St. Anthony Catholic School

3400 12th Street Northeast

Washington, DC 20017

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 04, 2025

I’ve had my fair share of experiences with unfair teachers, and it’s always left me feeling frustrated and disheartened. When a teacher plays favorites or treats certain students better than others, it creates an environment where it’s hard to feel motivated or valued. I’ve seen classmates get away with things that would have earned me a harsh punishment, or I’ve watched others get better grades for no apparent reason. It feels like no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough to meet their expectations. It’s hard not to start doubting myself when it seems like the effort I put in doesn’t matter as much as whether I’m on their good side. The lack of fairness doesn’t just affect my grades; it affects my whole outlook on school, making me question whether any of my hard work will truly be recognized.
Submitted by teacher on March 04, 2025

Poor communication between administration and parents/students.Inefficient scheduling or class changes causing disruptions.Unresponsive to student concerns or feedback.Lack of transparency regarding school policies and procedures.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2025

St. Anthony is not the school for your kid.
Submitted by student on November 21, 2024

While many schools strive to provide the best possible education, St. Anthony’s is one that has faced criticism for a variety of reasons. From the lack of proper resources to challenges within the school culture, St. Anthony's has areas in which improvement is needed to ensure a better learning environment for its students. One of the most glaring issues with St. Anthony's is its limited resources. The school often operates with outdated textbooks and insufficient access to new technology, which are crucial to prepare students for the modern world. Many students and parents have expressed concern that the lack of modern educational tools hinders the learning experience. In a world where digital literacy is a necessity, St. Anthony’s needs to invest more in technology and provide students with tools that align with current educational standards. The administrative system at St. Anthony's has been a point of frustration for both students and teachers. Communication within the school can be slow and inefficient, with important decisions often made without adequate input from teachers or students. The lack of transparency in decision-making can create a sense of disconnect between the administration and the school community. Parents, in particular, have voiced concerns about the difficulty of navigating the school's bureaucratic systems, making it harder to address issues in a timely manner. Another significant issue at St. Anthony's is the school’s culture. Several students have reported instances of bullying that were not adequately addressed by the staff. The school's response to bullying often feels insufficient, which has led to an environment where students feel unsafe or unsupported. Bullying, if left unchecked, can have long-term effects on students' mental and emotional well-being, and it’s imperative that the school implements stricter policies and training to create a more inclusive and supportive environment. St. Anthony’s places a heavy emphasis on strict discipline, which sometimes takes priority over actual education. While a structured environment is important, the excessive focus on rules and punishment can stifle creativity and individuality. Students are often more focused on avoiding punishment than on engaging in their studies. This environment can breed resentment and undermine the school’s ability to inspire students to take ownership of their learning. Horrible, absolutely horrible.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2021

My son has spent two years as a middle school student at STA, and we couldn't be happier with the school. I think it's one of the best kept secrets in the city. At STA your child will receive a rigorous, classic education from caring teachers who want to see your child succeed. I would recommend this school to anyone.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2019

St. Anthony’s is a wonderful place, with caring, engaged, and experienced faculty and staff. The maturity and poise of the older students is wonderful and I love how the older students help with the younger students. It has a real feeling of community that I think is unique to this school. We feel very fortunate that our son can attend.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2018

My daughter is in her second year at St. Anthony DC and my wife and I love this school. It is small in size and in our second year, we as parents are very social. My daughter comes home with knowledge of things that surpass that of someone in Kindergarten. My wife loves the quick response from the teachers through emails. As a father I love that they teach the kids to live. It was really nice one day, after a series of bad weather. They took the kids out to the playground to celebrate. I could go one about their excellent field trips as well, but don't want to be long winded.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2017

My son is in Kindergarten at St. Anthony's. He began at this school last year in Pre-K4. I can't begin to say enough great things about the staff and community. I feel like I gained a new family, and my son has created friendships that I know will last a lifetime. The teachers and administration are welcoming, caring, down to earth people. I am so fortunate to have found this school and would recommend it to anyone!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2017

My daughter has been a student at STA since 3rd grade, she is now an (soon to be graduating) 8th grader. I have to say I'm getting a bit teary eyed these days because very soon she will leave this nest of comfort and support - an environment that has consistently nurtured her desire to always do her best, to encourage her to participate in the variety of extracurricular activities STA offers, to step up to take on leadership and service opportunities whenever possible. For those who want a safe, warm and friendly neighborhood-community family school - St. Anthony is it!! For those who want rigorous academics for your children - St. Anthony is it!! For those who want vocal and instrumental music, art, sports, debate, handwriting, STEM, Spanish, field trip experiences for your children - St. Anthony is it!! For those that want quality education in your Brookland neighborhood - with no commute and no public or charter school bureaucracy - St. Anthony is it!! STA gets better and better everyday and should definitely be considered by all parents who want to provide their children with a solid academic foundation!!
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2017

Our family has one child in PK-3 and a second in PK-4 so we can speak to the pre-KG stage. St. Anthony Catholic School has been a wonderful milieu for our children. They are always happy and smiling when we pick them up in the afternoon so we take that as a good sign! The academics are in line with what you would expect for a quality pre-KG program, and we appreciate the diversity of education: Spanish, art almost every day, learning songs, sports, field trips and the Christmas concert. But mostly, the school’s clear focus is to mold good people – by this I mean teaching children discipline, the value of hard work, how to be kind to one another, to know that God loves you. This formation in a sense is far more important than the academics at this stage in little children’s lives. As a Catholic family, we are trying to raise our children in the faith, and St. Anthony helps supplement and deepen this instruction of the Gospel message at school. So we are happy to be at St. Anthony.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2017

We have two children at St. Anthony Catholic School and our third child will start next year! We are very happy with the special environment we have witnessed first hand. The teachers are caring and nurturing; solid values are taught and reinforced; service is a key emphasis to help students learn to live for others; faith formation is a daily focus with regular prayer moments as a school (eg. weekly mass, prayer services, etc); the administrators are providing great leadership, "in tune" with the day-to-day school activities and are always interacting with parents; there is a very vibrant parent engagement which brings life to the school. I guess the thing we appreciate most is that the school is focused on the total, holistic development of the child in all dimensions - spiritual, academic, social and emotional intelligence - and there is "family" feel to the whole school. We highly recommend the school!
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2016

I couldn't say enough wonderful things about this school, the staff, families, and the wonderful sense of community. My son's pre-k 4 teacher was amazing. I couldn't believe how much he learned and shared with me each day. I am beyond happy with what he accomplished during the year and I know he is more than prepared for kindergarten. Mr. Thomasian is an excellent leader. He's very present at the school and absolutely wonderful with the St. Anthony families. I am so happy with the education my son is receiving here. I highly recommend St. Anthony's and would encourage any family to send their children here!
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2016

My daughter has been at St. Anthony Catholic School since Kindergarten and know she is headed to 5th grade! Our experience thus far has been good. We love the high quality curriculum, teachers and school leaders....The principal has an open door policy whenever I have had a concern he has always given me his undivided attention he is also willing to work with the parents on new ideas that will help the school! I can definitely say my daughter has and is growing into a wonderful young lady the 5 years she has been at the school! I am looking forward to her remaining years at St Anthony Catholic School I know they will be GREAT!
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2016

I have had the privilege of sending three of my children to St. Anthony's over the course of the past 11 years and I am proud to say that the school has always exceeded my expectations. As an alumni myself, I can vouch for the school's strong commitment to fostering excellence in their students, their strong support for social and moral development, and their commitment to growing a strong sense of family at the school. I will always be thankful for the education, care, and commitment the teachers and staff have and continue to provide to our students.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2016

St. Anthony's is a great foundation for kids to learn and grow. My child is in PK3. The teachers (Miss Bacon and Miss Randolph) have a genuine interest in the children's growth and development. I am very pleased with my child'sprogress. I am looking forward to PK4 with Miss Kathleen!
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2016

I am extremely impressed with the experience that my son has had at St. Anthony. He is a rising 2nd grader. He has been attending STA since PreK 3. The principal, teachers and staff are terrific. They are professional, encouraging, helping and respectful of every students needs. The 1st grade teacher was so dedicated to her students that she offered after school tutoring to several students at no cost. All communication with the school is responded to promptly. Everyone works to ensure that the student excels. If you are looking for a small personable school in the Brooklyn area, that teaches your kids about Christian values, morals, kindness, and developing a well rounded child, St. Anthony is the best choice.
Submitted by other on June 29, 2016

My experience at St. Anthony's has been really good! I appreciate that the administration is always trying to improve the facilities, curriculum and maintain a quality teaching staff. My daughter has grown and flourished in the two years she has attended.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

I love this school very community based and safe I feel like everyone is there for the children. I love the Monday mass it makes it so easy teaching my child about church, she basically comes home and tells me new things! Homework is excellent she does work from all subjects this I love! The best part is how parents are encouraged to volunteer makes me feel welcome and that what I want matters.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2012

My kids have been a part of the St. Anthony School Community since 2003 in Pre-K. My children have learned and grown a lot. The teachers and administrators provide each student with a challenging educational and social environment. I like that Religion is included as a subject to be graded. This subject is important as we begin to shape the morals of young people. The school s CYO Program has a new Director and programs are being developed with the help of other involved parents. The Principal is willing to listen and work with parents on ideas that will help the school overall. I like the challenges this school offers for the students and parents that are stepping up to take the challenge to help with this process.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2012

I have been a St Anthony parent since 2007, while I will say that the previous principal could have shown more effort, my child has always had a Spanish and Music class. I too felt something needed to be done with the gym floor, but we have to understand that there would be a great cost in this, therefore time. The CYO program was non-exixtent because no one wanted to take on the responsibility. I appreciate all this school is offering my child as far as a good education and social interaction as a school within a community with deep traditions. I see this school being around for years.