Our Lady of Grace

A mixed bag. The size of the school is small enough to feel like a community but its smallness also limits what is available academically. This could be the perfect school for you but it is worth your time to closely examine all the facets of the school and not just go on the friendly feeling of the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my children attend/attended Our Lady of Grace School, and although their personalities are nothing alike, they both have done very well at this school, and have been happy there. The principal, Mrs. Ricketts, is excellent; she is an intelligent and experienced educator. The academics are very strong and I have always found that the teachers are very accessible and responsive to students and parents. Socially, it is a friendly place, the kids all seem happy and well- behaved (having observed this over many years of lunch duty). People often express concerns that the school is too small. I, personally, think this is a plus, as students all have to be involved (no "flying below the radar") and end up more confident and better educated. My oldest child is now in high school, which is a much larger environment, and aside from the usual adjustments, has made new friends with ease, participates in extracurricular activities, and has risen to the challenge of rigorous high school academics. If you are considering this school, take the time to visit, meet the principal and teachers, and have your child "shadow" there for a day. I think you and your child will be very pleased.
—Submitted by a parent

When we moved to this area we had every intention of sending our children to a private Catholic school. We just thought we would have a bit of a commute to and from school. We had no idea that Our Lady of Grace was so close to our home. Once we attended Open House we felt the sense of family community immediately and knew this was the school for our family. We have had nothing but a positive experience. The staff is amazing and the educational experience has been wonderful. I have never seen a principal that is so hands on on a daily basis. I am amazed at the level of confidence every child displays. It is like an extension of our family. Would not trade this experience for the world!!
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to the area because of the great public schools then decided to try Kindergarten at Our Lady of Grace. Our daughter has now been there for 3 years and we all love it. Our friends and family are always commenting on her maturity level, and especially her confidence. I see her classmates and they all have the same attributes, and are especially caring and compassionate to each other. Her teachers and schoolmates are an extension of our family and we couldn't be happier with the sense of community, not to mention the curriculum. As a working parent, the Playcenters program offered on site is perfect. We couldn't be happier with the school and everyone connected!
—Submitted by a parent

I can't say enough about how wonderful Our Lady of Grace has been for my daughter and our family. The entire school community is supportive and nurturing offering their very best day in and day out for the benefit of all of the children. The academics and enrichment programs are excellent. My daughter frequently teaches me things she has learned in school and she is so proud of her accomplishments. She is becoming a confident, intelligent, (and goofy) young lady who cares for those around her and the world as a whole. When the earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan in 2011, she told me about it before I even heard it on the news. She then asked how she could help the kids in Japan. She asked me to reach out to the Principal to see if the school kids could help and the following week the children took up a collection to help those impacted by the devastation in Japan - pretty big endeavor for a child in kindergarten at the time. As parents we try to make the best choice for our kids, but we don t always know if we have. Our decision to send our daughter to OLGS has been the best decision. I couldn't ask for a better environment and educational experience for her.
—Submitted by a parent

As parents of two students at Our Lady of Grace, my wife and I cannot say enough wonderful things about the school. Before choosing OLGS, we researched and visited other private and public schools in the area. It was only at OLGS, though, that we truly felt at home. Now that we are part of the OLGS family, we see that the school truly is filled with incredibly caring and nurturing teachers who do everything they can to help students excel. We have even reached teachers via email as late as 11:00 at night! Our children frequently come home from school and teach us new things, and our oldest is in Kindergarten! For all these reasons, and many, many more, we highly recommend OLGS!
—Submitted by a parent

When the school opened in 2000 I would easily have given it 5 stars and then some. We have been there for a number of years now and I can't say it is the same school we bought into. Not sure if it is due to Sr Helen and Father Nicholas leaving or to the new leadership or to the different students coming and going-maybe all of those things combined- but it is not the wonderful school it used to be. Still an okay school, but not the wonderful school it was. Reading the other reviews, I would have to say some seem so positive, but others, not so much.....I can identify easily with each idea expressed. I think academically, it has to be rated above average, but there are other things to keep in mind when choosing a school as well.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent, I was suprised to read the one-star comment. Although I could not give it 5 stars, I do wonder how the school could get a one-star comment from a parent. Admittedly, the school seems a bit confused about the direction it wants to go at times, but the best interest of the students is served very well on a daily basis. Please keep in mind when reading posts to assist in your education decision, that no one school fits every family and even a family that feels it "fits" perfectly will sometimes disagree. If you're looking for a small, nurturing, faith-filled community with excellent academics, OLG is one you should consider. If you prefer abundant social arenas with a competitive edge in addition to challenging academics, local private schools may be a better fit. If you're somewhere in the middle of both of these, Baltimore County public schools typically serve most students very well. Tuition at OLG is reasonable, but as in most non-public schools, you'll write checks for just about anything from A-Z. The lack of clergy is unfortunate, but this plagues many archdioceses today. Family, Child, School, Family...Fit.
—Submitted by a parent

the archdiocese needs to step in and save this school. there are many great parochial schools in the baltimore area, and this is not one of them.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child began attending Our Lady of Grace school last year, and while we knew that it was a great school, it has exceeded all of our expectations! The principal and teachers are outstanding, the academics are excellent, and a good variety of extracurricular activities are available. Every middle school student has his/her own laptop computer that they use in school. Just as importantly, this school is a happy place and the students and teachers are kind and welcoming of new students.
—Submitted by a parent

I loved Our Lady of Grace when I went there. They instill a wonderful sense of morality and work ethic in all of its students. It's old school meets modern technique and it's amazing. I miss it a lot!
—Submitted by a student

It is the best private Catholic school in the area. We rank in the top 20% in the nation academically and the top 20% in the ste of Maryland. GO PRIDE!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

All three of our children have attended OLGS. Principal Ricketts and the school administration are simply outstanding.
—Submitted by a parent

Academically this school excels to others in the area. They have a reading teacher on campus and the children are tested at least twice throughout the year. The classes are small and the teachers and staff are very compassionate. They go above and beyond. Parent participation is expected throughout the year.
—Submitted by a parent