Linthicum

My daughter was 2nd grader and was bullied by her homeroom teacher all year long. We didn’t find out until she changed school And starting to understand what was happening to her. She is now 5th grader but she still remembers it time to time.

I cannot say enough good things about OES! The teachers and staff from the front desk to the custodians are amazing! My son is in Kindergarten and I was hesitant to send him to public school as I am a product of private schools. We sent our son to a local catholic school for PreK and my son has some challenges (ADHD) and that school was unwilling and honestly ill equipped to provide him the support he needs to thrive in his learning environment. Overlook is the exact opposite. The student success coach and teacher were in contact with me before classes even started in the fall and we were able to get him a 504 plan in place before Christmas break. My son is thriving there and I couldn't be happier. I wish more families would get involved in the PTA but other than that we are having an amazing time at OES! Thank you all for everything you do for our kiddos!

It was a pleasure to have my daughter at this school! The diversity, inclusion of children with different learning needs, and overall school culture was phenomenal. I appreciate the entire staff for the heart they put into Relay on a daily basis. My son will be there in two years and I’m excited to have him go through Relay.

My son attended this school for three years under the leadership of his teacher and later Teaching Principal, Ms. Gayle Hyde. Before Ms. Hyde’s arrival, the school was struggling — lacking programming, motivation, structure, and growth opportunities for students. Through her dedication, leadership, and innovative teaching style, she brought life back into the school.She introduced programs, organized fundraisers, created opportunities for students, and worked tirelessly to build the school into something families could feel proud of — often with little to no support from superiors or fellow staff members. Much of the positive growth and energy seen within the school can be credited to her hard work and commitment.It is deeply concerning that Ms. Hyde was not asked to return. In addition, there are unresolved concerns regarding fundraiser proceeds that were reportedly intended for student programs and equipment, yet families have not seen those promised improvements take place. Tuition costs have increased without noticeable improvements in staffing, programming, or resources.The school continues to operate with minimal staff, creating concerns for both student learning and staff wellbeing. Furthermore, there appears to be a lack of inclusiveness and transparency from the board and administration.My child remained enrolled largely because of Ms. Gayle Hyde’s exceptional teaching style, leadership, and genuine dedication to her students. With her departure, I no longer feel comfortable continuing my son’s education at this school. Unfortunately, based on my family’s experience and ongoing concerns, I would not recommend this school to others.

We enrolled our children at SPN because we believed it would provide a strong faith-based education built on fairness, community, and values. While our daughter generally had a positive experience, our son's experience was very different. That contrast ultimately led us to conclude that this school was not the right fit for our family.One of our biggest concerns was the school's approach to supporting boys. In our experience, typical boy behavior was often treated as a discipline issue instead of an opportunity for guidance and growth. Rather than recognizing different learning styles, energy levels, and developmental needs, the response frequently felt impatient and punitive. We often felt there was little flexibility and that boys were given fewer opportunities to learn from mistakes. Instead of working collaboratively with families to address concerns, interactions often focused more on consequences than problem-solving.We were also disappointed with the level of support provided by the guidance department. We expected stronger communication, advocacy, and a partnership with families, but that was not our experience.Another concern was the amount of teacher turnover. Several teachers left after relatively short periods, creating instability for students and raising questions about hiring practices and staff retention.It was also difficult to watch tuition increase year after year while student opportunities, transparency, and the overall school culture appeared to decline. Families naturally expect higher tuition to be reflected in the quality of the student experience. Instead, we saw long-standing traditions and programs disappear without meaningful replacements.After several years at the school, we no longer feel comfortable recommending SPN to other families. Every family's experience will be different, but ours left us disappointed. If you are looking for a school that values open communication, strong family partnerships, consistent support for all students, and continued investment in student opportunities, we encourage you to carefully evaluate all of your options before making a decision.