St Lawrence Otoole School

4101 Saint Lawrence Avenue

Matteson, IL 60443

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 31, 2014

My son has been enrooled at St. Lawrence O'Toole since first grade. He has been allowed to grow exponentially and learn without borders. The teachers and staff in my opinion are top notch. They challenge the kids to think and learn new and sometimes challenging things. The curriculum prepares them very well for the next level. It would be a sad day to lose a school full of this many teachers and administrators who truly care about there students.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2014

A GREAT schools in the south suburbs! You will not find a better core group of teachers and staff.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2014

I feel very blessed to have found this gem of a school for our daughter to attend. We knew when we enrolled her in kindergarten that she already had issues regarding her development & sensory problems. Many people don't think of a Catholic school as being welcoming or able to serve the needs of a child like my daughter. But the O'Toole teachers have been outstanding & extremely supportive as we worked with them & her doctor to find a treatment program that would be appropriate. They have gone the extra mile in keeping us informed of her behavior & needs in the classroom. And they have responded with enthusiasm in helping her in anyway that was needed. I won't lie; the first couple of years were rough on the teachers as we all were working to discover what would work the best in order for my daughter to succeed to the best of her ability, but they truly were outstanding & patient in dealing with her. Once you enroll your child at O'Toole you become a part of the greater O'Toole family. It takes a family to raise a child and you cannot go wrong with choosing the O'Toole family.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2014

It seems that at least one of the reviews below speaks to conversations among teachers "in front of" and "behind their backs." The same post speaks to Morale being "shattered" and posits that the teachers have Bullied them. I have had four nieces attend this school and my daughter currently attends. While there are no "perfect" schools, I would offer that St. Lawrence O'Toole has created smart, effective, and assertive youth leaders who consistently perform well when moving onto High School.
Submitted by other on June 10, 2014

This is such a great school! The teachers and staff are incredible. Many of them spend many hours after school tutoring, preparing materials for the next day, or helping with extracurricular activities. Knowing that private school teachers don't get paid as much, their dedication shows how much they care. I've even overheard them discussing news in the education field to see how that impacts curriculum, and was surprised that several of the younger kids already have certificates for learning computer coding. There's a strong sense of community amongst staff, families, kids, and parishioners. I couldn't tell you how many moms and dads come to volleyball practice after a full day of work just to help. They have even introduced mini leagues to get the little ones started. It's the cutest thing to see and the lessons learned such as teamwork and sportsmanship are invaluable! At the spring concert there was a full house to celebrate what the kid's accomplished. Afterwards, all the parents lended a hand to clean up the chairs. It's little moments like this that warm your heart and remind you that we're all in this together. I hope more people wise up
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

I was once one of the biggest advocates of this school but now it is my Achilles' heel. The staff no longer cares about the students or parents. They have forgotten that the children and parents also deserve respect. They gossip and bicker about the children in their faces and behind their backs. Instead of building up and encouraging children they are more inclined to embarrass and criticize the children. This school has become incredibly disappointing. The test scores are declining and the morale and self esteem of the students has been shattered. The staff has no control over the students because they don't care to have control. It's just a paycheck to them. The students are reacting to the rejection and ridicule of the staff. It is very disheartening when you have gifted and talented children come home and tell you that their teacher talked about them and called them derogatory names or bullied them. Labeling children is unacceptable. The rules of Great Schools won't allow me to write what I really feel. Sadly, this is still the 'best' the south suburbs has to offer. Lord help us all :(
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2014

I am very disappointed with this school. When my oldest daughter attended, I was very pleased. Lately, the school has started to decline. The administrators do not take your concerns seriously and treat you as though they wish you would just go away. The students talk back to the teachers and they have no control of the classrooms. With private school costs continually rising, I felt my money was better spent somewhere else. Enrollment is constantly declining. I don't think this school will last much longer.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2014

I am so happy that I made my decision to send my children to St. Lawrence O'Toole. My 6 year old has been here for three years now, and my 3 year old just started this year. The amount they have learned and changed since they have been here is amazing. My 6 year old is loving learning to read and write stories, and my 3 year old has become so much more social and is just curious and interested in everything. The parents at O'Toole are amazing also, when you drop your children off in the morning, everyone says "Good Morning and Hello". There is a real feeling of community here. The faculty and staff are kind, caring, and welcoming. This creates the perfect environment for all children to succeed personally and academically. We could not be happier with our decision to come to St. Lawrence. Thank you!
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2009

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