Palisades Episcopal School

Sending our kids to PES was a huge mistake. We thought we were going to a school that provided "a superior education". We were wrong, the education is mediocre, at best. The teachers are fresh out of college with no experience or aren't certificated. The education is particularly weak in writing, math and science I thought they were teaching my children "how to think", well if you haven't first studied basic math facts or grammar rules, you can't perform well. We are not alone, many, many other good families with smart children have left the school. The sad part is the Board and administration have their heads in the sand. I'm writing this so that other well intending families don't make the same mistake. We wasted some important years and a lot of money. We are left with very expensive tutoring bills to catch our kids up to their peers. I'd be surprised if the school makes it with the new "free" public school being built at the end of the street. Ask questions about standardized test scores, family turnover and teacher experience and credentials before you sign up! Everyone seems safe and loving, but there's not always a lot of substance behind the fluff.
—Submitted by a parent

PES has been such an incredible experience for my son who is in his second year at the school! As a former teacher my expectations have been greatly surpassed. The love, compassion and commitment to each child's individual needs is comforting as a parent and sets a foundation of confidence and love of learning. My son loves going to school and he continually surprises me with not only what he has learned but how they teach him to think and come up with multiple solutions in any situation. My daughter will start JK in the fall and my husband and I are very excited to see her benefit from all the wonderful things that make up PES!
—Submitted by a parent

I cannot recommend third school, due to the current leadership. The staff is ok. Some teachers seem to really care, but others do not. My child no longer attends the school. I was told for years that nothing was wrong with my child. But I knew something was amiss. After further testing (on my own) I was right all along. I guess I would have never known as long as I wrote my check every year to PES. Cannot recommend, public would have been a better option.
—Submitted by a parent

I can relate to every review whethr great or sub par. I agree, I often question the focus of Christianity in the lesson, when I looked at my daughter's calendar for JK it was a block of 30 minutes, which is not acceptable when you state you are a Christ honoring school. I can not speak on behalf of the Head of School and BOD because my contact was limited to " Hi -------" when they saw us. However what I can say, is when there was a lost of employment in my home, theyw orked with us, and did not hesitate to make sure we came back even with the financial difficulty and working with our family. I know that in CMS what my daughter learned in JK was being taught to the entering kindergartners, so the children are most assuredly ahead. I agree that the older children step up and acts as leaders and treat the younger children like family, with Book Buddies reading time, walking them to chapel on Thursday, my daughter would always point to a older child that was in 5 or 6 th grade and say there is my best friend such and such, as that child was a friend and a mentor. I do not feel there was any favortism, as we came from a bigger school where I felt like a stranger not a parent.
—Submitted by a parent

Watching my sons grow and respond to the world, I am continually reminded that a real education is not a simple transfer of information, not a competition, but a gradual process of awakening compassion, deepening understanding, and fostering the development of imagination, curiosity and will. Learning well doesn't always mean scoring high on a test but it does mean acquiring the tools necessary to take on the most challenging work of all - becoming the person you were meant to be. The combination of structure and freedom, nurture and challenge, education and exploration Palisades provides has given my young man the opportunity to truly bloom and begin his path of discovery. It is a very special place and a refreshing approach to developing children. I challenge you to try to find a school any better.
—Submitted by a parent

PES is a wonderful school and I cannot think of having my daughter anywhere else. The teachers are wonderful individuals who find teaching moments in everything, not just classroom instruction. The curriculum is such that the subject matter is taught across all subjects. This teaches the students how the subject is intertwined in all areas - and they learn! From bird club to Latin, my daughter is learning so much more. For those that think the Board is hidden, I challenge you to simply look at the letterhead as all names of the Board are clearly identified and would welcome any calls. People who think the Head of School shows favoritism are just being petty in my opinion. She has children of her own at the school and these people cannot separate - or respect - the fact that she is sometimes "Mom" and not "Head of School" all the time. In the third grade, my daughter is learning Spanish (this isn't an immersion school ) and conjugating verbs in Latin. They are learning how God is great and how helping others is important in all they do along with being challenged in all subject matters. PES is wonderful and a blessing!
—Submitted by a parent

Very disappointed by our kindergarten experience last year. The class had 21 students all crammed into a tiny room. Absolutely no individualized instruction and negligible hands-on learning took place. Half of the students were too young for kindergarten and did not turn 5 until Sept., Oct. or even Nov. Faculty did not know how to motivate students to learn except by rewarding them with stars, stickers, treasure boxes, etc. Learning was not valued as a worthwhile activity in itself. The reward systems created a stressful environment that encouraged students to rush through their work. It was definitely not the "unhurried" environment that we were promised. Systems used for classroom discipline at PES were no different than what is found at the local public schools. Specials were a complete joke. Half-day field trips were numerous, rushed and often unrelated to anything that the children were studying. Parent involvement consisted mainly of fundraising and bringing sweets to classroom parties. Many parents are content with the school merely because it keeps their children out of the dismal CMS system. There are literally no other independent school options in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

Very disappointed by the lack of quality leadership at the school. Teacher turn-over is VERY high (nearly 100%) in only a few short years in existence. The school claims to 'teach children how to think". This is NOT the case, rather it becomes a race to be done first and not produce quality work. We found our child's quality of work declining rapidly in order to appease the teachers desires to be done in hurry. Rewards were rampant, which is not how children should be taught "how to think". Look closely at the statement and mission of the school as many of the phrases are trite and meaningless. Lastly, realize that many of the reviews of this school swing from 1 to 5 with the 1's coming from parents who expected MUCH more for their children. The remaining come from parents who are pleased to find an alternative to a public school but aren't expecting much from their school. Parent involvement at the school only stemmed from fund-raising and very little education involvement. Very disappointed.
—Submitted by a parent

WASTE OF MONEY what you receive here you can get at any school, even the free ones. They tell you it is a creative and individualized learning environment it is NOT it is all memorization, repetition, and conformity. Discipline and clip giving are just short of military school expectations - children are taught through fear, condemnation and negative reinforcement. Positive testimonials are either coming from teachers or administration whose children all go there, or founding families and friends of theirs, all of who receive preferential treatment and attention. Leadership is horrible, backstabbing, superficial and full of deception. The Board of Directors exists in name only; you cannot get contact information for any of them to voice administrative complaints. This was the worst year and investment of our lives.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have been at PES for three years. We have been so pleased with our decision. We are excited to be part of a school that is growing and thriving. Our children are being stretched mentally and spiritually. I have seen the administration and teachers pour their hearts into our children. My husband and I believe people, not buildings or playgrounds make a great school. My children love going to a place that is safe, nurturing and challenging.
—Submitted by a parent

Terrible Waste of Money- Looking for a private school in the Charlotte area? Check out Providence Day, Charlotte Latin, Charlotte Country Day, or Gaston Day. The other reviewers are so right about nepotism. Another thing, the motto is "Teach Children How to Think". That is insane...children naturally know how to think. Scratch beneath the surface if you plan to send your child here. Would you pay $10,000 ++ a year for a "gymacafechapeltorium" and no playground and trailers? This school had so much potential and they got it all wrong.

We have been with PES since day one; its growth and success is due to the dedicated teachers and staff and the vision of the school leaders. PES is like an extension of our family; my children love going to school and have flourished because of the diversity of offerings and, as parents, we have enjoyed getting to know other parents who are dedicated to their children's academics and to their school. PES is only entering its fourth year, therefore it is to be expected that there is room for improvement. The BOD and administration are working hard to continue to develop and fine tune all aspects of the school. Not only is its growth and success due to the dedicated teachers/staff and the vision of the school leaders, it's also the amazing PES families who make it such a special place. Without a doubt we made the right decision.
—Submitted by a parent

Palisades Episcopal School continues to wow us! My husband and I could not be more impressed with the leadership, faculty and staff. The curriculum is rich and challenging. We always feel welcome and involved. Our children love school and love learning. Thank you PES!
—Submitted by a parent

As parents of a student also identified as a Duke TIP scholar we would like to credit our students own merit for this achievement not the school. This school had potential. The lack of leadership has damaged the school. The reviews that have cited deficincies are spot on & can't be refuted. From our vantage point this is how we see it: NO Board accountability;NO teacher liasion;NO vice principal;NO txtbooks;NO set curriculum;NO print only cursive;NO nurse/1st Aid training;NO line between professionals of school & neighborhood families;Nepotism is king;Christianity only in name; Retention of great families & teachers is a real problem here. The board seems to have blinders on. As parents you are not allowed to petition the board & members of this board are not public knowledge. Only so many new families to recruit to fill these gaps. Will this be the eye opener?
—Submitted by a parent

We have three children at Palisades Episcopal School and couldn't be happier with our choice. The school's classical curriculum ensures our children are receiving an excellent liberal arts education where a mastery of reading, writing and arithmetic is an integral part of the program. All subjects are integrated which adds a depth to our children s learning that is difficult to find in other curriculums. The Christ centered aspect of the school's mission is apparent in every area lending to a school where children are taught daily to connect the head to the heart. Our children are excelling academically (as evidenced by our eldest being identified as a Duke TIP Scholar) and are learning to be great thinkers and citizens. We couldn't have made a better choice for our family.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in junior kindergarten at Palisades and I love it! The curriculum really gives the students a chance to explore and really apply what they are learning. Yes it is true that the curriculum is not scripted like in public schools, but that is what I love! This curriculum really gives the teachers a chance to be creative and let the children learn in fun and applicable ways. If you are considering this school and worried about there not being a scripted curriculum, I would advise you to get to know the teacher and I can assure you that you will be impressed!
—Submitted by a parent

If you are investigating this school as an option please look beyond the marketing plan to recruit your family. Ask the right questions you will see the severe deficits you get with a hefty tuition. Mixed bag curriculum with no text books really is the tip of the iceberg. There is no substance to the special classes such as Art, Technology, PE and Music. Foreign language is taught but we have seen no results. Large blocks of time spent in these subjects take away from valuable classroom time where math, science, and grammar could really improve. Couple that with several field trips every month, a mandatory club, and random staff celebrations little instruction time is left. The Christianity taught is left up to the teacher as there is no Bible course mandated by the school. No playground and very limited classroom space should be a red flag.
—Submitted by a parent

Tremendously disappointing. Although the school claims to be a Christian school there is very little evidence in what is taught and how business is conducted. The academics are very weak and nothing is quantifiable. Many times I have no idea what my child is learning or where my child's reading level is. However, there is plenty of focus on fun and feeling good, and making sure everybody is happy. The leadership is weak and lacks the ability to provide a continuity in the curriculum and does not walk the walk of Christianity. The administration also socializes entirely too much with parents, crossing the line and making it difficult for her to be an effective leader. If you are looking for a school where every is made to feel special and the academic bar is set very low so everyone does well, this is the place for your child.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughters have been going there for over a year and we love it. I could speak to the teachers love or the inspiring curriculum but the most wonderful part of the school is that everyday my children come home excited about learning and want to go back and learn more. That speaks volumes to me and the only regret I have is that we didn t start sooner. I have one in 6th grade and one in 3rd.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been a student of PES for 2 years now, starting in kindergarten. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff, the teachers, the curriculum, etc. Each child is treated as an individual and they nurture each child's individual personality and natural abilities according to their needs. When my son started kindergarten he didn't even know his letters. After kindergarten he not only knew all his letters, he was able to read and write in cursive. Learned about all the continents and is most adept at math. He copntinues to build on that wonderful foundation. All the children are taught about faith, how to respect one another and themselves. There is no bullying and the older children take the younger children under their wing (so to speak). It is a truly loving & nurturing environment. My son loves this school as do we.
—Submitted by a parent