St. Pius Elementary School

I am a student at St. Pius who has been going to the school for five years. The teachers are nice and they treat everyone the same .No exceptions when it comes to behavior.The work in my opinion is not super hard but you definatly will need to think hard about you answers on test. I have to sompletely disagree witht what some of the parents had to say there are mass services every friday for the students to go to. And they do have christmas services,crowning of mary, and the whole school gets ashes on there forehead on ash wedensday.The rules I admitted are very strict. The vice principal is also super strict. But he is super fair.
--Submitted by a student

Our son attended SPES from K-8th, our daughter from preK to present. I know the school well, having served in many volunteer roles. My children have had the best in teaching methods, classroom technology and faculty (most of whom have a master's or working on it). Now at STM, my son was well prepared for high school. Peers of his from other schools had less exposure to the academic material and methods he had at St Pius. Parents are VERY involved, volunteering for 20+ committees from library, dining, & classroom assistance to events & fun-raisers. The administrators are strong character models. The facility is very safe and secure. Spirituality is top priority, woven into all aspects of a school day. My husband and I have been very pleased, $$ well invested. Janice LeBlanc, parent
--Submitted by a parent

St. Pius is an awesome school. Our children come from school understanding what they are doing. We do not have to teach our children at home during homework. The teachers are doing they job in the classrooms. I can not say enough good about this school. Best parenting decision we have made so far.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is the total package. St. Pius Elementary School is the premier Catholic school in the area. St. Pius offers an excellent academic program, cutting-edge technology, and well-rounded extra-cirricular activites including clubs and athletics, all being centred in the Eucharist. My family has been a part of this school for the past ten years. My oldest child is now in high school and could not have been more prepared thanks to the education and spiritual formation he received at St. Pius Elementary School.
--Submitted by a parent

This is the Catholic school to attend. On Friday every week there is a mass. 8th - 5th first mass and 4th-1st second mass. The recess is not taken away. On the crowning of Mary all students are allowed to bring flowers to the statue of Mary. I love it at this school and i will miss it when I leave. The teachers are the best. We do not have rushed prayer services. Me as a student know this school in and out beacuse i have been going there for 10 years.
--Submitted by a student

Now that our child had been out of St. Pius for two years now, we are kicking ourselves by not taking him out of SPES when we had the chance. Being that there was no outside reading required, that no nine weeks or cumulative tests were given, that projects were not allowed to be done at home; that accelerated math was 25% of the math program instead of teacher instruction - our child has struggled in high school because of important skills he should have learned in jr. high but did not learn at SPES. It may boast of advanced technology - but that would not have helped our child in H.S. either. Hopefully, the oppressive environment has changed since we were there.
--Submitted by a parent

St. Pius is the kind of Catholic school that all Catholic schools used to be. As their mantra goes, being 'centered in the Eucharist' is not for show but the source from which all else flows. For those trying to raise moral,practicing Catholics, that in and of itself would be enough. But the school's excellence academically is an added bonus. There is not a school in the area which offers anymore scholastically. St. Pius is on the cutting edge of technology and it's resources are abundant.Students are exposed to Art, music and the most advanced technology in the classroom. Sports are not a major draw because emphasis is not in athletics, but a sports program is available and quite diverse.Every teacher maintains a positive and genuine love for Catholic education and parent involvemtent is extra-ordinary, making this relatively new elementary school probably the best in the state. It is an all-around FANTASTIC school!
--Submitted by Patrice Veazey, a parent

If you are looking for a 'Catholic' school, this may not be the one. I attended Catholic schools my whole life and this one is quite different. No Christmas program for all the children, no school masses, (only rushed prayer services for a few classes at a time), no confessions, no ashes for all on Ash Wednesday. Recess is taken away in some grades if Catechism is not remembered. Only the little children were allowed to bring flowers to the Blessed Mother today. And the latest, the awards ceremony for this year will be held Fall '06, next school year. Positive incentive is not a priority. Sadly, the school has changed so much from its early days when it felt like a family and felt Catholic.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has found a true home in SPES. We have 2 children in middle school and one in elementary. The school is very friendly and loving. We as parents are given many opportunities to be involved in the school as well as our children s education. Our children are involved in many school activities such as athletics, campus ministry, pep squad (with many more opportunities available) all which have been a very positive experience. The school focuses on the whole child. The standards are set high but are very achievable. They are teaching our children to be the LEADERS of tomorrow not followers. Leaders in the classroom, Leaders in their Faith, and Leaders in the community!
--Submitted by a parent

No parental involvement unless you're needed for fundraisers, Edline, a useful tool for looking at 'numbers', doesn't tell you anything about what your child is learning much less struggling with, no graded papers are sent home (you'll have to take time off of work to review them at school), no mid-term tests, no parent/teacher conferences, no progress reports, teacher driven classrooms meaning no independent thinking for students, nothing positive - if you like your kids hearing don't, can't, no, not, etc. daily, then this school is for you. As for discipline, it's over-the-top with major infractions for the most ridiculous things. And if you're concerned about safety, anyone can walk directly into the school with 2nd grade classrooms right off the lobby. St. Pius is great at preaching Christianity but is lost in practicing what they preach. And all this for only $3,175 yearly.
--Submitted by a parent