Rose Tree

We are very happy with St. Mary’s. We were nervous because there was a lot of change over before we joined the school. However, Principal Bauer has done a tremendous job uniting the school and getting things back on track. We are impressed with the staff and academics. Overall it is a wonderful community we love being a part of.

As a parent of two children currently attending preschool and kindergarten at Media Providence Friends School, I couldn’t be happier with our experience. From the very beginning, the small class sizes have made such a meaningful difference by allowing the teachers to truly know and nurture each child as an individual.The Quaker values are beautifully woven into the school culture, creating a peaceful, respectful, and inclusive environment. I also love how much parents are encouraged to be involved, whether it’s joining Meeting for Worship on Wednesdays, serving as a guest reader, or participating in special events and classroom activities throughout the year. It really feels like a community.The teachers are incredible. They are gentle in their guidance, creative in their teaching, and deeply attentive to each child’s needs. The communication I receive about my children’s days is thoughtful and detailed, often including sweet photos and stories that show what and how they’re learning.What stands out most to me is that my children are not only learning *what* to learn but *how* to learn in ways that suit their unique styles. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate, yet still challenging in creative, artistic, and engaging ways. Most importantly, my kids genuinely look forward to going to school each day and see learning as something joyful.Media Providence Friends School has truly been a gift to our family.

We enrolled our child at this preschool from ages 3.5–5 and ultimately found that it was not the right fit for our family.There were positive aspects to the program. The curriculum included thoughtful topics such as human rights and environmentalism, and there were many engaging hands-on activities including cooking, crafts, gardening, and learning about life cycles through projects with caterpillars and ladybugs. There were teachers who clearly cared about the children and worked hard to create meaningful learning experiences.However, we found the school to be far more rigid than it initially presented itself. While the administration and teachers frequently spoke about partnership and collaboration with families, our experience was that there was limited follow-through when concerns were raised. Conversations often felt focused on explaining why supports, accommodations, or adjustments could not be made rather than exploring solutions together.We also felt that our child was too often discussed primarily in terms of challenges rather than strengths. Concerns about behavior were raised frequently, sometimes in our child’s presence, which we found inappropriate and discouraging. Over time, it felt as though our child was viewed as a problem to be managed rather than a child to be understood and supported.Our impression was that the teachers were stretched thin and the school appeared understaffed, which may have contributed to the lack of flexibility we experienced. We did not feel that staff were equipped to effectively support common, non-harmful childhood behavioral challenges or children who needed additional guidance, movement, connection, or individualized support.Even with an IEP in place and specific strategies provided, we did not feel the school was willing or able to meaningfully adapt to our child’s needs. Parents looking for a play-based preschool experience should also know that open-ended play is not a major focus of the program. The emphasis is primarily on independent work and structured activities.This school may be a good fit for children who naturally thrive in a highly structured Montessori environment, enjoy independent work, and easily conform to classroom expectations. Ultimately, while there were aspects of the program we appreciated, the negatives outweighed the positives for our family.