John Carroll School

703 East Churchville Road

Bel Air, MD 21014

13 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 25, 2024

Personal experiences are of course, subjective but I can say that as a parent who is EXTREMELY involved at John Carroll I find these negative reviews lack merit. I have always been able to approach the administration with anything-problems or suggestions and have received feedback and support. Likewise with the teachers and the extracurricular activities staff. Drama, unfortunately is a common hurdle during the teenage years and unavoidable but JC does a great job of minimizing it and addressing it with students. Their tolerance for flagrant, egregious behavior is low. Unlike local, public schools their hands aren’t tied by red tape and they don’t hesitate to expel students who do notabide by their moral contract. It makes for a much more safe and healthy learning environment than one receives at the public level. The JC students and graduates who I encounter are some of the MOST fine young adults I have ever met. They are a true testament to not only good parenting but to the excellent educational foundation JC has given them. I highly recommend JC to anyone who is interested in a private education.
Submitted by student on October 20, 2023

I am incredibly disappointed by this school. Bullying, drama, privilege, and plain meanness overshadow the outstanding academics, caring classroom teachers, course variety, and college preparedness we chose JC for. Kids are hazed by their peers (personal property destroyed in the name of “teasing”), and I have personally seen groups of kids make fun of a kid with a learning difference and then post it on social media. The one time I finally brought bullying to the attention of the staff, I was told the actions weren’t “necessary’ bullying” and that the students feeling bullied and pressured needed to “make better personal choices.” A lot of attention is placed on skirt length, but drama continues to go unchecked. I will say that I feel like I am getting a top-notch education, that I will be ready for college and that I feel interested and engaged in the classroom. But is it really worth the cost? I suggest checking out other schools. I can’t believe the archdiocese allows this to continue.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2023

The administration does not care about student or parent concerns. They just back each other up and literally do not care about how you or your children are being treated. Even as tuition keeps going up. It’s unfortunate because I’ve heard that they got rid of the good administrators / coaches and that because of this- the environment at the school has gone downhill very quickly.
Submitted by student on September 15, 2023

John Carroll is an amazing school that supports me very well.
Submitted by other on August 08, 2022

I attended The John Carroll School starting 2016 and graduated in 2020. I also had 3 siblings attend this school. All of us had less than great experiences at jc. High school students go through a lot, and the staff at jc does a horrific job helping students who may need extra help. I had an incident when I was a freshman and had to leave school for a little, upon my returning the staff had gossiped about my personal event and teachers I didn't even know were speaking about my event to my siblings and others. Over the next four years certain staff, school nurses, and others continued to bring up this event making it difficult for me, a child, to move past something I didn't want grown up's gossiping about. If you value your child's mental health and feelings I suggest another school. I still struggled getting into college even though jc is a college prep school. As an alum I believe finding another school that won't ignore your children and rob you blind with their growing tuitions would be a smarter decision.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2022

This school has gone downhill over the past 2 1/2 yrs. They do not engage nor respond to parent concerns. The drama & bullying are out of control. The select groups they are afraid of can harass students with zero consequences. Newly hired English teaching staff is subpar, under qualified and zero experience. Writing sci-fi books you’d find on a bargain shelf of a dollar store does not equal teaching ability. They throw more money at their marketing/PR department than they do students. Lacking all Christian values especially for a Catholic school. Drugs and under aged drinking are out of control as well as extremely promiscuous behavior due to the fact that the school instills zero values or morals to their students and the vast majority parents just want to to play the out of sight out of mind game of raising their children. If you want a positive morally sound environment look elsewhere and do not send your child here.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2022

Not a very nice place, and the staff never listens to the parents or student body in regards to their opinions or suggestions to the school. We are the ones paying the money to send our children here, so why don't we make the decisions? It's fairly bizarre, and the school board never contacts parents or sympathises with them over issues. The school also has a lead contamination problem and it's very unhealthy for the students as a whole. 7,000 ppb
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2021

I’ve sent all 3 of my children to John Carroll. All three performed quite well. My review is based on 2020/2021 performance. If you are desirous to send your child to John Carroll, I strongly recommend you consider one of the other Baltimore Metropolitan private/Catholic high schools. Current leadership is weak, feckless, and lacks creative work around solutions to simple problems. There are better schools with better leadership in the area that will provide an all around better experience for your child.
Submitted by other on March 03, 2017

I graduated from John Carroll in the mid-2000s and then went on to my top-choice university (in major part due to the wide variety of extracurriculars that JC offers to round out its students). It was there that I realized exactly the foundation that JC builds in its students. While my new friends came in with more AP classes under their belt from their various schools, when it came down to the fundamentals of learning, I was much more prepared. This is due to the focus on teaching and preparing students adequately, rather than the focus of some other schools where they "teach" what is necessary to score well on a single exam (contributing to the rating of the school, not to the wellbeing of the child).
Submitted by student on February 22, 2016

The school has an unbelievable amount of drama. Crippling rumors are whispered through the hallways and Girls are constantly being harrassed, but the administration does not care. Most of the teachers are not eager to help their students, they are more concerned with doing the least amount of work that they can be paid to do. This type of attitude reminds me of a Public School. You can send threats to people via text; the administration doesn't care, but if you are one of the few unlucky souls who gets caught googling the answers to your homework, you are over. It's unfair how teachers pick and choose who gets in trouble for different things. They play a large amount of favoritism. John Carroll is a popularity contest, and I don't consider myself an outcast, but other students made me feel like a waste of space.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2015

We are very fortunate to have The St. Joseph's program to support our student, specifically Mrs. Drummey.
Submitted by student on January 09, 2015

I am a former student. If your child has any issue whatsoever do not send him or her here. Their "motto" is compelling considerate and uncompromising. However, from my experience the faculty are the farthest thing from considerate. If your child has a learning issue, a mild mental issue such as bipolar, or insomnia, or worse, the people here will not help her through it. I found no support, not even from the nurse. People are not warm and kind. MOST are distant and unwelcoming to new students. There are some faculty that are great! The quality of instruction is good.Mass can become boring. They don't cater to young people. I would really research this school. Look beyond what they say about it. Yes, its the only private school around here. That doesn't make it a good private school. I am an outgoing and nice person. I found some of the kids not really willing to make new friends beyond their cliques. It may have just been that class. I could not get past the rudeness of some of the faculty. Dig deeper. Their drama program is good. I had a bad experience here. And, It was not just me. I know some other people my age who did not like the school.
Submitted by student on June 06, 2014

Great school - from the faculty to the students. A great place to learn & a better place to grow.