St. David's School

3400 White Oak Road

Raleigh, NC 27609

26 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 23, 2025

My children attended this school k-12 and credit it with establishing a wonderful foundation for their college educations. St. David’s creates a family atmosphere where students are known, nurtured and loved for who they are.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2020

St. David’s is truly preparing my children for college and life. Teachers are so talented and have hearts for mentoring students. The overall school culture with great curriculum, super sports offerings, and incredible fine arts means there is something for everyone. As a Christian school, St. David’s seeks to nurture the whole student with a focus on their relationship with God and their love for neighbors. I’m so grateful for the partnership in raising my children I have with this special school. My kids are happy and thriving!
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2018

We have had a fantastic experience at St. David’s. I cannot speak to the lower school because our children were not there but we have found the middle and upper school teachers and staff to be incredibly dedicated to the growth; development and education of our children. Small class sizes and rigorous academics; along with character development and personalized attention have created a wonderful environment for our children. Many students are involved and engaged in the arts and athletics at this school. The only area I feel there is room for improvement is in creating more clubs. Overall we are extremely satisfied with the school. Our kids are happy; have made friends and thriving academically.
Submitted by other on January 27, 2018

So right now I am a freshman at University of North Carolina. Recently, I graduated St. Davids. I went there from 6th grade until senior year and it was, without a doubt in my mind, the worst school experience anyone could possibly have. Since day one up until the last day of senior year, I was constantly bullied. The students have ZERO character within them, and only want to be better than others. I was constantly beaten, talked about, and cyber bullied . When I told the head of the MS and US, they did NOTHING about it. I was not the only one, many kids left half way through freshman and sophomore year because the bullying situation was that bad. Drugs are also rampant throughout the school (as a previous reviewer has stated). If you want your child to be safe and not want to die every day of their life, DO NOT take them to St. Davids .
Submitted by student on December 09, 2017

Don't do it - don't send your kids here. Please. I am a former student and St. Davids was horrible. The quality of education here is no better than public school. The only difference is there is more work assigned (mostly in the form of homework). My mom and I would actually do the homework together and it still took 5 hours most nights. There are so many tests. So many. I was so stressed because of this school. These kids are not better because they are "Christian." There are drugs and bullies at this school. There is no diversity whatsoever. I remember only ever seeing one black person. I only went to SDS for a year in middle school and went to public high school (Sanderson). I graduated with a 3.6 GPA and 1 AP class and got accepted in UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina. A lot of my friends went to APP State. The students at this school are much meaner and dangerous than those in public schools. I have some great friends now and go to a great college and have all BUT SDS to thank for that. Save you and your child money time and energy - don't go here.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2017

I can only speak for the lower school since we don't have kids in the middle or upper. So far it's been wonderful! Our daughter loves school and is always excited about returning after summer break. She's had caring teachers, and I like that they put a lot of effort into communication so I'm up to date on what she's up to. The principle is fantastic, and he does a great job of instilling a joy of learning in the kids. I really like that they get both recess and P.E. everyday. My daughter's favorite electives are art and STEM. There are lots of opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom which is nice.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2017

Kindergarten needs an overhaul. The teachers are more suited for upper grades. One is disorganized!
Submitted by teacher on June 08, 2017

I did not find the lower school Principal to be honest. I feel that he presents one persona in public and another behind closed doors. I do not feel that he reflected a strong belief in Christ from his actions.
Submitted by other on October 13, 2016

The middle sports staff only cares about winning! In many events, I have had to coach my children that the way the coaches act, is not the Christian way. And we are members of the staff. I am sorry to say that my family is not proud about the way our Tennis coach acted this year!
Submitted by teacher on March 09, 2016

As a St. David's School "lifer," I can think of no single entity to which I owe more of the good things in my life. I started attended St. David's in Kindergarten, where I met three friends who will be in my wedding this summer. I graduated from St. David's in 2008, equipped to excel in college and life. Aside from intangibles, like atmosphere, attitudes, and culture, St. David's offers an unparalleled education that focuses more on process than product, more on understanding than regurgitation, and more on thinking, speaking, and writing than on fill in the blank. Beyond the education, the friends I made are still my closest friends, successful and well-adjusted adults who are contractors, doctors-in-training, occupational therapists, consultants, etc. The teachers whom I learned from in high school were highly educated, passionate, and excellent. They spent countless hours of their free time helping my with college essays, writing recommendations, and simply talking with me about my goals. I went on to Georgetown University and then earned my Master's degree from NC State. As a teacher now, I cannot say enough good things about the supportive community here. The students are driven, the faculty is dedicated, the administration is wise. My colleagues are all incredibly intelligent, kind, and supportive. I’ve seen teachers come hours early and leave hours late, just to help a single student understand a single idea. Faculty are encouraged to push students to think deeply and not merely understand on a superficial level. From a student’s perspective, and a teacher’s, St. David’s is an excellent institution that has so much to offer.
Submitted by teacher on February 25, 2016

The community here is a teacher's dream. From encouraging, supportive parents who are committed to fulfilling the mission of St. David's and who really partner with teachers to ensure their students' success to an incredible array of talent in the student body, I could not have asked for a better environment. I taught students who pride themselves on being polite and respectful, who work extremely hard, and for whom the honor code is a way of life, not just a sign on the door. I loved my time at St. David's.
Submitted by student on February 24, 2016

This is my 8th year at St. David's and it is difficult to find something I don't like about this school. From teachers who will sacrifice their own interest and desires for students to fully understand the material to being able to worship Christ freely, this has been a life changing experience. It has been a privilege to attend St. David's with all the resources it has to offer. I will definitely miss my time here, as it has provided me the opportunities to excel in my faith, virtue, and knowledge.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2016

We have two alums and a rising 9th grader, and we are so grateful to have come to St. David's when we did. There is no way to express how thankful we are for the incredible teachers who have had such a monumental impact on our kids. Our two who are in college not only enrolled in honors programs and received significant scholarships, but they have become critical thinkers who own their own faith. Our minority daughter does not fit the mold of the so-called prep school kid (which some worry about at schools like St. David's), but she has found deep friendships as well as meaningful mentorship from the teachers. It costs a lot to send three kids to St. David's, but it was worth every penny.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2015

I couldn't decide whether to rate this school bad or terrible if I'm being completely honest. As a parent I can't say how disappointed I am in this school. Many of the children there are cruel and all the good teachers are leaving...(and you know what they say: all the good teachers leave first). We moved our daughter her because it was incredibly close & she needed the extra help that couldn't be provided from public schools in Wake County. Let me go ahead and inform you that if your child is the least but different & doesn't fit in the "cookie cutter mold" of every student at this school he/she will be miserable. In a class of 60/70 there is just no diversity AT ALL. Many (I say this because I know it's not all) of these kids also say they are "great christian" kids but if only you heard the stories from my child and my oldest child (who didn't attend) friends, you would know otherwise. These kids have got being 2 faced down to a science and it's sickening. The teachers. Maybe it's because they are going this this major transition but every good teacher is leaving this school. It's a rare gem to find a good teacher here. Many of them are brand new, straight out of college, and determined to be as strict as possible so you know who's in authority. The teachers have been so awful that we have had to get tutors for our daughter. The worst part is, is that in high school these kids usually end up having the same teacher a couple of times. It's also incredibly disappointing how stuck this school is on "tracks". I know it's true of most schools but once our daughter was put on the "regular" track she had to fight to even try taking the "advanced" classes and often got turned down. We've tried to talk her into switching schools but she says she's happy doesn't want to have to start over again. It's a constant back & forth in our family of whether or not we should just move her.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2015

The school has amazing new facilities and does everything so well, but it's really the incredible faculty that have made us fall in love with the school. Our kids simply love their school, and we see it all through their eyes. No place has 100% perfection, but from our experience, any time there have been issues of any sort -- academic, social or otherwise -- we've received wise, graceful, appropriate responses from the administration and faculty. We've often been amazed at the quality of the people there. The academics are challenging, but the teachers help our kids succeed. Our son who has graduated is at a great college and is doing very well, and our daughter is excelling in subjects she never thought she'd like until she got a teacher who inspired her. Overall, we have such warm fuzzies about our experience at St. David's.
Submitted by teacher on March 04, 2015

As a Lower School teacher, I am impressed by the academic rigor in the classroom while students are scaffolded, challenged, and best served to fit their needs. I probably take for granted the strong support of the parent community and how proactive parents are to partner with me as their child's educator. I have full support of the administration to help me pursue professional development opportunities, take risks in the classrooms with innovative projects, and utilize technology in a meaningful way. In terms of my colleagues, I work with passionate teachers whose priority is doing what's best for the student. My teammates encourage me to honor Christ through my teaching and to continually reflect to improve my teaching methods. My husband and I hope to send our daughter to St. David's once she is school age -- the commitment to faith/spiritual development, combined with phenomenal facilities and pursuit of academic excellence, make SDS a great fit for our growing family.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2015

We moved to Raleigh for the sole purpose of bringing our children to St. David's, and it was the best decision we ever made. The pairing of strong academics with a genuine commitment to faith is undeniably unique, and St. David's pulls it off. Our children came from a prestigious independent school, but one that ignored spiritual development. Once we decided we were going to make a change, we realized that most schools were either strong academically OR committed to spiritual development, and we were dismayed to find that there were hardly any that had both. St. David's was one of the very few exceptions in the entire region. Now, one of our kids has graduated and is a successful college student, and the second is a senior and has been accepted into top tier schools. The teachers are truly amazing, and the facilities are great. Sports, fine arts, student life -- all top-notch. St. David's has prepared our kids for the spiritual challenges that college offers, and it has sent/is sending them off to college way ahead of most of their peers from other schools.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2014

St. David's school is a high quality learning environment for our daughter. We moved to Raleigh this year from out of state and went through a long process of identifying the right school. We found St. David's to be the best fit for our family. The work is challenging and our daughter is constantly stretching her knowledge and skills. There is a blend of classwork, homework and practical application that logically progresses her along a learning path. We can see her confidence building as she adds new capabilities. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of St. David's is a continual pursuit of improvement. There is a Good to Great mentality that serves the students as well as the future of the school. We would highly recommend St. David's to others.
Submitted by other on September 04, 2014

St. David's is a fantastic school and this is attributed to their incredible faculty and staff members. Over the years, I was encouraged and motivated to work my hardest by my teachers, as well as from both my coaches and advisors. Through their mentorship and guidance I gained valuable academic skills and have grown in my self-confidence. St. David s School prepared me for a smooth and successful transition into college. It has also provided me with the necessary foundation to be a successful individual in and out of school.
Submitted by other on August 21, 2014

I am a current junior at St. David's and have been going here from 3rd-8th grade and 10th grade. I left St. David's for my freshman year to try something new, see more diversity, more class options, and larger class sizes. The teachers at St. David's are able to make connections with each of their students and have more one on one time because of the small class sizes. Each student strives for excellence in everything they do and are aided by their teachers to reach their full potential. This idea and mentality creates an atmosphere for success and high standards of academic achievement. The more personal interactions between the students and teachers creates better relationships and leads to success both inside and outside the classroom. Class options are an issue for many people because St. David's has a very limited number of faculty who can only teach so many classes. So when going to a larger school you are offered more classes, but I have never been around a more dedicated group of staff. The teachers love what they do and are constantly trying to increase their knowledge to better educate their students which is reflected the the class rigor.