Gesu Catholic School

17139 Oak Drive

Detroit, MI 48221

16 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 15, 2024

Gesu has been a wonderful experience for my children, who have attended since Pre-K and 1st grade. The community is welcoming, and the teachers are transparent and maintain great communication. The administrators are attentive to parent concerns and willing to make adjustments when needed. I feel that the early education curriculum provides a strong foundation for young learners. The religious component has been excellent in fostering a sense of compassion, moral values, and spiritual growth. With the transition to a Jesuit school, I’m excited to see how the curriculum evolves to become even more challenging.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2024

We have so happy to be at Gesu, the leadership is outstanding, starting with the principal. The teachers have helped our son blossom. The parents are so active and passionate. We are grateful we have Gesu near us as an option.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2022

Thank you for allowing me to review the schools performance and impact on my grandsons. I must say I am impressed although I only gave a 3-star rating. I currently live in Arizona. I was visiting in town and I had the opportunity to pick my grandsons up from school. Let me be clear. I didn’t get a chance to speak with teachers or school administrators. But I was on the property. The school and property needs work (the main reason for 3-star rating). Gesu being across from U of D is a moot point when the Gesu property is so unkept. Inside there are broken water fountains in use? Unsafe and not healthy for anyone, less known 3-5 year olds. Floors are not clean. Unsafe and not healthy for anyone. I spoke to one parent who told me about one teacher who he described as a “task master”. I won’t name names because my review is not meant to be an indictment. But the parent said the teacher yells and singles out 3-5 year olds in front of the entire class. Unsafe and not healthy. Public school teachers know better than to do that to a 3-5 year old child. Then he went on to describe how the teacher did not allow the students to wear Halloween costumes although the entire school, including the principle wore a costume for Halloween. He said she is the “task master”, as if her class was a jail. From what that parent said, it sounds like a public school where teachers have a good heart but are overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a private school teacher. But like I said in the beginning I am impressed with my grandsons knowledge base. And the most important FACT is my grandsons wake up every school day EAGER to learn. For that I am grateful to the school and the staff. Thank you
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2022

My son went to through the preschool program and I have seen so much growth. Great Job Pre- K
Submitted by teacher on January 29, 2019

The p principal Me Layrin is the most ineffective principal I've seen.She removed an excellent teacher th is past y ear. The principal needs to be removed incompentent
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2018

Great community! Great Kids. Committed teachers. Good extracurricular opportunities : Sports, theatre etc .... poor art, languages. A little to rote for my taste
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2014

This is not one of those sink or swim schools that admits only gifted or accelerated learners. The school works with all children through regular classroom instruction, remediation and assistance for those who need it, and more challenging work for children who require it. There are high expectations of all children, and an obvious belief that all children can achieve great things with the right teaching and environment. Teachers are caring and committed, and the school stresses Christian values, providing a safe and nurturing place for children to learn. Generally class sizes are small. The school has a couple of classes that run into the mid twenties, but teachers seem to do a pretty good job of managing them. As a parent who has had children here for several years, I can say that the curriculum definitely becomes progressively more challenging as the children advance through the grades.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2014

Gesu school has become a nice educational alternative. In the past, this school turned out some of Detroit's most successful and accomplished professionals and leaders. After a bit of a slump, this school is making a real comeback. Parents are involved, leadership seems to be receptive (having made needed changes to the latchkey program, incorporating more technology with a new computer lab and updated library, upgrading facilities such as the new gymnasium floor, and beginning to examine new ways to challenge accelerated learners and expand athletic offereings.) No school is perfect, but the energy at this school is high. There seems to be a renewed recognition that education is about the children, first and foremost - and that the parents at this school will accept nothing less. I have learned that we must be a part of the great things we want to see happen. This is a great time to be a part of the positive changes at Gesu school.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2014

I can only speak on the preschool program... which was an awesome experience for my family. My daughter learned A LOT including things on the solar system, Lords prayer and provided opportunities for my child to join the choir. If we hadn't moved so far south we would have continued there. I only rated it a three-star because I cringe at the play ground and the forced fundraiser, which if you do no sell tix, its added to your child's tuition.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2013

Worst leadership from a Principle ever!! The parents don't respect her and neither do the students. Last year, they wasted money on a Dean of Students, and that was a bust too because he wasn't qualified either in such matters. The person who did the most cheer leading recently has the most to loose--time! The curriculum has a lot to be desired, and what's being taught is well below average grade level. The teachers aren't teaching to the average students but to the below average students, and unfortunately, there are a lot of them there, through no fault of their own. If you took an average Gesu kid, and put them into a higher performing school (private or public) these children would be struggling while heartedly. Keep your child in this school environment is doing them a disservice. And the premier in charge doesn't ever go over there, let alone make an effort to know the kids or their names! It's a darn shame!
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2013

The principal is uneducated and inexperienced. The discipline problems at this school are not handled properly by the administration, if that's what you call it. The teacher turnover rate wouldn't be so high if the principal didn't allow the parents to run her classrooms and she does nothing about it! The teachers are the ones who carry this school. There are a couple veterans that need to retire, but I was happy to see the fresh faces hired in the last two years. The only reason why my children have and will continue their education at Gesu is because of the teachers. As a parent and administrator, I am less than impressed with the new principal's first year.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2013

The school is truly a hidden gem. It has literally produced leaders for decades. It has a strong cirrcuculum and access to the resources of the University of Detroit Mercy! How many elementary schools have a deep partnership with a prestigious university located literally across the street? I will say, though the building is beautiful and well maintained, it is definitely showing its age. Something should be done about that.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2013

My child went to Gesu Pre-school and it was the worse thing I could have done for my child. She was already prepared for school and the staff focused on those that were not, i.e. not knowing abc's, can't write own name. Before My child went to Gesu she was writting her letters (upper and lower) correctly. Now she is writting letters backwards. The teacher prides herself on being a pre-school teacher for 15+ years, but she does not smile, is mean to the children and doesn't acknowledge the parents when you are droping off your child. I feel as thought we wasted a year of education on Gesu. My old day care center was better than Gesu. Everything about the school was last minute, from the lunch menus to the fundraisers. My child will not be returned to Gesu, I'm not wasting anymore money.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2013

I am disappointed with my son's Gesu Pre-School experience. The teachers are not patient with the children. The teachers don t even smile. They treat the kids like little prisoners. The children aren't aloud to talk neither during lunch nor during latch key. My son is terrified of the teachers. I didn't know why until I walked in on the teachers scolding the children for talking during a latch key movie. My son was having a problem with understanding the ambiguous directions. I asked the teacher about the directions. She said my son was trying to do whatever he wanted to do and she just gave up on trying to explain. Since when does a teacher give up on a student? I feel really bad for sending my son into such a hostile environment. He will not attend Gesu for Kindergarden. I feel that the pre-school experience is the first line experience of what is to come in the grades to follow,
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2012

The school isn't that great. New Principle not that great, as she was the Asst Principle. IOWA scores are really low, and most of the teachers past the first/second grade are questionable. And the teachers and staff have been dropping like flies. I took my daughter out, and put her in a different school, and boy do I wish I had done it sooner. I cannot believe how low the Gesu standards and curriculum are. What a waste of time and money, but unfortunately, the person most harmed here is my daughter because she wasn't learning what she should have been in order to succeed. This school needs to clean up their act, and not reward an Assistant Principle with a promotion when she failed so miserably when she could have done a lot of little things and changes without stepping on the Principles toes when he was out ill, for basically the majority of the school.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2011

I LOVE this school. My child is learning academically and socially. They make a point not to hold her back, but push her ahead. It is a small close knit family. For the money (tuition has not increased in years) it's excellent!