St. Richard's Episcopal School

33 East 33rd Street

Indianapolis, IN 46205

46 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 04, 2024

St. Richard's feels like a school that time passed by. It is very rigid and rooted in tradition, which makes for a stressful learning environment if your child does not fit precisely into their mold. The teachers are great and work hard, but they are not equipped to handle learning differences, though that doesn't stop the school from promising they will meet student needs and then falling short. If you choose St. Richard's, your student will leave with a strong academic foundation, but at what cost? A high price tag financially (compared with other local private schools) and possibly some serious damage to your kid's self-confidence, curiosity and love of learning.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2024

I cannot recommend this school to anyone, but especially those with neurodiverse kids or kids with big feelings. I am concerned and want to save others from making the same mistake we did. My biggest concern is the lack of understanding of normal childhood development at this school, including social and emotional development, and what impact that has had on the students. My kiddo became incredibly anxious here, and I soon learned so had many others. This place destroys the self esteem of kids- the assumption seems to be that kids are being “bad”, which I heard about other kids from his 5th grade teacher over and over - that somehow they need discipline, and if they step out of line they need to get detention. They completely miss that most kids need incentives, instead of having every teacher dangle a looming detention if they mess up, make a mistake, or really even fidget. They need to have someone believe the best about them especially if they make a mistake, but this place just seems to keep a laser focus on anything out of place. The homework load is unnecessary, but somehow it wasn't a challenge. It wasn't academic rigor - it was the appearance of it. Much like most of the things at this school - it is about appearance. They want docile kids who will not push back - and that comes out when they go to high school and don't understand how to self- advocate. I've now heard from multiple kids that the St. Richards kids cannot speak up for themselves in high school, can't push back, don't know how to lead. This makes sense because it doesn't seem like their own leadership knows how to lead. They hire staff and let them loose with punitive policies- the recent french immersion teacher had kids giving detention to classmates if they spoke english- in a total class of 20, this was obviously a bad idea, but no one stopped her, even after I complained. In addition, They have a very real parent problem at the school. The leadership lacks fair and safe boundaries. Simple playground stuff becomes huge, and unwitnessed behavioral accusations from parents get far too much attention. It's like they don't know how to do this- at all. And so anything that goes wrong becomes the fault of the kids. And that's the biggest and scariest part of this school. Your kid becomes a "problem", and that might become how they identify themselves for life. Be very aware of what you are walking into. It traumatized all of us, and we are going to be undoing the damage for awhile.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2023

We love SRES. With our older daughter, we transferred mid year in 1st grade. She was behind for her grade and we knew our previous school wasn’t a good fit. We had heard wonderful things about SRES but were intimidated by the price point. Not only did the wonderful teachers help our daughter catch up academically, the school also helped us with financial aid mid-year. We now have both daughters at SRES and couldn’t be happier. SRES is a loving, comfortable, safe, and supportive environment for our family and our neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2023

St. Richard’s is not the school it was a few decades ago. It is a place for the wealthy and those with social capital in Indy and not suitable for others. Despite all the talk of diversity, extreme conformity are cherished and bullying is widely ignored - especially if you are the child of the elite or a staff member. The curriculum is excellent, but teaching is uneven. While some teachers are kind, patient, world-class teachers, others are clearly burnt out. Staffing changes are near constant and it feels very much like the Administration has taken to the job of fundraising and PR like a duck to water but is hopelessly inept at managing an actual school. Minor offenses might be blown entirely out of proportion while targeted bullying is ignored. We were on substantial financial aid and made to feel from day one that we needed to prove our child belonged there. A sword of Damocles was held over his head daily to the point that he would become hysterical when he got into trouble even for minor things because he thought he’d be expelled. In the end, they rescinded his contract for the next year because he needed ‘therapy’ because he was ‘overly emotional’. He is currently attending a different private school with equally high academic standards and has had ZERO discipline problems or emotional melt downs. If you are wealthy, have a level of political or social capital in Indianapolis you will probably be fine - and it seems that’s the model the new-ish Administration has adopted for the school. But if you do not or, god forbid, need financial aid - look elsewhere. There are plenty of great private schools in Indy and given how much SRES is now charging per year, they are all about the same price at this point.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

Our daughter is a 5th grader at St. Richard's and has attended since the age of 3 in Pre-K. To watch the poised, curious student she has blossomed into has been the great reward that we made the right choice 7 years ago. St. Richard's is a rigorous educational environment but couples it with learning about and respecting the diverse world in which we live. Students learn how to give presentations starting in 2nd grade, enjoy numerous field trip experiences, and perform in class productions, just to name a few standout activities. Our daughter’s classmates share the tightest bonds and our fellow parents have become lifelong friends. St. Richard’s is a very special place.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2022

We have absolutely loved our time at St Richard’s. We joined the Saint Richard’s family when our son was in JK. He was incredibly shy and timid. He is now a thriving second grader with so much energy and so many friends. We’ve loved our experience at Saint Richards so much that we moved our youngest from his daycare to SRES for pre-K. Sending our boys to Saint Richards was the best decision my husband and I have made. It truly feels like a family. There’s nothing like being greeted at the door by the schools headmaster and her administrative staff. They all know each child’s name. It really wonderful. Nurse Debbie feels like a grandmother and officer Chris feels like a grandfather. You know your child is truly being cared for at Saint Richard’s. We had no doubt our children would receive a great education when choosing this school. What we didn’t realize was how much it would feel like home. Our children’s friends’ families have become close friends of ours as well. From weekend dinners to vacations, the families at St. Richard’s have become extended family to us. When choosing St. Richards, a friend told us our children would get a great education at any of the private schools in Indianapolis. However, by choosing St Richard’s, your child would also become a well-rounded kind individual. No truer words have been spoken. I’d recommend St. Richard’s to anyone looking for a school that will truly love your child and teach your child how to become a GREAT human being.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2022

We recently began our fifth year at St. Richard's. My oldest (second grade) started at age three and we have our middle in preschool now as well. We truly feel we have found a home there. Raising our kids without local family, we so value the sense of community and support that exists at SRES. The academics have exceeded our expectations. Our second grader is not only pushed and challenged, but she truly loves school - it is a rigorous academic environment taught by talented and passionate teachers that make learning fun. As we enter more of the middle years of parenting, it is a privilege to see our daughter emulate the values that St. Richard's instills in her. Our preschooler couldn't wait to join her sister and she has not been disappointed. She shows off her French language skills at the dinner table and tells us of the many enrichment classes she attends multiple times a day. Sending our children to St. Richard's is by far our biggest parenting success to date.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2022

When my husband and I were looking for a school for our two girls, we wanted a school with diversity (not just the check the boxes diversity, but real diversity). After a long search, we sort of stumbled upon St. Richard's and found that it had exactly what we were looking for. In addition to diversity, the school has a rigorous (but attainable) academic program and a real sense of community. We have been with St. Richard's for four years now, and have been so happy we found it. Our girls are thriving academically, spiritually, and socially.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2022

When shopping schools for my children, my priority requirements were flexible and creative methods of learning, diverse representation among the administration, teachers, and students, and an involved school community. SRES has exceeded all of my expectations. My preschooler speaks French, sounds out words, and excitedly connects the dots between things she learns at school and the real world. We have built an incredible “village” not only within our grade level, but in the larger school community. As an alum of SRES, I have been blown away by its evolution since I was a student. The uniforms, while still keeping all students on a level playing field, have been adjusted to accommodate students of all gender identities. The commitment from the Parent Organization is top-notch and the opportunities for community-building have been amazing. There are several teachers who have dedicated 30+ years to this school, which leads me to believe they are treated well. Highly recommend!
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2022

St. Richard's is a special school. We were not considering private school, but some friends encouraged us to give it a shot while our kids were in preschool (St. Richard's starts a year earlier than other pre-K programs we were aware of). The school has exceeded our expectations since we enrolled them a few years ago. The teachers form real, lasting relationships with students; the student-teacher ratios are unbeatable; the school does impressive work to build character in students; the kids consistently seem to be learning at a grade-level above where they would be on a normal track; and the community is warm, diverse, and fun. My wife and I both work, so we also count on the school's outstanding after care, where our kids are nurtured and exposed to extra learning and enrichment programs. Bonus points: the kids love the healthy lunches, and parents are always welcome to join them in the cafeteria.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2022

My children have attended SRES for 9 years, and we are coming up on our final year for our oldest. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school and the SRES teachers. This has been the best school for our two daughters and our family as a whole. The SRES community is unparalleled in its kindness and generosity. Our daughters have learned critical thinking skills, civic mindedness, global readiness, and invaluable leadership skills. SRES fosters well-rounded students with confidence and respect. SRES teachers go above and beyond to provide a safe, welcoming educational environment, where each student is encouraged and supported to exceed expectations. What our daughters have learned during their SRES education will be with them for their entire lifetimes, and the community will always be "home" for all of us.
Submitted by other on May 13, 2022

My son won a math award at this school. Got top 10% in the country. Got good grades otherwise. But the teachers dwelled on behavioral infractions that generally demonstrated individualism and standing for oneself amidst bullies. A narrative was formed that my child was unmanageable, yet he participated with no issue in after school, cub scouts and soccer. Had key roles in school performances etc. But the teachers/faculty still concluded he was too toxic because of things any adult today might have done his age.Enroll your kid if they can exact military style discipline. Beware if they cannot stand by that. Don’t even assume you’re safe if you got a contract for next year.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2021

Today marks the end of our family's seventh school year at St. Richard's. Each year has been special for our two daughters, but this year especially makes us grateful for this amazing school. School started in August under a cloud of COVID uncertainty, but our dedicated leadership team, teachers, and staff met the challenges head-on. They and were dedicated and determined to make this year as normal (and in-person!) as possible. Safety standards were developed and followed a clear fact-based approach. The Head of School set clear expectations for our entire school community and calmly lead us thru every challenge. While other schools struggled to open or keep their doors open, a committee of dedicated parents and health experts supported the school staff daily to ensure COVID cases and close contacts were handled properly to maintain the school's overall health. As every school experienced this year, there were times when students were E-Learning. Luckily St. Richard's knew they had to be ready and made a major investment in upgrading technology and staff training to prepare everyone to make this the best experience possible. Given the challenges, to simply have "make it thru" the school year would have been an accomplishment. However, at St. Richard's, there is no such thing as good enough. The amount of effort the teachers and staff went thru to maintain the high academic standard of St. Richards is nothing short of amazing. I cannot say enough about these amazing educators and everything they have done for our children.Without a doubt, St. Richard's is the best school in Indianapolis. We are so grateful for the education our daughters are receiving.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2021

Unfortunately St Richards is not the school it has been for more than 60 Years. Most of the staff are wonderful teachers particularly in the lower divisions. K through 4th grade. We had an incredible experience during those years with incredible teachers and administrators . Since 5th grade we have been directed under the leadership of the upper division and to say their performance has been questionable at best, sometimes down right dishonest. I can document that claim . St Richards has become an internet school with the excuse of Covid . What I can tell you for sure, my child is finishing 7th grade and doesn’t know how to sign her name anymore. Her handwriting was better in 4th grade than it is today in 7th grade.In the upper division teaching has become incredibly lazy. Well, it’s so much easier for the teachers , why not ? I can tell you why not . Teachers have turned the education of the students in some primary subjects over to the internet and more specifically to YouTube . There is some incredible information in those programs which I very much enjoyed myself while helping my child but there is one important thing missing. Hand and mind connection in developing “educated students”.If you don’t care about your child being able to write or sign their name and you are prepared for a “wokeness” that exceeds any school you might find even in the public school venue. An Episcopalian school that won’t even send out a Christmas card that mentions Jesus and only has Santa Claus on the cover wishing “happy holidays”. .... you have found your school. An Episcopalian school that is no longer based in the principals you might once have believed a school with the history St Ruchards has had. Sadly it is not the school that it projects itself to be. It has become one of the most liberal schools in the state of Indiana. Do not fall for the covering of the Episcopalian church.I will say that trinity church that is part and parcel of St Richards does wonderful deeds within the community and has the best of intentions. I have no intention of diminishing the good deeds trinity provides the community of Indianapolis. They are wonderful to our city and its needs.If you’re looking for what you think is a private school of discipline, handwriting within their schooling, open minded education and not manipulated teachings, , you should probably seek out a different school.I am also an alumni of St Richards from 1970. Mike Akin
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2017

We've had an exceptional experience at St. Richards. We have two children currently enrolled and both are consistently supported, nurtured and encouraged, both academically and socially. SRES is preparing children educiationally with values that will serve them, and enable them to navigate, not only in their own community, but globally.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2017

Tears well up in my eyes when I think about how much I love this school. As a former teacher, I can say with confidence that Saint Richards is a quality school. We have been there for seven years and have two children. I have one child who is very bright, but struggles with ADHD, and he thrives in this structured academic environment. Can you believe that?! I have a ten year old son who LOVES to go to SRES! He has never once complained about having to go to school - and I am not even exaggerating. What think is even more amazing, is that my daughter, who is more creative and loves to sing, draw and dream, also loves to go to school here. This place is amazing. Worth every penny.
Submitted by other on November 04, 2016

We love St. Richards Episcopal School! We have a three year old in Pre-K at St. Richards. Our child loves to go to school - he is excited about learning and is having so much fun every day. In fact, he is quite sad on some weekends because it is not a school day. We can't brag enough about this great group of people. From their smiling faces holding the doors open for us and greeting us with a "good morning" to the caring teachers that make each day a joy we love this school. In our search for the perfect school, we toured several schools and this is the one that gave us the warm fuzzies. The students are amazing (and learning is cool at St. Richards). The staff knows, loves and respects the students. It is quite diverse in many aspects, which was important in our decision-making process. Thank you, SRES, for making our experience a great one and helping us raise great kids.
Submitted by student on August 06, 2015

St. Richard's is a special place where they teach values that last a lifetime. The teachers are world class and understand how to work with kids and do an amazing job at passing on their knowledge to the next generation.
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2015

St. Richards is a wonderful school for our girls. We love the curriculum and the education around the five pillars. It is preparing our girls to be great citizens as well as scholars. We looked at other schools in the downtown area and SRES is by far the best!
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2014

Love every day at St. Richard's for our three children! The diversity of students and faculty, 37 nations represented, shows the priority of the global readiness philosophy that is incorporated into daily life at school. Committed, professional, compassionate educators and administrative staff. Daily inclusion and expectation of a moral code that is rooted in biblical study and teachings is also a reason we selected St. Richard's.