Our Lady of Lourdes School

More than just a great school tOLOL is a community centered on academic excellence, service, faith and ...fun.. Our Lady of Lourdes is an outstanding inclusive school which recognizes the gifts and talents of every child and nurtures those gifts in every child. The school is academically challenging and innovative using textbooks, age appropriate novels field trips, technology, physical activity and more to engage the children. The principal is a strong knowledgeable leader who does not have a cookie cutter approach to education and includes innovative strategies to engage all children including those with differing learning abilities and needs. If that were not enough, the school excels in sports and includes physical activity into the learning process, fundraising and extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is simply amazing. Our daughter started in PreK and she has transformed tremendously. The Pre-K program is very strong academically and very well organized. The classes are small and plus the children are broken down in small groups so the children really receive individualized attention. The leadership Mrs McGann and Mr long are very caring about their children and very involved in the development of their children. Mr Long has definately the best camp as our daughter vocabulary, self confidence boosted during the ten weeks. We could not believe our eyes. We are really proud parents as we could not have asked for a better school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children love attending our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. OLOL is a special school. The school has excellent leadership--a strong principal who genuinely knows and cares for each and every child in the school. The school environment is inclusive and demands/fosters kindness and respect. One can sense the fruits of this when meeting students from Lourdes. Students are challenged academically but the school is not a pressure cooker. Children are encouraged and expected to use all of their gifts and talents to the best of their ability. There are opportunities for all Lourdes students to shine and to help each other shine. The extracurricular activities, including sports teams, are inclusive and affirming. We discovered Lourdes a bit by accident and happily recommend it; it's a rare gem in the heart of downtown Bethesda.
—Submitted by a parent

I have just returned to Lexington,Ma. after attending my granddaughter's First Holy Communion at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. As a retired teacher and administer, I am so pleased that my two granddaughters are fortunate enough to attend this school. I was there for a week and attended the opening of each day with an assembly that sets the tone for each school day. There are announcements for birthday and /or other events,prayers,singing ,.etc. Every child is standing in line with their class in a comfortable, community based setting. The principal always ends with words of encouragement and a message. One day, it was to do one nice thing that day for someone.I had carried a chair for my husband to sit on and when the students were dismissed, a 5th grader came to me and offered to carry the chair for me. I replied,'You have already followed your principal's request. The faculty is dedicated and caring and it shows in their smiles and behavior. Bravo to all!

LOVE IT!!!! Is not only a school but a family, and a place to grow with your child. To meet their friends, and to be tehre for them.
—Submitted by a parent

OLOL is amazing! We began in Pre-K and were so impressed we have continued. The school works hard to create a very close knit group-Teachers and students all know every student in the school by their first name. They take time to learn about each student so an 8th grade teacher will say hello to a 3rd grader by name. The after care program is run by Mr. Long who also has a summer camp. The children love it--you can sign up once a week or all year. Principal McGann has done an amazing job in very tough economic times to support technological advancement. Each class room has computers and smart boards. Yes the school building is old but the classrooms and hallways are bursting with art work and color. The school is socially and economically diverse which I love- something for everyone! We love OLOL!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at Lourdes for three years. Although it is a nice school it is not great. My children have had problems with friends, and some of the teachers are not as experienced as I thought they would be. The falculty also keeps changeing each year. I am very dissapointed as I thought Lourdes would be a better place where my students could live and love. But so far they have come home crying and upset at what Lourdes has done to them. I hope the environment at Lourdes will change as I have a friend who is looking to send her son to Lourdes, and I do not want her to go throught the same things I did with having to deal with Lourdes.
—Submitted by a parent

We are completely disappointed in Lourdes this year. Students are unsupervised and complaints are not taken seriously. This is the second year that we have been at Lourdes and there will not be a third.
—Submitted by a parent

Lourdes has been a great environment academically, socially and spirtually. It has a great small community feel with the low student to teacher ratio and offers a nice learning experiences and programs for children I am impressed with the teachers from our experience in the early primary grades. The facility has some great upgrades like the gym, field and media center. Our son is enjoying school, likes his peers and is learning a lot. Great school!
—Submitted by a parent

I love Our Lady of Lourdes for its nurturing environment. This is a place where 'everybody knows your name'. There is a true sense of community and support.
—Submitted by a parent

Lourdes is wonderful! After observing the interaction between the teachers and their students, I happily report that the teachers provide students with an environment where they can truly thrive. Although some of the teachers are young, their passion and commitment to their students is like none I've seen before. I would recommend Lourdes to anyone of my family or friends who were looking for a Catholic School that provides students with an atmosphere that is warm and friendly, yet academically challenging. A perfect combination!

At OLOL, children of all ages fondly greet each other by name, followed by hugs. Older children are paired with younger children to facilitate inter-grade learning. Administrators and teachers use every available educational tool technology, discipline, community service, games, sports, art, science, whatever it takes to find the right motivation for each child to excel in learning. Recently, the school made a huge investment in technology - including state-of-the-art laptops for computer training in a brand new library. Education is a team process between all students, teachers, administrators and parents, and the results are evident in high test scores, honors, and strong sense of community. Setting high goals - academic and ethical - and achieving them together is what OLOL is all about.
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest son has been at Lourdes since he was 3 years old. He has grown and flourished within this tight and nurturing community. My youngest son is enjoying the same benefits and loves school!
—Submitted by a parent

I was disappointed to find out that yet again teachers had changed over the summer. The teachers are all almost all very young in the lower grades, with varying levels of experience, but mostly in the early stages of their teaching careers and with little experience. I have heard that some of the middle school teachers are fantastic and really prepare their students for high school. There is little sympathy in the MS for learning issues, but there is strong support for learning issues in K-5. There are a number of after school activities available, but there is not a Boy Scout or Girl Scout group at Lourdes. I personally do not feel welcome at Lourdes, but have spoken to parents who have been happy with the school. There is not a new library/media center, though the plans are in the works.
—Submitted by a parent

The facilities are lovely, though dated. There isn't central air though money was raised for that cause several years ago. For the past few years there has been a plan for a Library/Media Center, but so far it has not materialized. Most of the teachers have little experience though there are a few strong teachers. There is high turnover. A lot of teachers have left in the past few years. The principal used to be in health care, then was a gym teacher, then was in admissions before becoming a principal. She has been principal at OLOL for five years. There are mixed reviews.
—Submitted by a parent

We have had children attend the school from pre-K through 8th grade; the younger ones still attend. We been very pleased with our experience. Our older children were well prepared to excel in a rigorous high school curriculum. The principal is entering her fifth year; previously, she was an administrator at a local Catholic high school and, for years, a teacher at the elementary level. The faculty is very strong, and turnover has not been an issue in recent years. The school is particularly diverse for the area--its location in downtown Bethesda means that many of its students' parents work nearby, though they may live farther away. The Catholic identity is very strong. The physical plant is much improved, but still modest. The 1940s structure has a renovated gym and new turf field, and the library is being relocated and updated, but the building still is limited. Tuition is (relatively) reasonable.
—Submitted by a parent

Completely disappointing experience. The principal is unexperienced, and it shows. The faculty is unprofessional, the students are ill prepared, and there is little to no Catholic identity.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been extremely please with Our Lady of Lourdes for our three children. Lourdes is unusual in that it does a very good job of meeting the needs of children with different issues. We have children at both ends of the spectrum academically and they have fulfilled each childs needs beautifully. Lourdes has also given our children a nurturing environment what they are not afraid to try new things. Furthermore, we like the diversity, social awareness, parent involvement and sports programs available at Lourdes. It is a special place!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school! The teachers, parents and principal are dedicated to working together to ensure the success of the children. The academic programs are designed to give children experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. Children are given the opportunity to explore, and to think authentically. Physical education, art, music and the dramatic arts are woven into the dynamics of the school's overall academic program. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular sports activities and community service. The school is an ideal learning environment for children.
—Submitted by a parent

We are thrilled with the school and its leadership and teachers. Everyone is very supportive and caring. It is difficult to find an acceptable environment for children and we have. Both the shool and after-care programs are top notch.
—Submitted by a parent