Harbor Palms

Used to be a decent school when Dr. Moss was there. The new principal came from private school and it shows. Has no respect for the ESE kids, if you push back she will send you packing. A lot of the teachers here are just buying time until retirement. Only a handful of teachers TRULY care and most of them are in the ESE team. HUGE issue with bullying!! Talked to multiple parents who have switched their kids out of Oldsmar due to the bullying problem.

I highly recommend having a lawyer on speed dial if your child attends this school. Especially to ensure accurate and unbiased records are being kept. Accountability is elusive and paper trials are curated with precision to shield the administration from scrutiny. Expect a tightly controlled narrative that (conveniently) omits key context, concerns, and evidence provided from the student/parent. Don’t believe me? Ask to review official records. Unfortunately, you cannot assume good faith. Decisions affecting student outcomes can be made without transparency, communication, or compassion. Critical meetings are rushed, imbalanced and tightly controlled - leaving families outnumbered, and little to no room for true advocacy or protection. In my experience, they have documented exaggerated or false claims in official records, denied parents access to Zoom recordings of key meetings, and more. If you believe the school district will act as an unbiased party, don’t be fooled. They rely solely on the school’s internal narrative- ignoring concerns brought by parents or students altogether. In my case, legal safeguards were sidestepped entirely to reach a predetermined outcome. Transparency and fairness? Nowhere to be found.Unless your child has a very strong adult advocate, they may have no real shot at justice within these walls. I urge any parent (especially those with an IEP, 504, or any emotional/behavioral challenges) to bring third-party advocates and legal counsel to any meetings. Record all communications and request everything in writing. At this school, documentation is weaponized, not used as a safeguard. And without legal eyes on every detail, children easily become the scapegoat for the school and system’s failures.

Excelente escuela para nuestros hijos, el personal es muy agradable y respetuoso el principal es como un padre con nuestros hijos El único punto débil de la escuela es la teacher Mrs Barber en verdad es una pena que existan personas como esa señora enseñando a niños vivimos una experiencia muy desagradable con dicha señora gracias a dios pudimos cambiar a mi niña de clase y todo fluyó de maravilla. Mrs Barber recuerde siempre que usted trabaja con niños no todos son iguales los hay más tranquilos que otros, mi niña es de un gran corazón pero yo sé qué es un poco intranquila pero usted como profesional debe saber lidiar con distintos comportamientos de los estudiantes y no hacer de ellos niños inseguros que pierdan el deseo de ir a la escuela por su culpa recuerde son niños y merecen el mejor de nuestro trato .

Not supportive of single moms with no helo by not allowing children 9 months and up to school events. Rude front office staff, with their too small of a car circle and all the rules they hold on how you can enter/exit the car circle.

This is my daughter's 2nd year in school and she loves it. She cries anytime a she has to be out of school because she misses the teachers so much. Teachers keep you up to date and reply in a timely manner when contacted.

My kids have been very happy at this school. The teachers really care about the students and their success. We feel comfortable with the measures they have taken during the pandemic. We have had no instances of bullying with my two kids. I feel that communication with parents could be improved upon. It would be nice to see like a weekly flyer or something letting us know what the kids are working on.

My daughter is thriving here at SHMA! What matters most to our family is the relationship she has with her teachers (they essentially are where the rubber hits the road) and her teachers are supportive, Montessori trained, compassionate, foster a love of learning, and are very knowledgeable. According to her MAP testing she is performing at and above grade level. We are grateful for this school.

am sharing this for families seriously considering Espíritu Santo Catholic School and looking for an honest parent perspective based on our family’s experience over several years.While every family’s experience may be different, during our time at the school we observed significant teacher turnover. Several of the strongest and most engaged teachers left, and that kind of instability can affect students who benefit from consistency and long-term relationships with educators.Another concern many families have discussed is the unusually high number of students leaving the school in recent years, particularly in the Middle School grades. At the same time, scholarship programs allow new families to enroll quickly, which can make the level of turnover less visible to families who are new to the community.Approximately two years ago, a group of parents sent a letter to Father Len and to the Diocese of St. Petersburg outlining concerns related to school leadership, treatment of students, and overall management. The letter was signed by multiple families, and to our knowledge parents never received a formal response or follow-up.While the school often highlights its Blue Ribbon recognition, families should understand that the award reflects a different period in the school’s history. In our experience, classroom instruction sometimes relied heavily on worksheets and repetitive assignments rather than more dynamic academic engagement.Several Middle School traditions that had been part of the program in previous years were not held recently, including the Middle School dance, the Science Fair, and the traditional Science Trip. These events used to provide valuable opportunities for students to build community and engage academically.Facilities and outdoor space are also somewhat limited. At times students spend recess in a smaller designated area rather than having consistent access to larger open spaces.Athletics are another area families may want to ask about. While the school promotes multiple sports opportunities, some parents have expressed concerns about the structure and leadership of certain programs.As Catholic parents, we value strong academics, stable leadership, meaningful student experiences, faith formation, and transparent communication with families. I am sharing this perspective so families considering Espíritu Santo can ask thoughtful questions, speak with current parents, and make the most informed decision for their children.