St. Mary Catholic School

1601 Edgerton Street

Goldsboro, NC 27530

5 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 27, 2025

Honest Review of St. Mary School, GoldsboroAs a Catholic family, we were drawn to St. Mary School for its religious education and small, close-knit environment. We had two children enrolled: one attended from Pre-K to 2nd grade, and the other from 4th to 7th grade. However, we made the difficult decision to withdraw them in December of 2024 due to a significant loss of trust and confidence in the school’s leadership and concerns about the overall culture.The Good•Strong Reading Program: The reading program was well-structured and effective, and I appreciated the focus it provided for my children.•Religious Education: As Catholics, we valued the integration of faith into the curriculum and the expectation that all students participate in religious activities.The Challenges1.Leadership Concerns:•A long-time principal, who was actively involved in the classrooms, retired at the end of 2023. The transition to new leadership has been disappointing.•The new principal appears disconnected from daily classroom activities. When I raised concerns about teachers consistently yelling at students, and how upset my kid was he dismissed my concerns, stating he saw no evidence and suggested that “these problems usually start at home.” My children confirmed that he rarely visits the classrooms, unlike the previous principal.2.Teaching Quality and Staffing:•Some teachers lacked bachelor’s degrees, raising concerns about the overall qualifications of the staff.•A math teacher was allegedly fired mid-year last year due to not effectively teaching the students, which disrupted their education.3.Classroom Culture:•My youngest child was deeply upset by the constant yelling from teachers. After transferring to a new school, both my children said it was refreshing to be in an environment where teachers didn’t yell at students. This reflects a fundamental issue with classroom culture that was not addressed despite attempts to discuss it with the administration.Final ThoughtsWhile the school has strengths in areas like reading and religious education, the decline in leadership quality and a culture of negativity among some staff have made it impossible for us to continue at St. Mary School. It’s disheartening to see the school shift away from the nurturing and supportive environment it once had. I hope changes are made for the sake of future families, but based on our experience, I cannot recommend the school in its current state.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2019

St. Mary School is a wonderful school. This school nutures students while providing the students with a well-rounded education.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2012

This is a great school. The staff is fantastic and the environment is both challenging and caring. My children have been at another private school in the area for a couple of years and the change in them and their attitude about school and their community is amazing. They are not only learning the cirriculum but also learning how to be a postive member of our local community.
Submitted by other on March 03, 2012

I've been a student here for about 5 years; 2nd grade to 7th grade. I remember the first day coming to this school. Everyone was generous and welcoming to the fullest extent possible. All teachers were nothing but happy, eager, and excited. Throughout the years I've been here, my grades and knowledge - even my wisdom - went through the roof! This school really knows how to teach responsibility and mold you from average to above average. Sadly, I had to leave for military reasons. And yes, I was extremely reluctant to leave. I am biased about one thing, but continue to keep the 5* because of the lack of possibility in this area; but the school I attended prior to this one had an academically gifted program, to which I was involved. After moving to SMS, I felt as if my academic abilities were not recognized and I was just as everyone else. However, I can understand them not having this system due to lack of teachers and rooms. Overall, This school is amazing. Great and welcoming staff and student community, and teachers who certainly do their job well! And while doing all of this, they still manage to keep spirit and faith in education.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2012

My husband and I both work for the North Carolina Public School System. We currently have two children enrolled at St. Mary School and are EXTREMELY impressed with their strong academic standards. There is no comparison between SMS and most of the other private or public schools in the area. The principal, faculty and staff provide an enriching and nurturing environment for our boys. We are not Catholic but are very encouraged by the acceptance of our children and family.