St Benedicts Episcopal School

2160 Cooper Lake Road Southeast

Smyrna, GA 30080

62 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 18, 2025

I would highly recommend St. B's to anyone looking for an excellent school experience for their child! I am glad that we picked St. B's and would change a thing about the school
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2025

St. Benedict's has been great for our son. We are proud to be apart of the community and see our son thrive.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2025

I am thrilled to share our experience at St. Benedicts Episcopal School, where my daughter Lucy has truly blossomed. From the moment she stepped through the doors, she has embraced everything the school offers with enthusiasm and joy. Lucy absolutely loves her friends and has formed a wonderful circle of companions who share her interests. Together, they enjoy engaging in various activities, including track and cross country, which she looks forward to every season. These sports not only keep her active but also teach her valuable lessons about teamwork and perseverance.One of the most delightful surprises has been Lucy's journey with the flute. While her early attempts at playing were quite a challenge, her dedication has paid off, and she now produces beautiful melodies that fill our home with joy. It's been amazing to watch her grow in confidence and skill through music.Moreover, Lucy has developed a passion for building with Legos, and she’s found great friends who share this hobby. It's heartwarming to see them collaborate on imaginative projects, fostering creativity and friendship.The school also encourages students to mentor those in lower grades, and this experience has profoundly impacted Lucy. It has instilled in her a sense of responsibility and taught her the importance of kindness and support. Watching her guide and inspire younger students has been a rewarding experience for our whole family.Overall, St. Benedict has been an incredible environment for Lucy, fostering her love for learning, friendship, and personal growth. We couldn't be happier with her experience and look forward to all the wonderful moments still to come!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

We’ve been at st b’s from k-8th grade. We were drawn to the small community school feel and open and thoughtful environment. We’ve been thrilled with our experience. The administration is responsive, the teachers are engaging, and the community is special.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

My daughter is an 8th grader this year and I am so sad to see our time here end - we’ve been here since K. We have made lifelong friendships with parents and my daughter will always have her friendships here to fall back on when they go their separate ways for high school. It is the sweetest school in Smyrna … honestly the middle school years can be tough, but the faculty and staff have such a supportive and watchful eye on all of the kids … they don’t miss a trick and they are terrific at communicating back with the parents. The small school environment creates unity and inclusion; you can’t get away with not working well with others …so these kids learn how to connect with each other whether they are alike or different. I would choose St Benedict’s over and over again for my child.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

I have 2 children that have been attending St. Benedict's since 3rd grade and are now about to graduate 8th grade. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I am shocked to see some of the negative reviews on this site. Our experience has been very positive from the beginning all the way to the present. Halfway through our first year, Covid happened. While all kids worked remotely to finish up that spring semester, we were back in school (optional in person or remote) by fall. St. B's was EXCEPTIONAL at handling the pandemic and as a result, I believe my kids stayed right on track with their education (while kids at other schools sadly fell behind). One of our children has dyslexia and because of the learning resource specialists & tutors that have worked with him at St. B's, he now excels academically. St. B's teachers/administrators/chaplains work hard to cultivate relationships with and support the students/families. As a result, St. B's fosters a strong sense of community. I've found that the middle school years were actually some of my kids' BEST years, as they were involved in multiple MS sports teams, Beta Club, STEAM, band, robotics & the sacristan program. As we close out our 8th grade year, we couldn't be more thankful to St. B's for providing our kids with a safe, positive learning environment. My kids were accepted into all of the high schools they applied for and their time at St. B's definitely made that possible.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

My two kids are thriving! We love St. Benedict's for the smaller class size, the steam and spanish curriculums and the staff. We couldn't be happier and feel we will be hard pressed to find another school, after 8th, with the same community and intimacy that this school offers. The sports program continues to grow, one child has recently joined band and Beta Club and the other is part of the National Junior art honor society and yearbook. They have loved trying their hand at all the things!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2025

I have 3 children who have attended (and still attend) St. Benedict's. As parents, we partner with the school to help our children be successful. Our children are intelligent, kind, understanding, and academically competitive with peers. The school has provided great opportunities for my children to grow and learn and I truly believe it has given them an amazing childhood and education. Often, parents don't understand the end goal of our children learning to be well-rounded individuals who grow into contributing citizens to our World. The school does just that. While the facilities are a work in progress (fundraising is currently happening) the education is well worth the investment. Any parent looking to partner with a school with their child(ren)'s best interest at heart this is the place you're looking for.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2025

Our experience at St. Benedict’s was ultimately disappointing. While we initially had a positive experience, it became clear as our children grew older that the school struggles to meet the social and emotional needs of middle school-aged students. Many of the middle school teachers appeared unable to maintain control in their classrooms and did not seem to fully understand the developmental stage of their students. They often jumped to the worst possible conclusions in various situations, rather than seeking to understand the nuances of each circumstance. Additionally, while tuition rates increase each year, the school’s facilities do not justify these rising costs, especially with the significant increases expected in the coming years due to rising lease expenses.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2024

We are relatively new to the school, but decided to enroll our son here for 6th grade because of the small and nurturing environment. When touring the school, this seemed to be the atmosphere that was created. However, this has not been our experience. The teachers and administration are unkind and punitive. They do not listen to the kids when issues arise, they are quick to make judgements and hand down punishments for relatively minor offenses. We will not be returning next year and I would not recommend this school to anyone. They do not have a handle on middle school students and really should not be entrusted with any children.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2024

The school provides a safe and nurturing, small school, environment that is perfect for a child to grow as a child without any other outside pressures. Due to the smaller size, the teachers, parents, and even many staff know the students year after year. It's warm and inviting. Chapels are a sweet way to share this experience with your child as parents are welcome to attend. I find the school very supportive for the child and for the parent. Sure there may be a situation in which you may feel a need to escalate to administration but I have always felt heard and that there was work to find resolutions. I would highly recommend this school for the size, location, and price along with the extremely secure environment of knowing the child is cared for and taught in a nurturing environment.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2024

This used to be a special little school, but it has really changed for the worse in recent years. They keep promising a new middle school building but the timeline keeps adjusting further out. My child has been at this school since pre-school and the evolution of the teachers and administrators is not what I would like to see. At the middle school level, they have been exposed to some questionable practices and many of the teachers do not seem to have control over their classrooms. The administrators seem to come down on the wrong side of each and every issue and I fear that unless the Board cleans house, this school will continue to falter.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2024

Disgruntled Parent right here. I would like to give more context to what one of the reviews below is stating when they reference parents throwing a 'temper tantrum' because they disagree with a hire. We still have a child at the school and will not be returning for the next school year. And yes, we are frustrated. The general direction the school is going in is alarming. The fact that they now have someone in a DEI role is not the problem (at least for us). There are many issues within the school, but high level for the purposes of this review, the education received at St. B's is not aligned with the cost of tuition. They do not offer any facilities beyond the 4 walls of a school, no sense of community with the parents/students/teachers and the administration is generally unwilling to listen to parent feedback. Regarding the recent DEI hire, many parents expressed concerns over this but they are truly more concerned over what their children will be exposed to rather than over the actual position. Diversity has always been something the school has prided itself upon, so to expand upon that is not shocking. The administration is unwilling to listen to parent concerns and dismisses them as intolerant. I think the fact that there are so many bad parent reviews from a short period of time is quite telling and I would absolutely consider these before enrolling my child.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2024

This is a wonderful, loving school environment that we have found academically challenging and ideal for our 2 kids to thrive in. We have enjoyed both the elementary and middle school equally and believe that our kids will be thoroughly ready when they enter high school. Do not let the handful of disgruntled parents from Aug/sept 2024 reviews distract you- these are parents throwing a temper tantrum about the school’s hiring of a Director of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, which further supports the school’s mission to support ALL children. Most local private and independent schools have someone in this type of roll and it’s wonderful that St Benedict’s does now too. If you’re looking for a warm and academically rigorous school environment that cares about all children and families then look no further.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2024

I would give this place negative stars if that was allowed. They consistently raise tuition rates each year and do not deliver comparable value. They have small classrooms and absolutely minimal facilities. The kids do not even eat lunch in a lunchroom! We are still here, but it has recently become obvious that they are more concerned with pushing their political agenda than they are with educating students. The administrators do not take feedback from parents on the direction of the school (many parents are very unhappy lately) and only seem concerned with what they view is the right direction. I would seriously urge anyone considering sending their children to St. Benedict's not to do so.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2024

Our experience at St. Benedict’s was quite disappointing. Initially, the school seems promising in the lower grades, but as students advance, many end up transferring elsewhere. Class sizes shrink, and it becomes evident that the teachers struggle with middle school students. Meanwhile, the administrators appear to be more focused on superficial policies rather than addressing the educational and emotional needs of the middle schoolers.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2024

St. Benedict's has been a wonderful place for my two kids and for my entire family. This community school is a really special place. The school offers small class sizes and students are known by faculty and staff across the school. The teachers are incredibly experienced and there are two actual teachers in the classrooms during the early years. A lot of parents work so the school has an excellent afterschool care and summer program. The parents' association puts on a lot of fun activities so that everyone can get to know one another.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2024

I have an 8th grader and 5th grader and St. B’s has been a wonderful school. The teachers, staff and admin are amazing. They are encouraging, caring, supportive, and friendly. My kids are not numbers—every faculty at the middle school knows who they are and truly cares about their well being. I love the student to teacher ratio because this has really given my kids a chance to find their voice and develop confidence. We couldn’t be happier at this sweet school!
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2024

We still go to the school. My kids love their teachers and friends. We are currently in the lower school. I have a few thoughts on areas of improvement and concerns resulting in the three star rating.There is no cafeteria which may not seem like a big deal but there used to be. This was before covid and before covid was handled abhorrently. My children have never experienced lunch outside the classroom. There are concerns as to the direction our money is going. Programs have been cut and curious hires have been made. It seems like the administration listens to a few parents but certainly not the whole.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2024

Our family learned about St. Benedict's through word of mouth and signage in the nearby Atlanta neighborhoods. St. B's centers on childhood and play, learning by doing, and the beautiful values of the Episcopal tradition. Since our child began at St. B's, he has felt connected to his teachers and classmates and is seen as a capable, young Black boy. The teachers are very skilled and have excellent communication with parents. The information is specific while giving you an understanding of child development. My child feels included and safe at St. B's and knows he can "talk it out" and "wash it away" when an appropriate peer conflict in the classroom needs SEL support and resolution. St.'s B is remarkably diverse, racially and ethnically, regarding learning needs, economics, and family makeup and perspective. This year, as his parents, we want to make sure we get involved whenever we can to help the school grow and bring more families to be part of this special place.