Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy

45-11 245th Street

Douglaston, NY 11362

19 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on June 20, 2023

Standard of academics seems above average.so no concerns there. My only gripe with this school is the way they managed the use of racial slurs like the N word. Some teachers would simply tell kids to not say that and not enforce any real consequence. There are people of color using the slurs also and the teachers have no real way of managing this. Bullying seems to be better handled. When you have a school with approximately a quarter Black/Brown but has all white staff, the response from teachers will not reflect the needs of the population.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2022

Last year, there was a huge gap in 5th graders classrooms due to absence of permanent ELA/Social Studies/Religion teacher who was supposed to be a homeroom teacher for one of the 5th grade classes. Children were left with a temporary substitute teacher without experience. Students started pushing each other, using foul language hundred times a day, yet no one engaged to correct this total chaos. The ill tradition continues in the year 2022 and even with the teachers around, racial slurs, micromanaging, f-words live with the entire 6th grade, everyday. The school needs to do something, as it is becoming more and more serious. Total lack of leadership.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2021

I LOVE this school! The Teachers and Staff are amazing and the facilities are well taken care of. Now due to Covid, they really stepped up to provide a clean and safe envirinment with temp checks, barriers, sanitizers and social distancing. This is why I chose this school. My 2 boys transferred here last year due to their school closing and were net with such kindness. We were immediately treated like family. They are excited to go to school each day and come out happy at the end of the day.We stared the first half of the year remote and got to engage with the Teacher and students. Even remote learning was an enjoyable experience. My children felt and were treated like part of the class. When they arrived for in person learning they already knew everyone and they were welcomed by the class and Teachers. We will be back for a second year!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2018

Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy in Douglaston is an amazing school! My children are in various grades and they love going to school! The teachers are caring and the academic standard is high. The children in my kid's classes are sweet and very well mannered. The parents that I have met are all hard working and personable. My daughter has excelled so much, the teacher is great! The vibe is warm, caring and not snobby. I went to Catholic elementary school in the 1980's and I cannot stress how fantastic DWCA is in comparison...I am so happy with choosing Divine Wisdom, even though we are not wealthy and work hard for the tuition , I believe it is totally worth the money. The school also reflects the ethnic diversity of Queens which I like. They also have a good and reasonably priced after school program. We would recommend this school to our friends. It is a perfect fit for my family!
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2018

I can't say enough good things about this school. We transferred here from another Catholic elementary school recently, and I'm actually shocked at how well my child has adjusted and transitioned. The teachers have made it seemless and so smooth. My daughter loves going to school every day, embraces being challenged with more difficult work, and is thrilled with the new things she's learning. On her first day, she came home telling me she worked on Power Point slides, "coded" in computer class, did animations, printed out a 3-D animal figurine in the STEM lab, and heard that 7th grade was extracting DNA from a strawberry. I noticed her handwriting was neater, she payed closer attention to dotting her i's and crossing her t's, and really gave her all when she sat to do HW. She's also amazed that all the teachers know what's going on in their other subject classes, for example- she went to art and couldn't believe that the art teacher gave them an assignment that correlates with what they were learning that day in Social Studies. I believe this is called an Integrated Curriculum. I'm extremely pleased with my experience here so far. Praying that it continues, but I've yet to hear a bad thing about this school, so I'm quite hopeful that it will. Also, I must add the parents I've met at drop off and pick up are super nice! Thank you DWCA, keep up the good work!
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2018

When you hear "Premier School", Believe it! The children, teachers, principals, are happy and thriving. Everyone does what they're supposed to be doing- principals get A+ for leadership, the teachers go above and beyond, children learn & the parents are Happy! The best part is that everyone minds their own business, which is atypical for Catholic schools. No nosy parents meddling in your personal business. It is a culturally diverse school and truly prepares your child for higher learning and the real world. My son graduated last year and is doing very well as a freshman in High School. Divine Wisdom provides a solid Catholic education that emphasizes old school basics in a modern and advanced learning environment. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2018

Cant say anything about education as my son just enrolled but I an NOT impressed with their administration at all. We completed and submitted forms and had at least 2 notices stating we didnt. They apparently did find them after 2 calls. We were told he was going to get a bus service, and then suddenly checking with teh school we were told he wasnt. The response was we tell everyone if they are not eligible. WE WERE NEVER TOLD. Unfortunately I did ask my wife to check on an important issue like this. Now she is still giving the admin staff till the end of the day. I would be very surprised if we get a call back from them by the end of the day. And will apologize if we do receive one.
Submitted by other on December 18, 2017

The school recently completed a successful transition from a retiring principal to a new principal who came up through the school's ranks. They also inaugurated a new wind that includes a new nursery, IT infrastructure, a music conservatory and a state-of-the-art STEM/Design Lab. The security system has been completely overhauled and over 100 new I-Pads and Chromebooks have been introduced to classroom learning. This must be one of the happiest schools in New York.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2017

The school has been a haven for my whole family. My biggest concern at the moment is if it will remain a premier school, now that their principal left. The principal turned the school around, taking it from a mediocre place, to a top-rated instructional institution. It is all about sustainability and will DWCA have that with the new principal.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2017

Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy of Douglaston EXCEEDED my family's expectations. The staff and teachers are extremely attentive to the children and the needs of the family. The focus is always on the children and it shows, I noticed our daughter's character is as strong as ever and her interest in learning and religion has been heightened. Can say enough about this school. My daughter JUST finished first grade.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2017

My son is presently in Pre-K at Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy's Douglaston Campus. He LOVES his school and all of his teachers. Every staff member in the school is caring, hard working, and professional. I will be enrolling my son here for kindergarten in September 2016.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2016

We were sadly disappointed with the staff at this school. Our daughter went to the Douglaston campus for prekindergarten and we wound up having to withdraw her after a month and a half. Although her main teacher was nice, the rest of the supporting staff was not. We witnessed that these young children receive very little TLC and much of the staff is plain miserable. Our 4 year old would beg to not go every day. Her eating and sleeping was affected and we figured it was time to find another school. Our daughter is thriving at the new school. The school may be better for older children but it was not the right setting for us. Other parents from our daughters class had the same feelings. One day the secretary at the main office had me literally wait over ten minutes to finish her personal conversation with another staff member before she asked if I needed help. Not a good fit for young kids.
Submitted by other on August 22, 2016

The severe lack of scholarship instruction and pursuing, as well as their push to enter only Catholic High Schools is just ridiculous. The fact that the school never even bothered to try for our kids to enter great Public High Schools is atrocious. And we see you all commenting immediately following our bad reviews. Don't try and upscale your bad online review when every independent site states your academy as "sub-par".
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2016

I was initially pleased with the academics, staff and students at DWCA. As a parent of an 8th grader, I am disappointed that my child did not get accepted into any public HS, and was also not offered any scholarships to the Catholic high schools. This year is a disappointment. My child is and has always been a straight A student, outgoing and well-liked. Scores on Terra nova have also been exceptional (90+). This is a reflection on DWCA as I am finding out from other parents that their straight A children were not offered scholarships and did not get accepted in any public schools as well. After attending the round 2 info session, I was flat out told that catholic school students are not considered for admissions into Townsend Harris because we do not take the ELA state exam in 7th grade and this is the 1 test that really seals you admission into Townsend (our 1st choice). We had no chance. I wish I would have known this before paying over $5,000 in tuition. I believe in catholic education and found DWCA to be a good fit overall, until now. DWCA did not provide guidance with the applications. This process would have gone better had the staff reviewed the parents selections and informed or guided them as to realistic possibilities. Apparently academics at public high schools is stronger. Also, the TACHS exam was changed this year (2015-2016), but the material/book was not updated for the students across NYC to study from. Again, poor preparation for our students/children putting them at a disadvantage behind public school kids. What are we paying for?
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2015

Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy in Douglaston is an amazing school! My children are in K and 1st grade...they love school!The teachers are caring and the academic standard is high. The children in my kid's classes are sweet and respectful. The parents that I have met are all hard working and personable. My daughter in 1st grade has excelled so much, the teacher is great! The vibe is warm, caring and not snobby. I went to Catholic elementary school in the 1980's and I cannot stress how fantastic DWCA is in comparison...I am so happy with choosing Divine Wisdom, even though we are not wealthy and work hard for the tuition , I believe it is totally worth the money. The school also reflects the ethnic diversity of Queens which I like. They also have a good and reasonable priced after school program.
Submitted by other on September 16, 2014

I left sacred heart in Bayside NY to attend this school and it was the best thing I did. My kids are happy, they love school, there are no cliques, everyone is friendly and it is an incredible environment to raise your kids. I couldn't be happier. Mr. Laforgia and his staff are A+. They deal with issues and are extremely hard working. Thank you for taking Catholic education strongly and intelligently into the 21st century.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2013

If you are seriously looking for a school that provides an excellent education in a nuturing environment...this is your school. We are a new family to the Bayside campus (formally known as St. Robert Bellarmine) & I have to say I am extremely pleased with the academics they are providing my children. They use the integrated curriculum which focuses on higher level thinking & provides a deeper understanding of content as well as it accomodates a variety of learning styles. As a result, this will prepare students beyond the common core. All children learn differently and this approach basically provides them a more "customized" education that at the same time will challenge them. The school board of directors are always open to new inovative ideas & the principal has open lines of communication with the parents by holding monthly meetings. As a catholic school, they have truly reinvented themselves and I now see why their enrollment continues to grow. This school is truly the best kept secret in Queens. Don't take my word, just go see for yourself!!
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2013

This is our third year at DWCA. We are pleased with the academics and enrichment programs that are available. The Principal and Administration have the children's best interest at heat. My children love the school and the environment. Like all schools, it may not be a perfect fit for every family, but it is working for us.
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2013

DWCA is a wonderful school. The principle knows the names of all the children. The teachers are focused on the children and teaching them. Safety is considered in the day to day operations. This is a sound education for my 1st grader,who started there in kindergarten. All of her peers are at or above grade level. The only reason I will not rate the school a five is the ongoing additional cost; on top of the school fee.