Greenleaf

I would rate my experience with school's admins, child teacher, bullying, and bus transportation very sub par.

My students feel challenged and supported. All students are taught to be personally accountable and encourage the best character/choices from their peers. Regular communication with parents and transparency in leadership. Safety is a major priority, as well. I do wish they had a separate cafeteria. I hope that is in the works for future investment.

Honest Review of St. Mary School, GoldsboroAs a Catholic family, we were drawn to St. Mary School for its religious education and small, close-knit environment. We had two children enrolled: one attended from Pre-K to 2nd grade, and the other from 4th to 7th grade. However, we made the difficult decision to withdraw them in December of 2024 due to a significant loss of trust and confidence in the school’s leadership and concerns about the overall culture.The Good•Strong Reading Program: The reading program was well-structured and effective, and I appreciated the focus it provided for my children.•Religious Education: As Catholics, we valued the integration of faith into the curriculum and the expectation that all students participate in religious activities.The Challenges1.Leadership Concerns:•A long-time principal, who was actively involved in the classrooms, retired at the end of 2023. The transition to new leadership has been disappointing.•The new principal appears disconnected from daily classroom activities. When I raised concerns about teachers consistently yelling at students, and how upset my kid was he dismissed my concerns, stating he saw no evidence and suggested that “these problems usually start at home.” My children confirmed that he rarely visits the classrooms, unlike the previous principal.2.Teaching Quality and Staffing:•Some teachers lacked bachelor’s degrees, raising concerns about the overall qualifications of the staff.•A math teacher was allegedly fired mid-year last year due to not effectively teaching the students, which disrupted their education.3.Classroom Culture:•My youngest child was deeply upset by the constant yelling from teachers. After transferring to a new school, both my children said it was refreshing to be in an environment where teachers didn’t yell at students. This reflects a fundamental issue with classroom culture that was not addressed despite attempts to discuss it with the administration.Final ThoughtsWhile the school has strengths in areas like reading and religious education, the decline in leadership quality and a culture of negativity among some staff have made it impossible for us to continue at St. Mary School. It’s disheartening to see the school shift away from the nurturing and supportive environment it once had. I hope changes are made for the sake of future families, but based on our experience, I cannot recommend the school in its current state.

WCDS is a top-notch school. I am proud to be an alum and to watch my own child graduate from WCDS in the future.