St Mary's Elementary School

1340 Northern Boulevard

Manhasset, NY 11030

17 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on February 03, 2014

SME far exceeds the public "Schools" in Manhasset. The environment for faith and studies is significantly better than Shelter Rock or Munsey Park. Its really not even close.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2013

What more could one ask for? Simple, consistent and high state-wide ELA and math scores."
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2013

St. Mary's is an exceptional elementary school that combines strong academics and faith based learning in a safe, nurturing environment. The student to teacher ratio is 12-1 providing your child with a quality learning environment that you will not find in larger classroom settings. They have recently implemented an iPad curriculum for the 7th and 8th grades whereby every student has their own iPad. The jr. high athletic program is first rate. The boys' basketball team went undefeated this year and won their league championships and they have strong showings in soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. The school has an outstanding drama program and puts on a first rate production annually. The students at SMES are stewards of their faith and constantly taught to be good to one another thus creating an environment where all feel comfortable and thereby able to excel. What more could one ask for!?!
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2013

I need help. Looking to transfer my 11 yr old to SME. Please give me some positive feedback. I am not feeling good with all the negative reviews. Could some body change my heart with some good news.
Submitted by other on February 09, 2013

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty Proverbs 14:23. Morals are important but so is preparing our children for the real cold competitive world. Do your share as part of the community; let s help SME fully implement the NYS Common Core.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2013

A wonderful school from both an academic and moral perspective. The teachers are nurturing, smart and caring. The academic bar is very high. A lot of people I speak to that have kids in the public school are surprised to hear what my kids are learning. The faith they instill in children is wonderful. Just a great environment. I couldn't be happier.
Submitted by other on September 25, 2012

Students can choose what they want to do from their homework menu and decide whether to do their optional homework. Really? It's definitely not the Catholic School model I remember from my youth.
Submitted by other on August 23, 2012

Despite the poor grammar of a previous review, I agree that SME is #1. On the religious side, there is no doubt that SME has no peers. On the academic side, we can examine actual data rather than debate in hyperboles. In the Manhasset Union Free School District, the pass rate for 4th grade in the NYS tests is 90% with 48% considered advanced which is a score of 4. Similarly, the pass rate for 8th grade in the MUFSD is 93% with 38% considered advanced. The data suggest that our community's public schools do a good job especially when you stack them against statewide results. Assuming that SME's scores are comparable to MUFSD's scores, the debate is over. . . SME wins convincingly with its combination of faith and academic teachings. Anyone know where we can get SME's test results?
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2012

SME is #1! I have researched the district from both sides. The academics, programs, families and Values. SME is a sm family orientated school. The Acedemics are exemplary, the after school progs have something for everyone from Legos, sports, reading groups, crafts, hw help & much more. They offer a safe monitored extended day prog for children of busy parents to 6pm. The volunteering opportunities are fun & fulfilling for both the parents & their children. The Principal & Staff are welcoming & appreciative to parent volunteers. The Principal & her staff are nurturing, kind, and dedicated everyday to our children. The majority of families are generous, helpful & inclusive. You get what you give. The Unique & most important element of St. Mary's is the Catholic values & guidance it gives our children 7 hrs a day. Morals, Values, Respect, Tolerance, Self Pride, Discipline & Work Ethics. In a community plagued with alcohol and prescription drug abuse, we should all be more mindful of what Really matters in Life. Providing our children with a Catholic Ed is a gift of lifetime strength. It is a financial sacrifice but our parents did it and they had much less. Long live SME!
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2012

Competent and striving for excellence instead of excellent striving for the extraordinary. When did we decide to set the bar so low for a school? A "C" is competent, a "B" is excellent and an "A" is extraordinary. I want our children to grow up to be more than just "competent."
Submitted by other on August 07, 2012

This is a great school with a nurturing and competent staff. The principal and teachers strive for excellence. In response to a past review, it is important to understand that there are major differences between Catholic, private, and public schools. People send their kids to these institutions for different reasons. One of the main reasons families send their children to Catholic schools is to instill in them Christian values and incorporate them into their daily lives. During trying economic times it is understandable that families, especially those with multiple children, may choose to leave and use the local public schools. Those of us that make the decision to stay feel fortunate and blessed that our children can spend their formative years here. Also, I don't see an "outreach" to "recruit" chldren from areas "outside" (heaven forbid) the community. Catholic schools are open to anyone that can afford the tuition. There are no diocese or district restrictions. Diversity is one of the many advantages of SME. There is a whole world outside one tiny little zip code. Let your children experience it!
Submitted by other on May 19, 2012

Publicly available data tell us that the number of students at St. Mary s Elementary school is 10% (or more) smaller than it was a mere two years ago. The school appears to be experiencing a net loss of students every year. It s expedient to blame the poor economy but I think there is more to this story. Manhasset is an uniquely affluent town and St. Mary s parish is among the wealthiest in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Many students who left the school recently come from very rich homes and are opting for more costly private schools. So the poor economy does not seem to be the key factor. The shool is conducting active outreach to recuit kids from Queens and areas well outside of our community; Why is this needed? Queens is not even in our same Diocese and there are many fine schools there. I think it is high time for the parents and parishioners of St. Mary's to do a comprehensive evaluation of the school. SME is a gem in our community and in my heart but there appears to be something rotten here.
Submitted by other on December 12, 2011

Despite last year's lip service regarding improving the math and science in the upper grades, very little has changed here in my opinion.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2011

The school lacks a strong music and arts program -- we believe this is vital for the proper development of children. We know the budget is tight at St. Mary's but this is not the place to cut corners.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2011

I wish St. Mary s would post (like other schools) how its students performed in the nationally-normed Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the NYS testing in mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies. I think parents deserve to know how their school performed relative to NY, RVC and Manhasset public schools. If the school is truly accountable to its students and parish, these statistics should not sit only in the principal s office but widely shared. If the scores are good, let s celebrate (and enhance the school's low enrollment), if they are not, let s improve (before the school becomes irrelevant to the community). Hiding facts does no one any good!!
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2011

Yes. I agree with the last reviewer. It's so sad. The academic reputation at St. Mary High School deteriorated over the past few years and the elementary school is following suit.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2010

It is a school of excellence that strives in every way to develop your child.