St Paul School

218 Nassau Street

Princeton, NJ 08542

16 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 22, 2020

Overall my children are happy to go to school everyday and as a result are learning. The school challenges them academically and sets high expectations for them to reach. Values are still taught and instilled so they are learning compassion, respect and discipline giving them tools to be successful after they graduate.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2018

EXCEPTIONAL! SPS offers a Roman Catholic, faith-based education and academic excellence. There is no other school quite like it in this area! It is truly a special place and our family is grateful to be a part of the loving SPS community!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2017

It's been great so far! All 3 of my children have been at St Paul School, each starting in kindergarten. One has gone on to a top-rated high school, and is doing well. She felt prepared and excited when she arrived, and is currently managing (well) multiple sports, student council, a part-time job, and her academics, which include AP and honors courses. I give a lot of credit to St. Paul, which allowed her to grow into and graduate as a poised, kind, confident, well-rounded young lady. I see her sisters going down the same path, and am so happy with it. I also love that religion is simply weaved into every day, and that special programs such as the "buddy" program is in place (for example, an 8th grader gets a kindergarten buddy for the year. This is such a great thing for both students....They go to school masses together, and share special holiday times.) My kids have benefited from being the older buddy and having one. Also, I, as a parent have benefited from being a part of the St. Paul expanded community. There are a lot of ways to get involved, be a part of what is happening, make a difference, have fun and give back to the kids too. I have made some great friends and enjoyed my first 12 years...and look forward for more to come.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2016

Our family feels blessed to be part of the St. Paul School community. Our children have been at SPS for six years, starting in Preschool and Kindergarten. The curriculum is challenging and engaging. The faculty and staff always go above and beyond. SPS is far more than just academics. Kids learn to live their faith and be young people of empathy.
Submitted by parent on November 29, 2016

St. Paul School has been a wonderful place for my children to grow up. While they are getting the academics they need, they are also learning to be respectful, kind and accepting which sadly is not a focus in many schools anymore. Expectations of the students are high but realistic. Their academics definitely prepare them for high school. It is a safe and nurturing environment where children can focus on learning and "being a kid". I could not imagine sending my kids anywhere else.
Submitted by other on November 28, 2016

My daughter has attended since K. Her teachers and the administration are always available. They have resources to push above grade level students and to help students who are below grade level.Every day isn't perfect but she is learning skills beyond just the classroom and thinking about the world around her not just some books.
Submitted by other on September 29, 2016

St Paul was the worse school. first they have teachers with no toddlers experience. Their Pre-K is bad. they don't have protocols or any type of methods to handle kids. I was basically told by the teacher assistant to withdrawal my son. they only worry about collecting their money or ways to get money.
Submitted by other on June 25, 2014

My daughter graduated from SPS and is currently preparing to attend a university ranked within the top 100 in the world. She has been named one of the strongest writers in her high school class multiple times and attributes this completely to the foundation she received at Saint Paul School. Though occasionally lapsing in judgment (the addition of Ryan Killeen had a long-term detrimental affect to the quality of teaching in the school), Saint Paul is, and always will be family and ethics-oriented, teaching children the value of respecting authority as well as giving a foundational, traditional education. Though occasionally funding led to a lack of up-to-date science and history materials, teachers made up for this, particularly in the upper school, by finding free resources, current events, and hands-on projects to supplement the students' education. Overall, the school provided an excellent foundation in academic writing, annotation, character and respect. It's an environment that strives to create a family and a tightly knit community through students of all ages.
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2014

My four children attended St. Paul's for many years. The teachers that were hired by the former principal were excellent! They were well trained and commited to a catholic education. Unfortunately, the current principal Ryan Killeen has driven off the talented teachers that once worked there. He replaced them with unqualified friends from his former work place. These poor hiring choices have negatively impacted the schools ability to prepare these children for highschool! I would like to say that he is being well watched by his superiors at the Diocese but that isn't the case. His direct boss Monsignor Rosie has given Ryan a free hand to drive the school into the ground! Many commited families sadly left the school. St. Paul's once had a wait list for most grades, it is a changed place! If your looking for a private school skip over St. Paul's!
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2013

As a former parent who withdrew his child mid-year, don't be fooled by the "Blue Ribbon" Award. This is a one size fits all school. If you have an average learner the school is fine but if your child operates above or below the curve St. Paul does not have the funding or the resources to help. School leadership will PROMISE you that they do, but they don't. Their answer to academic issues is Mrs. Litt. She is a fine person, but she can't possibly help every student in the school and she isn't fully trained in the subjects she is supposed to help with. If I remember correctly, Mrs. Litt has a degree in counseling? The principal, Ryan Killeen, is also what I'd call underwhelming. If you are interested in this school ask a lot of questions and fully investigate their answers. Also remember that they want your business. Most of the the public schools in the area are highly rated and they have the funds, resources and appropriately trained personnel to get your child on the right path. Leaving St. Paul was the best thing we could have done for our child.
Submitted by other on September 08, 2012

Awarded the 2012 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence! What a wonderful place for students to be!
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2012

My experience and more importantly my daughter's experience with St. Paul School in Princeton couldn't be more positive. She loves attending this school and is anxious every day to tell me all about her day. She is getting a wonderful academic and religious education at St. Paul's in an environment that fosters community, service and respect. The teachers and staff are approachable and accomodating as well as being experienced and professional. I toured 3 Catholic and 2 private schools before deciding on St. Paul's and I couldn't have made a better decision for my daughter. There is an ethinally diverse student body which is an important issue for me. My daughter feels safe, loved and academically challenged on a daily basis. I have become good friends with the other parents who are very involved in the St. Paul community - both school and Church. I simply could not have asked for more and I know many of the St. Paul School parents feel the same way. We are truly blessed to be a part of the St. Paul School family.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2012

St. Paul School of Princeton has been a great place for my kids! I found St. Paul School about 6 years ago, when I was searching for a full-time kindergarten for my daughter. As a working parent, I wanted a full-day option for my oldest child. I think you are always nervous when the 1st goes off to school and I was immediately put at ease when I visited the school. The kids were friendly and polite, the principal knew every child that walked by and the kindergarten teachers were warm and welcoming! While the plan was always to go to our town's top-rated public school after kindergarten was over, my daughter just loved St. Paul, and so did we. The rest is history! I now have 2 children there and a 3rd to come. There is a true community feel to it, and I love the fact that it is co-ed, that there are only 2 of each grade, and that class sizes are small. My daughters have really thrived there, and as a product of a Catholic-school education myself, I am happy that they are getting a great education in a caring faith-based environment. Very proud to be a part of this "community."
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2012

St Paul is the best choice for our family. We started our children in public school but did not like the large class size and lack of individual attention. We moved our 3 children into St Paul School 5 years ago and have been extremely pleased with the academic rigor and personal attention they get from teachers. We are now looking at high schools and I consistently hear admissions personnel praise the St Paul students who have come to their high schools. They praise their academic skills, character and sense of community. St Paul School has been the right choice for our family. .
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2011

From past reviews, it seems this school has gone downhill fast. There is very little focus on academics. The location is small and crowded with no real facilities for sports or a decent playground, just a coned off parking lot. The teachers seem inexperienced and fresh and there is a high turnover rate. Gossipy atmosphere among both teachers and parents. I volunteered for playground duty and the other mothers were chatting on the phone and gossiping among each other about other parents and teachers. The kids were running around cursing and no adult other than me seemed to notice or care. NOT a welcoming school for non-white students. Parents who want to tell their friends that their child goes to school in Princeton send them here because it's the cheapest private school in town and parents in this school only care about appearances (cars, clothing, handbags) and this is more a social organization for parents than a school. I'm pulling my child from this school at the end of the year. I wanted a Catholic education for my child, but I will have to look elsewhere. There is nothing Catholic about the behavior of parents, teachers and students in this school.
Submitted by other on December 07, 2011

This school is a backup for many different schools. They care more about their "Princeton" location than their students. I am a student there and everyday i have to walk in and think "do i look good enough in my uniform?" and its mostly when your in 6th 7th or 8th grade. And the fact that I said uniform would make you wonder "why would he or she have to look good if your in a uniform?" Also, this school is very racist/ stereotypical. The students would walk around and comment if your doing something to black or white and the teachers do not care. Isnt this a catholic school? Well they arent very excepting.