St. Paul Catholic School

3121 Hyde Park Road

Pensacola, FL 32503

40 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 28, 2025

Not sure what these negative reviewers went through to give them such a horrid image of saint paul. many are saying saint paul is "cliquey" and your child is only given the attention they need if you're in a certain social or economic class. I can tell you that is absolutely false because my family surely does not fall into that category and my child had a wonderful experience at this school. ive only ever seen comments of that nature on this website.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2024

I cannot recommend this school. It definitely does have a toxic environment. Just like most of the other private schools in the area, especially the Catholic schools, they care about money, titles, and status more than they care about enriching the lives of ALL children. The reviewers on here who are flabbergasted as to how and why anybody could say a negative thing about this school are obviously one of the "chosen ones". If your a doctor or lawyer or any other "upper income" family, your kids will absolutely be favored over others and your kids will get away with things that the other more "lowly" kids will not. Maybe some regular people will be accepted into the "click", but many will not. If your child is not on the total straight and narrow line, has any kind of learning or behavioral disability such as ADHD or other neurodivergence, they will not be accepted in this environment...UNLESS they are from one of the "upper income" families. The diocese really needs to step in with the Catholic schools in this area. It's sad that they are not focused on providing an actual Christ like, loving and accepting environment and education, but instead are worshiping false idols such as money and status. Oh and to that last reviewer saying "go to public school and see how that turns out"....LOL Turns out my kids have THRIVED in the public school environment more than when they were at the Catholic schools. Public schools have to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide accommodations. Private schools do not. Enough said.
Submitted by other on August 04, 2024

For those of you commenting about how toxic and unfair this school is, maybe you need to discipline your children better. I am very involved in the community at Saint Paul and can attest that most of these scathing reviews are nothing but bitter responses from people that can't handle their children being scolded. Reports that their child was treated unfairly, or yelled at for no reason are almost definitely hearsay from their children because not only do I know all the faculty and staff at the school and know that they wouldn't do such a thing, but I went to school there and thought the same things. Once I GREW UP, something a lot of you need to do, I realized that Saint Paul holds a very traditional set of values. If your child steps out of line, they will be disciplined. If you don't like it, send them to public school and see how they turn out.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2024

This school used to be an amazing place to be, but the current administration is chaotic and downbeat. The high teacher turn over rate is evident of a toxic environment. You ask any teacher or volunteer how they feel and they will likely say negative things about the working conditions. The students and families are wonderful however so it's unfortunate that this school is going downhill fast.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2024

Priest yelled at my daughter because she messed up in confession. Then they yelled at me. The nurse would hang up on me because I wanted to talk to my daughter. Ended up leaving the school after they punished my kid for something she didn’t do and didn’t get the other kids in trouble. A boy touched a girl and never got in trouble. A boy also pushed a girl into lockers and down on the ground. Kids were always bullying and no teachers cared. All they care about is the money, and it really hurts me to have to experience this after everything my daughter’s been through. The teachers and Principle use to tell me how to raise my daughter and just because I worked and the other moms didn’t I was a bad mom. Math teacher would talk about politics 24/7 and one time a video on his phone went off and the video was a bunch on curse words. I would not recommend this school. I’m sorry for anyone else who had a bad experience here.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2024

I am writing in response to some of these baffling reviews, that simply dont make sense. As long-standing member of the school for 15 years, I have witnessed the unwavering dedication of our teachers. We have a wonderful first-grade teacher who has taught four out of my five children and tutored one of them for three years. She has a remarkable ability to instill a love for learning in her young students. Her teaching creates an environment filled with warmth, encouragement, and positivity, where each child is valued and respected as an individual. When your children leave St Paul’s, you can rest assured, that they will be ready for their high-school coursework.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2024

WE LOVE ST. PAUL!!! Our daughter has been at St Paul since preK 4 and is now in first grade. It justs gets better and bettert each year! Our experience has been nothing short of stellar. Our daughter has struggled with reading and has always been provided additional support and tutoring allowing her to succeed and grow her confidence. The instruction in the classroom is differentiated for each student's success. My daughter also experiences extreame anxiety at times and has always been supported by her teachers, counselors, and administration. She is learning to move through these emotions with this superior love and support proivided by St. Paul school. Students at St Paul are continually engaged in servicve projects, hands on academics, and the Catholic Faith. The rigor and involvement produces young adults ready to conqure obstacles with grace, love, and profound critical thinking skills! The teachers and administation are faithful, hard working, fowrard thinkers, who want nothing but the best for our children both now and for their furture. We need more schools and educators like this in our world. St Paul's school is a Christ-centered learning community that is nourished by the eucharist and inspired by the Holy Trinity. The Catholic faith is immersed in to every subject and part of their day. Between St Paul church and St Paul school, our daughter is happily growing in to a faithful diciple of Christ with an academics that are set apart from the rest.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2024

From the moment we stepped through the doors of Saint Paul, we were greeted by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The sense of community and shared values among students, teachers, and parents is palpable, creating a nurturing environment that fosters both academic and personal growth. The dedicated faculty has consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence. The teachers not only possess a deep understanding of their subjects but also have a genuine passion for imparting knowledge. Their approach goes beyond the curriculum, instilling values of compassion, responsibility, and integrity in their students.One of the aspects that truly sets it apart is its emphasis on character development and spiritual growth. The integration of Catholic values into the curriculum promotes a strong sense of morality and community service. The school encourages students to engage in acts of kindness and service, fostering a sense of responsibility towards others.My spouse and I have both been impressed with the staff at Saint Paul. Everyone has been welcoming, open, and easy to get in touch with. It truly feels like a family, not just a school.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2023

Very clicky, snobby environment. If you’re not in the click, or wealthy and donating money to the school, your kid is not going to be a priority here. It’s well known in the community that it’s like this here after talking to other parents. It’s also very lacking in diversity. There are barely any minorities enrolled here. Just look at the pictures of kids posted on their website and Facebook pages. I can confirm that this is a true representation of the student body at this school.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2023

Run far away!!! I would rather my kids be in an environment where they are exposed to diversity and their emotions are acknowledged/cared for in a loving environment rather than a school who solely focuses on academic excellence. The administration ever since Mrs. Schuler left has been horrible. This school has turned into a military academy--basic needs are not met and my kids were told "no" on multiple occasions when asked if they could refill their water bottles. When my oldest asked to use the bathroom, the teacher aide would stand outside the restroom and my child would be rushed to use the bathroom. Love the preschool/kindergarten teachers, but steer far away from 1st grade if you can. This teacher should not be teaching. She was verbally/emotionally abusive to my child's class on several occasions (and there was proof from multiple students not just mine). Spoke to admin several times only to have my concerns disregarded. The best decision we made was leaving the school. There are better options in the area. Prestige and academic excellence should not be the main focus especially at a Catholic school.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2023

It’s a great school if your child fits inside the box. Be forewarned if your child gets a scholarship for disabilities, the school doesn’t actually have any accommodations for children with any kind of disability even though they do accept the extra funds that comes with that scholarship. In my experience with Catholic schools in general in the area, they care more about their image and $ than actually helping children, especially the children who need it the most. Just keep that in mind when choosing a school for your neurodivergent children.
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2023

We are so blessed to have this school in our community! The teachers and the administration are amazing! There is no other private school option in our region that even compares. We absolutely love to be a part of this amazing family!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2023

It is a shame how far this school has fallen. The leadership have no leadership skills. They were good teachers but are not good administrators. The level of education the middle school is providing is subpar. If we had another private option, we would switch immediately! If you are a parent that is engaged and likes to feel included in your child's learning, this is not the school for you!
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2023

I have several children attending St. Paul Catholic School. Over the last 6 years, I've been blessed to see my children grow academically, socially, and spiritually at SPCS. From day one, SPCS has been a warm and welcoming environment for my children. SPCS upholds their mission statement to be a Christ-centered learning community. They are the perfect partner in helping parents to build a foundation of faith in their children's lives. We love that they are STREAM certified. We also love all the options for special and elective classes. Some of my children's favorites include the String Orchestra, Schole Scholars elective, and Art class. There are many ways that parents can be actively involved in the school, from volunteering for the Halloween Carnival, coaching soccer, or attending the weekly school Mass with your children. It is such a blessing to see the students actively participating in the Mass each week by performing the readings, alter serving, and singing in the choir. Each year at SPCS is better than the last. Principal Hodge has done an outstanding job leading the school community and facilitating so many beautiful improvements to the campus and academic programs. Not only do the faculty and staff working tirelessly to improve the school each year, they treat the students and families with kindness, compassion, and respect. Its apparent each and everyday that the teachers are SPCS are passionate about learning and care deeply about the success and happiness of the students. I highly recommend St. Paul Catholic School.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2023

We have been a part of the St. Paul Catholic School community for six years. My husband and I send our children to school knowing they are in a safe environment with faculty and staff that truly care about them and their education. We have enjoyed and continue to look forward to seeing our children grow in Christ with the spiritual leadership at St. Paul.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2023

Our family LOVES St. Paul Catholic School. In the past 7 years, I have watched my children thrive in the safe, happy, learning environment created by the well-qualified and passionate teachers and administrators at St. Paul’s. In addition to providing students with a top-notch education, the school also provides a wide range of extracurricular activities where kids learn the value of teamwork, school spirit, and the importance of the arts. As a parent, I love that the school is centered in its mission and makes that mission clearly known to parents and students alike. The school works well with the public education system, accepting grants/funding for PreK or StepUp program students and facilitating care for students with special needs, such as the speech therapy services one of my daughters receives twice a week at school with minimal disruption to her time in the classroom. There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer and become involved in the school, which we enjoy as well! We definitely feel part of the school family. We highly recommend St. Paul Catholic School for anyone looking for a school for their kids ranging from prek3-8th grade where they will receive an excellent education, grow in their faith, feel safe and cared for, and expand their interests/passions.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2023

All 3 of our kids have either attended or are attending school at St. Paul’s. We love the environment and being a part of the St. Paul family. There are so many interesting classes and electives available to students on top of the core classes. Whether it’ is getting creative in the art room, having the option of playing a string instrument as a music elective, or if you like performing and being a part of the winter or spring productions. As a parent if we had an any questions or concerns the faculty was always willing to meet with us. If our children had any questions the teachers were available to speak with them. It was important for our children to also have a Catholic education growing up and St. Paul’s was the perfect fit for our family! We definitely recommend St. Paul Catholic School.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2023

I have several children various ages who have been attending SPCS for the last 10 years and have been incredibly impressed with the administration, faculty and staff. Year after year new goals are set and met. I have seen all of my children grow academically, emotionally and spiritually and have been blow away by the support the school offers the students and their families. The teacher are truly invested in our children and their life successes. SPCS has blessed each of our children and I look forward to the next 8 years we get to spend having students at this school!
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2023

Education here is horrible. The teachers in the middle school do not teach. The only thing they do is discipline for minor things that in other schools would not be an issue.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2022

One time I was struggling with math and the teachers out of there time helped me after school