The Gooden School

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

Great community, caring teachers, amazing music, art, Spanish & PE programs and teachers! We've really valued so much about Gooden. No school is perfect, but Gooden has been a great fit for us. Some have perceived the Head of school as distant, but she's actually quite warm with the children, just more on the introverted end and formal with families. Assistant Head covers the nurturing of the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

The good things about Gooden are the caring atmosphere , the required music classes, and the chapel requirement. Also, the teachers have been great. The problems appear to be in science. There is no real science program , and the time they have spent teaching children erroneous fantasies about nutrition and other trendy scientific subjects are completely wrong and a waste of time. Also, there is little extra opportunity for a truly gifted student. Since we are willing to supplement at home the weak areas at the school, we have chosen to support the school because of its caring, nurturing atmoshere.
—Submitted by a parent

The Gooden School ha been a wonderful experience for our family. We have two children who have graduated and gone on to excellent area high schools, and one child still at Gooden. Our older children were well prepared for high school, and have fond memories and friends from their days at Gooden. This is a great place for a strong, balanced education.
—Submitted by a parent

Not good.Gooden is a complete waste of money and there is no leadership to speak of. Children are better off, better educated, better equipped to face the real world and happier at public school. We have even experienced less behavioural problems and less bullying in public school. Don't waste your money.
—Submitted by a parent

Gooden School is a complete waste of money. Thre is a lack of serious leadership and the motto about respect is a joke. Kids get better education and are safer and happier at public schools. I am speaking from experience.
—Submitted by a parent

We think Gooden is the very best place for our child. The neg comments of some here are not something we've experienced.
—Submitted by a parent

It loves its children. It has a holistic education, where every part of the child is nurtured. This schools gets education right.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school and very solid educationally including fine and performing arts.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been at this school for 9 extraordinary years (K-8) and will be sad to leave it behind for the larger world of high school. The school has done a tremendous job of preparing its students for high school (and this year's graduating class was exceptionally well-received by sought-after schools) but has given them a well-rounded education. Math could be stronger, as one other parent has indicated, but overall, I think you will find you have invested well here.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended The Gooden School for middle school 6 - 8. What a fantastic experience! The administration, the teachers, the kids and the other parents were terrific. This was an extremely warm, caring and academically rigorous environment. I highly recommend The Gooden School!
—Submitted by a parent