St. Brigid of Kildare Elementary School

Very elitist parents drag this score down. Just be there for pick up and see them standing at the door chatting (oblivious to everyone else around them) in their cliques and see it firsthand. And if your kid is in sports, you better hope to be in the "cool" group of parents or it's on the bench. These parents teach their kids the same behavior as well, unfortunately. Good luck getting involved, as all the activities and parent groups are run by these same people who have plenty of time on their hands between manicures and tennis lessons.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Brigid of Kildare is an exceptional academic institution. I have 4 children there with 4 very different needs and the school has done an amazing job working with, and challenging, each of my children. Being a part of the school is like being a part of a family!
—Submitted by a parent

St Brigid is an amazing, caring, warm and friendly place. The teachers, administrators and other staff truly care about the well being of our children and my children have thrived in this prayerful place. There is surely an emphasis on faith, doing the right thing, raising good citizens and learning good behavior and great manners. I, personally, love this. I also love that the school does not have to tolerate kids who don't listen because their parents would rather make excuses for them than help them be respectful to others. Unlike public schools, st Brigid does not have to put up with these kind of parents. So I understand why the school may make some upset and therefore receive some bad reviews. But that is not an accurate picture of the school and the great work it does for our children. If you are interested in raising happy, well mannered, well-taught children who are kind to others and who will develop strong friendships for life, this is the place for you.
—Submitted by a parent

Be very careful. While I am glad some people had positive experiences at St Brigid, we did not. Read carefully the comments on excessive elitism (parents, teachers, administrators) class size (LARGE), and lack of tolerance for outside viewpoints. The comment on being involved and not expecting miracles is fine and I agree, but when all of the activities are run by a bunch of semi-elite busybodies, it is difficult to find the motivation.
—Submitted by a parent

We've been with St. Brigid for 4 years (1st thru 4th). While I agree with most of the 1-star comments, they require clarification. Class size is very large, making individual attention challenging. Parents (mostly the moms) can be snobbish. However, if you are a parent who pays attention and stays involved in your child's education, then St. Brigid is a great place. Forming productive relationships with the teachers & staff, understanding your part at home to subsidize the lessons at school, etc. If you are the parent who sends them to school and expects miracles, St. Brigid is not the place for your child.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Brigid offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with excellent, caring teachers and administrators. My child has been at St. Brigid for 4 years and it has been an excellent experience all around. Parent involvement is unbelievable--there is a lottery system for field trips because so many parents want to attend and be a part of this great atmosphere. Other Diocesan schools have to require parents to be involved and count service hours. For the best Catholic and all-around education, St. Brigid can't be beat.
—Submitted by a parent

Why is it that only unhappy people have time to write on these websites? Saint Brigid of Kildare School is a wonderful, warm, caring, child-friendly, and nurturing school with hundreds of happy parents, families, and children. It absolutely does not have an elitist mentality. What a shame that people choose to tear down rather than build up. It is always wise to consider the source.
—Submitted by a parent

If you want your child to have a Catholic education and be around loving caring professionals, stay away. It was a nightmare. Our child did not attend an elite prep school and was not used to classrooms--something that is ordinarily taken care of in kindergarten. The teacher made it clear she did not like our child and the administration acted as if they had never dealt with such a 'case.' They were mean to him and unprofessional to us. They want robots, not independent, non-elite happy children. The Dublin public schools are great! He is very happy there and so are we.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Brigid really pushes children beyond where they should be. They are teaching at the very least two years ahead of the grades and ahead of the students. A 3 year old preschooler should not be in the equivalent of kindergarten nor should a 4th grade student be at the equivalent of 6th-7th grades. I do not think they set children up to succeed. I am withdrawing both of my children from this school as they are as unhappy as I am. I regret sending them to a school where their carreers did not start off on the right foot. Not to mention this school is EXTREMELY overpriced. Agree with all the other 1 star comments below. Forced academics and blue ribbon does not equal positive educational experience.
—Submitted by a parent

Outstanding school. The blue ribbon national award speaks for the schools academic abilities. Higher % of graduates attend upper tier high schools and colleges then any other private or public grade school in greater Columbus area. The moral and ethical values taught in this school well exceeds what occurs in the Dublin public school system. St. Brigid values faith, service, and caring about your fellow student. Granted the class sizes are larger then Dublin public schools, but Dublin must be anything to everyone as they are required by state law. I believe St. Brigid offers a faith-based education for those that value a well rounded student - educated, caring, and not self-serving. If this is what you want for your child, then St. Brigid is the school for you.
—Submitted by a parent

If you are considering this school for your child, I would really look at the one star ratings and pay attention to the comments. I agree with all of the comments: uncaring, elitist, overcrowded, etc. The school might look good when visiting but beware.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of our children graduated from St. Brigid of Kildare. Both were above average students and have excelled in high school and beyond (both scored a 30 on the ACT). We found the school to be warm and inviting, but we also were involved in the school community. With any community, you will get more from it when you are involved. Our children received a lot of support and were challenged, even though they were above average students.
—Submitted by a parent

If i could give less then a one I would. The school is cold and impersonal, and the administrators don't really seem to care. The class sizes are huge (up to 36!), and only caters to the middle child. No programs for above average student, and no support for the below. The only
—Submitted by a parent

A cold, cliqueish, unfriendly school with huge classes, and at least in the upper grades there aren't full time assistants. There is one for all 4 7th and 8th grade classes. The grading system is a joke and I would attend at your own risk. If I could rate lower I would.
—Submitted by a parent

My Children attended St. Brigid and we were very unhappy with this school. Class sizes are large and distracting and teachers do not focus on individual children. My children (both in the gifted range) were not challenged in any way and no grades are given through grade 8. These assessments were very subjective and the transition to 'real' grades was quite a shock. We found the environment to be cold and unfriendly -not what I was used to in a Catholic School at all. Image seems to be everything at every level. Transfering my children was the best thing I ever did. They are now challenged, and most importantly happy in a friendly,nurturing school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school does have its very good points. However, there are some problems with an elitist atmosphere and materialism. Some parents have found problem books in the library, and there are issues with a dependence on the AR program and its controversial list. They also need to better understand the competitive and energetic nature of boys. (No grading!! Subjective assessments only.) The large number of students in small classrooms can be a distraction for some children (though the kids are pretty well-behaved). Some parents can be very clique-ish, so search out the friendlier types who are there. The school also needs to tone down the marketing language - doesn't fit a parish school. Parent opinions may not always be valued on certain issues. Not the old-fashioned Catholic school, but has potential for those with the spirit to keep the focus on faith.
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at St. Brigid and could not wish for a better school! The teachers are supportive and help you learn from your mistakes and I have made so many great friends! The grading system is more discriptive than any other one so you can really improve your mistakes!!!!!!
—Submitted by a student

I love my school! It has the best teachers and staff. They are always caring and I really enjoy the atmosphere around school. We have safety drills to make sure that we know what to do in an emeremercency situation!
—Submitted by a student

We have 3 children attending St. Brigid and they have been there since preschool. We have been completely happy with every aspect of the education they are receiving. While some have complained about the class size, they have failed to mention that the classes have a caring teacher and a full time aide, reducing the teacher/student ratio. This faith based education was clearly the right choice for our family and we are so happy we chose St. Brigid.
—Submitted by a parent

We have attended St. Brigid for the past six years and feel very fortunate to have such an outstanding school both academically and spiritually. The teachers care for each child individually and the school as a whole feels like a family. If you are looking for a place where your child can express themselves through prayer and not feel bad about saying the pledge of allegiance in a public setting this is the place.
—Submitted by a parent