Saint Marys Catholic School

We enrolled our granddaughter in a public elementary school in Melbourne after moving to Florida. It was a nightmare. There was no discipline whatsoever. Students ripped pages out of textbooks and threw them at the teachers, threw the books themselves, spit food at the teachers, etc. Our granddaughter was bullied constantly and the school did nothing. We pulled her out and homeschooled her the last six weeks when she said that the bullying was so bad that if we forced her to keep going, she was either going to run away or hurt herself. We did a lot of research, toured schools and interviewed principals. We chose St. Mary's and will never regret it. Small class sizes, caring teachers, individual attention, responsiveness to concerns - it's all there. This school is the best kept secret in Brevard county.
--Submitted by a parent

Best K-8 school in Brevard County. Yes, tuition can be a financial burden, as it is for most families paying for private education. Yes, volunteering for school fundraising events is mandatory to help offset costs and keep tuition as low as possible. Having said that, if private education is an option for your family, please contact our principal who will explain the schools mission, programs and give a tour. St. Mary's has a strongly committed faculty and staff who are dedicated to the high acedemic and morale standards which are the basis for the school's mission. St. Mary's school is a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and in 2010 became a certified University of Cambridge International programs school. The school academic programs are the very best. There is only one other K-8 Cambridge school in the state of Florida. The students are happy, disciplined and thriving. Our sons are in the 5th and 8th grades. They are very respectful boys...and so are their friends and fellow students. A St. Mary's graduate really stands out in a crowd!
--Submitted by a parent

The proof of a great school is what your child can build it into. My 2 children (1 boy, 1 girl) started at St. Mary's pre-k, went thru all 8 grades and then went to MCC to complete their primary education. Both had no difficulty getting accepted into the college(s) of their choice, have done well and will be assets to their community. Yes, St. Mary's has fund raisers. Yes, money is always a relevant issue. I personally believe that people more often than not use that as their excuse not to put their kids in the best environment while they drive nice new SUVs. Where God guides, God provides. You will have to make sacrifices to afford pre-k, middle, high school & college but if educating your child is a priority you will find the money. I suggest letting your decision be based on what is best for your child - is God relevant? You will feel growth in your relationship with God as a family if your child attends St. Mary's.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family found St. Mary's after looking for a more personalized approach to education. My oldest son attended public school before coming to St. Marys and it wasn't the right fit for us. I like knowing the children that my children are interacting with every day, and knowing (for the most part) that their parents are present in their lives. We are not Catholic so the religious education isn't important to us, but I am very happy with the character based curriculum. I love that the teachers include parents and that most of the parents seem truly interested in their child's academic success. It does cost about a car payment a month and they do have fundraisers but I know from my friends in public schools that they have just as many. I am very happy with the school
--Submitted by a parent

Class sizes are out of control...over 30 students in some primary grade classrooms! Struggling students in some classrooms redo papers till they get the 'right' grades but end up with skill gaps in their education because they don't understand concepts...just to keep trying till they hit on the right answer. School has some positives going for it - but they have just about daily fundraisers/collection enevelopes needing $$$ for all sorts of causes and school related needed. It is a uniform school of course, but I am surprised at how kids are allowed to wear Jonas bros shoes and the like rather than the standard expected uniform shoe attire...bright sneaks with patterns/character ruin the uniform look.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school. Excellent Kindergarten teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

St. Mary's is an excellent school. The principal is caring and devoted to creating a positive Christian atmosphere for the students. The teachers are very dedicated. No one is pushed aside or left behind here. My older children went to local public schools (2 have graduated, 2 are now high school homeschoolers) and I see a vast difference in every aspect of the school experience from educational to interpersonal. St. Mary's parents and teachers are caring and involved. There are many extracurricular activities for students, from Walking Club to Reading Renassaince Club. My 3 boys are happy and safe and excited to go to school everyday!
--Submitted by Robin, a parent