St. George Elementary School

Current parent here. I am very happy with the Prek and K program but I can also see why so many parents post such negative reviews. Although I have had no interaction with past staff I have had many opportunities to speak with past families and learn about the school and I have to say, honestly, we had no plans to leave our child in St. George past K. Thats the truth. The higher grades have alot of trouble and I feel new teachers are needed! You cant blame parents for speaking the truth! I am very surprised this school stayed open as long as they did. Also a very DIVERSE community attend St George and that is why it remained open. Ukrainian students are minimal and that has been the case for many years now.
—Submitted by a parent

We received the sad news St. George's is to close. I am so grateful for the experience my son has had here during this past year. I wish that an angel like the one who saved St. Brigid's would intervene. This is a horrible loss for the neighborhood community, and it breaks up a school that functions like a real family.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a teacher at St. George school and felt that it was time to weigh in. I take pride in my work as an educator. There is nothing more rewarding than helping children develop a love for learning and each day I create experiences in my classroom that are socially and academically enriching. St. George is small, but we have a strong sense of community. Thank you to the current St. George parents who support and encourage us everyday. Ironically it is parents from years past that have the most negative and vindictive comments to say. It is unfortunate that as we try to build up and better our school, there are some that try to tear us down. St. George may have some work to do, but our classes are currently nurturing, innovative and scholastically affluent.
—Submitted by a teacher

It is obvious the parent below has had no experience with the pre-k/k program here since her daughter attended St. George. My child has been enrolled in St. George for three years, from Pre-K 3 through K and academically exceeds other children her age who attend other schools. Everyday, I am grateful my child was exposed to such creative and caring teachers. When I walk down the halls of St. George I am always impressed by the work every grade is producing. Speaking to the teachers is key. They are passionate, knowledgable and have adapted to common core standards. Yes, the roof could use a makeover, however if you call these professionals, "babysitters", please refer me to yours, she must be incredible!
—Submitted by a parent

I think this school is a great school. It is very small and the teachers try and help the children as much as possible. I have never had an experience with a teacher saying negative comments to my child so it might have been some of the teachers that use to be there that people had problems with.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a small school that gives a lot of attention to the children. Every teacher knows your child even if they are not in their grade. The afterschool is till 6pm so that is great for working parents. They have tutors, karate, ballet, ballroom and tap in the afterschool program.
—Submitted by a parent

The children in this school are very happy and there is an afterschool program that goes to 6pm with tutors from copper union. The school has changed teachers to create a great environment.
—Submitted by a parent

The last couple of years the school has really changed. Many of the teachers are very passionate about their jobs and the children. The upper grades have great teachers and the high school division places everyone into colleges.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not sure why there is such negativity regarding St. George School. The classes are small but each child is given individual attention he/she needs. The teachers are AMAZING and know how to make the children excited about learning. My child is in K and reads above his level and does math all because of great, caring, well-educated teachers. There is no need for tutoring outside of school. The students have gym time. The after-school program offers ballet, karate, 'acting group' etc...more than any other school can offer. We are extremely pleased with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers here really try. If you have a child going into 6th, 7th or 8th grade Mr. Stasiw and Ms. Klecor are great teachers. Since there are two HS in the school you don't have to worry about them getting into a HS. Also all the children that go to the St. George HS go to college so that's a plus.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is in the pre-k program. He loves it. The class is small, and he gets a lot of attention. The teacher is very kind, pleasant and patient. He really likes her which makes me very happy. I have three older children that went to other more expensive pre schools. I wish I had known about St George's then. I would definitely have sent all three of them here. I cannot say anything about the upper grades quality of education. But I feel it is a wonderful, warm, safe and loving environment for your child in nursery, pre-k and kindergarten. We are not Ukraine, and I don't feel that we are treated any differently than any one else. I highly recommend this school for your 3 to 5 year old. (I can't comment on older grades.)
—Submitted by a parent

My child attended this school for only a year. The teachers embarass the children , poking fun at them. The confidence of a child is affected by this. They don't follow any sort of currilum and their books are outdated. Some teachers don't even know how to teach a certain subject leaving the child confused. Right now my child is attending another private school and made tremendous milestones. Like the other reviewer said all the children can fit in one classroom. My guess they have only 25 students for grades K-3 to 8. The after school coordinator screams and yells, she too does not know how to handle and work with children. Take my advice seek another school.
—Submitted by a parent

No need for lengthy reviews...take a visit and the proof is in the pudding (as they say) ...what school in 2012 has combined grades with a total student body that can fit into ONE classroom??? You wont find any. This is not a school. This place is a babysitting service at best.
—Submitted by a parent

This review is for the Elmentary school. My children no longer attend St George School. They recently began in a new school and we just found out that my younger child is below grade level! My child will not have to take on double the work load and hope to be able to move onto the next grade come June! All the previous report cards, teacher mtgs , etc did not indicate my child was behind! Just that my child was "lazy". I knew something was off but the school ignored it! There are so many things wrong with this place it would take days. One only has to visit and see that the entire elementary school has less then 40 students enrolled! I dont care what other reviews indicate abt garduating students making "A" list high schools. Those kids all had to back track and work hard with extra work and outside tutoring. My kids homework was nothing more than hours of busy work., one teacher missed at least a month of school and no sub wsa provided, the adminsitration is a total mess and still in the 17th century at best. I am so angry at myself for trying to work with the school instead of leaving like the other families
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very small school, with maybe 35 students total. Everybody knows each other and the student's behavior is pretty much controlled. However at $500 a month tuition, combined classes, an administration that has no desire to move the school forward, you child will surely suffer. Yes, most students make good high schools ONLY because, as other parents wrote they outside tutoring. La Salle has priority on space therefore St G students lose out on gym time, have to eat lunch at 11am and most of the after school activities DO NOT exsist anymore due to so many children leaving the school. With minimal students in each class the lower grades still are not up to grade standards? Teachers miss ample days of school and no sub in provided, instead students are placed in different classes with massive amounts of busy work and classwork for homework that was not completed in time. Yes, there is no PTA NO parental invovlement at all. After school is a total joke and the school has a long history of favoring Ukranian students and those with money. At $500 a month you can do better! Actually, you are better off in a city school at least you will have accountability!
—Submitted by a parent

I just came across this site and wanted to weigh in. My daughter graduated St. George Elementary 2 years ago, and we had a wonderful experience there. She was an A student, and I was always impressed with the school and its' teachers. However, it was in 8th grade that I realized what a special place St. George was. The teachers worked tirelessy assisting my daughter and I in the high school application process, and deciding what high school my daughter should attend. They really cared. Aside from being great teachers, Ms. Klecor and Mr. Stasiw really cared about my daughter's future. It did not end there. After 1 year at Dominican High School, I was surpised to get a phone call from Mr. Stasiw inquiring about how my daughter was doing and offering his best wishes. The educators at St. George are the kind of educators that my daughter will warmly remember well into her adulthood. Thank you St. George.
—Submitted by a parent

St. George Elementary School has excellent teachers!!! Though my experience with the school is limited to the last two years, I can't help but comment on what I see. It is a small school, and it feels like every teacher personally knows and is positively involved with every student. I was in the lunch room two weeks ago dropping off my son, and I noticed that the teachers in the upper grades where engaging, speaking to, and nurturing the pre-K and K students. There is a warmth here that makes me hope that these teachers and school are still here for many years to come so that I can see my son graduate here. Oh yeah.... you should have seen the Christmas concert this past winter.... it is amazing what the school accomplished, and how entertaining the event was. So beautiful!!! I love St. George Elementary School!
—Submitted by a parent

WOW! While reading some of these reviews I have to think that some are just delusional! I PULLED my children out of this school because the negative out did the positive. Granted every school will have its faults but St. George runs the gammit on the negative. I understand that they have made several changes, especially with terminating abusive, un qualified teachers however, as one parent wrote, you cannot put a bandaide on a hemmoraging wound! Parents dont care that the school is Ukranian, they care that the school lacks basic fundimental educational necessities. While some students do very well, its only due to EXTRA SUPPORT...OUTSIDE TUTORING and if anyone tells you different, they are not telling the truth and shame on you. Open house, after open house and minimal enrollment. Granted the school is funded by a very devoted Ukranian Parish...they send their children to other schools! The Saturday school has over 100 children yet NONE, NONE attend St George? Why if its such a great school! Please I was born and raised in the area and NONE of my Ukranian friends attended St. George. They need to closed down this school and start over!
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of twin students for 8 years who attended St. George Elementary School in the East Village of NYC, I sometimes wonder if these negative reviews are talking about a different school. This school is exceptionally strong in Math, English, Social Studies, and Science. By the time my twins graduated from 8th grade, they both obtained scholarships to Regis and Dominican Academy, and both took the Math 9th Grade Regents exam in August before 9th grade, passing and moving right into 10th Grade Geometry. The smallness of the school contributed to a ton of individualized attention. All the teachers are very caring. THIS SCHOOL IS FANTASTIC!!!! I strongly recommend it to any parent looking for a quality product. The declining enrollment is related to the fact that some non-Ukrainian parents are confused by an ethnic school. The reason they remain open while other schools are closing is because they are funded by a strong and committed Ukrainian Community. Otherwise, they are like all other Roman Catholic schools in NYC.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has had issues in the past however I feel that they have made some major improvements. I love the teachers and the principal. They are working hard, to not only get back the high standards that this school was known for but also accommodate the needs of the modern child. The only problem now is the lack of parental involvement. It the same parents fighting alongside the faculty to make this school better. I think it s time the rest of the parents step up and help accelerated the improvement of this school. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!" - Margaret Meade
—Submitted by a parent