Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School

My experience with CCS was mixed, with some genuinely positive aspects, but ultimately significant concerns that led our family to transition out.To begin with, the school has some strong individual leaders. The Director is a highly capable and thoughtful leader who clearly cares about the school and its students. However, there appears to be a lack of sufficient administrative support beneath her, which impacts consistency in decision-making and follow-through.A recurring concern is the influence of close personal relationships within the school community. There is a noticeable level of nepotism, with many families closely connected through friendships or family ties. This dynamic appears to affect how challenging situations are handled, particularly in matters of student behavior and accountability. In some cases, decisions seemed to favor families who are more established or who contribute significantly to the school.From an academic standpoint, there are structural limitations. Several teachers are not certified educators, and while many are kind and well-intentioned, some struggle with effective classroom management—even in smaller class settings. Additionally, the school is not adequately equipped to support students with learning differences. There is no qualified literacy specialist, and the curriculum is used beyond its appropriate level for struggling readers. From a community perspective, our family did not experience the Christ-centered connection we had hoped for. Ultimately, both of our children transitioned out of the school. When my son moved to public school in 4th grade, we found that despite his strong academic performance at Cornerstone, he required additional support to catch up—suggesting gaps in curriculum alignment.In summary, while the school has caring individuals and a well-intentioned mission, it currently lacks the structure, resources, and consistency needed to support a diverse student population effectively.

Both of my children have had wonderful preschool and elementary experiences at Maple tree Montessori Academy. I am so grateful we have a wonderful, authentic Montissori school on our area, with amazing teachers and staff. My oldest started 7th grade at a public middle school this year and is doing really well. His sister will be heading there next year. It will break my heart to leave our Maple Tree family. They have given my kids an amazing foundation for the rest of their education and for life in general.

St. Patrick School in Brighton, MI. My wife and I both went to private catholic schools and had high hopes when sending our son to St. Patrick. Unfortunately, the school turned out to be a major disappointment! The teachers were all pretty good, but the administration is absolutely terrible! Our son was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and the administration offered NO help or support. They relied on the Brighton School District to do their "special education" testing. Brighton couldn't even spell my son’s name correctly throughout the report; and more importantly, they scored their own test INCORRECTLY! The St. Patrick Special Education Coordinator didn't even know how to read the special education reports prepared by Brighton Schools, and she didn't even know what a Lexile score is, I had to educate her and explain it to her. My son started at St. Patrick in kindergarten and stayed through 5th grade. According to his Lexile scores at the end of 4th grade, he was reading at a 1st grade level, and the school was unwilling to help. In a one-on-one meeting with the Special Education Coordinator and Vice Principal in the early spring of 5th to discuss my son's situation, they promised us the world and then didn't deliver on any of it. They flat-out lied to our faces about the accommodations they would put in place to help support our son's education. We exchanged emails with the administration after our meeting and they were downright rude in their responses. If your child needs any special care or attention, THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOL FOR YOU! We were told repeatedly that they "do not have the in-house resources to help." I really do believe the administration at this school just sat by and watched my son struggle while doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help. All this was going on while I had paid almost $40,000 in tuition for my son's education. We are not the only family that has had this experience with St. Patrick. We know of another family that just pulled their kids for the same exact reasons.My experience with this school can be summed up in just a few words...DISAPPOINTING and LIES!