Transfiguration School

I have two children in the Pre-K program at the Kindergarten location at Confucius Plaza. We are now 6 months into the school year and I feel I can speak from a place of knowledge and experience regarding this school. Academically, this school excels beyond expectation. Both my children are writing, reading, and building an extensive vocabulary base as well as sequence skills. They are digging into math in the form of digits, ordering and sequential methods. Additionally they are keenly in tune to, social, spacial and inner awareness (due to yoga, dance, drumming, and the emphasis on kindness, etc). I am extremely impressed with the teacher/child ratio, the appreciation for elders (in terms of grandparents), the amount of field trips and environmental exploratory work that happens in a 8.5 hr day. We are looking forward to Kindergarten at the Mott Street Lower School location. I will update my review of that location once we've acclimated ... to be continued....
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter had been in Trans since Pre-K3 (our 6th years now). I cannot say I agreed with every decision made by the school but overall we are happy. I had asked my daughter if she wants to go to public school within our school district to avoid the commute, and she said no, she likes the school. The homework load is a lot more compare to public school. I dont think some of the 1 star review is fair, but that's my personal opinion.
--Submitted by a parent

My child attends the school now but will not be returning next year. They utilize the old school method of teaching that includes punishment and demerits for not following their rules perfectly. If your child is not perfect, do not send your child here. They will inevitably suffer from psychological damage. There are plenty of good public schools out there that will nurture your child as oppose to demoralize them. There are kids who bully and continue to stay in the school because they want their tuition money. The school has declined over the years and will continue to do so as they expand. They will need to increase enrollment to collect tuition money and less likely to turn away the "bad" kids.
--Submitted by a parent

I wasn't going to say anything, just wanted to see reviews, but my child wants to leave this school as well. Sure someone went there in 1969, the school is different now. I do not want to say anything bad about the leadership of the school, but I would have to agree with what others have said. There's a right way to educate youth. I do not think the school is supportive enough and does not seem to know modern educational methods of positive reinforcement. In my opinion it is a shame the Archdiocese doesn't listen to what parents are saying.
--Submitted by a parent

I think the principals in TKS try hard to provide the best education for their students. We do not know how much stress they have. If parents think that their kids only learn from school is having bad temper and being no patient. Why don't you teach your child to have a better temper and learn to have more patient? As a parent, we are the best teachers for our children. We cannot only expect the school and the teachers do everything for our kids. We also have our responsibities to educate our children. If some parents think that the school doesn't provide enough for their children, why don't you spend more time with your children so they can learn better? As a parent, I like this school. I also believe that this school can provide the education our children need if parents really work together with the principals and the teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

The Principal in TKS Lower School and Upper School have no leadership. Even the teacher don't respect the Principal. Most of the time, the teacher made decisions, not the Principal. If you are lucky, your child will get a good teacher. If you are not lucky, you will get a very very bad teacher. My child is attending this school since Pk3. Now my child is K. For Pk3 and Pk4 classes, my child have a very nice teacher. My child learned a lot of stuff from it. However, now my child is in one of the two K class. my child did not learn much from it. The most thing my child learned is BAD TEMPER, AND NO PATIENT. My child must be learned from the teacher not the peers because most of the parent sees that the teacher is like that.
--Submitted by a parent

I have attended Transfiguration for quite a few years now. Eversince pre-k now I am in the "Upper School" part of Trans. I think this school is pretty good compare to the other schools since they won't let you slack off otherwise you are in a huge amount of trouble. All teachers are strict when they need to be but is also really really nice and fun/ funny. Trans gives a lot of homework (depending on what grade you are in) but it really helps you learn what you learned in school so you wont forget. The teachers are very helpful but just dont get yourself into trouble otherwise there are SERIOUS consequeses. Trans is expanding now and has taken over St. James building which causes some problems for the "Upper School" (includes grades 5-8)and it isn't the best. The classrooms are bigger but needs renovation

As a parent who had my kid start from pre-k 3 to now (my kid will be in 2nd grade), I feel this school has taught my kid a lot. He was able to read in Kdg, and able to do simple addition and subtraction. I don't think I can say the same for other kids of that age. I also want to say that the teachers are great. They work very hard to plan the lessons and get the kids involved. The ESL teacher (who also happens to be Chinese) my kid had was wonderful. She helped my kid to learn how to read and sound out words. She gives them book report sheets, and makes sure they are done. She rewards them with prizes to encourage them and gives them plenty of books to read.
--Submitted by a parent

If most of the students in the school are going to tutoring, there is a problem how the school is run and not with the students and their parent.

As a former student, I would like to say that Transfiguration is a great school. Some of the teachers are strict but some are nice. But however, sometimes they give you alot of homework and not be able to finish it till around 11. But the classes and other students there older and younger are friendly and the special classes like gym, art, computer, music, etc. are fun! The school has great academics and is very educated. Once you go there and if you had to leave or move you already know most of the stuff that they learn in the other school. Its a piece of cake once you go to the other school once you start of at transfiguration. I know this because i had experience this matter of issue. So on my recomendation i believe Transfiguration is the right school for you if u are looking for education,academics,fun!
--Submitted by a student