Gooden School, The

We have a Kindergartener at the Gooden School and we love it! She adores her teacher. She receives a lot of one on one attention. She is getting a great education but is still able to play and have fun as she is not overwhelmed by too much homework. We love that the school offers a wonderful music and art program and that she has PE 4 days/week. We have been impressed by how well all of the staff/teachers at Gooden know our daughter. Our daughter's class is small but she interacts with the other grades and has made friends with children in different classes as well as her own. We love the traditions at Gooden and the strong emphasis placed on character and moral development. We couldn't be happier
--Submitted by a parent

My kids have been attending from kindergarden through middle school. Excellent school with caring and compassionate instructors. The things they do best is develop caring, compassionate students who have empathy and character. In my book, the rest will follow. Check it out.
--Submitted by a parent

Every school has issues--that is true. Unfortunately in my experience Gooden tries to sweep issues under the rug and pretend that everything is just fine. There are some nice things about this school, and my son has some great friends but prospective parents should beware that not everything is as it seems.
--Submitted by a parent

Every school has it's issues. I encourage prospective parents to have direct conversations with current parents rather than relying on a review. I have 3 children at the school. When issues come up, I speak directly to the Head of Schools and have always had her ear and action. The Head of Schools is out every morning at drop off greeting the K-3rd grade children with big smiles. The Head is very well respected in the private school community - especially at the private high schools. It's a very supportive community and I'm happy to be a part of it.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been at The Gooden School for five years and currently have two children there. The teachers have been excellent and truly know my children. I have always admired the students and how well they treat each other. I especially enjoy seeing how kind the older students are to the younger ones. I am continually impressed with the academic programs. I feel I have two well educated happy kids that enjoy going to school. I am very pleased with the Head of School and feel she is doing an excellent job.
--Submitted by a parent

We've been at The Gooden School for 3 years now and I could not be happier. Although Gooden is one of the smaller schools around, it has a huge community feeling with opportunity for the children to get to know kids of all ages really well. Both of my kids have made friends I'm sure they will know for the rest of thier lives. Gooden is not known as one of the highly competitive schools, however, I know that my kids could compete on the same level as kids attending schools more geared towards that. We have good friends at pretty much every other school in the area and I know the work load and homework is similiar to those schools, but my kids never seemed stressed or worried like some of thier buddies at other schools. I also love that every staff member including the teachers in our middle school know my kids by name and are willing to go the extra mile for them. I want to raise conscience, capable and confident children and believe Gooden is the perfect school to help us achive that.
--Submitted by a parent

This has been a wonderful school for our family. It has a very strong academic program, a very nurturing environment, as well as a well-rounded curriculum including the arts. Both of our children have graduated and now attend excellent local high schools. Overall, we were very happy.
--Submitted by a parent

This school isn't as great as it could be because the leadership is so poor. It is frustrating.
--Submitted by a parent

The school can't offer what other private schools in the area provide. If your child needs extra help, you will have to pay out of pocket. It is run by a person who has horrible communication skills. Girls are given better treatment than boys. Enough said.

We just received our child's high school acceptance letter and are less than satisfied with the results. We were assured by the administration that Gooden students routinely get their first school of choice for high school, but this did not happen, and we are left holding the pieces of a now empty bag. Nine years wasted!!!
--Submitted by a parent