St. Gregory the Great School

I am sad to say that I have seen a steady decline in the education quality and administration the last 5 years. SG has so much potential because there are so many caring parents that want the school to be a success. Unfortunately, many parents are seeing the negative effects take its toll on the teachers and students. The teachers work so hard, but are not listened to by the administration and our current Pastor, who seems to have an agenda completely counter to what the school needs. There are now plans to expand the PreK program, but they should improve the problems they currently face with class size, education quality and teacher retention. They ask for money at every turn, they require working parents to volunteer (or pay) to fill in for the schools shortcomings and then they have the audacity to disregard the very community that is keeping them in business. My daughter is going into 6th grade, and we have had to tutor her just to keep her up to speed academically. I have had serious doubts that SG is capable of preparing her for high school. The thought of moving her now is heartbreaking, but unless there is dramatic change, I just can't see a reason to keep here there.
—Submitted by a parent

Does 30 students per classroom sound good to you? That's what you can expect from 3rd grade to 8th grade. In some cases there are more than 30, and only one teacher per classroom. I disagree with the previous review that said that this school is too strict. Indiscipline runs rampant perhaps due to the fact that no teacher can handle more than 30 kids in a classroom. Indiscipline leads also to poor teacher retention. The few good teachers that the school hires leave at the end of the year. To add to the problem now they have started offering PK2, PK3 and PK4. St Gregory has become a glorified childcare center. Extremely disappointing. Do not take what I say for granted: do your homework, go to the school and talk to other parents. For starters, just ask them how many students per class. While you are at it, also ask about Academics.
—Submitted by a parent

Very strict, too strict, my son attends there and i'll be taking him out. There whole approach is that the children are privileged to attend. The teachers bring the child to the door and barely speak, a 20minute line every morning and I have to stand up in a line for 15 min every afternoon in line to pick up. The parents have to volunteer or pay, and the school is always asking for money etc.. I don't mind doing that but I don't feel that parents should be penalized. I also noticed that the boys in the school are very soft spoken and reserved... don't like that, I think boys should be taught to be firm and outgoing and manly...Also, its like a fashion show amongst the parents, and many seem stuck up and mean....So, I personally do not recommend..but if you like that environment..that's your school.
—Submitted by a parent

Happy to be gone from this school, not only is there no help for children who need it (and to clarify a child with diagnosed dyslexia); the only solution is to hold the child back to "catch up". This possibly makes sense to anyone who doesn't know better but how will a child that is having problems reading the words on paper be assisted by repeating the grade. AKA, please leave our school we only want creme of the crop. Teacher turn-overs and poor administration, the change of principal alone over the last few years has been surprising. Too bad, it used to be such a good school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am an alumni, current parent since 2006, & church volunteer. St G's is a good school! No school is perfect but everytime I turn around there is some sort of classroom improvement that is going on. A procedure change or equipment upgrade because a donation or fund raiser. And the changes work! Participation in inter-school competition shows that St G's is doing something right. They seem to seekout how they can improve themselves. Options to participate in various church minitries and a spanish mass at 7:30pm on Sundays offer the congregation choices to be involved. YOU are in the driver seat for your own involvment. If you can't find some way to participate, you didn't look. Raising your children Catholic and sending them to a Catholic School calls for sacrafice. Our Family endeavors to continue the tradition of pursuing a quality Catholic Education and that means doing homework (and extra homework) to achieve goals and support the activities going on in the classroom. This is not a "free spirit" school! You and your child are expected to behave accordingly and when you don't, you are called on it. I'm ok with that. So come and enjoy! This is a nice school!
—Submitted by a parent

I think St Gregory has very caring teacher's, but is it fair to put them in those tiny classrooms with 33 children? Especially in the younger grades, when the children need more individual attention. We love the school, but the archdioceses needs to do something about the student/teacher ratio. We need to address this problem now. It really is not fair to the teachers or the students. We want our children to have a Catholic education, but at what cost?
—Submitted by a parent

Parents tend to complain too much about the quality of schools, not to mention about the teachers. These are the same parents that do spend little or no time with their kids after school! No matter which school your kids attend, a great percentage of these kids will need some help in any given subjects after school. This is where the parents come in to help out. Do not expect teachers to be the 'miracle workers'. Parent must also provide tutoring support after hours.
—Submitted by a parent

I could not believe the negative comments posted below. We have been involved with St. Gregory The Great since 1996 when my daughter started PRE K and we currently have a 7th grader. This parish helped my family when we needed it the most after I lost my job and our financial situation changed dramatically. Since we have been with the school we had several good teachers leave but now things are improving. The classes are large but the teachers are strict so order in the classroom is never an issue. The teachers are always available by email or phone and willing to help. I work at another school where students act much differently and when I get home I just hug my kids and thank the lord they attended St Gregs. God Bless.
—Submitted by a parent

I disagree with the 4/30/09 posting. St. Gregory students overwhelmingly win interschool competitions for math, geography, drama, and writing. Iowa scores consistently exceed schools locally, statewide and nationally. This cannot be accomplished without excellent teaching. Tutoring has never been recommended for either of my two children. I rarely had to assist with homework because they understood the classroom presentations and assignments. There are large parent turnouts at the Home School meetings. It would be impossible to give everyone an opportunity to speak when over 100 parents are in attendence. Contrast this with a friend who told me 10 parents attend the PTA meetings at her child's public school and the school population is double ours. Fund raising helps keep tuition lower than that charged by other private schools. The church had not been remodeled since it was built decades ago. The discipline falls between public schools and military academies.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter transferred from another catholic school and the difference is huge! The teachers that she has are interested in teaching, not just getting through a book. Discipline is consistent (although a little unforgiving, as catholics should be). The appreciative atmosphere lends to mass amounts of parental involvement. The tie between church and school is amazing. All the fundraising is for the betterment of the church AND the school. Keep it up St. Gregory!
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of teachers is poor, they don't give enough support to the students, but they have high expectations from the kids, otherwise, all they do is recommend private tutoring. They try to cohibit children from being themselves, all in the name of the discipline. The parents don't have the opportunity to speak during meetings. The main subject for this school is donations, money, the remodel of their church.
—Submitted by a parent

Compared to other schools in the area, the classrooms are over crowded. The teacher retention is poor. Not to mention the quality of teachers is gets worst each year. Kids are less prepare to enter high school. The parents are not given the opportunity to speak or give input during Home Meetings. (PTA) The focus at this school is money and how much do you donate!
—Submitted by a parent

The classrooms are over crowded. The staff seems determined to feminize the boys. The quality of the teachers is diminishing. The school needs to be upgraded, it seems that some areas are falling apart.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our third year at this school and we are very please with the school with regard to academics, extra curricular activities, and well...everything. It's a big school, with a small school feel. Wonderful learning opportunities with great technological resources. We couldn't be more pleased.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Gregory has outstanding facilities as well as caring teachers. My daughter is thriving there and I could not be happier. Very disciplined approach with very involved parents.
—Submitted by a parent