St. Jane Frances De Chantal School

If your child has any kind of disability (adhd, autism, behavioral) this school will not help you. The principal is very fake and does not care about your child. She will act like she wants to help, but it the long run will only hurt matetrs. She also requests personnal medical documents that she has no right to ask for by law. If you do not provide them she WILL let your kid go from this school. The pre-K 3 program is a JOKE and a HUGE waste of money, the kids run around like a pack of animals more than learn. The daycare is a joke and the staff is immature.
—Submitted by a parent

Tremendous middle school faculty. Math and English teachers are very very effective at getting the students ready for a high school curriculum. Social Studies teacher enables/encourages the students to think/act globally. STEM program being integrated into the curriculum. SJF has recently received grants to add teaching technology to the classrooms. 2nd of 2 children graduating in May 2011. Both have earned partial scholarships to Catholic high schools. 1st child was more prepared for high school math than most of her HS classmates.. The facilities are old but well-maintained. New windows were added in each classroom in recent years. SJF is the two time defending champion of The Catholic High School of Baltimore's Math Olympiad. In the past two years, four girls have won full four-year scholarships to TCHS. Knott Scholarships have been awarded to SJF students in 2010 and 2011. My only disappointment is that Spanish is not offered as a core class. It's only offered as a "special" class.
—Submitted by a parent

Newly Improved Great Quality School, Safe Loving Environment.... Two children went through St Jane Frances school, currently have a child in 7th, and another who graduated last year, now a well prepared 9th grader who received a partial scholarship to HS. We've been at St. Jane Frances for over 11 years, we've seen many changes to the school, but the last three years have been a privilege to be a part of. New principal made some changes that hurt in the beginning, it was scary, but over time the school is growing, excelling in Math, Sciences, Technology, English. Drug free/non bullying program, well behaved, well adjusted students. New STEM program started this year, with a full curriculum planned for the Fall 2011. Grants received to advance technology, software, and equipment. Quality of teaching is phenomenal. My 9th grader so advanced over her fellow students in writing, vocab, and grammar, direct impact from St. Jane s teaching. Nothing but positive things to say. I am proud be a parent at St. Jane Frances school and proud that my son will be able to share in these advancements his 8th grade year, hands down one of the top elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
—Submitted by a parent

St Jane is a small school that gives your child a lot of personal attention. The technology is amazing and the advances in math and science are far above other local schools. They were just selected as a STEM school and received a large grant to further imporve the technology, math and science departments. The students will benefit from the new computers and STEM curriculms. In the past two years, 2 Knott Scholars were named from St. Jane. The teachers are very dedicated to the children. I believe we have an exciting future at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Awesome school with advanced technology bringing the kids to the next level, STEM, Poet's Tea, National Guard Stay on Track drug free program, nothing but good things happening here, preparing kids for future, holding high standard, excelling children!
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers & great family atmosphere! I have been extremely pleased with St. Jane Frances School!
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my kids attended St. Jane from Pre-K through 8th grade. I am still involved with the school and if I had more kids, they would be attending St. Jane! This is a great school with a family atmosphere.

My kids were very well prepared for Catholic high schools after attending St. Jane. There have been very positive remarks from the high school math teachers about St. Jane students and how well prepared they are.

My son attended SJF until we moved to a different neighborhood. The foundation he received prepared him well for the transition into a new school. I will always be grateful to his early teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I cannot express my extreme happiness in St Jane Frances. We moved from out of state and enrolled in 2008. We have had nothing but positive experiences from the school. The teachers are dedicated and encouraging to every child. The STEM program in the middle school is beyond compare. Even children in the Pre-K class are getting STEM and Spanish. The administrative staff is always accessible and willing to listen. The Catholic faith is taught everyday, not only in a classroom, but by the actions of the teachers, administators and children. I would recommend St. Jane Frances to anyone. From reading the other comments, maybe a change was what this wonderful school needed.
—Submitted by a parent

What a great Catholic education. The middle school teachers can't be compared to any others. They are unbelievable. The lower grades are just as fantastic. I would enroll both of children again in a heartbeat.
—Submitted by a parent

Many of these ratings were made years ago by what may have been disgruntled parents after the financial shake-up when we found out that many were not being required to pay their full share of tuition. Our children have been attending school at St. Janes since 2003 and the quality of education has improved. They have a state of the art science lab and computer room. The teachers are caring and challenge students to do their best. It is a struggle to pay the tuition, but we make sacrifices and feel that it is in our children's and communities best interest to send our children to this wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

Although many of the school's difficutlies may have originated with the past principal, the continuance of many of the staff (adminstrative, nursing, and classroom) has resulted in a continuance of what I would consider sub-standard academics and parent communication. My child will not be returning next year
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to St. Janes and was very well prepared for continuing on to Mt. Saint Joseph High School. The emphasis on study skills and planning really helped him. The strong teachers in junior high also gave him a great background for high school.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have all graduated from St. Janes and gone on to become very productive adults. My grandchildren are now enrolled in the school. My youngest grandchild is in Pre-K 4 with Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Brenda. He loves school and the teachers are wonderful. Mrs. Wright is always available to speak to the parents whenever they come in. She is loving and caring and I can't believe how much the children have learned from printing their names to Spanish. The children are always hugging her and happy to go to class. I would highly recommend this school to anyone who wants a loving caring and top notch school.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't wait intil the new school year starts. I love the teachers they are caring and wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

Blame the previous administrator. He is the cause of all the school's troubles. We should have had the current leadership a long while ago.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is an absolute joke. Although the current financial challenges are dominating the school, there are significant issues with the faculty and the curriculum. The past mismanagement of the budget is consistent with the POOR collective approach to improving the curriculum. There are a few teachers who are excellent, but their ability to effect proper discipline, raise the curriculum to a level that is equivalent to public schools, and seek great learning opportunites is limited. There are too many teachers who spend their day on their personal cell phones in class, surfing the internet, and NOT teaching the children. These teachers would not survive at a public school. BTW: They pulled most of the religious programs out of the school. I have pulled my children and hired tutors to prepare them for public school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children in this school for 9 years. Unfortunately, they are being removed from the school at the Christmas break this year. I can no longer watch my children's education constantly degraded. Academic Programming is seriously lacking and expectations constantly lowered. Financing the school seems to have become top priority in the Administrations goals. Everything now seems to be about where we can cut costs, were can we squeeze for more money. Last marking period, many of the children were publicly humiliated by the principal, by handing them blank report cards if parents were behind by any amount in their payments. Communication with parents is almost nonexistent unless you have a personal relation with a teacher. I had already pulled one child at the end of last year due to lack of academic progress. I am now watching this child flourish in the public school system.
—Submitted by a parent

St Jane Frances is an excellent school. My daughter attended St Jane's from K-8th grade. She had excellent teachers who were always very dedicated and caring. I always had the peace of mind that my daughter was in a safe, nurturing learning environment. Tuition costs were a struggle, but the Christian values that St. Jane's instilled in my daughter are priceless! She was well prepared for high school (thanks to St. Jane's) and now attends Mt De Sales Academy. Thanks St Jane's!!
—Submitted by a parent