Keystone School

119 East Craig Place

San Antonio, TX 78212

18 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 25, 2024

Keystone is strong academically. Maybe too much homework…but they will get your child ready for the rigors of college. Full stop.However their school administration is a disaster. $25k/year and the posted schedule conflicts with reality. We had to scramble for childcare on more than one occasion. This is compounded by the threats that parents received when they publicly complained about the mess. The head of school actually informed parents that their children who had been at the school for 7 years was no longer welcome.We left Keystone after 8th grade, which is not uncommon. We requested transcripts asap, and enrolled our child at Health Careers HS. She was placed in advanced classes based on her report card, which was used until transcripts arrived. Transcripts arrived three weeks into the semester, with an unnecessary statement about credit at the bottom. It created chaos and required at least 5 transfer students (that I know of) to either move to lower level classes, or take a placement test THAT WEEK.This transcript statement was added to transcripts recently with the sole purpose of discouraging middle school students from leaving Keystone. Our children took the same class in 7th grade that HS juniors were taking at the same time in the same classroom with the same instructors. Ask yourself; what good is an advanced schedule if they put a blurb on the transcripts that doesn’t let you advance unless you stay at THAT school? However, this parable has a happy ending. Each former Keystone student caught in the above predicament took the placement test and aced it. This dmshowd that Keystone does have an amazing academic program. If the teachers, students, and parents can only tolerate the utter incompetence of the administration. If you are a parent looking for the best school for your child; Keystone will deliver. But the cost will be hours of homework and patience with how the school is run. We left after 8th grade not necessarily because of the leadership, but we are happier (and have money for a family vacation to Europe).If you are looking for a High School, Health Careers takes students from outside the district, and these kids are dedicated like the keystone kids…but they come from a wider variety of backgrounds. And unlike Keystone, the administration does not lose $25k if they ask a behavior problem child to go back to their old school. Review/rant over.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2022

My daughter attended Keystone and as a retired teacher I have worked at the school. Keystone is very nurturing environment with exceptional dedicated teachers and staff. My child was well prepared for the academic challenges of college.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2022

Our son has been at Keystone since preschool and is now in middle school, where he's thriving academically, emotionally and even athletically. Some teachers are definitely better than others, but we have been very pleased overall. As long as this school continues to be a good fit for him, we'll gladly keep him here for high school. We were very impressed with the way the school handled COVID, making science-based decisions in accordance with CDC recommendations. Compared with the way state politicians tied the hands of the public schools and politically motivated parents pressured other private schools to loosen restrictions too early, Keystone was a welcome respite of thoughtfulness.I love that my son has friends with many different faith and he is growing up to appreciate and respect Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu traditions, and his fellow students respect his Christian tradition. There's also a respect of people who don't have a religious faith.In his readings, he's already grappling with ideas and issues that other students don't touch until high school, if they do at all. I know that looking at difficult issues makes some parents uncomfortable. We discuss these issues at home and I think the way the school presents ideas makes him a more educated student who will grow up to be a wise adult.The high school has an impressive track record of sending graduates to all the big-name colleges, and winning lots of scholarships. Because of the education he's receiving, we have full confidence that our son will be prepared to succeed in college, grad school and the working world. That's why we work our household budget to make Keystone a priority. It's a life-changing investment.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2022

Very solid academics overall although there are some teachers that aren't really as passionate as others. That's typical. Sports are surprisingly not that bad given the academic focus. Science and math classes are great overall although there are some crummy teachers. What bothers me the most as a parent is that the school is very left-leaning starting in middle school. I am a Democrat, by the way and have never voted for a Republican in my life. But the school seems to be at a crossroads. On the one hand, the students do still read some of the classics like Shakespeare. On the other hand, they also spend time reading poems written by "freedom fighters" that most Americans would call terrorists. I understand that the very idea of the "classics" changes over time, but I have found a progressive ideology that is a bit over the top and hostile towards conservative or even balanced viewpoints taking over in some (not all but some) English and history courses at Keystone. I don't know if this because of the administration or the teachers or both. In any case, I am aware of a number of families leaving not because of the academics but because of the culture of the school that they feel is no longer welcoming to less progressive children and families. The school should try to reign in a little the progressivism on campus, or at least the perceived progressivism. Otherwise, the brightest kids and their families might look elsewhere for an education. If Keystone can remain ideologically as centrist as possible, it has a good chance to remain the best school in the city.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2022

We were a Keystone family for over 5 years, ultimately leaving to enroll in a Christian private school to provide the culture of morals and ethics we felt were missing from Keystone. Keystone had excellent academics, friendly teachers, and, before covid, a multitude of academic and athletic extracurricular activities as well as yearly multiday field trips to fantastic destinations. Keystone is very liberal; it has turned even harder left. Students censoring conservative views in school chatrooms, administrators pushing social justice/critical race theory summer reading lists, and restrictive covid practices (curtailing many extracurricular activities and restricting students from school trips if they didn’t adhere to the draconian covid mandates) became too much for us. We even had another parent try to persuade our children to question their belief in God behind our backs.Our experience and frustration seems to mirror other conservative families (Christian and Jewish) at Keystone.3 stars only for the strong academics. If academics had been average would have given 1 star for the culture.Buildings old and subpar for the high tuition paid.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2017

I have seen my son blossom at Keystone. The culture is one of inclusion where being smart and creative thinking are encouraged and nurtured. There is a reason that Keystone is consistently ranked as one of the best private schools in the nation by multiple national publications. Do your research and please do not confuse this school with the Keystone Online School which is a completely separate entity. I think some of the reviews here may be for that school in error.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2017

I am a parent and have 2 children at Keystone. Hands down the best education in the city! There are experienced teachers, small classes, and amazing resources. The children are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems, communicate clearly, and understand/analyze the ever-changing world around them.
Submitted by other on March 19, 2014

I worked as a sub here, and my children expressed interest in attending. The school is for bright, moderately high achieving students. If your child is highly or profoundly gifted, this is not the school for them. The staff aren't not trained in gifted education, and the school simply accelerates one academic year. It is a niche, but for educators and parents who truly care about GT kids, this isn't the place for them. They throw around the term "best practices" but then don't have a clue about what that means for gifted children. But to be fair, they don't really market themselves as a school for gifted kids. They have classes in high school which are billed as humanities courses, but are merely PSAT/SAT prep classes. Not sure if the children are learning how to think critically or follow their passions, but they are learning how to take a high stakes test. The biggest positive it that students are not required to wear uniforms, which for some reason all of South Texas loves a uniform.
Submitted by other on August 13, 2013

Hi can anyone comment on the College scholarship potential gained from attending Keystone. I am a grandparent and wonder if continuing to invest in a Keystone education is the best best use of our contribution to the grandson's education because there is a pretty good chance that excelling at Keystone could mean a full scholarship to let's say a great school in Texas? The other option is to start pouring funds into the college fund because the likelihood of attaining a full or significant scholarship is slim to none if his family is middle/upper income. Hope to hear from some past graduates or their families.
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2013

I have to agree with an earlier post regarding the AP Biology class at Keystone. Our son was in this class last year and it was marked by total confussion by the students. There was no organization to the class and very little lecturing by the teacher. For the most part, the class turned out to be self taught. This is not something I would expect from a quality school like Keystone. This became evident after taking tha AP exam where my son did poorly. He did not feel that the material in class did much of anything to prepare him for the exam.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2013

I am a parent of two children who attend Keystone School. One of my children is in the Lower School and one has just completed her first year at The Little School of Keystone. This is the first year that Keystone has had a Pre-K program and we loved our experience! Keystone provides an amazing foundation for social, emotional and academic growth. The small class sizes provide a quality program where each child can feel comfortable in their learning environment. My children started Keystone without knowing anyone and they quickly made new friends. As a parent, I found the community to be very welcoming. I highly recommend Keystone School to anyone looking for an amazing educational experience for their child.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2013

Keystone School is a sanctuary for bright, inquisitive children who are eager to learn, but find school frustrating. At Keystone, they will find peers equally curious about the world around them. My son's love of learning was diminishing and, by the time he was in 5th grade at a local public school, we knew we had to make a change. Wow, what a difference. After moving to Keystone in the 6th grade, his natural curiosity and love of leaning was piqued. His teachers encouraged open, and often diverse, classroom discussions; his peers enjoyed learning about others' views; and the knowledge he gained about other cultures and religions has prepared him well for the world he is entering. My son recently graduated, with honors, from college and I believe the education and nurturing environment he found at Keystone School played an integral part in his college success.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2013

I know I speak for quite a few families when I say that Keystone is the sole reason we have stayed in San Antonio. This amazing school -- with its masterful faculty, intellectual culture, and nurturing community -- has been nothing short of a godsend for my two children. Students are celebrated and appreciated for their unique gifts and strengths. The level of critical thinking that is taught and therefore expected - even at the youngest ages - is just incredible. Keystone's teachers are most concerned with teaching kids how to think, how to evaluate information, how to solve problems, and how to express themselves effectively and creatively. It's not about regurgitation, and it's not about prepping for standardized tests (which Keystone kids routinely perform very highly on, but it's a natural byproduct of the wonderful teaching that takes place every day). Keystone's unique size (about 30 students per grade), shared values, and extraordinary faculty make for a meaningful developmental progression from K through 12, with a focus on not only academics, but also social/emotional growth, ethical leadership, and community involvement. Keystone is a very special place!
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2013

I am a parent of 3 kids at Keystone and totally happy about the school. My kids all entered during the middle school years and learned the skills of acquiring knowledge and organizing their study independently. They are well prepared at high school and are ready for colleges. The teachers are helpful, the fellow students are stimulating, and the the Head Master who started a couple of years ago is a strong leader. Keystone is not for everyone, especially not for the students from a weaker school in the middle of high school years. It would be way too hard for them. But for the right fit, it is an excellent choice. This year, 12.5% of the graduating students were accepted by ivy universities, 25% were National Merit Finalists. As a parent, I am so proud!
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2013

As the parent of a child at Keystone, you should be aware that the AP Biology course is a self-taught course at this school. You will receive little to no help from the teacher and material that you are tested on is not reviewed during the class period. The course material is very difficult, often medical school level material (not really a complaint) but you will have to learn the information on your own. In medical school, you will learn this material through lecture, but not at Keystone. Our daughter had to access online medical journals to find out the answer to many of these questions. Additionally, many of the questions were above the education of the teacher and were asked incorrectly. There should be a disclaimer on this class and any others that are self taught. Discussions with those at the school had no effect on how the class was taught.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2013

I am a grandparent with three grandchildren, in lower school. I am also a retired teacher, who has taught from pre-school through 12th grade. I am currently a college professor. My oldest grandchild attended three schools, before she found her niche at Keystone in second grade; she is now in 4th grade. My second grandchild started in Kindergarten and gleefully attends school every morning with the anticipation of learning something new. The youngest, my grandson, displays much energy that needed to be molded in the right directions. He started in kindergarten at Keystone, with a label of best behaved in pre-school. I disagreed with this evaluation and so did the teachers at Keystone. Within six weeks, Keystone faculty, with parental help, had shaped-up my grandson, to be a real leader and scholar. In first grade, he has learned to respect adults and to respectfully play with his peers. The Keystone School is quaint in setting and gives students responsibility with individual attention to help them to develop their personal skills and talents.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2013

I would not recommend you sending your child here unless the only aspect of education that you care about is the grades themselves.
Submitted by other on July 10, 2012

I am currently a senior at Keystone. I left public school halfway through my senior year to attend Keystone. I am very unhappy with it overall. They are very disorganized, very unhelpful, and it's taking me way too long because the course load is too much to handle. However, Keystone's excuse for the unbearable course load is that I am an underachiever and that I need to challenge myself. This is not the case at all. I was in all AP college level classes for two years before joining this program. I have felt like I am being judged by the teacher's and by the other students. I usually have A's and now I'm dropping down. An English test I was required to take made me feel the worst about myself. I answered one of the essay questions correctly and in full length. The teacher however stated, "Before continuing with this class, please make sure you understand what a well-developed paragraph is, as well as an essay." I am a senior in high school with very high academic achievements. I am not a first grader learning what a paragraph is. Obviously, I am perfectly capable of writing a well constructed paragraph. Also, the operators are very unhelpful. I just do not recommend this school.