Alfred E. Upton Elementary School

Great school with a strong parent organization. There is even a really cool Dads Club for all the dads that want to help support the school.

We've had 3 girls go through this school and couldn't recommend it highly enough. Kids, teachers, administrators and the community around the school are all awesome.

We pulled our kids out of Birmingham public schools during Covid. We looked at many of the catholic schools in the area and ultimately chose OLQM due to its welcoming environment, small class sizes, excellent standardized test scores and because we were so impressed with the principal and teachers that we met during out tours. Let me tell you, it has been the very BEST decision we have made as parents in regards to our children's education! The teachers, principal and leadership are overall outstanding! The environment is welcoming, humble, encouraging, supportive and safe. Our kids made friends very quickly and we have met so many nice families. In terms of academics, both of our children are thriving. Our oldest daughter is in CYO basketball and loves it. All in all, we can't say enough good things about OLQM, and will plan to keep our kiddos here through 8th grade. Would highly recommend to anyone in the area considering private education for their child!

Our daughter spent several years thriving at Japhet School. She earned nearly straight A’s, cherished her classmates, and fully embraced the community. We believed we were in the right place — until her mental health began to decline and the school failed to act.In January 2025, her grades dropped noticeably, and her pediatrician, counselor, and prior neuropsychologist all recommended accommodations to support her suspected autism and rapidly progressing anxiety. These recommendations were brought directly to the Head of School and her teacher — and were met with delay, deflection, and silence. Despite presenting medical documentation, past accommodations, and a collaborative proposal, no meaningful steps were taken — not even acknowledgment. For months our daughter struggled through 5+ hours of homework per night, experienced escalating distress, and began exhibiting severe trichotillomania. We asked for urgent follow-up, confirmed her suffering, and even laid out specific accommodations recommended by her care team. The school’s response? Vague reassurances, inaction, significant delays, and ultimately — a statement that they were not resourced to help and we therefore were forced to withdraw her with 7 weeks left in the academic year.Her final days at Japhet were devastating for her and me as her parent. Staff completely ignored our emails. Her friends were never told she was leaving. She was sent home with hours of homework knowing it would never be graded and despite confirmed withdrawal due to mental health. There was no closure. No sense of RELIABILITY, HUMILITY, or RESPECT not for her as a learner, nor for us as a family. Japhet often speaks of its 18 character qualities — initiative, courage, gratitude, justice, respect, reliability, joy, humility, peace, and more. But in our experience, these values were words on a wall, not principles in practice. When our child needed understanding, flexibility, and human connection, zero compassion was shown despite the fact that she was unraveling inside their own walls.We share this to caution other families of neurodivergent children, especially those with autism +/- PDA profiles. If your child requires flexibility, emotional safety, accommodations or genuine partnership — be prepared. Our experience was marked by neglect, poor communication, and a striking lack of sensitivity. Japhet may not leave students behind academically — but emotionally, we were left entirely alone.