John F. Kennedy Elementary School

If the principal doesn’t like you she will try to move your child out of the school.

I’m writing this as a frustrated and disappointed parent who transferred to St. Edward School after Our Lady of Guadalupe closed. We hoped for a warm welcome and a supportive Catholic community, but what we found was bias, condescension, and an overall lack of compassion.Outsiders from Day One:From our very first communication, Principal Tina Cruz referred to us as “former OLG families,” making it clear we were never truly considered part of the community. Despite paying full tuition, we were treated as second-class. The cold, unwelcoming atmosphere made it obvious we didn’t belong.Dismissive Leadership & Poor Communication:As a single mom, I often felt judged. Concerns were met with a patronizing tone or ignored completely. The few replies I got from Principal Cruz often copied generic handbook language instead of actually addressing the issue. I never felt heard.No Support for Neurodivergent Students:My child has ADHD, and the school showed little knowledge or care about how to support him. One teacher told me “he’s probably grown out of it” — a shocking and harmful comment. Instead of accommodations or empathy, we got blame. My child was punished for symptoms of a condition the staff refused to understand.Discipline Without Compassion:Infractions were handed out for minor things — even making a classmate laugh. It felt like joy and personality weren’t allowed. Meanwhile, a clear culture of favoritism was in place. Certain students were treated with leniency, while others — especially us — were written up constantly. It felt discriminatory and unfair.Inadequate Response to Bullying:When my child was bullied, we were told to fill out forms, but little action followed. The bully continued. Reporting the issue made my child feel even more isolated and vulnerable, and the school’s inaction sent the message that their safety didn’t matter.Final Thoughts:We came to St. Edward seeking community after losing our previous school. Instead, we were met with coldness, bias, and neglect. If you have a child with special needs, or if you value fairness and real communication, I urge you to look elsewhere. St. Edward failed us in every way that matters.

Our kids have grown so much since starting at FCS—academically, socially, and in confidence. What we love most is how loving and supportive the environment is. Every teacher truly cares and puts their heart into the kids, and you can feel it every day.The small class sizes make a huge difference, too. Our kids get more attention, more guidance, and more chances to be heard. They’re not just another face in the crowd.We also really appreciate how the school values art and music. Our kids have discovered new interests and feel proud of what they create.Even though it’s a Christian school, there’s absolutely no pressure. There’s one Bible class and chapel once a week, but that’s it. Plenty of their classmates aren’t Christian, and everyone feels welcome.Overall, we’re just grateful. Our kids are happy, growing, and surrounded by people who genuinely care about them. It’s been such a good fit for our family.

I have two kids. One has been attending Challenger since 3rd grade and has now graduated, and the other has been there all his life. The first child got a great foundation, which helped in high school. The foundation helped getting admission into one of the greatest colleges in the U.S. My second child is in 5th grade and is doing very good in the class. The teachers are very supportive. As you progress, teachers get stricter every grade. The homework is manageable. I was happy with my decision to go the Challenger.