Calvary Lutheran School

This school was not a fit for us. We greatly appreciated the caring environment the school succeeds in creating for the children. The majority of the kids are very nice, and if your biggest concern for your child’s elementary and middle school experience is a safe bully free environment then Calvary should be a top candidate for your family.
We wanted more than just a nice environment from our school. We wanted a challenging and exciting academic program which this school fails to offer across all of their classrooms. There are a number of reasons that cause them to be unable to offer this higher level academic program. First might be the high number of children with LD’s. I have no problem with special needs children, but you loss all of the small class size benefit when you have multiple children with LD’s in that class with one teacher and no aids. Second reason might be the high teacher turnover. This year again they are replacing 3 teachers and the 3 returning teachers started last year. Hard to create and sustain high academic performance with a revolving door for your teachers. Third reason might be the desire of the parents. Most of the parents plan on sending their children to the local public high school so the desire to have their kids prepared for the entrance exams at higher level private schools does not exist. Finally, while the church and congregation are good people and committed to keeping the school open to serve their community, there is an unhealthy nepotistic environment that is resistant to change and silencing of dissent. They allowed a teacher to remain in place for years even though she produced many non reading second graders, barely talked to the children, and used transperancies as the bulk of her curriculum delivery, simply because her husband is an elder at the church so she was given the leeway to choose when she would step out of the classroom. When it became obvious that a combined ½ grade class was too much for a teacher, we were told that after an ‘extensive’ search they had found someone to come in so they could split the class. It was the pastor’s wife. When the new superintendent was forced to teach 5^th grade and it was too much for him to do and be superintendent, they hired his wife to come teach. When the Superintendent heard that a teacher’s child was inquiring about 5^th grade field trips, the Superintendent called the teacher in his office and chastised her as if the student’s questioning stemmed from her.
We showed up at Calvary with nothing but hope and belief that despite its location, we could work with and be part of making Calvary a great school. When I started attending meetings in the summer before school even started, the other parents asked me to lead our parent group. I reluctantly accepted and began working hard to put systems in place to support and grow the school. When school started and we had problems with our daughter and the burnt out ½ grade teacher, we pulled our daughter but left our son in the school and I continued working to make Calvary a better place. My wife, Nicole A., then wrote a rather harsh but true review here on Unilocal.This was when we learned of the culture of silencing dissent because I was called in to the office for a meeting with the Pastor and superintendent where I was told if I didn’t apologize to the teacher my wife had accurately and truthfully reviewed on Unilocal,that would be forced to remove me from my VOLUNTEER position that I was ASKED to take on. I knew then that their secretive and nepotistic culture was toxic and not the long term place for our family. My son did not want to leave the school as he enjoyed being in the ‘junior’ kindergarten program which enabled him to be in and complete the kindergarten curriculum at 4 years old. His kindergarten teacher was great and really worked hard to create a varied and extensive kindergarten experience. I have waited to write this review because we were threatened that any other negative remarks about the school would result in our being kicked out.
So, if you are less concerned with secretive nepotistic administrative cultures and academically challenging curriculums and more concerned with having a bully free, except from the administration, campus full of really nice kids, then Calvary is for you. If you want and expect more from a private school, stay away from Calvary!

I send my daughter here for pre-​school. The staff works hard to provide a loving environment for the children to learn and explore who they are in Jesus. The curriculum is advanced and when I transitioned to public high school from here I was ahead of most of my public school peers. This was the case experienced by many people who have graduated here over time.
The school is experiencing some transition and is working to recover from a downturned economy but they do not allow the quality of education to suffer. They limit the class sizes so each child can get the attention they need to grow and flourish in all aspects of development.
The church is full of loving and involved people who give of their time and talents in the school even if they do not have children who attend.
This school is very affordable even without assistance and provides before and after school care at a reasonable rate for working parents who need extended hours of care. As of right now they do not offer this for pre-​school.
I wish they could find a way to have year round pre-​school as it is difficult as a working parent to find care for the summer months for my daughter and camps and summer programs for kids often start at Kindergarten where the public schools start their school programs.
I would recommend this school to anyone seeking quality education for their child at any level.

I give 3 stars because my son’s kindergarten teacher was 10 stars but the school administration/​leadership was a negative number.
My son attended kindergarten here during school year 2014 – 2015 and it was a great program and teacher. The kids are very nice in all the grades. The kids are very caring at this school. His teacher is no longer at the school and I have no detail on the next teacher
My daughter attended 1^st grade at this school for 2 months during 2014 – 2015 school year. After 2 months we began homeschooling. I had written a very honest and specific review about the 1^st/​2^nd grade academics, teacher and classroom program but the school administration wrote my husband a letter and told us my son would be put out of kindergarten if we wrote negative reviews. Prior to my Unilocal review I spoke with her teacher who was also principal and the school head about my concerns.
Most of the 2014 – 2015 teachers are gone but the leadership has remained. Perhaps had the leadership left and the teachers remained I could give more stars.

My son attends Kindergarten here.
I like the small class sizes and the individualized attention my son gets.
Although a small school– the academics is equal if not above larger private schools.
You definitely get what you’re paying for.

Want a place to call home like I do… Come check out Calvary Lutheran School