Grace-St Lukes Episcopal School

246 South Belvedere Boulevard

Memphis, TN 38104

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on November 19, 2024

Amazing community, engaged teachers and staff, overall an incredible well-rounded education
Submitted by student on March 15, 2023

i’m an 8th grader at gsl, and the experience has been something to say the least. i would say absolutely no one wants to learn anything they’re being taught. most teachers are very sweet and want to teach, but some really just don’t want to be there. some teachers really could care less. gsl tends to keep the worst teachers and fire the best teachers. last year we had a teacher that made us want to learn. gsl fired him for talking to us like we were teenagers instead of 3 year olds. being a student with extreme mental health issues, gsl has not been helpful at all. they’ve sent me home instead of helping me process my emotions. gsl only deals with mentally ill students when it comes between school work. homework is piled and piled, i know i seem like a teenager whining, but i have had to stay up until 3 am to finish a 15 page homework packet due the day after we got it, and i still had more homework. special education. where do i start with this. from what i’ve seen, gsl does not care. gsl turns away children with special needs, this year gsl had a special needs kid TURNED AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR just because they did not want to deal with him. gsl does nothing to help kids with special needs. one boy in my grade is almost blind due to a condition he has and gsl constantly overlooks this by refusing to have him move closer to the board and things similar to that. gsl is safe yes. kids do make empty threats as a joke to “burn down the school” and things similar to that. i witnessed a sobbing girl get called a school shooter just because she was stressed. kids at gsl will say racist, homophobic, sexist, and just the most disgusting “jokes” to people. and gsl does nothing. i’ve been bullied for years and i’ve seen others get bullied and gsl have done nothing. bullying at gsl is so common. i want to say i’d recommend gsl, but the absolute pain and frustration gsl has caused my family is preventing me from doing so.
Submitted by student on February 14, 2022

I personally have had a positive experience with this school, however I do see where some of the complaints are coming from. Teachers at this school are overall really great! There have been a few bad cases like every other school. Recently the teachers have been trying more unique and creative teaching methods that encourage creativity. Personally the facilities are a little drab, and they have lied to the students before. For my grade's Fourth-Grade project the school completely ditched the students ideas and decided to just build an open field. They lied to us and made the illusion that our ideas for the project mattered. In my experience I have noticed that the education budget is often overlooked for maintaining and upgrading the school's gyms. To those who have had an unpleasant experience with the school I would like you to know that GSL has greatly improved with the introduction of new staff. Overall I would recommend this school if you want your child to be in a comfortable settng that encourages creative problem solving and self expression. I have really enjoyed this school and would recommend to let your child choose the best balance for them socially and academically.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2020

I have had children at GSL for over 15 years. We love this school! Children who graduate are sought after by the local high schools. The big bonus is that the students do well academically, and GSL produces well-rounded people. The teachers have always been willing to provide extra help when needed. Our family values that as the years have gone by, the school has become more diverse. Check out this school. We are so glad we sent our children to Grace St. Luke’s.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2020

This is our daughter's first year at GSL. She can't wait to get to school in the morning and looks forward to her first day back after breaks. She loves her teachers and the librarian, and we have enjoyed getting to know the other parents. GSL has always had a strong reputation for its warm community, and we are learning firsthand that everything we had heard is true! We are very happy with our choice and confident our daughter will be well-prepared for high school.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2020

GSL has provided my children with a phenomenal foundation academically, socially, and emotionally. The co-ed environment is perfect for preparing children for the real world.
Submitted by other on February 07, 2020

I attended this school all the way from pre-k to eighth grade and looking back, it was the worst period of my life. My 3rd grade teacher destroyed my self esteem for years by basically telling me to deal with people who were teasing me on my own and making fun of me in front of the whole class. There is very little diversity of ideas and students with different cultural backgrounds, thinking differently is discouraged. Academically, I would say that they prepared me adequately for high school as I did have an advantage over students who went to other schools, but their above average academics don't justify the cost of tuition and the way I was treated by both faculty and students during my time at GSL. There are some public schools that offer the same level of academic rigor, so just send your child there. If you want your child to think differently, do not send them here. This school made me feel pressure to fit in with students who I did not like and did not encourage me to think differently. I only was able to branch out and finally enjoy my school experience once I graduated from GSL and attended high school which made me realize how horribly I was treated at GSL and how much better school can be.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2019

Horrible! We were at this schools for a number of years. The lack of concern is perpetuated by the utter lack of concern by upper management.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2019

GSL does their best they can given the resources and size of the school. There are areas I wish they would focus more on - music and art - but the kids are well prepared for High School and they are some of the nicer kids in the Memphis Private School world.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2017

We are an Hispanic family. We were at GSL for 2 years. The names my son was called is unmentionable. The teachers treated him differently. The admin. lied to us on a number of occasions. As if my son was lying on the poor white kids. To which he had multiple witnesses. Ultimately they never did anything to the other students who were racially bullying my son. We had a number racial situations that all went to deaf ears. Not one time was anything ever done. It was heartbreaking!!! No we were not included in play dates, sleepovers nor to any of the other parents home or ask to go out with the other parents to just socialize. My wife and I were always excluded from pretty much everything social. No, there are no minorities represented on the school board, parent and school committees nor the student government. Even the things you volunteer for were usually hoarded by the stay at home moms and their cliques. When we got tired of our son coming home crying everyday, we ran for our lives.
Submitted by other on September 20, 2014

Grace-St. Lukes Episcopal School is a fantastic place of learning. Their curriculum is academically challenging and caters to all learning styles. They also have a great variety of teachers who are willing to help at any time. I attended GSL for 11 years and loved it; I sometimes wish I could go back. The teachers that I had were amazing and were always open to work with me if they saw that I was struggling. Overall, GSL provided me with great role models to look up to and prepared me academically for high school. Being an Episcopal school, GSL provides students with a religious education; not only do they teach students about Christianity, but other religions too. Although GSL is diverse in their religious curriculum, unfortunately they are not as diverse in culture. Because the school is so close-knit and small there is less cultural variation. However, the school is growing and improving every day and is a great place to send your child.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2014

GSL is an amazing school that manages to balance solid academics with a warm, friendly community atmosphere.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2013

Our son has been attending GSL starting in PK and is now in the 2nd grade. We cannot say enough good things about this school - it is fantastic! The teachers and staff are wonderful and truly care about the children. Would not consider going anywhere else.
Submitted by other on July 09, 2013

I am speaking from the perspective of someone who not only attended this school from mother's day out to 8th grade, but flourished both during and after my time at Grace-St. Luke's. While there I participated in Theatre, Athletics, Student Government (President), as well as many clubs. I believe that there is not a better place to send your child because you are guaranteed both a great education and a staff who genuinely loves and cares about you and your children. Area high schools actively recruited GSL students (including me) because of their academic strength and leadership experience. Upon arriving in high school after GSL, I quickly realized that the other GSL graduates and myself were the most prepared and well-rounded students in attendance. I love Grace-St. Luke's, its teachers, its students, and its atmosphere that set the foundation for my current successes. I am now attending one of the best public universities in the US on a significant scholarship and I can guarantee that I would not be where I am today if it was not for the values and knowledge instilled in me at GSL. I can truly say that I AM an anchor for life.
Submitted by other on June 18, 2013

I am a Grace St. Lukes alum, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of time at GSL. It is no secret that middle school years are a bit awkward for most kids, but GSL did a great job of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome. It was hard to leave, but I knew that everything that I learned here would transfer to high school and beyond. I am so happy and grateful that I got to spend my lower and middle school days at such an amazing place!
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2013

Gace-St. Luke's Episcopal School is an "anchor for life", which is the school motto. Our children have obtained a solid foundation in the key areas of learning, great moral and ethical values, and have made lifelong friendships. The teachers and administration are wonderful, and the family atmosphere and participation creates an extremely positive environment for learning.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2013

I've had two children at GSL for years, and we all absolutely love it. The teachers are remarkable -- top-notch, creative, caring, inspiring. With the opening of the Anchor Center building a few years ago, the school's facilities made a quantum leap ahead. Fantastic science labs, art rooms, gym, cafeteria, library and more. The best things about GSL are the nurturing environment and the challenging curriculum. The kids are encouraged to think, often "outside the box," and much attention is focused on individual paths to success. They embrace the idea that kids learn differently; each child is unique. GSL has always felt like an extended family... a home away from home for my kids.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2013

GSL has been a wonderful experience for my whole family. As a GSL graduate, I was very well prepared for a competitive single-sex high school and wanted the same nurturing and academically challenging environment for our children. Our favorite things about GSL are the parental involvement and community, the excellent teaching and creative instruction, emphasis on developing the children's character as well as academic preparation for high school, and its welcoming and inclusive but unapologetically Episcopal tradition. Previous reviews mentioned lack of diversity, but it is no less diverse than most private schools in Memphis. We chose GSL for our kids partly because 70% of GSL households are dual-income families, which is about as close to "real world" as you can get in a private school setting. I have heard from several teachers at other area high schools (public and private) that they love getting GSL students--a very high compliment, I think!
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2013

My son attended Ms. Lee's for Junior Kindergarten at GSL and we were really disappointed. He is attending Snowden Elementary for Kindergarten and the experience has been far superior. GSL school as a community has a hard time looking honestly at itself and seeing its own shortcomings. It is geared towards married, caucasion parents rather than towards working and middle class parents. H They are neither ethnically nor culturally div. They did a great job of emailing us photos of all of the fun things our child was doing in school but never gave us any information on what we needed to do to get him ready for kindergarten. Then, in the spring, they informed us that he did not know the things he needed to know for kindergarten and gave us the impression that they thought he might always struggle. They indicated that they had just learned this when he was tested two weeks prior, even though there were two teachers w/masters for 13 kids. Since we left, our child tested as having a genious IQ, got accepted in the optional program and his teacher recommended him for CLUE. He is also a competitive chess player at only 6. Oh, & the so-called masters his teacher had? Uni of Phoenix.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2012

My children have attended GSL for five years. It is an excellent school: committed teachers and administration; strong family community; and a nurturing environment. We are leaving the Memphis area soon, and we are struggling to replicate all that GSL offers in our new community. It offers academic challenges for those who need it, and it supports those who need help. If you can afford the tuition, I would highly recommend considering this school. It especially appeals to Central Gardens residents - many children walk or bike to this school with no concerns for safety.