesn't want their child in a horrible environment.
--Submitted by a parent

While no school is perfect, when the valedictorian's of two local (prestgious private high schools) in 2009 were both products of St. Martin of Tours, there must be something special going on. St. Martins is less focused on being a "touchy-feely" open learning instituion and more concerned with creating in young kids strong character with the critical thinking skills that are required in today's world. Its structure interlaced with Christian values and overlaid with a credo of individual responsibilty create a very strong community. Like most things-the more involved parents are (which is welcomed) the better the experience will be.
--Submitted by a parent

The poster on May 29, 2009 must be talking about a different school. Very few families are happy at SMT but they grin and bear it because it has rigorous academics. 19 families left the middle school last year...what does that tell you? I would like to hear what she thinks now that her little darling is in 1st grade...that is when the cruelty begins. By 2nd grade, her child's spirit will be broken.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has very rigorous academics, and it prepared me extremely well for high school. Many graduates do end up attending excellent colleges. On the other hand, some of the teachers were very strict and did not allow some of the students the extra space they needed in order to learn and be successful. The school is focused mainly on math and science, and would be more enriching if it had a stronger music program.
--Submitted by a student

I feel compelled to support the view of 5/16/09. There is very little warmth, or joy in more than a few staff and teachers, (especially at the youngest levels). And although the end, i.e. accademic rigour, is laudable, the 'means' are not. It's high time for 'fresh air' at SMT. We found it at a different school.
--Submitted by a parent

I feel compelled to write so that prospective parents are not dissuaded by the 5/16/09 review. I am a Kindergarten parent, and I am heavily involved with my daughter's education. So, after carefully picking SMT (I have never met a parent or student who didn't love it), I have watched what goes on there. The students are wonderful, from K to 8. They are all happy, and the older children help and hug the littler ones. As a small school, everyone -- parents and children alike -- act like a family (this means we all have to cooperate and help, which a very few exceptions, like the 5/16 parent, don't like). In addition to all of this, it is a highly academic school, where children thrive (grads later go to UCs, Stanford, and Ivys). I feel embraced there, as does my daughter. Thanks SMT!
--Submitted by a parent

Great School! I feel this school has set me up for a great future ahead of me. I recently got my acceptance letters back from Marymount, Notre Dame Academy, and Louisville. To my great pleasure, I was accepted by each high school! I love SMT and am terrible sad that I have to leave, but at least I was lucky to be apart of SMT's Class of 2009!!!! : )
--Submitted by a student

The best little school ever! We looked at independent private school in the westside as well as the city of los angeles and decided to send our daughter to a catholic school. We love the traditional teaching method as well as religion. This school is VERY academic so if your child is not up to the challenge this school is not for you. The graduates attend the best high school in los angeles. This school require parents to really get involved with their child's education. This is the best choice I have every made for my child!
--Submitted by a parent