Ste Jeanne D'arc Elementary School

68 Dracut Street

Lowell, MA 01854

13 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by student on April 30, 2021

Ok, Ste Jeanne d'Arc School is in my opinion over-rated. I am a student in 7th grade in the school right now, and can't wait to move schools. the homework load is un-reasonable, I spent 3.5- 5 hours on homework each day (and no, I don't procrastinate). The teachers give homework on the weekends, and I have had to cancel plans with friends to do the amount of work they gave me. I don't even get a lot of family time! most of the work is un-called for and useless, its just a waste of time. I have had to stay up until one in the morning to finish my homework, and then get up at a ridiculous time to get to school. Also as you get more advanced and go to the next grade, the teachers become much meaner and barely compliment the kids. This makes me feel worthless, like Im not good enough and never will be. The teachers and principle only see the students as another "thing" they have to fix or make better, not as people. I have been bullied for the past few years, and there has net been much to any discipline there either. The the teachers are really a hit or miss, some are nice and some are just cruel. They go through 4-6 teachers a year, so the kids always have to adjust to a new teacher. The leadership is horrible. everything is based off popularity. The same people get the same things each year (scholarships, student council votes, raffle wins, etc.). the school does not really help kids with learning differences (there is a child with a learning disability in my class), they just let them use their books for tests when the rest of the class cannot. They give us only one way to learn, one mindset, and creativity is non- existent to them, not even in art, we have to so the art a certain way or we don't do art at all. they make the kids hate themselves, and feel a need to change themselves to reach their high standards. I feel like a prisoner in the uniforms, our hair (how dare I wear a headband that's not in the schools colors, or have bangs), and as I said, even our artwork. Trust me, if you want to break your kid, put them here, If you don't want your kids to hate themselves, shop around, put them elsewhere. Don't let anyone fool you.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2021

I am a grandmother of two grandchildren attending Ste. Jeanne d'Arc & I can't say enough about the dedication of the teachers & how hard they work. My 3 children also attended the school many years ago & have been very successful adults. The children receive a quality education. Its a great community environment & the children learn skills to achieve their potential. Definitely a quality education!
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2021

I couldn't be happier with my decision to send my two children to SJA. I wanted my children to have the opportunity to experience a high level of quality education with dedicated and talented teachers, staff and fellow students. SJA prepares kids not only for high school, but life beyond. With this year being challenging in many ways, SJA has been adaptable and the teachers have been excellent in meeting kids where they are. I have only positive things to say about the people they are surrounded by and the education they are receiving!
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2020

As a former student and a current parent of two children, I can say enough great things about the school. As a former student I was very well prepared for High School, college and my career. When compared to kids their own age from other schools; my children are advanced, can articulate better than most adults and are respectful human beings who will reach every goal they set out for themselves. Raising children takes a village and Ste Jeanne d'Arc community is my village.
Submitted by other on December 12, 2019

Has been terrific up until this year. All summer my daughter was afraid of 5th grade because of the stories she had heard about her. I told my. Child to give her a chance. Up until recently she had zero problems with her. Hearing kids will miss out on recess because someone left a spoon on the floor by accident sounds a little unnecessary to me. Unless there is more to the story I am disappointed in this. Sadly rumors I had heard about this teacher being unreasonably hard on students are accurate. Other than issues with this teacher, our time at Sja has been fantastic. Maybe time to address this issue before more families start to leave the school. If I was asked my opinion of the 5th grade teacher, it wouldn’t be a positive one
Submitted by other on November 02, 2019

They make kids hate themselves, make kids work for them, and give kids unreasonable amounts of work every day. They don't pay the teachers enough, so even the kindest, most compassionate teachers will not be there long. Don't let the nuns fool you.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2018

This school is needlessly complicated. Students are burdened with excess busy work for homework. It is quantity over quality here. Teachers have a highturn over rate due to little pay and high stress. This is made apparent by the need to fill 4-6 teaching positions every school year.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2015

A very good, very challenging school. While not perfect (no school is), this school prepares children for high school. My children are well prepared for high school, know how to study, and are used to being challenged. I do wish the math program was a bit stronger. I have no problem with the discipline that is instilled. You can certainly tell at outside sports activities with the SJA kids cheering each other & the opposing teams on while other schools are the first to leave or are busy doing their own thing. SJA requires the kids to stay until the end, but the kids are there for each other...the discipline certainly shows!
Submitted by other on September 14, 2014

I am a former student who graduated in 2012 and went on to pursue a Catholic high school education. Well, that lasted one year and I have since transferred to my local public school and it has been an incredible breath of fresh air that I haven't felt since I started my Catholic education in 2008 at SJA. To put it simply, SJA has a high level of educational achievement, there is no doubt about that. However, this is both to the benefit and at the expense of their students. They are forced to perform at an unreasonably high level, with hours of busy work for homework after a long and tiring day at school. Writing long extended research papers in fourth grade at age 9/10 is not necessary by any means. Moving on to the lack of creativity, that is nothing but the truth. My entire time there, I felt stifled by mindless rules about our uniforms, our hair (how dare I wear a headband that is not one of the school' s three colors), and even our artwork. I also felt like an alien in my own school because I quickly realized that I was an atheist after I grew up and became more self-aware. That sealed the nail in the coffin for how I felt about SJA when I saw how they treated me going forward.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2013

SJA is strict, diciplined, academically challenging and not for everyone.To the principal's credit , she announces just that at orientation.We have 2 children there, grades 2 and 6. Both are thriving. We don't agree with the school policies all of the time but believe the policies are in the long term best interest of the student. If we had it to do again, we would. This is a fine school.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2012

Great school and acadamically well poised. Your kid will know what hard working means right from first day. teachers have been helpful. I agree with someone's comments on Principal's reachability! I was told not to approach her to ask for advancements information because she would get upset and stop the kids etc. But the quality of eduction you get here outweighs other odds (Parking, religion and less friends staff & principal)
Submitted by teacher on April 17, 2012

This school is academically unrealistic. The staff is aging, out of touch, often unqualified, and a revolving door. Homework is overloaded, consisting of a lot of busy work. There is a lack of compassion, and overall understanding of what a busy family with school-age children can realistcally endure. They toat themselves as a challenging school, but in reality work students too hard and break them emotionally and academically. All the technology they promote that they have is not used, and could never replace good old fashioned love and compassion which they do not have. My child was glad to leave after nine years, and would have done well in their private high school no matter what catholic school in the city they attended. Shop around...you can do better for your young child with a healthier environment than this school for the money they charge. I taught here for many years and the environment has changed for the worse. I have seen things from the inside out, so I know what I am speaking of. Go on a tour...and see what other options are out there in Lowell.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2012

My oldest will soon be leaving SJA. Each high school I have spoken to, whether public or private, as soon as I say my child is from SJA I am given information about honors and later AP classes. This is without seeing an academic record! That is the reputation SJA has.