St. Raymond Elementary School

I have been a part of this wonderful community for the past 4 1/2 years. From day one I have felt incredibly welcomed at the school. Everyone-parents, teachers, and children are always kind and friendly. When we were looking at schools I was very impressed with the children that I met at the open house. 5th grade children approached me and offering to answer questions and engage in conversation. They were thoughtful, well spoken, confident kids. Exactly how I want my children to be! I was incredibly impressed. This past year we gained a new principal, Dr. Rolle. I cannot say enough great things about her. She is an incredible asset to our school and a strong leader. I feel blessed to be a part of this strong community.
--Submitted by a parent

After 12 years I decided to leave this school. It was a difficult decision but my kids are so happy at their new school. I was overwhelmed with the kindness I received from my local public school. The parents have a life and careers so they do not add to malicious gossip and the kids are very sweet. My husband & I both came from private school backgrounds and we are so happy we made the move. You need to step away from this environment to realize how toxic it is. One family runs the school, and God forbid you do not bow down to them. My experience was so bad there for me and all of the other families that recently left...my faith was crushed by the ungodliness. I pray everyday that I will someday be able to return to church as it has been the biggest turn off I have ever experienced. Too much parent involvement....it leads to cliques. The teachers and administration need to run the school....not the parents. I know there are still a lot of unhappy families who only have 1 or 2 years left and have no other options for their kids. They are counting the days until they leave. This is not a good way for parents to feel.
--Submitted by a parent

Amazing! Wonderful!!! The bathrooms need remodeling, but everything else is Perfect!!! We really love Dr. Rolle as a Principal. We also loved Sister Ann Bernard. The school has always been a great fit for our family! Great parent involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

St Raymond is truly a gem. The academics are excellent. The education in the elementary school is solid with loving teachers and good discipline. The 4th grade teacher makes sure that every child leaving 4th grade is confident enough to deliver a poem, book report or speech publicly. The middle school teachers really challenge the kids to challenge themselves. They encourage a deep self confidence and deep interest in learning (Dr Heery is a FANTASTIC math teacher who prides himself on children LOVING math). The opportunity to compete on the academic decathlon team rounds out a great program. The sports programs are inclusive and instill passion for sports. Being at St Raymond is a wonderful experience and the students are extremely well prepared for high school - as proven last year when every 8th grader got into their high school of choice. Overall its an amazing welcoming community of supportive, involved parents, and respectful caring kids.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a new family to the area and joined St Raymond last year. I have a 3rd and 5th grader coming back for our second year there. As a new family coming into the school in the middle grades, I can say we have been very delighted with the school and our transition. Moving is always difficult, but the kids and parents of St Raymond have been very warm and welcoming, both to my children and to us. There is a TON of parental involvment in the school. Its obvious St R is a priority. St R. has solid academics. My kids are learning and being challenged. The standards are high, and not just the standards for grades, but also for the quality of the individual. The catholic philosophy is to teach the mind, body and spirit and it shows.The level of genuine care and courtesy amonst the students is good....ie- kids here are pretty nice. Not every school will address every child's need, you have to choose what is important to your child and family. If you want a smaller school, with more personal attention from parents and staff, a focus in moral education, high academic standards and tight community of parents than you should DEFINITELY check this school out. It may just be the perfect fit!
--Submitted by a parent

we've been at the school for 3 years now and couldn't be happier! i have a 2nd & 1st grader - both are very different and both have thrived in this catholic school. not only are the academics strong and challenging but the teachers are warm and open. at first we were drawn to the school partly b/c of the nun principal. she left at the end of last year & a new - FANTASTIC - principal was hired. i've been lucky to be a part of the school's 5 year strategic plan committee and have had a few meetings with her and really am blown away by her vision & leadership. so many of us parents feel a renewed energy around the school b/c of the direction we feel dr. rolle will take our school. it's an exciting time to be here! this review would not be complete without mentioning the welcoming, warm and friendly community of families...we live in atherton and have many friends in our larger community and feel so lucky to have met so many new, close friends. we have a lot of fun together while also rallying around those who are in need (a classmate of my son's house recently burned down and we were all there to help immed!) this is a great place to educate your child!
--Submitted by a parent

I'm both a parent and an alum. When it came time to choose a school, we debated sending our kids to public school, but decided on Catholic grammar school to increase the odds of getting accepted to Catholic high school. My daughter is just completing her first year (kindergarten) and we have been thrilled with our experience. The academics are challenging, but the class size is small so the kids receive the attention they need to excel. It's more rigorous than I remembered, but the small and caring community experience is much the same. The school has an excellent science lab built about 10 years ago (not sure where the mis-information below came from). Also, the cost is about 1/3 the cost of St. Joseph, but $1000/year more than Nativity. Parents are very involved and supportive, and many of us are balancing work and family life. I don't doubt that the experience and education will make my daughter successful and community-focused.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to the Open House this year and was not impressed with the facilities. This is one of the most expensive Catholic Schools in the area aside from St. Joseph and I was surprised that I did not see a science lab of any sort. It seemed more like a social gathering for the parents and did not find the people at the desk very knowledgeable about the upper grades. It was very unorganized and uninviting. As a result we sought another school for our children. I also did not want to start at a school who is bringing in a new principal....I did not know if this would be a good thing or a bad thing for the school...too much up in the air.

I agree with the previous parent's comments. After many years at the school the best word that comes to mind to describe the environment is "Cronyism". So if you don't fit the cookie cutter wheeling and dealing parents you are alienated from committees. Not a democracy. Only a chosen few have the opportunity to pick their friends to basically run the school. No transparency. Sad for a Christian Community.
--Submitted by a parent

St. Raymond School is a hidden gem on a beautiful campus in the heart of Menlo Park. My children absolutely love their school and their teachers. The academics are top notch, and the focus is on developing the whole child - morally, spiritually, academically, and socially. The student to teacher ratios are excellent and I feel like my children are well known by all the faculty and any issues are quickly addressed. I can't say enough about the extraordinary parent community at St. Raymond. You feel welcome from the moment you step on campus. The community is fun, involved, open, and supportive. Everyone is grounded in the same goal of giving our children a great moral and spiritual base on which they can develop their own individuality. Almost 100% of our students get into their first choice private high school and many excel at athletics and other extracurricular activities. What impresses me most is the "end product". Our 8th graders are a well-grounded, confident, articulate and kind group of students, who do extremely well in high school and beyond. I highly recommend St. Raymond School.
--Submitted by a parent