Holy Family Catholic School

Some parts of this school are great and other parts not. There is a strong focus on the Catholic religion, which is good if you're Catholic, but in some areas they don't seem to be as Christian as I would expect. Behavior of some of the teachers was rude and unhelpful, while others were outstanding, hopefully the new principal will get a handle on this situation as it gives some parents the impression that school is not great. Overall, compared to other schools in the area, I would only rate this one as average. My daughter was not receiving what I consider a well rounded, first class education at this school, so I made the drastic move to change schools and I have not regretted it for a second. Do your homework before putting your child in this or any other local school - get a tour of the facility, ask how many kids are in the class, ask for test scores. If you can't get all of these, cross the school off your list. One thing I did find was this school had a low student count compared to other schools in the area, but they also have very limited facilities and very small classrooms too.
—Submitted by a parent

School is small, atmosphere seems nice, but I felt like my child did not learn anywhere near enough and when I moved him he was NOT at the standard required for public school and had to do a lot of catch up work. I think there are some very good teachers there, but the class sizes seem very large to me and the rooms very small. My son is doing much better in the public school system and I can get regular updates online from PWCS education system and know exactly what he is doing. I wanted to put this on here, because I am not sure the reviews here are unbiased enough.
—Submitted by a parent

Holy Family Catholic School is a wonderful place for children to grow, both academically and spiritually. The teachers are highly qualified, experience and educated. The staff is so dedicated to their responsibilities and to the children. If you have any questions, just visit the school during the day. The students are happy and enthusiastic. It is truly a happy Holy Family.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to VA 2 years ago and this is our second full year at Holy Family and we could not be more pleased with the environment that are children are in. We were originally enrolled at another local Catholic school, but when we were informed that we were enrolling at the "wrong" parish for our zip code we were sent to Holy Family. I was greeted warmly by the front desk and could not have been happier with the principal and staff after a tour. We cancelled our enrollment at the other school and enrolled at Holy Family 3 weeks before the school year started. Our youngest child had trouble adjusting to the many changes that year. The care nuturing and love she received from the teacher, principal, and even the front desk staff was more that we could have ever prayed for. Both of our children are thriving academically and socially at the school. We have a child in middle school and one in elementary school. The school is continuing the values that we are teaching our children at home. I would make the decision to come here again in a heart beat! God Bless the Holy Family families!!
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, some people are very angry. When you move your children around from school to school and are still not satisfied don't you think that it's time to look inward and not blame the schools? My son has been at Holy Family since he was 3 years old and he is now 10. He loves it, we love it and we would not go anywhere else. In the last two years my son went from struggling and maybe not even making it to the next grade level to missing the honor roll this year by a very small margin. I credit the teachers at Holy Family with this success story. They are involved, caring and extemely competent. All of the teachers at Holy Family are highly/over qualified and I have no doubt that my son will have great success in his remianing years there. The teachers, office staff and principal (who we are very sad to see leave us this year) could not possibly be more professional, caring or willing to help anyone at any time. The entire staff and faculty of Holy Family Catholic School are AWESOME !!!!! I don't know any other place where my son could get a better academic and spiritual education.
—Submitted by a parent

I was puzzled by the 1-day apart posts disparaging this school & wondered: What Holy Family is this parent seeing? It's certainly not my family's experience. High staff turnover? - The only teacher from this year not returning next year is Ms. Shaw the 4th grade teacher. Yes the principal is leaving after 3 good years here & he will be sorely missed. Not mentioned is that fact he commuted from Gainesville each day (40 min 1-way on a good day) to steward this school. Lack of acedemic excellence? My older daughter ENTERED the 3rd grade having tested out of PALS as an independent 6th grade reader. Her 2nd grade Terra Novas (3rd grade hasn't been released yet) had only one score below 90 percentile, Social Studies, and that was at 80+%. This is the only school she's ever attended. I truly feel bad another family didn't get the HF experience that most families I know & posters here have received, but in my experience, this school excels at everything important: Academics, Faith Reinforcement, Community, and most of all, my children LOVE it here. Even middle schoolers take the time to acknowledge, interact & mentor the younger grade kids. I couldn't recommend it more.
—Submitted by a parent

We came to Holy Family two years ago after an extremely negative experience at another local Catholic school. We were welcome into Holy Family with open arms. The Principal has been nothing short of spectacular and I feel the same about the teachers. There will always be a few that are dissatisfied, but I can say that I have never heard one bad word about the teachers, principal or the office staff. There is a night and day difference between Holy Family and the previous Catholic school that my child attended. Holy Family has a warm, caring, nurturing environment. My family feels very comfortable here and we are not treated as outsiders when we come into the office with any concerns. The office staff is always helpful and polite. My child is right where he should be academically if not above average. What is most important is that my child is happy here and loves his school. Something I could not say about the previous school he attended. I would highly recommend this school and am sorry to see such negative reviews.
—Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school, I am extremely disappointed. My child's class is so far behind, the school has put in place an action plan to catch the students up on things they didn't learn this year. The administration knew of problems at the beginning of the year and didn't get the help needed in place until the end of the school year. My child will not be going back, I've wasted enough of our time and money!
—Submitted by a parent

In my opinion, the office staff is not helpful/rude, the teachers are average, the principal is incompetent (and leaving the school). Very high staff turnover this school year! The main focus of the school is religion: granted it's a Catholic school! If you are looking at this school for the academics excellence, it's not worth the money, go to Aquinas! I would not recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

When I moved to Virginia my biggest concern was finding the right environment for my 4 year old son who is very shy and timid. I didn't think public schools would give him the nurturing and comittment he needed to show his true potential. My concerns were soon put to rest when I met the principal of Holy Family Catholic School along with the director and teachers of the Pre-K program. I knew that my prayers were answered and that my son would thrive in this educational and spiritual setting. As preK is winding down to an end I knew I was right. My son truly loves going to school everyday and after meeting his Kindergarten teacher I am so very excited to embark him on this new journey come Septemeber. There is so much to learn and experience at Holy Family and we truly feel as if we are part of the process. I highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Originally chosen because of the wonderful pre-school program, our girls have been going here ever since (3rd & 2nd grade now). Both girls love their teachers & are enthusiastic about learning. The brand new Lab Learner science program is a wonderful addition to the curriculum, and a big hit. Both girls are doing well academically and testing above grade level in reading, but any good school can teach that. The Catholic identity of this school ensures our girls are also maturing emotionally and spiritually, learning essential life skills such as morally acceptable social behavior; something public schools simply cannot teach. The intimate size of the student body, as well as a very active PTO, fosters a real sense of community. Even 7th & 8th graders seem to know our girls, encourage & cheer them on in school-wide activities, and take the time and trouble to acknowledge them and say hello when we encounter them at various outside school activities. As our girls look less to mom & dad and more toward older girls as role models, I find this an invaluable component of their education. I couldn t imagine sending them anywhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very, very pleased with the education my children recieved at Holy Family. All of the teachers have impressive credentials and truly care to ensure that each and every child comprehends the material being taught. The school provideds a warm and nurturing environment for children to thrive and I look forward to enrolling both of my children all the way from Pre-school thru 8th grades!
—Submitted by a parent

The school name says it all -- Holy Family! What a blessed environment for my children to learn... so much love... so much knowledge shared so freely... I couldn't think of a better place on earth to protect the gift! Tuition is not a cost, rather an investment in my child's future... Paul
—Submitted by a parent

I moved to this area for work in October and enrolled my three children in Holy Family. I was worried about how they would adjust during this transition. My wife and I first met with the principal and were extremely impressed with his professionalism and get-it-done attitude. Then he interviewed our children and it was clear he is really great with kids. When he gave us a tour of the school it was clear he is well-liked and respected by the students. My kids were welcomed from the first day when they were enthusiastically greeted by teachers and peers. I knew when I spoke with my children's teachers that they really cared. When I had an issue with my son and homework, I conferenced the teacher and she implemented an accountability program with my son and it helped us through a difficult time. My daughter's kindergarten teacher is one of those teachers who you would want your child to have at that age, she is 1 in 100 in my opinion, and as a former educator I am tough to please. The school puts a priority on its Catholic identity and the children attend regular mass, which I like. The pre-school program is a well-oiled machine with established teachers who really teach.
—Submitted by a parent

I am looking a great school for a great student. We just move to 22193 zip code regards cynthia

We've been with Holy Family school since 2000 with my eldest son, still have two more to finish for the next four years. It's a small school. I feel that my kids are safe as all the staff are great and know all the kids and their families. There are ups and downs but God is good, He always provide with better and more experienced Principal. As well as good leadership of our Pastor. Holy Family School is a Catholic Christian School which I highly recommend, from Pre- K to 8th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

Do you want your child to be a part of something great? Check out Holy Family Catholic School. Our family has been part of this faith community for more than 8 years. This school just gets better and better each year. The school is still relatively small -- and that is wonderful news for your child because every child matters to the teachers, to the principal, and most importantly, to each other. Despite its size, the academic programs, extra-curricular activities, Catholic identity, and community involvement continue to improve every year. Holy Family has always been a special place for us -- but with the level of performance it has now achieved, this school isn't going to stay our little secret for long.
—Submitted by a parent

The new principal is outstanding. Smart, nice, and a very caring person. He will take the school to a higher level. The children enjoy the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Thought about removing my child last year at the 6th grade level but decided to wait to see what new principal's actions would be. My child is now finishing 7th & likely to stay through 8th this year. New guidance is excellent, clean up of old issues is being addressed and the examples of Christian leadership and living is beyond fantastic in these last 2 years. Children less disrupted overall, in my opinion and it's clear progress has/is being made. Change cannot happen overnight but it's def. far better than 2 years ago and previous years. Would have submitted 5 stars but small school = small extracurricular activity choices for middle-schoolers. Hopefully, with new direction, more parents will feel comfortable volunteering time to give the children some new experiences.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm military and have had my 3 children in 4 different schools. HF by far the best! Sometimes parents believe they should run school. Not anymore. Strong pastor AND strong principal in charge now. Dedicated teachers who work for pennies. The Holy Spirit must move these teachers as they don't deserve the grief some parents dish out. Discipline WAS a problem last year but under the new principal, this has improved. Religion AND education stressed at this Christian school. PTO leadership did not understand that its function was to support the admin AND raise funds (2007-2008 Parent Student Handbook). New leadership is turning that around.
—Submitted by a parent