St. Christopher's School

I am not a native "Richmonder" or Virginian for that matter and looked into St.Christopher's because I felt the public schools were suffocating my son. My husband was opposed to private school and had some of the very feelings about it that many of your reviewers have. Once we toured the school we were both amazed! All those beliefs were dispelled. We enrolled our son and he has thrived there. St.Christopher's has no more or less cliques than any other school. My son joined St.Christopher's in middle school and feels very welcome there. It's a great school for boys to learn because they just "get" boys. Love it!
—Submitted by a parent

A great school for my sons! We were new to the school when our older son entered high school - the St. Christopher's community went out of its way to make him, and us, feel welcome. The same occurred when we transferred our younger son in 8th grade a few years later. The school worked hard in both cases to make sure our sons had smooth transitions - and EXCEEDED our expectations. Although its a prominent private school, there is a very diverse student population. More importantly, the school has provided my sons (who are both considered "gifted") a rigorous academic environment to learn and grow in. As a family, we have sacrificed to send our boys to St. Chris, but its been the best decision we have ever made.
—Submitted by a parent

As an alumnus who spent ten wretched years at this assembly line for hard-line Republicans, I chuckle at some of the reviews here. If you want you son to be utterly and completely prepared for life on the golf course, in the boardroom, or some other iteration of a white men's club, then this is the school for you. If you want your son to experience anything remotely closer to a real-world education, I advise looking elsewhere.

We are current parents. The school is good, but that isn't much to say for what it costs. Feel that our son would likely have obtained as good an education, if not better, at some of the public elementary schools, based on friends' experiences. Went here more for the whole "building character" and community of the school. The community is strong, but does suffer from "family" and donation segregation. I believe Stephen Hawking said it best: "It doesn't matter who your parents are....it matters what you do," and that is not this schools approach. For all the discussion about college prep and academically challenging, the graduates as a group do not matriculate to top universities. This is not a school that will prepare your child to get into Harvard or Stanford. There are good opportunities at this school, but be aware you may not feel that you are obtaining value for your investment.
—Submitted by a parent

Unlike our experiences in other schools, this one meets the student where he is. Instead of teaching to the middle, the curriculum is divided into sections,so that the student is taught at a faster or slower pace depending on ability. Our son is challenged daily in his classes & is thriving. We have found the teachers & administrators very engaging and accessible--questions or issues are addressed promptly. While athletics are a big part of the school (& Richmond),our experience has been that the school makes an effort to find a place for those who aren't so inclined. Our son falls into that category so I can vouch for it. A reviewer talked about "cliquishness" among students--while that may be the case, I believe that is more indicative of Richmond (aka Acronym town--FFV, CCV, BS, etc.)as a whole rather than the school. We transferred to St. C. in 5th grade & my son has made a number of friends establishment despite being an introvert & "outsider." We are not part of the 1%: We don't donate a ton of money & we don't try to keep up with those who can. We also don't care to be part of "Old Richmond;" however, we do feel a part of the St. Chris community.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two sons at St. Christopher's in the Lower School -- one in third grade and the other in first grade. We are a middle-class family and are fortunate to receive financial aid. I cannot say enough wonderful things about St. Chris. The teachers are excellent, the staff is super helpful, the curriculum well-thought out and executed, and the school's leadership is first-rate. Our boys are challenged and feel very much a part of the school and its traditions. We don't have a membership in the CCV or FFV...lol...but still feel at home at St. Chris.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school curriculum and learning opportunity for boys to be prepared for college. Family of the student must be wealthy and have status quo/ be of the "it crowd" or your child will be left out and steamrolled. Unless you contribute excessively with monetary donations, you will receive the cold shoulder. Students are very clickish and only like to hang out with very wealthy friends. Plan to spend $50k per year per student. Anything less and your son will not receive the same education and friendships as his peers.
—Submitted by a parent

A joke. Harassing fundraising, care only for the '13 year students', those that hare forking out $25k per year from kindergarden through senior year, scholarships highly tilted towards those with athletic gifts versus academic needs. We've spoken with administration (stonewalled), guidance (coddled & avoided), coaches (strong-armed), and teachers (bullied) when looking for help. I have no idea how we got into the financial spiral that this has become for our family. We've kept our jobs but sacrificed everything for our boys. Our financial situation isn't the important thing here, but our bankruptcy has torn us apart as a family (the very thing the school models itself after. A good school if you're flush with income, very charitable, and are established area families. God bless them, we know they try. We really think the administration is unaware about the reality.
—Submitted by a parent

This prominent private Richmond school is everything that the other reviewers have noted. It has an excellent academic program, preaches accountability, honor, and hard work, and discusses its' interest in developing the whole boy. As the parent of a student that only joined the community for high school (from another private school), we've found the acceptance of 'outsiders' into the school a little - less than friendly. Our student has received little personal mentoring or coaching from this talented staff, and as such, confesses to feel like an outsider much of the time. As the parents that paid the significant tuition for this prominent institution, we feel in retrospect that one of the public gifted programs would have given our student a better understanding of the demographics that make up a society, the education to succeed at the next level, and the money in our savings to pay for college. If you live close to the school, can participate as a parent volunteer, and donate significant financial and personal capital into the school, it may be the best program in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a fantistic school. It is a college level education in high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Having been in other public & private schools, St. Christopher's is the best experience that our family has encountered. The first thing we noticed was how the school is willing to make adjustments depending on the need of the child. If they see a boy can be challenged more in a subject, they will move him to a more accelerated program. Hard work is expected & excellence is applauded. Discipline and honor is very important to this school and the students are very well behaved & mannered. The boys also learn to recognize that there are people who are not as fortunate & are expected to give back to the community. The school also encourages an open dialogue & any issues or concerns are immediately addressed by faculty & administration. I would highly recommend this school to anyone seeking to get the best education for the child in the Richmond area.
—Submitted by a parent

Very good school if you are looking for your son to develop into a fine young man - academically, physically and socially. They are very accomodative to your son's needs. The lower school is a very embracing community and being a Non-American I really appreciate the warmth with which they embraced us - I felt so uncomfortable in our community's public school - St.Christopher's never highlighted this. I feel fortunate to have my son in this school because of the values that they teach - every member of school admin & faculty radiates the same warmth and values.
—Submitted by a parent

Very prominent and productive school. The curriculum builds a young man from the inside out. Hard work, community involvement, and a variety of sports are just a few things the boys has to look forward to daily.
—Submitted by a parent