Elijah's University for Self-Development School

I would not recommend MLK my son was there from 2-5 grade during his time at MLK he was in constant fights I’m sure he had a part in some of them other times not so much one day he reported that two other boys were calling him some unsavory names like a female dog or a female reproductive system. When he reported it the teacher said sticks and stones which my son didn’t even understand and didn’t even address the other boys later that day my son was using the restroom and was attacked by the two boys Also, it took almost 2 years to get him an IEP evaluation after constant requests to faculty and eventually to the principal and then eventually to the school district the one thing that was great about MLK was that after school program They took great care of the kids fed them. Made sure they did their homework got all of their extra energy out so when it was time to come home, they were ready to Eat have a little fun and lay down Also my son told me that the school lunches were not bad most days. Now that he’s in 6th grade at a new school so far not 1 fight not 1 yelling match he’s made so much progress in the short time he’s been there I am so thankful.

My child went here from kindergarten through 3rd grade and when Sis. Barbara and Mr. Harper left so did integrity. We did not return for 4th grade. The kids started receiving poor quality lunches and cookies for snacks (everything that Obugs worked so hard to steer them away from). Also Ms. Mitchell does not have control over the school or support for the staff. My child spent the entire 3rd grade year listening to the teacher yell at the handful of same problem students. Our child's learning was suppressed here but is now thriving and thriving without paying tuition!!

I moved my kids from public school to St. Paul's (4th and 7th grade) and it exceeded all of my expectations. The academics are rigorous but beyond that they are really helping the kids develop real world skills like executive functioning (staying on top of deadlines, planning for long term projects, scheduling your week), public speaking, working in groups, emotional intelligence and critical thinking. The curriculum is really engaging and interactive, my kids talk about what they are learning in school a lot more than they used to and teachers get really creative in their lessons to keep things interesting. Teachers are genuinely guiding the learning and not just following a textbook. They seem energized and excited to be at the school which is a breath of fresh air as the teaching profession has really been a tough place to be in the last decade! I sometimes worry about how AI is eroding critical thinking and replacing a lot of jobs in our society and I feel like the kids who go to St. Paul's will have a highly desired skillset that isn't easily replaced by LLM and will be confident in navigating the future no matter what it looks like. The school culture really stands out to me as well. Almost every school I toured will talk about antibullying efforts but at St. Paul's there is really an ethos of kindness and inclusivity that is in everything that they do at the school. It comes from a place of authenticity, is felt by every staff person (and even all the parents!) that I've encountered and to me it's more powerful than a disciplinary protocol. The school really builds a community within the classroom and across the whole school! For my middle schooler I was concerned that it might be too small coming from a big public school environment but I've noticed that it has actually allowed my kid to be themselves instead of trying to fit into a certain clique. My kid looks forward to going to school now and it has been so so cool to see him pursue academic excellence with pleasure and pride instead of just complying with weekly homework.I was on the fence about leaving public school, especially because I didn't want my kids to be sequestered in an environment where all their peers were privileged but the opposite has been true! I have been delighted with the socioeconomic and demographic diversity at St. Paul's. I also was hesitant because of the financial commitment but I have zero regrets. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made for my kids.