McKelvey Primary

After 4 years I would not go anywhere else for a solid biblical based education.

This is a great school where kids are challenged and taught in a very engaging way. The materials and techniques used are very useful. My daughter loves it here. The focus on academics and STEM is present , at the same time arts, music, languages is also part of the curriculum. The principal is very engaged and is always available for any questions or discussions.

If you want your child to come out of Elementary school wholly rounded, then stay away from Rossman. The parents' clickey-ness display a childish ness that really unhealthy and can be seen in their children. The admin is a favoritism inclined, and unable to be neutral.Rossman left my sons traumatized, knowingly. First Son had a good academic foundation that challenged him in a good way however, emotionally he is still scarred. With my 2nd who was bullied psycho-emotionally and physically, yet he still tried to be friends with the very children; and the parents excluded him from everything ( he’s still in Therapy from his time at this school)Constantly I was told he was a leader, yet he easily got into trouble, was complained about often that he was a distraction other children. I am not a pushover parent, and this school did not' like that I have a strong POV unafraid to call out their intense BIAS. Quite often I told the administration especially the upper school Admin was trying to work with the children especially when they went through 4th Grade; yet It was obvious this was a text exploration. This school gives an insane amount of preferential treatments to certain parents, and treat others like “charity cases” as one parent said. It might be attributed to the mentality in the city of St Louis in general. I will not go into details other than I was told my son was not the popular kid the others liked..The academics are strong, perhaps too rushed, with not enough time allowed for a child to master topic. The whole child, emotional accountability is absolutely absent. There is a need for the school to look within itself on how it manages conflicts between children, not taking the "richer" family's side over the not so rich or legacy student. I hated this experience for my kid. The teachers for the most part were fine. Each Grade has a special characteristics you should look out for. If you are crazy about Academics and don't care too much about the Psychology of your child, then you can tolerate this place - other wise, take a hard Pass

DaySpring offers wonderful options for homeschool families or parents looking for a hybrid university model program. You can choose between individual visual or performing arts classes, enrichment Friday classes (a school day experience for homeschoolers), a university model program for K-12, or an la carte (partial day) for homeschooled high schoolers and dual-enrolled students. Our children have taken classes at DaySpring for over 15 years. One graduated from the high school and was well prepared for college due to the university model. During COVID we were removed from the chaos and drama of full time schools, because DaySpring students are used to self-direction and independent work. Isn't that the point of education? As a small, independent school with greater flexibility and a more homey environment than factorylike government-run schools, students are treated as individuals rather than inmates. DaySpring also respects the family and family time and has far less conformity and bullying than what routinely manifests in public and private full time schools. The teachers and staff are there because they LOVE the kids and they LOVE what they do. In our decade and a half of experience there, DaySpring is more tolerant and inclusive than a lot of other education contexts and is more professional than co-ops and other homeschool arrangements. It is not perfect--no school is, and it cannot be all things for all families. But DaySpring was a pioneer organization in the bleak landscape of few educational choices, and we have been so thankful for the support that DaySpring has given my children and family!