Grace Lutheran School

1200 Charles Street

La Plata, MD 20646

41 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on January 23, 2023

This school was a great environment for me. I attended from pre-school through 8th grade and I felt academically I was far ahead when I attended a public high school following my time at Grace. There are many opportunities to advance at the school, and this prepared me to take all honors and AP classes in high school. My brother and I also made friends we still are in contact with today, even though we are in college now. The teachers still care and invest in my future as well. The class sizes are great as it also allows for a lot of one on one opportunities if any child were to have trouble with certain subjects. The teachers and administration also go above and beyond to ensure artistic opportunities are available as well. There currently is a great art teacher who is an alumni of the school as well, and certain teachers such as Mrs. Jones work hard to give students the opportunity to put on a musical every year. There are also plenty of great events the school and church put on outside of school hours to give students and families even more chances to make friends and connections. I would recommend Grace to anyone, it’s a great school that has a super passionate staff. They ensure your child will receive an exceptional faith-based education and make sure they are prepared for whatever endeavor faces them after their time at Grace.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2022

My children have been here for most of their academic experience. GLS has trained and loving teachers. They have been on campus throughout the pandemic...all of last year, only closed for the mandated closures from March to May of 2020. They have remained on campus all of this year. They took on a lot of students from the public sector, and despite the challenges that brought with adding students who are not used to being in school (they did virtual) or that they came from a school that didn't enforce the same level of discipline as Grace, the staff at the school have continued in excellence The teachers are dedicated...and it is a calling, not just a job. I hate that teachers across our nation are being berated and verbally beaten down, they are not supported and are questioned when needing to discipline a student. The pandemic has changed the way many people parent and it shows. Thank you to GLS for continuing to shine the light of Christ and teach with academic excellence.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2021

Our family cannot talk highly enough of Grace Lutheran. The teachers are loving, caring, and supportive. The smaller class size has allowed our child to connect with his teacher and receive an ample amount of one on one attention. In addition, the smaller atmosphere makes your child feel connected. The teachers and administration are great with communication. The teachers and school handle behaviors in an effective yet loving manner. It is everything you could want for your child.
Submitted by teacher on June 05, 2019

Grace prepared my kids in every way possible for high school. It's the hidden gem of Charles County.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2019

This is an amazing school with amazing teachers and staff . Small classes ,caring teachers and leadership .
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2018

Our experience has been top notch...Grace Lutheran is more than a school it is a community. A community of educators, students and family. One of the best decisions we have made for our child, she is blossoming and learning in a way that she retains and can recite every lesson. That says a lot when a child comes home and teaches you! I love this school
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2017

This is our 4th year as part of the GLS family and we could not be happier. We send our children to school each morning knowing that they are in amazing hands. They have formed some very special bonds both with fellow students as well as teachers and staff. Having the experiences we have had in this school, it saddens me to see some of the reviews left on this thread. As with any school, there will be issues for some people. This school has human staff and human teachers- not a single one of them would claim to be perfect. My children have not been without issues themselves but, I believe much of the outcomes to problems are in how you choose to handle them. When my oldest had a problem with another student on the playground, we spoke to the teacher who is on the playground most (my child's choosing). I don't speak for my children, they are expected to use their own words about the situation. The issue was immediately resolved and has never come back up. As with many things, communication is key. If you expect this school to jump thru hoops to please you, then you won't be happy anywhere. Nobody can please everyone. I have seen several reviews specifically targeting the 1st grade teacher. That teacher was one of the greatest things that ever happened to my oldest child. It is true, she will not cater to and/or coddle your child, but your child will be pushed to their fullest potential, and come out ready for the responsibilities and challenges of 2nd grade. She may not be every child's (or parent's) favorite, but she is a dang good teacher! As for the homework, I appreciate that the teachers do in fact consider our families in this area. Those that do send homework, send it at the beginning of the week with the expectation that it will be completed by the end. It equals out to maybe a page a day. 1st grade only assigns reading unless you have been absent or you child failed to use their time wisely and do it during the designated time in class. Instead of blaming the teachers for the amount, perhaps you should discuss with your children the importance of using their time wisely and respecting the rest of the class by doing it during said time (yes, I understand some will still struggle in certain subjects and need more time). Overall, this school is amazing. Teachers and staff truly get to know and love these kids and learn about their families. The class sizes allow them to focus on each one and ensure that each child is getting the attention needed. I will continue to recommend Grace to anyone looking for a great school with a solid Christian foundation.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2017

I have a daughter that has just graduated from Grace Lutheran and a daughter who is starting 4th grade, her 6th year at Grace. I can not say enough in regards to how wonderful this school, the staff and teachers are. There is a loving, caring and awesome atmosphere at this school. The teachers are amazing. You know your child is in the best possible hands while they are at school. They learn so much more here than they ever could in any public school. It is truely like a family. I have seen some very unkind comments on here about Grace. All I can say to that is, you can never make everyone happy and there is always at least 1 person who can find negativity in any situation. My youngest daughter had Mrs. Rehkemper for 1st grade. I truely believe that having her was a blessing from God. She works so very hard with her students to get them prepared for 2nd grade. She also has great insight for any child that may be struggling with a subject. Every teacher at Grace brings so many wonderful blessings for the children and their families at Grace. Every morning our children are greeted by Mr. Burkee, Mrs. Armstrong or Mrs. Brindle. They know every childs name and start their day off with love. I know my oldest is prepared for high school in public school. I can not wait to watch her soar! And so look forward to watching my youngest in her next 4 years at this amazing school, we get to call ours!
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2017

I have two boys that have attended Grace Lutheran since Kindergarten and the foundation they are receiving from this school is second to none. They learn to respect their peers, teachers, staff, etc while receiving an excellent education and practicing our religion. All of this will help them develop into strong, caring, smart young men and hopefully stay with them for their entire lives. I try to volunteer for classroom parties, attend Chapel on Wednesdays, and eat lunch with my boys a couple times montly. I love that I can do this at Grace Lutheran and I know my children love that I can because they ask me constantly when I will be there.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2017

My husband and I are products of the public school system and had also thought our three children would be, also. After four years of struggling with the public school in our area, we made the decision to put our children in a more well-rounded environment. We researched all the private schools in the area and were extremely pleased with what we learned about the community at GLS. Our three kids started the 2016-17 school year at Grace and we saw a significant difference in their school involvement and attitude. The community is wonderful and the teachers are extremely informative. GLS encourages parental involvement, which is difficult now at public schools. I appreciate the ability to take my lunch hour to volunteer in my children's classrooms. After speaking to many parents that no longer have children at Grace due to moving on to high school, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that GLS will provide a strong foundation for my kids as they grow.
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2017

We've sent 2 children to GLS since PK4. Our oldest has since moved on to High School and is thriving. She received a wonderful foundation while at GLS. Our youngest is still at GLS and we will be so sad when her time at GLS is up. The teachers and staff really care about the students, and we enjoy the smaller class sizes. Sending our kids to GLS was the best thing we could do for our kids educationally.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2017

We currently have three children enrolled at GLS and intend to enroll our other children as they reach the Pre K age and beyond. We have and will continue to highly recommend GLS to anyone that can appreciate the smaller class size and personal relationship that is gained from attending this school. Our kids love this school and their teachers every year. We feel the quality of education and Christian atmosphere are great. As with any organization or facility, you can always find something that could be better or you would change but overall we are very satisfied with the quality of education and the love that we feel all of the staff regularly shows our children. As a family, we firmly believe that the schools position is not to be the only guide or instrument in teaching our children both academically or morally. However, it certainly helps to have a strong, Christian organization such as Grace to help us as parents with that process. As someone else stated in another review, the cost can be a challenge especially with several children enrolled at one time but making sacrifices to allow our children the experience of gaining a good education in a solid Christian atmosphere is well worth it. We are very grateful to have GLS as an option for our children.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2017

This school is a great place for children to learn and grow - physically, emotionally and spiritually. My son and daughter have been thriving here for the past six years and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the education. Students at Grace are very well prepared to move on to high school and beyond. I am pleased we found Grace Lutheran School when we discovered the over-crowded public schools were not teaching the basics adequately. Covering the cost may require sacrifices but, hey, that's what a good and Godly parent does. If you are seeking a quality academic experience for your child, along with good Christian teachings, attitudes and doctrines, go to Grace and be welcomed with open arms.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2017

GLS is a wonderful school that has a close-knit community of teachers, administration, staff, students, and families. The administration is comprised of dedicated individuals who are reliable, consistent, and dedicated to their work. The academic curriculum offers challenging courses for students who excel beyond their years. It is not common core based yet reflects a more individualized and traditional approach to learning. The social atmosphere is very desirable. The school is becoming more diverse which in itself is a great thing. Our children have been attending this school for 8 years. They are academically challenged and socially well-adjusted. Because of the Christian based learning environment it is an ideal place to learn. I highly recommend this school to those looking for an academically challenging, Christian based, safe, and traditional environment.
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2017

My kids have been at this school for the past four years. They love it! This school has a great theater program and a number of extra-curricular activities (robotics).
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2017

5 stars!!! 1. Great teachers2. Great support staff3. Christian based environment 4. Great communication with parents.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2017

My kids love GLS and all they learn, all of the hands on things they get to do (like visit with the community helpers that stop by, learning about animals through the Humane Society visits and a lot more) Worth every penny we pay to have our kids treated as individuals and loved as the same. They learn their school work and core subjects, but also about God's love. A+
Submitted by other on April 02, 2017

Grace offers a loving environment for the kids while teaching and helping them to grow in a Christian manner. We are blessed with a wonderful staff and enjoy the open communication.
Submitted by student on April 02, 2017

GLS is a great school for all who attend. As a student who attended for over 10 years, I feel that I would know the dynamic of the school very well. The staff was always kind to me, and if I had any sort of issue they would immediately work very hard to resolve it. I always enjoyed going to school, as the curriculum taught me well and I liked my teachers. GLS always managed to keep me interested, as teachers would incorporate hands-on activities into lessons. I always felt as if someone was there for me. The teachers at GLS are much different from public school teachers, as they actually have a strong desire for their students to succeed. GLS is constantly improving. An example of this is that they recently began using tablets in some grades. This is definitely a great way to spark kids interest in learning.GLS has helped put me on the path to success. I have a 4.2 GPA, and I am in all honors classes. The classes at my high school often are easy for me, as GLS gave me previous insight into the subjects. I also find myself being much more well behaved than many of the students that attended public schools. One of the most amazing things about GLS is their incredible generosity and care. The students and staff have raised money for numerous causes, such as Community Christmas. They have accomplished amazing things, such as building schools in other countries, and sending teachers on mission trips. They also have helped many people, such as Maddie Grace have happier lives. GLS is an incredible school that strives to see your child succeed.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2017

The child development center is good. After that get out. Although Grace is a private school and is billed at a premium. Grade school is seriously lacking in teacher talent. The horrible communication by the staff and teachers speaks directly to the lack of leadership of the principle. It is sad to see the school as run down as it is. Poor decisions in allocation of funds. The Library is stacks of books in plastic bins. Lack of facilities and activities for the students. What are you paying for? LOOK else where in the area. We made a mistake with this school don't do the same. Waste of $