Cardinal Pacelli Elementary School

927 Ellison Avenue

Cincinnati, OH 45226

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 06, 2023

We have loved this school for our kids so far! The teachers are very approachable and understanding, but for when necessary! The community is wonderful- plenty of opportunities to get parents together. The parent volunteer and involvement percentage is high. Small classes- which help with more focused instruction!
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2021

I just read the reviews. It is sad that there is a wart which hinders the beauty of this school thus not allowing it to blossom. The leadership has chased away another group of excellent teachers this year. Save your children and head down the road to Guardian Angels.
Submitted by other on June 25, 2020

Leadership is the main weakness at this school.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2020

Leadership issues need to be addressed. It is difficult to form strong relationships amongst the faculty and families when experienced staff leaves and then newly hired teachers leave after only being at the school for one or two years. The declining enrollment is another indicator of an unhappy environment.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2020

Needs improvement.Needs different administrator/principal to help the overall rating of this school. See comments from others. Unfortunately, what they posted about this administrator is true.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2019

When I was looking for a school for my children I assumed that the negative reviewers were just disgruntled people shooting from the hip. I now regret ignoring them because experience has taught me that they were spot on. The school reflects the demographic of the immediate neighborhood, white, Catholic, and upper-middle/upper class, which is not a perfect reflection of my own background, but I assumed any differences would be smoothed over by the shared values of religious faith and a desire to give our kids the best education possible. If you fit the neighborhood demographic, you may have a great experience and you can probably stop reading this review. If you think you might be an outsider, due to living in a different community, or on religious, racial or economic terms, then you may want to be thoughtful about placing your child at Cardinal Pacelli. Coming in as an outsider is not necessarily a bad move, depending on your situation. The odds are stacked in your favor if your child is athletic as the school is very sports-focused, and if your child has a strong friendship group outside of the school making forming bonds within the school less necessary. Also, if your current school environment is chaotic or your child is the target of physical bullying, then you will find Pacelli much calmer.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2019

Our family has been at this school for several years. If you had asked me 5 years ago, I would have said, "The school is a great little school with nurturing teachers and staff, and all the kids get what they need to get into the high schools of their choice". Now...if I had to do it all over again knowing what I currently know, I would not send my kids there - really because of the leadership. Just too toxic. And, the same families are the ones that run the place (just look at any school pictures and you see the same faces of the favorites). Probably the same families who were asked to write favorable reviews back in Feb (notice they are all about the same date). Makes me sad that a place that we loved so much is one that we are so ready to leave and not look back. If they get a new principal who is more collaborative and understands how a school should run, then I would be happy to reassess.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2019

We transferred to Pacelli after a few years at a highly rated Public School in Cincinnati. It was a great move for us. Small thing, but it impacts every day...I love having uniforms. The Religious education and involvement with the Parish community is excellent. Our kids continue to grow and achieve academically. The Parent Teacher Organization is very involved and has great after school clubs/programs from Drama to Band. The Athletic Commission runs excellent after school sports programs with coaches who genuinely care about the players.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2019

We are very happy with the education our children are getting at Cardinal Pacelli and more importantly our children are happy. We have 3 children at the school now and we have loved every teacher we have had. I have had the opportunity to get to know the principal and many of the teachers over the last few years and they care so much about the school and the children. If you want to be involved in your children's school there are so many opportunities available to get to know everyone from the teachers and staff to other parents and the children. It has been a wonderful place for us!
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2019

Excellent! My 2 children have been at Pacelli for 9 years, starting in preschool, and they love it! We have always found the staff to be extremely helpful and hardworking and whenever we’ve encountered any kind of problem, we’ve been met with open, honest dialogue and a desire to find solutions. If you are willing to be a part of the solution and the community, you will love Pacelli!
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2019

Excellent. Pacelli creates an environment that helps our children grow academically, spiritually and emotionally
Submitted by student on December 17, 2018

Academics are alright, especially for junior high, but kids with learning disabilities get treated terribly. The principal refuses to sign legal papers authorizing learning help/therapy, and often tells them to their faces that they are distractions. Bullying is terrible, and almost all of the kids are disrespectful to teachers and students. Ever since we got a new principal, the school has been awful. Not to mention the way the principal treats the staff. She treats them like inferiors. She even made my teacher cry in front of the entire class. She often changes or gets rid of things people like just for the sake of change, is unorganized, and has terrible ideas (such as to arrange classes by smarts, which would only cause more conflict between students). I am so ready for high school.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2018

The school is bad. Academics is okay. Diversity it lacks and the school administrator is horrific!
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2018

Cardinal Pacelli is a fantastic school. The teachers are among its greatest assets and the school's dedication to ongoing development of each child as well school-wide improvement projects is admirable. My three children are proud to be Pacelli students.
Submitted by other on November 17, 2017

Poor is how I would rate this school After visiting for the 2nd last time.Ive never meet an educator that feels a parent is to involved.The Opinion of the Pricipal her self.Id never send my child to a school like that .You should be Pleased parents want to visit their children if need be or just because may be it will help you and them the kids most of all
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2015

Top Notch Catholic Parochial School in Mt. Lookout. Preschool - 8th grade. Strong Academics and Strong Sports Program. Graduates are well prepared for high school at Moeller, St. X, Ursula, Summit, McNicholas, Walnut Hills, Ursuline ..... Nice Environment. Certain groups of friends everywhere one goes. Do not find CP to be any more cliquey than anywhere else. Every Family there because they want a Good Catholic Education for their Children and want them to move on to a good high school.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2014

Overrated by far. Horrible principal, priorities are severally jaded. Very cliquey and sad. Just a poor excuse of a school.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2014

Unintentionally, my son has attended many schools due to frequent moving and my parental passion to give him the best, well-rounded education possible. Cardinal Pacelli is one of the best schools in Cincinnati! My only drawback was the racist comments/remarks made by children and the lack to strive for diversity. If the parents and administration valued and taught diversity more, this would be the "perfect" school! People are going to be click-ish everywhere you are. People become friends with whomever they want. That shouldn't stop you from awarding your child the best enrichment and education they can receive.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2014

Cardinal Pacelli offers an excellent, well rounded education as well as a supportive and engaged parent community. We are not Cincinnati natives and when we chose Pacelli for our children the welcoming community was a key part of our decision. We definitely made the right decision! We have children in 2nd, 4th and 8th grade. My 8th grader has had an amazing experience and is very well prepared for high school. All of my children enjoy playing sports for fun and being a part of a team. The teachers are dedicated and work with the parents to facilitate character development along with academic achievement. Our children have had opportunities at Pacelli for service projects, International travel and great Scout programs. Our experience has been extremely postive - we have happy, engaged children who are excited about going to school day after day.
Submitted by other on October 21, 2013

Do not be fooled, Pacelli is NOT a good school! Most of its teachers are veeeery below average and hate teaching. The school revolves entirely on who is a "good Cincinnati family" and if you are not a part of a said family, you will be mostly excluded. The school also revolves around sports, and if you do not play a sport, you will also be excluded. It is EXTREMELY cliquey and the students aren't bright at all. If you're thinking about sending your child here, please look at other options.