District 211 Academy - North

I have an older child at this school and now a second one starting out. As a parent over the years, I learned so much about this school, teachers, staff and programs it has to offer. First off, the principal Mr. Christ has always acknowledged my emails from transportation to programs etc. The teachers are always responding and communication is always an open line! The emotional checks and making sure students are establishing themselves well always happens. I think the content taught could be better however there are kids of all levels in the “normal classes” and they do this as kids tend to grasp ideas much better when explained by their peers. I know my older child is gifted material but always missed the mark by a few points and now it’s too late but I’ve also seen the gifted kids stick to themselves and don’t mix well. I also hear the gifted programs will be leaving the district so if that’s something you are looking for, you may want to reconsider. The PTA at this school is fabulous. They always raise lots of money for the students & faculty appreciation! The kids here have exposure to many events during school and after school as well! All of the schools in the district have been remodeled and they have done a great job with this school. It looks very modern when you walk in. The classrooms might look a little outdated but I hope that’s something they look into for the future. As my older one exits this school, I’m glad I have another one started here. I wouldn’t look into private schools in place of this one!

We love GMS! Our son is in 1st grade, and he has grown so much over the last two years. We had Mrs. Moore in Kindergarten and honestly if we could have her every year we would. She is absolutely the best and so caring.This year we have a new teacher, Ms Jusi, and she is also very good. Our son is excited about school and always talks about the new things he is learning. He often shares stories about how if he doesn’t understand something both Mrs. Moore and Ms. Jusi take time to help him and try to see it from his perspective and if that doesn't work, they get him help from other departments.The best part is how happy all the kids seem to be with each other. It is such a positive and supportive environment, and we could not be happier with GMS.

We would not recommend this school based on our experience.Our child is both kind and academically strong and we chose this school expecting those values to be reflected in the community. Unfortunately, that was not what we experienced.Over time, it became clear that unkind behavior among students was too often overlooked. There was a sense that certain dynamics were tolerated rather than addressed, which created an environment that felt difficult and, at times, isolating for a child who leads with kindness.What matters most in a school is not just academics, but the culture it allows to exist. In our case, we did not feel that kindness and accountability were consistently reinforced.There are teachers who care, and we appreciate their efforts. But overall, the environment did not align with the standards we believe children deserve.Families considering this school should take a close look at not only academic offerings, but how student behavior is handled and what kind of culture is truly being supported.

We've had our boys at St. Theresa for four years and couldn't be happier. The tight-knit community means everyone looks out for one another. The faith curriculum has established a strong foundation for our kids outside of our home. And the academic rigor is above and beyond what they could get anywhere else at their ages. Teachers are great, administrators care about the students, and the community is strong and connected. Highly recommend.