St Cletus Elementary School

Three of my children have gone through Forest Hills and we have been impressed by the academic excellence, social & emotional strength and individually crafted attention this district gives. The leadership is trustworthy and beyond excellent.

Unfortunately our kids have had issues with bullying in the grade school. We also know several families at the school who have had similar issues. the current principal doesn't deal with these issues. The school tends to favor kids who have issues over the kids who are bullied or even create unsafe conditions in the classroom. The current principal doesn't believe in removing problem students and drags their feet on issues. The general consensus among parents is to deal with some issues outside of the school channel since its not taken seriously. We have had better luck reaching out directly to the parents with our issues rather then work through the school. The upside is the community of parents seems willing to work together to solve issues.

As someone who came from teaching at a public school, my mind was blown by how respectful the students are, how involved the parents are, and how community-oriented a Catholic school can be. The administration is excellent, always available to assist teachers, even when they themselves have a lot on their plates. The focus on student success is great, with standardized test prep, and making sure teachers are giving rigorous lesson. While there’s always drama at any school, the students really are like family, and conflicts are very rare. I really can’t recommend enough sending your child to this school or working it at it.