St. Mark Catholic School

We love this schooL! The teachers and staff are extremely welcoming and provide a great learning environment. We have a 2.5 and 4.5 yr old in the school, Both classes are small and has been a great environment for the girls. They are learning so much and having fun. They do so many projects and make learning a fun activity. We highly recommend Chesterbrook at Birkdale!

Grace Covenant has many beautiful qualities, and I want to acknowledge that first. The school provides a strong Christian foundation, and there are teachers who genuinely love the children and pour into them with care. Our family wanted this school to work beyond PK3 and PK4.Unfortunately, our experience with early education leadership was disappointing, especially as the parent of a neurodivergent child.In our experience, the Early Education Director was rigid in her approach and seemed to prioritize staff comfort and administrative control over individualized support and the well-being of certain children. Rather than working with parents to understand a child’s needs, strengths, and development, the process felt dismissive, predetermined, and lacking true partnership.What concerned me most is that our experience did not appear isolated. Other parents and staff shared similar concerns, including a pattern of neurodivergent children being discouraged from the typical kindergarten path and instead pushed toward transitional kindergarten. Several families left because they felt unheard, unsupported, and pressured into decisions they did not believe were right for their child.Schools should be honest about readiness and support needs, but those conversations should be handled with transparency, compassion, and respect for parents’ role in decision-making. In our case, professional experience seemed used to justify a predetermined outcome instead of being used to support the child.This review is not meant to discredit the school. There are wonderful people at Grace Covenant, and the spiritual foundation can be a blessing. However, families of neurodivergent children, or children who need extra patience, flexibility, or developmental support, should ask clear questions before enrolling.Ask how the school supports neurodivergent learners after PK3 and PK4. Ask how kindergarten readiness decisions are made, especially when children entering kindergarten without prior preschool instruction are still being enrolled. Ask whether parents are truly included in the process. Ask what accommodations are available before concerns become reasons to redirect a child away from the standard kindergarten path.I am sharing this because families deserve to make informed decisions, especially when choosing a Christian school where they expect their child to be seen, loved, supported, and treated as God created them.

Great school with a great PTA and good community involvement. Teachers are responsive, and the rest of the staff is great. Principal runs a tight ship here, and it shows.