The Ambrose School

6100 North Locust Grove Road

Meridian, ID 83646

41 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 03, 2024

Ambrose has been such a blessing to us and our 3 kids. We moved here several years ago and our high school kids were greeted warmly and included right away by their classmates. They adapted easily - even our introvert. They asked us why we hadn't moved here earlier. The teachers really care about the kids and keep in touch even after graduation. The curriculum is rigorous and classes are tough - they make the kids think about the world, what they're being told in today's culture, and taught to seek the Lord and Scripture to interpret it. Our kids now think college is easy - and they have the tools to combat views that are against the Lord. Our younger child loves school and learning and doesn't even want to leave when the day is done.The leadership strives to make the school a community for parents as well and holds many events for families - educational and just for fun. Many parents volunteer and hang out to chat in the coffee shop area. Ambrose has 3 campuses - one of which is for parents that want to homeschool and have a teacher's guidance at the same time. It is a classical education - It's not for everyone, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it for families who want to be involved in their child's education and aren't afraid to work hard.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2023

What an absolute nightmare this school was. We couldn’t even make it through a month. They use shame and manipulation in the form of “if you love Jesus you will do xyz well”. They do not accommodate learning disabilities like ADHD and believe a child should be in control of their mind, body and spirit. The Dean told my child he needed to joyfully conform to their way and when my child questioned things to the teacher was told to stop asking questions and do what he’s told. This place was traumatizing for parent and student. I wish I’d seen some of these reviews before subjecting my child to this environment. We had to apologize for weeks for the damage it did to him in only a couple week time period. Thank goodness for we saw the red flags and now have our kids in a loving environment. This school wants pure obedience - at the cost of the child. That is not childhood. And much of their theology is NOT biblical. Spare yourselves and look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2020

Ambrose has been an incredible blessing to our family over the last nine years. Rather than a school we "send our kids to," Ambrose is a partner that comes alongside us in raising our children, both in academics and character. The quantitative data easily demonstrates Ambrose's academic excellence, but it doesn't adequately portray the love of learning that is cultivated by teachers who share their passion for knowledge with the students. Nor do the numbers express the development of character that fosters a "we before me" pursuit. So, yes, my children do love school. Yes, they have been taught to think deeply and speak well. And, yes, sometimes they do have to work hard in order to learn how to do hard things. But, more importantly, they have been surrounded by a community of supporting friends and loving teachers along their journey towards truth, beauty and goodness.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2019

terrible and contentious without grace or purpose.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2018

The real tell is in the result. Our kids were changed for the better in ways we could not have achieved without Ambrose. Over the long term, they learned to work hard, love God, and love their classmates. And, think Christianly. That's what we wanted.
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2018

Very good for years. Then the administration changed, the culture changed, the values changed. Kids and families are being hurt emotionally and psychologically here. Don't be fooled by the marketing, they are really good at marketing.
Submitted by parent on December 24, 2017

Traumatizing. Awful. We pray more families are spared the pain and suffering many have endured in this institution.
Submitted by parent on November 29, 2017

We are in our 4th year at the Ambrose School (having started our son in Kindergarten) and are extremely thankful for the school. There is not a day that goes by that we are not grateful for this wonderful community of teachers, administration, and families that make up this incredible place we call "The Ambrose School". As the world becomes more hostile to religious liberty and a Christian worldview, I am grateful that we are training up the next generation of children who will be equipped by the Grace of God to contend for their faith in the public square. There is a richness in knowing that we are doing something far more than academically preparing our kids for their future, we are preparing them to stand firmly and confidently on the foundation of their faith. I don't take any of this for granted. I am humbled by the opportunity to send my son to a school that is constantly pointing him to the power of the cross. This is a gift that cannot be adequately expressed with the simple words "thank you". I wish all Christian families could experience the richness of what is being cultivated in this school and in the hearts of our children. We are blessed beyond measure for the legacy this school is creating in life of our son. If you are considering enrolling your student(s) in this school, know that this is a terrific environment and I believe you and your student(s) will be blessed by being a part of such a wonderful community.
Submitted by other on October 31, 2017

My experience at Ambrose was absolutely terrible. Students at this school tend to be close minded and treat people with opposing views like trash. Bullying is performed by students and faculty members. There are no acts to to stop this. Girls are put down when they show interest in being a leader at the school and girls sports are not supported by the community. Going to this school has made me question my faith.
Submitted by student on July 31, 2017

I really did not enjoy being at this school and would strongly suggest not to go here, especially in 6th grade. 6th grade was a living nightmare!
Submitted by other on March 14, 2017

Our child has attended Ambrose for the last several years. Our child has since lost their faith in God, as a direct result of the utter hypocrisy and superiority complex witnessed by our child. It's impossible as a parent to reconcile things said and done, and convince a thinking and intelligent young mind that those things are acceptable, because they are not. Things like teacher's spouting views and opinions that are liberal, and don't align with our Christian evangelistic beliefs. Things like being ignored and put down by "friends" because we don't allow the latest cell phone, group texting at all hours and snapchat. Teacher's openly teaching and supporting old earth evolutionary theories. Being told that you must not have your heart right with the Lord if your work isn't perfect. We are done. We will be joining the dozens of ex-Ambrose families, in counseling to try to get a grasp on how we missed the red flags, how to get our child's Faith back, and try to heal from this experience. Public school would have been better than this.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2017

This school used to be awesome. Sadly, since the arrival of "new" administration, it's a sinking ship. Parent's have zero say or input and concerns are ignored. Teachers range from great to terrible. Anyone with an open check-book is admitted, no matter of Christian values or lifestyle. The priority is marketing, money and enrollment numbers. It's not about the kids any more. The school board is totally biased and 90% have spouse that are employed by the school. There is no check and balance system at all. Many families are leaving, and frankly it's heart breaking to watch.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2017

We have been at the Ambrose School for 2 years and are absolutely in love with the school. Our children have flourished here and have benefited greatly in so many areas of their life since they have been enrolled. I have been able to see substantial growth in the areas of analytical thinking, spiritual growth, comprehension in math and science, public speaking, confidence, knowledge of classical works, time management, and an overall increase in competency of life skills. Our children have never had the opportunity to be in an environment outside of the home, much less in school, where all of these areas are nourished and cultivated. In addition, I have gotten to know much of the administration and teachers there and they are individuals that walk closely with the Lord. They not only love our children but also take care of the families of the school to the best of their ability. I am also impressed on how well the administration stands by and supports their staff and they answer the high calling of educating the next generation. In having conversations with many parents whose students have graduated from The Ambrose School, they have all stated that their kids were so well prepared for college that the transition was truly a gift. With the roll-out of concurrent college credits, we are looking forward to what lies ahead. We truly feel that it is a blessing from the Lord to be able to send our children here and are so thankful.
Submitted by other on March 09, 2017

I am a student here, leaving this year. I have been at this school for many years. It used to be great. I loved Mr. Miller and Mr. Stutzman, both were very caring about the school and the students. Then they left, and a new headmaster came, and a new dean, and it has not been the same. I am not overwhelmed by homework, and my grades are very good. But the school is all about showing off, why did we have to call the news for feed the need? Doesn't Jesus teach us to be humble and serve other's without showing off? I don't enjoy the books, most of them are gory and some are very violent. I don't feel like this school is preparing me for my future or for college. The work is busywork, and I feel behind in math and science. They always say this school teaches that we can think for ourselves, but the Ambrose school teaches us that there is only one opinion, and if your opinion is different , then it is wrong. In conclusion, I think the Ambrose School is not as good as they say it is. In fact, it's just the opposite.
Submitted by student on March 08, 2017

I have not graduated yet, but my experience at Ambrose has been amazing. I came in fourth grade as a shy little girl, and the community was so sweet and welcoming that I will never forget that feeling of being so loved and appreciated. I came from a public school, and I cannot express in words how grateful I am that I moved to Idaho to go to this school instead of having to go to a public school. I love this school because of many things. One, like I said, the community is very loving and open to everyone. Two, the teachers at the school actually care if you do well in their class or not. They are more than your teachers; they are your friends and counselors. I have read all the terrible reviews for this school, and it truly breaks my heart to see people write such over exaggerated stories because the homework load is not that bad. The homework is a great test for students, and it fully prepares them for college because, in college, you will be given a lot of homework, and the professors will expect you to do it. Hopefully this helps you choose our school!!
Submitted by other on March 08, 2017

My children have benefited enormously from being a part of The Ambrose School community. Rather than being indoctrinated by liberal education, they have been taught to think critically and think for themselves, use discernment, not shy away from difficult topics, speak confidently in front of large crowds, deal with difficult people, learn to love them anyway, ask for forgiveness and receive it when they themselves mess up. The larger community often comments on how polite, well-spoken and well-mannered Ambrose students behave. For many, it is not a show but is ingrained because they are taught to love others as Christ loves them. Of course, absolutely no school is perfect and Ambrose is no exception because it is part of the real world that is fallen. But for those students and families who are willing to work hard at loving one another despite differences, study hard so that college won't be as difficult, and actually work at applying the Golden Rule when others may not, then Ambrose is for you. Like any other place, we've had a few differences with other students, parents, and even our wonderful teachers, but my kids are stronger now and have learned to hang in there, pray for others, humble themselves and respectfully take a stand. I also love that the new administration has reached out to parents asking for input. If I could, I would give more money to this school so that more families could experience the positive character growth and academic rigor that we have seen in our children and in many of their classmates who really seek the good and the beautiful. I will forever be grateful for the character and the education that will be their legacy from going to Ambrose. They will be prepared to stand strong in an increasingly hostile world. God bless this amazing community and those who are leading it.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

I'm not sure where to start. Please think twice before sending your children to this school. There is something gone terribly wrong. People are leaving in droves, sure they have waiting lists for the lower grades, but the upper grades are losing students very quickly. There is a culture that focuses on money, pride, status. Few teachers if any are certified to teach. You cannot transfer out into public school, they simply won't accept the credits due to not being accredited by the State. If your child wants to leave the school in high school, they will have to start over in 9th grade somewhere else. There is public shaming, liberal views, and an overall lack of joy, love and compassion. It's going to take a complete overhaul of the administration and school board in order to get this school back on track. In the meantime, it's like any other church that splits- it's not pretty right now. If your considering the "Bridge Program", I can guarantee those poor kids will be regarded as second class citizens. If this saves even one family from pain and suffering, it will be worth it.
Submitted by other on December 24, 2016

I attended The Ambrose School for 13 years and my experience there more than equipped me for college. Ambrose taught me how to think well and gave me the ability to articulate my thoughts, which is something that I have noticed is not nearly as common at college as you would imagine. The workload is fairly heavy, but it taught me to use my time wisely which also helped immensely in college.
Submitted by other on December 24, 2016

I graduated from Ambrose in '07. While the school can be puritanical at times, the top-notch education I received helped me to be academically successful in college and graduate school. Ambrose equipped me mentally and spiritually to excel in life. I remember my time there fondly, and I look forward to my ten year reunion in May.
Submitted by other on December 23, 2016

In many educational systems, the task of learning is deemed complete once the student has recapitulated the text under examination or reproduced a set of facts from a textbook. At Ambrose, this was only the first step. It was never enough to ask only what an author was saying, instead students were challenged to hold these claims up against the tenets of the Christian faith as they are understood through Scripture and the history of the church. In college, I found myself well prepared for research papers and oral presentations in my honors classes by the practice I had at Ambrose in Mock Trial and through the the thesis projects. I didn’t particularly enjoy my math classes at Ambrose and graduated having only studied through Calculus I. It wasn’t until college that I realized how much I enjoyed math and added mathematics as a secondary major. The science curriculum at Ambrose was mediocre and I found it lacked the kind of faith integration that so enriched the other courses. While the grammar school curriculum was dominated by textbooks and educational texts from the past thirty years, in the upper school, we as students were in constant contact with the seminal works of western civilization. This trait of classical Christian education is one of the most valuable to students. Whereas so many educational institutions now offer students almost exclusively the writing and thought of the past century as a means to understanding the philosophy, art, and history of human civilization over the past three thousand years, The Ambrose School puts these books directly in the hands of students, enabling them to look beyond the confines of modernity to understand the diversity and richness of human experience and thought across cultural and temporal divides. Of all the many good things Ambrose affords its students, the opportunity to participate in a small, stable, tight-knit, Christian community is the most precious. In the midst of a hyper mobile society where transience is the norm and nearly all relationships are attached to some specific function in the individuals’ lives, to have shared so much of my life with a small group of friends is an experience as cherished as it is rare. More than four years after graduation, the members of my class continue to spend time together and share in meaningful conversations with one another.