Palmer Catholic Academy

The enrichment classes are great. Spanish is wonderful. Students can learn the language from K-8th.
--Submitted by a parent

The emphasis on character as well as academic achievement can't be beat!!
--Submitted by a parent

We are very happy with Palmer, Mrs. Earp, and our daughters 4th grade teacher as well as the curriculum.
--Submitted by a parent

The middle school team uses pre AP strategies which is a big plus for students enrolling in high school honors classes. Palmer graduates are consistently in contention for valedictorian in their senior year in high school. Parents feel that the team also cares about each student as a child of God and encourages Christlike behavior.

We pulled our child out of a PVB public school after first grade. We are now in our second year at Palmer and have another child in kindergarten. The academics are equally good at both schools, but Palmer offers so much more. Obviously, religion was an important part of our decision to put our children at Palmer, but education is of upmost importance as well. We have been very pleased with the academics. I think Palmer teaches and enriches the 'whole' person. They do not have a 'gifted' program, but their program still challenges the children (you just don't get the braging rights that the public school's PACE parents get) They reinforce the moral we strive to teach our children at home and guide the kids to become caring, respectful, generous members of society. We did not see any of those morals being taught at the public schools.
--Submitted by a parent

Palmer Catholic Academy has been a wonderful school for my two children. The school is incredibly family oriented. When my kids were in 1st and 3rd grades, every teacher in the school knew them. It is a school of families with parents that are required to be active in the school. Every parent knows every kid. It is a tremendous feeling dropping my kids off, knowing that they are in safe loving hands. The school is disciplined so there is no nonsense in the classes. The spritual exposure is welcome in a society that is out of touch with family values. Palmer Catholic Academy has been awarded a Blue Ribbon School - only 10% of all schools (public / private) to receive this designation. Palmer take the national IOWA test for Parochial schools vs. the FCATS. This past year 2008, our students scored in the top 10% Nationally.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been very happy at Palmer! My daughter's teacher is always on top of her learning and progress. She is extremely creative and always prepared. You cannot beat the value based education tied in with a staff that greats you by name. My daughter is not a number here, and that is very important to me. We looked at the public schools (which are very good as well) but when it came down to it, learning by faith was best for our child. I am happy to be part of the Palmer family.
--Submitted by a parent

I totally disagree with the other reviews, this school is a blue ribbon A+ school. Their Iowa test scores (which is like FCATS in public schools) are always in the top 10% of the nation. I would never put my kids in a different school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school. Small class size. Good discipline. Teachers and aides in classrooms. High parental involvement. Excellent library and music programs. Needs more sports, which should be mandatory. Blue Ribbon school. Sky high Iowa Test scores.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree with the last several posts regarding the administration and the level of academics. We pulled our daughter out after 1 'wasted' year in a classroom with 26 children. We had always thought she was bright but saw her performance diminish throughout the year at Palmer. To clarify if we were expecting too much, we had her tested and found that she is Highly Gifted. We are convinced that her sliding performance was due to not being challenged in the classroom, in fact being overlooked in the sea of other students, many of which had behavior issues. She is now in a gifted program and has thankfully regained what she lost last year. Administration is hostile, indifferent, and unwelcoming to parents. All of this is very different from my own Catholic school experience. Very sad.
--Submitted by a parent