St Bernadette School

80 University Boulevard East

Silver Spring, MD 20901

50 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 19, 2020

Our son is easily influenced by peers and is very sensitive. We were worried about him entering kindergarten. Our worries were needless. The school is so nurturing, the classroom is a loving, supportive, warm and caring space. His kindergarten teacher Mrs. O'Connell is absolutely amazing in every respect. He was worried about his first day at kindergarten, like most kids. But was bouncing up and down with excitement after his first day.We started during the 2020 school year so in person class attendance was unlike anything that the administration or teachers could have ever planned for, professionally, personally, or fiscally. The Principle has done a phenomenal job threading the needle enforcing maximum safety practices and avoiding a revolt. It has been amazing to observe the wonderful job that he and the teachers have done to maintain a safe environment.Just as importantly, I love that the school really nurtures an environment of community and teaches the importance of serving the poor.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2020

Our family has been a part of the St. Bernadette School community since 2005. We have three St. B's graduates and one current student. We have always felt blessed to have our kids in a school with such a welcoming, supportive, and loving environment. Its traditional combination of Catholic Christian spirituality, a top-notch curriculum, and many extra-curricular activities make this a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2020

We love this school. The teachers are very good and the curriculum is very good; when our kids went to public school they were taught some questionable politically correct stuff like Christopher Columbus was completely bad but somehow Genghis Khan was good but there's none of that nonsense at St. B's. If you want to send your children to a school that values diverse opinions, while also being respectful of different ideas and cultures, then this is a great place to send your children. When a problem does arise the school addresses is straight away and they use a variety of methods such as visits to different museums (the Holocaust Museum and the African American Museum) to teach the children about respect for each other and respecting each others differences. Also, the children learn a lot and get plenty of homework to reinforce what they've learned in class. We also sent our son to St. B's for a couple of years when we pulled our son out of our public Middle School which was awful - my son also enjoyed his time at St. B's and learned a lot.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2020

We love the learning environment this school provides our son. Very supportive community and teachers and staff that listen. Our son has made very good friends at this school.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2020

Great school with awesome staff and fantastic teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2018

Our child attended SBS for several years before our family moved. Our general experience was very positive. One of the best parts about the school is the extensive school community involvement. Although their is an expectation of volunteerism for school activities, it equates to parent and school community involvement. Our family gained many lasting friendships with other families. Other aspects we took advantage of as working parents were the aftercare and summer camps programs. The many after school sports from K on up is also a positive that benefited our child greatly. SBS is a Catholic school, yet the administration is very tolerant of all backgrounds. Expectations for learning were high and the teachers were very hands-on to ensure our child was fully engaged and learning. We have recommended SBS to other acquaintances considering a private school.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2017

My child transferred to Saint Bernadette's last year and has had a wonderful experience. The faculty and staff are professional, compassionate and innovative with their teaching methods. The academic curriculum is progressive and geared towards developing life longer leaners. The school culture promotes inclusiveness and respect. The school has a very strong sense of community and there are numerous opportunities to get involved. Our only criticism is we wish there were more after school clubs ( art, drama, science, creative writing, et.) for the students. If you are considering other options for your children, call and arrange for a visit. You will be very impressed. We wish we had made the switch several years ago.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2017

St. Bernadette is a strong school in all areas - academics, faith formation, character development and extracurricular options. Faculty and staff work hard to make sure every student succeeds. Community events abound - sports teams, bingo nights, International Fair, school musical, etc. - which promotes unity and camaraderie among both parents and students. St. B's is not the closest Catholic school to our home, but it was the clear choice for us once we took a tour!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2017

Saint Bernadette is a school dedicated to academic excellence and social emotional growth and development in a Christ-centered environment. The school has begun innovative programs to help support student emotional growth and academic achievement, such as the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop, Responsive Classroom, Greater Love, and the House System. Teachers work closely with families to support students based on their individual needs. They are dedicated, innovative, and helpful. Technology is utilized in a balanced and deliberate way, helping aid students both in and out of the classroom The parent community is active, engaged, and welcoming. I highly recommend St. B's to any prospective family!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2017

Best option for K-8 in the area. Strong and welcoming community.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2017

I have three children who attended K-8 at St. Bernadette. They were successful academically and benefited from the attention of a dedicated faculty. My children felt safe at all times and made many friends. The school building always seemed cheerful and brimming with activity. My children enjoyed the outdoor play space, the library, computer lab, and art room. There were so many conveniences at St. B's including a hot lunch program and after school activities such as Choir, Scouts and CYO sports. There were many ways to get involved and meet other families. We live in the North Hills neighborhood and enjoyed a short commute to school and many neighborhood carpool arrangements over the years.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2017

All three of my children attended St. Bs. Each child participated in a variety of programs that met their interests. My son was a member of the band program and excelled in music. My daughters were both very strong in math and participated in the Mathlete competitions.We are residents of the Sligo-Branview neighborhood but through St Bernadette my children became friends with kids who live in Indian Spring, Woodmoor, Burtonsville, and other neighborhoods. These friendships have carried on into high school and college. Our children were all accepted into the high school of their first choice and were very successful there. We feel the academic foundation they received at St Bernadette prepared them well for high school and college.
Submitted by student on February 10, 2017

At this school, many of the teachers are just awful teachers. Although a few teachers are good, most of them do not teach at all. For example, in one class, the majority of the time the teacher is on their phone, showing us funny internet videos, or showing us a movie on Netflix. Another teacher sits in the back of the classroom for the first 10 minutes of class, then starts yelling at us, then tells us to do work without giving us a lesson. Another teacher is annoyed by the littlest things and gets mad whenever one person does anything. Another teacher actually teaches us stuff, but is plain rude. There are two other teachers that I can think of that are great teachers. The only reason why I am giving two stars instead of one is because the students in my grade were really funny, and we did not care when the bad teachers got mad; we just fooled around anyway. My experience was "bad" because most of the teachers were terrible, but the experience wasn't "terrible" because my class was so defiant.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2016

The attention given to my 4 children with different educational abilities and needs have been addressed and the results have been great. The school is truly a family community resulting in a fun, safe and caring environment. The school provides an academically challenging learning experience addressing all levels of the students abilities in a strong faith based environment.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2016

Saint Bernadette is a loving community with dedicated teachers and strong academics. My child feels happy to go to school, cared for by his teachers, and part of a strong community oriented educational environment. Greater Love is an excellent addition to teach the value of service to the whole school.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2015

I disagree with the postings on June 12th. The discipline code is consistent and fair with high expectations and the teachers are evaluated and respond or are no longer in the school. Disgruntled parents will try to negate the good in schools.
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2015

Our family pulled our child out of this school after we reported and tried to work through a multitude of issues surrounding a faculty member who ran the classroom in a stern and negative way that made the children scared and uncomfortable--hardly the optimal learning environment. Our child did not feel safe in the classroom and administration did nothing but deny, avoid and deflect the issues we presented. Administration has not proven to be receptive in general to parent feedback--their attitude is my way or highway. There are some truly wonderful, dedicated teachers at this school, but if you get one who doesn't fit the bill, you're out of luck. The cheerful comments listed below about the school are the result of a push by administration to bury the negative comments on this site and raise the overall GS rating, so read them with a grain of salt. My children are now at another local school where they are thriving. Make sure you read all of the comments--including the ones far down on the list so that you are able make an educated decision about this school.
Submitted by principal on February 04, 2015

Thank you for showing interest in St. Bernadette School in Silver Spring, Md. We are a vibrant, safe, Catholic community that is changing and growing. Our test scores reflect the academic rigor delivered by our state certified teachers. In the Fall of 2014, 71% of our students scored above average in Mathematics and 81% of our students scored above average in Reading. Over the last five years, our 8th grade students have a 98% acceptance rate and received an average of $200,000 in four-year scholarships to area private and Catholic High Schools. Come by for a private tour at any time. We have open enrollment for many grades at this time. We look forward to meeting you!
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2015

Our fourth-grade son has spent his entire elementary school career at St B's. We have been thrilled with the quality of the education he receives, the dedication of the faculty, the accessibility of the administrators and the great fun we have at school community events. Our feeling is that we have chosen well -- he will be ready to continue to excel when he reaches high school.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2014

I moved my child from MCPS to St. Bernadette for middle school. It was the best decision I ever made! He is thriving in this environment where his classmates want to learn. He only regret is that we did not move him sooner. He is involved in band, choir, and the drama program. He loves the spirit-centered environment. He has been welcomed by the students and has made new friends. There is something for every child at Saint Bernadette!