West Shore Middle School

We moved from the schools on other side of town and the kids went to JFK. Then after the redistricting ended up at Pumpkin. The teachers are really great, I don't have any complaints with them at all. The administration however leaves much to be desired. They have zero consideration for the parents, really don't. I would even go so far as to say they have a passive aggressive, bully like mentality. This school has the least amount of activities for the kids and their families. Also has the least amount of parent participation.

JFK is basically like Disney it’s so calming and the teachers such as Mr.MacAloon is charming to be in a room with.!. I love this school I feel like this school is the best schools in the entire world it feels like magic and if you want your kid to get to a safe and calming school, that has teachers right by there side it’s here. JFK.

I wholeheartedly recommend St. Gabriel School for so many reasons. My children were in Public School for 3-4 years and had a horrible experience there. Once we pulled our children from Public School and started sending them to St. Gabriel School, they have blossomed both academically and socially. They went from crying because they didn't want to go to Public School to (now) crying because they have a snow day and are sad because they WANT to go to St. Gabriel School. St. Gabriel School is a wonderful little “hidden gem”…such an amazing environment!!!

St. James School is an excellent school. The teachers are dedicated and talented educators, and the school leaders are kind and caring. One thing I know for certain is that students at St. James are given the opportunity for an outstanding education. If you are open to it, the sense of community is truly off the charts! In my experience, you get from a school community what you put into it, and I would strongly encourage any family exploring St. James to take the leap and volunteer.A lot of the volunteering centers around fundraising. That's kind of a given with Catholic education. While, it can seem to be a lot, I do feel that the sales and events that are held to raise funds do truly go towards the kids education or safety. Every year, the principal does an overview of the budget and vision for the year to come. It is clear that money is not wasted. It is plowed back into providing educational materials for the kids or important safety initiatives, such as new doors and a new entrance with double door security. My husband and I were not practicing Catholics and hadn’t attended church in years when we first looked at St. James., We were a bit hesitant about Catholic education. However, the school was welcoming and accepting of us regardless—and we are so glad we didn’t let our hesitation influence our decision!What we experienced was a wonderful community paired with excellent academics. Yes, children are taught Catholicism, but at its heart, the focus is on teaching students how to be kind good people of faith and how to give back to the world. That’s a message everyone can benefit from today!!St. James offers so much for its students, including support classes, advanced classes, and extracurriculars such as art, music, and sports. It is a truly well-rounded community that prepares children for the larger world, including the transition to high school.Our principal, Mr. Robertson, is a kind and caring person who always puts children first. Everything he does is centered on the well-being of the students.The best part of our experience is that my son has made lifelong friends—genuinely great kids from wonderful families. So have my husband and I.While the journey wasn’t always smooth, the destination was absolutely worth it. I highly recommend St. James!!