Gearing Elementary School

My daughter has attended this school for over three years now. She is four years old and in kindergarten this year! She has excelled academically, developmentally and socially. I am so pleased with our decision to send her here. Her teachers are so involved and personally invested in her education. I can't say enough about this school. Only that it has been such a blessing to our family.

We have been a very satisfied St. Mary's family for several years but have recently decided to seek other academic opportunities for our children for the following reasons. While the teaching staff is very competent and caring there is a high turnover rate (60% in the past three years, 20% last year). The school is underfunded and over-budget which means they will not be able to update curriculum material. There is money to fund a new science lab, however the text books are not up to date (they do not teach using S.T.E.M. Approach). There is not enough money to buy workbooks I.e. Spelling books so teachers are forced to make copies. There is no guarantee this school will have a full staff for the 2014-15 academic year. That decision will be made after the current registration process is complete and they know how many teachers the school can afford. We have many great memories with our children at this school but we cannot risk their educational outcome during this period of financial instability.