Finch Elementary School

Great school. Family friendly. I love the neighborhood.

As a former student who has ADHD I didn’t have a good experience all the staff besides two members were horrible and I had to move but that was in like 2011 and 2012 and they have gotten a bit better but the same horrible principle is still there

My youngest have been in attendance here for that last three years. My son's previous schools just let him slide through the cracks so that when he entered 3rd grade at ridgeview he couldn't read or write!! The staff and Mrs Johnson were incredible! They got my son back on track with his peers. I don't know how they do it but they are excellent at making sure every child is individually loved unconditionally. Thanks to Ridgeview my son is back on the right foot and will be completing his last year of elementary there. They also offer a lot of exclusive opportunities and engagement for children that attend a public school and may not have experienced these activities otherwise (ie safety bicycle classes, free ski/snowboard lessons, and many other opportunities). I can't say enough good things about the principal and her staff.

They fired the principal who everyone loved suddenly, without any discussion with the parents, then the pastor left, and the vice principal left. Also they took advantage of us during the coronavirus by continuing to charge parents, plus getting money from the government. Our child was only there for 2 months but we ended up paying for 10 months plus mandatory donations. It is so sad, we had such high hopes for this school but it just cost us a lot of money. Some weird politics are going on and communications are not good. Watch out.

It’s refreshing to find a Catholic school that focuses on what is important - teaching students how to read, write and do math, all intertwined with the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Catholic faith. Teaching is done in the rhetorical style, so the children are engaged. They are held accountable here, not enabled. They will study Latin and grammar, and the beauty of nature studies. They will be exposed to classical and sacred music. Children will learn the history of Western Civilization and why it matters. Classrooms are clean and orderly and free from distraction. The school offers an authentic pre-K Montessori program that fits well with a classical model of teaching. The St. Charles leadership understands the end goal of developing children who can think critically and live out the Catholic faith - and strive for sainthood. Grateful St. Charles is an option for our family.

Like many parents in the world today, I was met with many options when choosing an educational path for my child. Homeschool? Public School? Private religious school? None of them fit what we wanted for our son, who at the time had just turned 4. That was until I heard about Windsong through a family member. Now I could not imagine my life without Windsong.My son is free to be who he wants to be, while being guided with a gentle hand & encouraging spirit. He is genuinely able to just be a child, discover the world, while building resilient habits and developing relationship cornerstones that will stay with him for the rest of his life. The school is an outdoor school, where children get to play, explore, have a shared meal & take care of one another. Windsong offers a wide range of classes for all ages, including a mixed aged kindergarten with 3-6year olds. It's very clear that the teachers are invested in the well-being of the children they teach.We were baby brand new to Waldorf education and were greeted immediately with open arms. As a parent, there are many, many ways to get involved with the school whether it be baking for the bake sale, helping set up & facilitate multiple events, and even learn new skills you never knew you could. I encourage you to take a tour of the school for yourself. Even if you have no idea what Waldorf is, or how it fits into your home like we did, it may just change the course of your family's life for the better.

As someone who attended this school for 7 years, I can say that if you want your child to grow up to be a self sufficient and independent teenager/adult, this school is great. This school shaped the person I am today and I firmly believe that if I had gone to a different school I would not have been as successful as I am. One of My main criticism for this is school is the ratio of students to teacher (30-1 in my experience) because at times is definitely limited how much individual attention and aid you could get from your teachers. I guess you could also see the positives in that as it can teach you to use critical thinking and solve your own issues, but it can be challenging if you are not that kind of person. While at times I did not love attending this school, I think in the long run it really will help your child become a self motivated and open minded person.