St Louis Catholic School

2901 Popkins Lane

Alexandria, VA 22306

26 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on December 04, 2022

St. Louis is a nice small Catholic school. The PTA is lovely and works hard for the school. The administration seems to be wonderful with the students.The middle school is going through a rather big transition with teachers. All schools are. There is a new English teacher and a new science teacher who are both strong teachers. They seem very understanding. They are wonderful with the students and have a great knowledge base.The middle school math and religion continues to be the school’s weakest subjects. Teachers keep changing. Religion was a bit drab and h exciting for our child and the teacher is a little judgemental. There aren’t a whole lot of volunteer or community outreach opportunities for the students for religion either. My child did community service hours at another Catholic school. The lower school seems to have had a turnover so I can’t speak for that level. St. Louis feeds into Bishop Ireton and a few other Catholic schools in the area.
Submitted by other on September 28, 2021

This schools is the reason why I am no longer Catholic. They would justify sexism and homophobia with their “all loving” catholic faith, would punish and reprimand you for making a mistake, and would constantly tell student that they’re the worst people they’ve ever had to deal with. Sure the education helped me somewhat, but it did nothing but tear away at my mental health. Reminding me that I’m just a kid, which must means I’m a lesser human being and don’t deserve respect. Thank you for making 2nd- 8th grade a living nightmare for my mental well being and happiness. I will make sure to remember all the “good” you and your toxic Catholicism has caused me and many other students.Sincerely,Disappointed former student
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2019

This school is one of the main reasons we stayed in the area. No school can be all things to all students but as a parent looking for a community to back you up on the values you strive to instill in your children, St. Louis does an incredibly good job.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2019

Our family loves St. Louis School! Our 6yo just finished Kindergarten, and our 4yo is in the preschool. My husband and I are very pleased with the faith-based education our children are getting, starting in preschool and continuing in the grade school—from attending weekly mass, focusing on a new virtue each month, frequent prayer and service opportunities, as well as excellent academics. The Catholic faith is not relegated to religion class only; it is integrated throughout the day in learning, discussions and interactions with faculty, staff, administrators and clergy. Here we have found friends and a warm, welcoming community of supportive families. The teachers we’ve met so far are all wonderful: kind and loving to our children, while still able to handle discipline and difficult situations that may arise. I volunteer with the Resource department, which offers extra time and attention both to students who need help keeping up with their class and to those students who could benefit from more challenging work. Our children can’t wait to get involved in the athletics and other extracurricular activities offered at St. Louis as they get older. We are here to stay!
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2019

This school is a place where kids of all backgrounds can get a faith based, very academically rigorous education with a ton of love and nurturing. It's deeply rooted in the principles of Mother Teresa and we're blessed to be a part of the school.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2019

I have three children at the school, 7, 5, and 3. One is in the grade school and two are in the pre-school. My husband and I absolutely love this school. Our children are loved and cared for with an understanding that children learn differently and what works for one child may not work for another. They are patient and kind and handle discipline appropriately based on your child's age and their understanding of the wrongdoing. St. Louis is an environment where your child cannot only learn but thrive as an individual and in their values. My husband is non-Catholic and loves this school just as much as I do. We appreciate the sense of community and know that families genuinely care for one another. There is always someone there to help out when you need someone to carpool or for an after school playdate. I have no doubt when my children graduate from St. Louis they will not only be prepared academically but also understand the value of their neighbor and that it is just as important to be a good person as to get all A's.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2019

We transferred into St. Louis from a negative experience at a local public school despite some trepidation by my non-religious spouse about the Catholic education. We have both been so happy with the decision and have never regretted it for a moment. The faculty and administration are very much focused on our children's growth. It's a very warm, positive environment and my children feel loved and cared for.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2019

We love St Louis. It is the perfect fit for our family.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2019

I will cry when we have to leave they have as good a home and community as the home they live in
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

For any parent looking to ensure their child’s care is of high quality, you need look nowhere but St. Louis Catholic School. Our experience has been extremely positive and I witness daily the loving care of the staff. They nurture, teach, inspire, and yes, discipline all of our kids as if family. In fact, the main sentiment of everyone I know with children at St. Louis is that it feels like family!
Submitted by student on November 12, 2017

In this school they use negative reinforcement instead of positive. Teachers would often reprimand me if I got an incorrect answer or made a mistake. This school needs a lot of work. There are good teachers such as Mrs. Czapiewski and Mrs. Cucinata. The one thing they did do for me was overly prepare me for highschool. I would not recommend sending your child to this negative environment.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2017

There is rarely a week that goes by when my husband and I don't remark that sending our kids to St. Louis is the best thing we could have done for them. The children are all loved for who they are and the teachers and staff meet them where they need to be met. Kids that excel at school get enrichment, kids that struggle get the loving support they need to thrive. Our children know that they are loved and valued when they walk through those doors in the morning and they are thriving. A special shout out to the Principal Kathleen McNutt -- an exception leader and educator who sets the right tone at every turn.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2015

It is a great school socially for my children. It's very traditional and sometimes doesn't meet the needs of students with different learning styles. Most of the teachers are dedicated.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2014

BEST EXPERIENCE! We are a military family and we're thrilled with our time at St. Louis. We had a pre-schooler and a first grader there for the 2013-2014 school year. It may not have the fanciest, brand new facilities, but the school has it where it really counts.The front office staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and efficient and continually went out of their way to assist my family. The PTO is fantastic and had a stellar welcome program for new families for the entire year. The 1st grade staff was enthusiastic, open to parent feedback, and tailored an education plan for the needs of my son. They sincerely card for each child. The curriculum is comprehensive and includes great specials like music, art, science lab, liturgical music, Spanish, PE, and religion. On a whole, the staff at St. Louis is consitantly professional, kind, and possesses obvious esprit-de-corps. The school integrates the Catholic faith in all parts of the curriculum and throughout the day. My children grew leaps and bounds in their faith because of the wonderful Christ-centered environment at St. Louis. We truly felt a part of the St. Louis family and were heartbroken we had to leave so soon.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2014

St. Louis Catholic School is truly a wonderful school! I volunteer at the school often and could not be happier that my children spend their school days in such a loving, caring environment. The teachers make learning fun! They clearly love children. In my capacity as a volunteer, I see happy children with smiling faces. I've also been impressed with the administration and front office staff. If you're looking for a Christ-centered school with high academic standards, you don't need to look any further than St. Louis School.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2013

My child has been at St. Louis for three years now and we are so happy as a family there. Great teachers and administrators. Solid Catholic education and academics in a nurturing environment. We are actually in one of the best public school districts in Fairfax County and we are so glad we chose St Louis.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2013

We transferred from a public elementary three years ago and could not be more pleased with our decison. Our daughter began to blossom and thrive under the caring and thoughtful care of her teachers. The community itself is very caring and nurturing of the students. The parental involvment is amazing! It is like night and day compared to public school. The parents and teachers truly care and it shines through. We have been extremely pleased with academics and feel as though we are partners with the teaching staff. I have never felt that our questions or input was a bother. I would highly recommend St. Louis to any family that wishes their child to have a Catholic education.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2013

My son attended St. Louis for one semester of first grade. While the academic aspect of the school seemed sufficient, the administrative staff at the school is extremely cold. Time and again my interactions with those running the front desk, finance etc. was less than pleasant and usuallt condescending. If you are looking for a school that respects you as a parent, appreciates your investment in the school or simply has a customer service demeanor you will not find it at St. Louis. Thankfully my husband's job moved us to Maryland where we have enrolled my son in a new Catholic elementary school that has a very inviting, appreciative and happy environment. I believe the environment surrounding your child every day makes a dramatic difference in their education and their overall demeanor.
Submitted by other on July 12, 2013

As part of the latest graduating class at St. Louis, and completing my elementary/middle school education at this school, I can reassuringly tell parents that your child will love St. Louis. Having attended public school and international school as well, I can tell you that our school has the closest bond I've ever witnessed at a school before. I felt like St. Louis was my second home. Parent involvement here is outstanding, from volunteers to subs, and class size is small. You will feel right at home here. Many of the teachers here are alumni or have been working here for almost or over a decade. Teachers here know what they're doing and the school is run accordingly. After your child's first year they'll feel as if they're part of a great big family. I know I have. Of course like any other school it does have it's quirks, but it's all part of the system. All families have ups and downs, correct? Seeing this school grow from the time I began here to when I graduated this year was one of the beautiful things I've ever witnessed. St. Louis was like my extended family and seeing that I switched schools from time to time, I can justify that statement. It was so hard to say goodbye.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2013

We are new to Saint Louis School and are very pleased that we transitioned from public to Catholic school. We had some concerns about doing this because our son receives special services from the county. But as we learned, St. Louis is a very caring community that strives to help every student, including those with special needs. We opted for Saint Louis because we wanted our son to receive a Catholic education and to be guided by the strong moral compass that Catholic Schools provide. Our son is embracing this and is thriving in every way. We also really love that the principal and staff greet students by name, as this was not done at our son s much larger public school.