St Stephen's Episcopal School

1800 Sul Ross Street

Houston, TX 77098

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 03, 2024

St. Stephen's is a hidden gem within the sea of learning environments in Houston. It is holistic, child-centered, and eager in its growth goals. Always learning, the teachers are phenomenal. They will soon feel like family. Children are deeply loved here, and they thrive as a result. The education is rooted in Episcopalian values (one being - all are welcome), while living within an unwavering commitment to Montessori pedagogy. On a spiritual level, all 3 of our children are developing a strong sense of empathy, inclusivity, tolerance, and loving kindness. On an academic level, all 3 of our children are challenged appropriately in an environment that encourages curiosity and fosters a love for learning. St. Stephen's is a one-of-a-kind school, truly a place that all children deserve.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2023

Our son has attended St. Stephens for 7 years. We believe the Montessori approach will prepare him for the future. He's able to devise his own work plan and work independently. He truly as developed an appreciation for learning and is excited to go to school everyday. As parents we appreciate that the school values inclusion, parent feedback, and unique opportunities to explore the many amenities of Houston.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2023

we wanted to have our kid to go to a Montessori school and after some research we chose St Stephens Episcopal School of Houston. our child started from the age of 3 and has gone through the pre-k and kindergarten. we have been impressed with the quality and knowledge of teachers, level of care and the education system in the SSESH. While they follow proper Montessori methods which helps with growing confidence and curiosity, at the same time, being associated with the Episcopal community has led to an expanded dimension of care and respect of others. And another great benefit of SSESH is the ratio of teachers to kids which is much better than other schools.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2023

St. Stephen's has been one of the best decisions my family has made. We started our daughter in their orientation program during COVID. I researched and visited almost all of the private schools in Houston. However, when I went to St. Stephen's I knew it was the right place for us. It is one of the most diverse private schools in the area. We have also found that the diversity and differences of all the students is celebrated. The teachers and entire school staff get to know your child and are invested in each child reaching their potential. Our daughter is currently in primary where she has the same teacher for three years and is a mixed age class from 3-5 year old. Having the same teacher during these formative years has been essential and has allowed her teacher to partner with us in our daughters growth. Our daughter has flourished and is exceling in all areas. In addition to academics, the school has a strong foundation in God. The children attend chapel and have applicable understanding of Christ.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2023

St. Stephens has been wonderful for our daughter in the first 2 years. We were referred to SSESH during the pandemic and after a visit my wife decided to make the while I was on the fence. After two years my daughter is thriving in the school and it's clear that now that St. Stephens was the right move.RE: COVID. The administration handled the pandemic mess brilliantly with just the right amount of communication and practical steps to keep the children and family safe and in school which was a challenge for the previous school.RE: Education. The Montessori program makes everything a learning experience and allows the children to grow at their own pace. This is working well for my daughter so far. I love when I see my daughter teaching us at home what she is learning. Beyond the schooling I enjoy the commitment to diversity. We are African American and I worried that my daughter would lose her identity. The St. Stephen's community is very diverse and encourages my daughter to be herself in every aspect from how she wears her hair to how she dresses. Lastly, the community is very close and caring and this transfers to the children in loving and caring for themselves and others. St. Stephens is home for us and we do not plan to go anywhere for a while.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2022

My family has been extremely pleased at St. Stephen's Episcopal School and we are entering our 8th year as part of the SSESH community. The teachers are excellent and the class size allows the educators to meet each student where they are and guide them in planning and executing work. My child's experience has been exceptional and the work of their class level seems to exceed what would be commonly taught at that age in a regular public school setting due to the Montessori method allowing children to proceed at their pace and explore topics to discover more. My family started at St. Stephen's with the Primary Level (3yr-K) but I have heard lovely things about the Orientation level (15mo-3 yr) for early childhood. Now that we have moved through Lower Elementary and into Upper Elementary it is breathtaking to see how these students who have come through the program are exceeding at research and innovative projects. In addition to the typical Before and Aftercare options, unique After school offerings are made available with the help of some of the specialist teachers the students visit during the week to expand on those topics. Artistic endeavors such as photography, chorus, piano and film making, Maker Lab experiences at the da Vinci Lab, bi-lingual cooking, and Montessori Model UN just added this year among others! It's nice that students are able to have these experiences in spaces they are comfortable with right on campus and helpful for working parents to have the offerings available after school on site.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2022

St. Stephen's has been our family's center of community and learning since 2019 when we relocated to Houston. My daughter's teachers and teacher assistants are absolutely stellar, both from an academic and socioemotional standpoint. The Montessori method serves my daughter as she is allowed to develop her own work plan and "see" mathematical operations, grammar, and other complex academic concepts. She loves designing, programming, and building in the Montessori-inspired makerspace, the da Vinci Lab. Thank you, St. Stephen's, for helping to raise my daughter as a kind friend and lifelong learner.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2022

The administration and staff turn over here is ridiculous for such a small school. Three head of schools in three years and right now most the admin staff is new and interim. Who knows what each year will bring. More and more staff keep leaving and students too. Enrollment has decreased over the past few years as well and they let anyone in to fill the spaces. I anticipate that this school may close in the next five years if they don't do something to better their quality, reputation and retention. The location is great and we love the Montessori and Episcopal school affiliations. It's sad that the school has such potential, but keeps falling short. They seem to be behind other area schools in programming.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2017

We are so happy at St. Stephen's Episcopal School. We moved to SSESH because our third grade daughter was constantly stressed by homework and exams at her previous school. The Montessori philosophy is perfect for her, and most children, I believe. She loves learning again and is flourishing. The amount of homework for my now 5th grader is less than 20 minutes per night and she usually gets it done during one of their built in free work periods. She has art, music, and Spanish twice a week and drama and Da Vince lab once a week. The Fine Arts Program at SSESH is outstanding and is helping both of my children blossom into happier and more creative and confident individuals. I love that in Montessori kids can work at their own pace and move about the classroom. There are many students that can work well above their grade level. The teachers at SSESH are the best we have ever had. They are so caring and engaged and my kids absolutely adore them. My kids already know the teachers in the advanced grade levels and this creates excitement for the future. Finally, my favorite aspect of the school is its culture. The school is "wildly creative, compassionate, and accepting." Not only are my children getting a fantastic education here, they are also becoming amazing human beings!