Hampden

I'm a first year parent here with a kindergartner. The person in charge of enrollment provided me with incorrect directions that conflicted with the directions from the district. 504 coordinator is difficult to collaborate with due to her misinterpretation of federal law and she essentially will not led any other staff member or parent have a say in the process. She also appears to have outdated and somewhat ableist ideas about neurodivergence. She also provided a plan with someone else's signature on it from a previous year. As a fellow social worker,I was disappointed in her ethics.Principal seems MIA. I've never seen her on campus. If you contact her,she immediately hands you off to ineffective staff.Parents seem very active but in a social way that means a lot of events and constant fundraisers. I'm not sure where the proceeds go. The school looks worn down and the library selections can be inappropriate. Kindergarteners are taught in a way that does not seem age appropriate. According to my child, the teacher yells. My child dreads going to school which is weird for a kindergartner,in my opinion.

My daughter is a 2nd grader at STA. It's a safe & nurturing environment. The faculty will know you and your child by name. They have embraced Common Core Standards, raising the bar for deeper understanding in language arts, writing, & mathematics. STA is aggressively increasing the merger of technology & instruction. My husband and I are impressed with the high schools & colleges STA graduates attend. Although, we are not Catholic, our family appreciates the values they are reinforcing at this Catholic institution.

Hampden Christian School is a magnificent, small school that places a big emphasis on community (within the classroom, school, and Baltimore City as a whole). The class sizes are small, the teachers are creative and innovative, and the curriculum is engaging. The children have outdoor recess several times daily, year-round. My 3rd grade son has been a student at HCS since pre-K and my daughter entered kindergarten this year after attending HCS since she was 4 months old. The teachers work very well together and model teamwork and kindness. Through the support and creativity of HCS’ staff my children have developed a love for learning, as well as confidence in the classroom.