Marianapolis Prep School

PO BOX 304

Thompson, CT 06277

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 19, 2023

My family’s experience with this school was very disappointing, they seem great at the onset but we found the teachers did not follow through with commitments made by the administrators and they were very rigid with students who don’t fit the traditional mold. This made learning difficult for my child to where they were not successful. We were also appalled that our child was forced to share a bed with another student on a school trip. We were not told of the sleeping arrangements ahead of time and did not agree allow this. I would also suggest families be aware of the language in the contract that you are expected to sign in February, after having received only one of three progress reports. There are many restrictions in the contract and no exceptions made.
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2019

Marianapolis is tragically average and mediocre at best ... more of a catholic high school versus the 'prep' school it markets itself as. Our biggest issue is the long school day ... an average day is 12 hours with extreme student isolation.It is important to note that Marianapolis has the same issues as public schools - cliques, bullying and drinking/drugs - the only difference is that at a public school the environment isn't as small and secluded and the days aren't as long so it's easier for the student escape situations that are uncomfortable. This experience has been very disappointing.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2019

I have had 2 children attend Marianapolis and the experience is second to none. I praise every single aspect of the school and both children have thrived. They challenge and bring a student to a level one would never think of. LOVE LOVE LOVE this school
Submitted by parent on December 30, 2014

Marianapolis is a wonderful school and my son has grown academically, athletically and socially because of the dedicated faculty and staff. As we get ready to send him to college we are confident that he is well-prepared for any challenge that he may face. Thank you MPrep!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2014

My two children are several years apart and both have attended Marianapolis. I was thrilled with the school and it's administration when my oldest child graduated from there in 2011. At the time I really believed that Marianapolis was on the edge of greatness. Sadly, this is no longer my opinion. As my youngest child begins their journey at "MPrep" my family has returned to a school that seems to value revenue more than relationships. This focus on driving enrollment and raising tuition costs has in my opinion taken away from the quality of the education.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2014

My children have been with this school since 2009. My two sons graduated in 2013 and my daughter is currently a sophomore. There are not enough words to praise the education I feel they have received here. The educational staff are intensely supportive. They truly work with the child in every aspect of the learning experience. Upon graduation they are fully and overly prepared for college. The student body are very supportive of each other and the residents are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the community. There is a host program that incorporates day students and foreign students interaction. The school is smaller which benefits the students with classroom participation as well as teacher instruction. There are many occasions for parents to interact with the school through activities such as being a host family and the Mothers of Marianapolis group as well as homecoming weekend and parent teacher conferences. If I had to choose a school all over again, my choice would still be Marianapolis for it's expert instruction and family atmosphere. My children were very supported and their education was second to none.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2014

Marianapolis has been the best possible school for both of my children - very different children. If you're looking for an academically challenging environment with teachers and administrators that truly care about the students, MPS could be the school for your child as well. My daughter is now a junior at Georgetown, and she's told us that she found herself very well-prepared for college by MPS. Her experience serving as an MPS Writing Center tutor even helped land her a great job coaching others on their writing skills. My son recently approached teachers with ideas for leadership positions in the music department. He was received with enthusiasm, and the ideas were implemented just a few weeks later. He is a senior, and we are so excited at the response he receives from the admissions counselors at the colleges he's considering. They know the school and its reputation for delivering prepared, diligent and well-rounded students. Even though the school is smaller than many, we've always found the academic and extra curricular opportunities to be great. This is our eighth student year at MPS, and we couldn't be happier with our decision to send our children to this school.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2014

The school cares about the students and takes an interest in their success. The advisor"role is not as advertised, most " are very young recent college grads. These instructors are not versed in education and simply are not the level of professional you expected for the amount of money charged for tuition. The lack of experience of the instructors is not advertised by the school. American students living in the dorm are isolated because they are often the only American on their hall. International students, while very nice, tend to stick together and speak their native language. Students in the dorms only get 8 hours of sleep which isn't enough for a teenager, as documented in many studies. The workload is substantial but the teachers, while lacking in experience in most cases, are very willing to help and will make themselves available to students. The administration is also willing to help students succeed and will go the extra mile. However, during the sales pitch, facts are distorted and the sale is the most important thing. They will tell you what you want to hear. They want Americans in the dorms, don't pay the outrageous boarding fees - they'll provide a scholarship.
Submitted by student on September 06, 2014

I am currently attending Marianapolis, and I love it here. I'm challenged by the work the teachers give me, but the school always has opportunities for extra help with a built-in free period, and office hours in between the academic day and sports. Everyone is very friendly, and the teachers are all very patient and help with any questions I ask. I think that I will be very prepared for college both socially and academically, as MPS is a diverse school that allows us to make friends from all over the world. I'm already friends with two kids from China, and I plan on making many more friends this year! Coming into this school I thought that it would be a struggle, but the upperclassmen and the teachers all help you with where you need to go and give you lots of advice. There's no hazing from the upperclassmen to the younger students, and everyone is really supportive. Not to mention the food at the Dining Hall, where you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is spectacular. My parents can get a few more hours of work in per day if I stay for dinner after sports with my friends! The community aspect is amazing, all faiths are accepted and encouraged. I recommend this school 100%!
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2014

Marianapolis Prep is a true gem. The leadership is strong, respected, and focused with a true vision for the community and infrastructure that will keep MPrep competitive and growing to fit the needs of each and every student. The faculty is truly amazing. They are passionate about teaching and helping the student reach their personal best. Every student feels important and appreciated. The academics are rigorous and challenging. There is a wide variety of honors and AP classes to prepare your child for college. There is plenty of support from faculty office hours before and after school, math and science labs led by more gifted students and a unique student advisory program. Your child will be prepared to compete in this high tech world with school issued iPads and seamless communication through parents and student portal. There is virtual classroom options for snow days and summer school. There are a few decisions that determine the success of the rest of our lives and the place where your child will be educated and influenced during their teenage years is at the top. You won't regret choosing Marianapolis for its strength of leadership, faculty, diversity and academic rigor.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2014

The school is led by a headmaster who is infectious with his enthusiasm and is passionate about the MPS experience and the success of your student. The school/programming offers academic rigor, a wide variety of athletic competition as well as complimentary performing and visual arts programs. The MPS community fosters an environment of personable responsibility; and will ensure productive, well rounded, well prepared for college, students are a bi-product. We appreciate the cultural diversity of the community as diversity of the student body is integral to preparing our kids for living and working in a connected, global society. Our children have many friends from neighboring towns and U.S. states, as well as from Mexico, Japan, Spain and China. These are connections and friendships that will last a lifetime. The tuition has increased, however one can see investments are being made in the campus buildings and in technology. Over time, these investments, I m sure will become more visible. Overall, we feel its a great investment for our children.
Submitted by student on September 01, 2014

Marianapolis is like no other. My brother and I are both graduates and moved on to very competitive colleges. We see others in our classes struggle with the content, with time management, and with accountability. The teachers and administration at Marianapolis believe in teaching content as well as skill. Neither of us struggle in these areas. We were taught by caring, highly qualified teachers. We faced the typical teenage struggles with adults who could spend the time outside the classroom. At this boarding school you will find people who teach outside the walls of the classroom. Friends made are life-long friends. Skills learned are life-long skills.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2014

I think very highly of this school. My son struggled academically and every person he came in contact with, helped him tremendously. To this day, his teachers and advisor keep in contact with him. He could have felt horrible about himself but instead he became more confident and independent. He appreciated the fact that everyone has their strengths and struggles. He is a patient, kind, young man and I owe that to the administration and teachers who live the mission of this school in all they do.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2014

I can't believe how fortunate we are to be able to send our daughter to a school like Marianapolis. From the moment she applied to the school it has been a very positive experience. The staff guides you through everything from application to acceptance (if lucky enough to get accepted) and straight thru though school year. You get the sense the staff truly cares about the children, not just numbers. The staff seems to also recognize the work load and changes the childreen are going through and offer supoort along the way. It's as though the staff and children are all part of a "team", upper classmen, lower classmen, international students and staff all working together. Our daughter, unsolicited, recently thanked us out of the blue for sending her to Marianapolis. Teenagers typically like to sleep in...our daughter is up and out of bed the instant the alarm goes off because she literally cant wait to get to the campus. I wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't see it first hand. The academics can be challanging but it prepares them well for college and teaches time management. We searched long and hard to find a high school. We found the perfet one in Marianapolis.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2014

Overall, my child's experience at this school was not what we imagined it to be. The academics were not as challenging as they made it out to be. My child suffered from having no genuine friends because of all of the cliques. If you want my opinion, save your money and go to a better school!
Submitted by teacher on July 23, 2014

I have been a part of this community for three years and I've never seen a group of people care more about each other and the students we serve.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2012

I've had 3 of my children attend Marianapolis. The school is tremendous. The faculty care about the students. They have very small classes and the children need to work to succeed. My oldest girl graduated from Marianapolis and she was accepted to all six colleges she applied to. She was extremely well prepared. Her first year of college is basically a repeat of her senior year at Marianapolis. There are a few reasons why you will not find another school like Marianapolis: 1) Their foundation is faith. They are open to all faiths, but the students leave with an amazing ethic and respect for others. 2) The diversity of the student body. Students attend from all over the world. This diversity prepares the students for an international work force. My daughter has friends from Africa, China, Mexico, and Afghanistan. 3) The small school and small classrooms allow all of the students to know one another. The faculty know all the students. Everyone gets along. 4) They have a zero tolerance policy with drugs and unethical behaviour like stealing or cheating. Be warned, they will make the students work.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2012

The education, I agree is very well-rounded, however my child found it to not be nearly as challenging as they made it out to be. The new administration is making many changes and are spending money on ipads for each member of the community, rather then improving the essentials (such as the lockers which are limited and small, or the cafeteria which is so crammed full with the students they have now) and are adding new sports, rather than improving the athletic programs they currently have. I believe they have lost sight of their quality education in their attempts to make the school well-known. It has definitely lost some quality from the changes put in place by the new administration. Not to mention the tuition is pricey and growing.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2012

My children presently attend Marianapolis. It is a fantastic school. I agree with many of the reviews that the headmistress played favorites and she was not open to constructive criticism. However, she is gone and the new administration is great. Yes, there are many new, young teachers, but most of them are extremely good and make themselves available to the students whenever needed. The staff truly cares about making the students be the best they can be. The opportunities for growth are endless. As for the day & boarding students mixing, it has been improving over the years and they work very hard at creating activities to help both groups connect. My children have many international friends and mix nicely with the boarding students. I would HIGHLY recommend this school. Your son/daughter will truly be prepared for college when he/she graduates.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2011

A great school, with solid values ... the culture is down to earth and exhibits a quiet diligence. Beautiful grounds. Some changes happening: new administrators coming in to take the school into the future.