Lake Harriet Lower Elementary School

In 1996, we found Holy Family Catholic Parish in St. Louis Park when we were in search of one that would teach the Truth about our Catholic faith, in season and out of season. At that point in our lives, 3 of our 4 children were already in college, but we had become acutely aware of the importance of solid Catholic teaching in both our parish and our children's schools. Over the next 5 years, we added to our family by adopting 3 more children, so we were delighted when Father Dufner announced the re-opening of our parish school in 2001: Holy Family Academy. Our 3 youngest children attended this school for all their elementary years (K-8th). A start up school always has its challenges, but we were a group of parents and staff who were dedicated to building a school community whose mission was to be strong academically, morally, and spiritually. From the devoted and purposeful Principal, who treated each student as a precious child of God, to the determined and focused librarians, who hand-picked each book that would be safe an age appropriate for the library, to the Catholic teachers who were willing to take an Oath of Fidelity to the Catholic Church, to the parents hungering for a great Catholic school for their children, the foundation had been built. Our children graduated from Holy Family Academy well prepared academically for high school and college. Among many other gifts, such as teaching of virtues and morals and prayer throughout the school day, which were a part of this foundation and continue today, we believe the greatest legacy is starting each school day with Holy Mass. It is hard to imagine any better way to begin each morning than to pray together at Mass, receive Holy Communion, hear a holy priest's homily and be sent off with a priestly blessing. We are thankful for Holy Family in our lives, and we are proud to continue to support this school financially, physically (I continue to volunteer there), and spiritually.

Caring and supportive community with a Montessori approach. We've been thrilled with this preschool for our daughter and highly recommend!

Carondelet Elementary School is a wonderful, welcoming place for children. The teachers are firm yet loving, creating an environment where students feel supported and safe. They are highly organized, with consistent routines that help children thrive. Our child particularly loves math, and the school makes it fun by using different learning methods and memorization techniques. The specialty classes are fantastic; choir class is a favorite, and the art teacher creatively combines lessons about ancient art techniques with stories about influential historical artists.The school is very focused on safety, with strong systems and protocols in place to ensure children are well-protected. Parents are actively involved, and there’s a warm, friendly community spirit. Carondelet offers various engaging activities, such as indoor sports and the zoo program. It’s also a magnet school for Groves reading, which is excellent. We appreciate the Quiet Room, where students can take tests in a more peaceful environment. Communication from teachers is excellent, with regular updates for parents, and we find the homework both helpful and appropriate for our child’s learning level.The classroom has only 15 students, compared to 30 at the previous school, allowing for more individualized attention. The school is very community-oriented, encouraging students to give back, like when they recently sang, read stories, and made art for veterans. We wish we had switched to Carondelet sooner! It’s affordable, well-organized, and has been an ideal fit for our family. Most importantly, we truly feel that every staff member genuinely cares about you, your children, and your family.