Oak Lawn School

My children enjoyed their time at this school. Teachers communicate with parents when needes. Bullying was dealt with as soon as they knew about it. Every effort is made with each child to ensure they succeed and enjoy school. The administration tries to make the school more like a family. No complaints.

I had a great experience here as a student, and I went here from 2016-2021. 90% of teachers are friendly, kind, fun, and educational. They give reasonable amounts of homework, and recess was always plentiful. I had great elementary schooling here. I would recommend this school!

This school is great to produce citizens and individuals who do not think "outside of the box". Everything is very traditional, teacher-centered, and geared to prepare students for passing the standard tests, not to become creative thinkers in the 21st century. Any student that has any learning disability will not be helped here - they don't have staff, training nor resources for it. You will be on your own. Students learn only by memorizing facts and filling the blanks. There is no recess for middle schoolers. There is no sports fields.

I am an ex student from sjs, I went there from first grade to seventh grade (I was doing distance learning because of the pandemic). I am now in ninth grade and leaving Saint Joseph’s was the best decision I made regarding the school. My personal experience with the school was awful, and I still suffer from trauma regarding the school. There are many catholic schools that are genuinely welcoming and a good place for your kids, but sjs is not one of them. First off, I have autism and have had an extreme anxiety disorder from first grade. The school was aware of the anxiety, but had no formal “warning” (for lack of better word) about me being autistic, although I showed many traits. At lunch I had cried every day in the cafeteria because it was too loud. teachers were aware of this and instead of helping me or letting me eat something else they yelled at me to eat and let me sit there in tears. My parents were never made aware of this. I was severely bullied the entire time I attended that school, the teachers and dean were very aware of it but brushed it off because the girl most responsible for it “had a hard time at home”. I had one teacher who truly cared and wanted to help me, but I later found out the school threatened to fire them when they tried to help me with the bullying. I was also outted as queer and transgender at that school, where I was in no way supported. I was told that gay rights “contradicted the teachings of the church”. Sjs has lost its “christian love”, and is in no way in accepting or safe school. Ive been out of that school for almost three years now and am still suffering from extreme consequences of the bullying they let happen to me. I in no way reccomend this school to anyone, especially if you’re kid has a mental illness or is part of the lgbt community in any way. Save yourself the truama, because it will follow you.