St. Alphonsus School

After reading your review a couple of times, I'm still not sure I understand, but I assume based on the "2 stars", it's a negative review. My question to you is, why are you so bitter??? I've had 3 kids go to St. Al's, with one still there, and it's wonderful! People who left last year are coming back, and new students are enrolling. Most impressive, however, is how full the younger classes are. One last thing, you're husband must be a Saint... God bless him....
--Submitted by a parent

Do not enroll your child here is you are on Active Duty and just transferred to South Mississippi. The school is much to be desired. The school to check on is NATIVITY in Biloxi. The ST. ALS offers very little in advance educations, physical activity, or the arts. The principal will not take any input and the School Board advisory does not listen to the parents.
--Submitted by a parent

I can not reccomend this school or Pre-K to any parents or future parents. The school has a few excellent teachers but the administration is unsatisfactory at best. The school has not won any Academic or School Award in almost 10 yrs. The school cost continues to go up with not improvements to the ACADEMICS, PHYSICAL FITNESS, ARTS, SCIENCE or other basic education. It continues to develop little clicks where if you are not a part your child will and can suffer in his education
--Submitted by a parent

The SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD continues to meet in Secrecy with no parent invovlement. You can not get a copy of the FINANCIAL RECORDS to see where money goes. OVERALL to much SECRECY at this school..........
--Submitted by a parent

To all who left in a huff last year. C'mon back, Chicken Little. Everything is alright. The sky did not fall.
--Submitted by a parent

This is truly a cry for help when someone has to put down another school to try to save what is obviously not going to be tollarated by the community. I'm sure the new teacheers are great, but they will in no way compare to the experience, strong catholic faith and wonderful committment not only to the school, but the church as well. Who teaches religion for all the non-catholic teachers? Isn't this part of why we send our children to catholic SCHOOLS? Was this ever a priority to the principal?
--Submitted by a parent

Changes were long overdue and although unpopular, they were needed. The remaining teachers are caring professionals who treat ALL children with RESPECT and are WILLING and ABLE to TEACH ALL children, regardless of their ability. The new teachers exhibit the same traits and have warm, friendly temperaments that children and parents are sure to like. This will make the classroom more engaging for students with nontraditional learning styles. Instead of sitting quietly in a desk completing worksheets, children are encouraged to actively participate in their lesson. The teachers and librarian are certified (some highly certified) and have a strong desire to learn and enhance their teaching skills. This is not a private school; it is a CATHOLIC school, rich in its heritage and support. The tuition and fees are high, but well worth the sacrifice. Our decision will be reaffirmed when all my children receive their diploma from the Bishop.
--Submitted by a parent

In the Spring of 2010, parents paid a $325 registration fee per child, assuming things would not change all that much. However, the first year principal elected not to renew the contracts for over half of the teaching staff in late June (much too late for these teachers to find gainful employment elsewhere). Eight teachers whose contracts were not renewed had invested their lives into the school, working there for over 20 years. No evaluations were done on these experienced teachers nor explanations given of why their contracts were not renewed. Needless to say, parents became enraged with this decision and many of them forewent the registration fee when they realized they no longer wanted to be affiliated with St. Alphonsus. Enrollment appears to have declined rapidly for St. Alphonsus as they didn t expect so many families to leave after the decision. Do not recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

The reason so many (about a third to one half of the students) are leaving is that the school that ONCE produced those top graduates no longer exists. The TEACHERS that made those well prepared students year after year were dismissed without explanation. That action turned many lives upside down; we are choosing a more stable, caring and Christian environment for our children. Too much negativity at St. Al's--sad that it can all stem from one poorly chosen leader.
--Submitted by a parent

If you are active duty military relocating to Ocean Springs and looking for the right full-time preschool for your child, let me recommend Sacred Heart over St. Alphonsus. When comparing apples to apples (the two school are similar enough both are Catholic private schools), you will find tuition is more affordable at Sacred Heart and the facilities are fantastic! Sacred Heart was recently completely renovated after hurricane Katrina only the outer facade is original. I was happy with St. Alphonsus until recently. While my children have attended PreK3 and PreK4 for three consecutive years at St. Alphonsus, I transferred them to Sacred Heart for the 2010 academic year. St. Alphonsus has never been the same since 2009 with the hiring of a new principal. You'll find many mixed reviews on this school because of the radical changes the school is currently undergoing. Experienced teachers with tenure are replaced easily there.
--Submitted by a parent