St. Thomas the Apostle School in Phoenix, Arizona

“Two years ago there was a tumultuous change in administration that has turned out to be quite the blessing in disguise. The optimum class size has been lowered to 30 (although a couple 'carry-over' grades still have 31 or 32) and the few teachers in the upper grades that many parents took issue with have been replaced with enthusiastic, vibrant educators with a genuine Christian spirit. The academics are challenging, however, the children are also taught grade/age appropriate organizational skills and personal responsibility that goes a long way to making the academics achievable for most. The 2009 Iowa Basics testing STA scored in the 96% in the nation. Aside from the academic excellence, the spiritual and social growth of the students is a primary focus as well. Finally the parent community is amazing willing to give time, talent and treasure for the betterment of the school as well as the community.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great teachers! Great community! Great reputation! Great Principal! My children are getting an awesome education at STA!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“They have the best students and staff!!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our child has attended STA for 3 years now. STA is wonderful school that is not only outstanding academically but spiritually as well. There is no doubt STA is Catholic! Our principal always open to new ideas and has made some great changes this past year. There are always parents willing to volunteer their time at STA. They have a very strong sense of community which makes STA a great place to be!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our child just completed the first year at STA and we would highly recommend this school to any family looking to provide their child with a solid Catholic education. The school does a fabulous job of teaching the children academics and the Catholic faith. The parents at STA are extremely involved in their child s activities and there is never a shortage of parents willing to lend a helping hand.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have had children at STA for five years and think it is an outstanding community. The parental involvement is outstanding. The academics are challenging, and the school does a tremendous job of nurturing the whole child.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have been blessed to be a part of this community for over seven years. Our current Principal has made many positive changes at our school. She is forward thinking and has instituted new and challenging curriculum as well as maintaining a teaching staff that is exemplary. We have children from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds. Students are encouraged to work hard and are given many opportunities to excel academically. Our Catholic faith plays a major role in our children's education as well. The most important thing is that my children are happy and are getting an excellent education at St. Thomas.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School for the past five years and absolutely love it! Our children are challenged academically, have developed a strong sense of spirituality and feel a great sense of belonging in the community. The principal, Mrs. Mary Coffman, is outstanding. She's forward-thinking and approachable and truly cares about each and every child in the school. We've been very pleased with the teachers and staff at STA and feel that the parental involvement at St. Thomas is unparalleled. Also, the sense of commmunity that you feel on a daily basis is truly special! We feel that STA is a wonderful place for our children where they can learn in a positive and safe environment and we would strongly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a well-rounded, well-respected and excellent Catholic school for their children!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“the two new principals are on power trips. upper grades are getting suspended for the dumbest things like wearing the wrong socks. I have teachers who can not teach (only 1 good teacher in my grade) and need to retire! favoritism is given to kids who have parents who work at the school or donate big money to the church. we can't take home our tests copies because they think we will save it for our friends. our parents do not like this at all as they can't see what work we have done. sta needs better teachers and better stuff to learn.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This Pre-school is for very wealthy families as it is located in the foothils. 'It is needy and constantly asking for donation, donation, donations.' At close to $500 a month, classes are over stuffed and the teachers are hard to commnicate with. A lot of favoritism is shown to the families that give the most. If your child is gifted and smart then they are overlooked as the focus is on the slow ones. Teachers are also disorganized and class rooms are messy. If you dont have a lot of money then you will feel uncomfortable at this school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter used to attend this school but moved to another private school this past year. I will tell you that the math that was taught to my daughter was unacceptable! For the tuition that we pay, she has learned not too much without the intervention of a tutor. Upon entering our new school, my daughter was nearly 2 grade levels behind!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“New administration is trying to turn things around however if your child needs a push and is not self-motivated, this is not the school for you. Its very hard to have individualized attention and children who might not understand concepts, will become lost. I suggest entering STA in the upper grades, but to mold a younger child I would possibly look elsewhere. STA might be running on fumes and reputation right now so just maybe the truth will not come out before things start to change. My child has attended here for 4 years. This school has a very 'un-diverse' student body too. Nevertheless, considering alternatives in the neighborhood, this school might not be so bad. Proceed with caution!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My child has attended STA for 3 years. The overall education currently is very good, especially for strong learners. Special needs children (at both ends of the spectrum) may find themselves frustrated & bored. With a classroom size of 36 and greater, it's difficult to offer focused programs and individual attention. There is a lot of homework issued, especially in the middle school. The students will be prepared to handle the workload of most high schools. The teaching philosophy is very traditional and minimal focus on individual creativity. Parent community is school's strongest suit & volunteer hours spent at the school is very high. Classroom facilties are small & dated. Good catholic school choice but a higher quality education may be had at other private institutions.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The class sizes are way too big (close to 36 even though diocesan max is 35). If you need your child to learn in a smaller envionment, this is not the school for you.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is great, the children and practice their Catholic faith and are kind and welcoming. Sister Patricia is a very popular principal and does a great job running the school. The parents make every event exceptional.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“this school has a great student to teacher ratio, they emphasize academics & religion first.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The wonderful staff and teachers at STA made our registration and transition into the school extremely easy and pleasant. We were moving from out of state and in the middle of the school year. Everyone was friendly and helpful and we felt welcome and taken care of from the very first contact. Both of our girls (Kindergarten and 2nd Grade) have gone to school for two weeks now and are very happy. Their teachers and classmates go out of their way to make them welcome. Parent involvement is very high and everybody really cares about the children and their education.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is my daughter's second year at STA, and I've been very impressed. The academic expectations are quite high, but there's also time for fun. She really enjoys school. We have been happy with her teachers. Sister Patricia is a great and caring principal. STA has a well-rounded curriculum that includes art, music, Spanish, physical education and library during the school day with high-quality teachers . I am also very pleased with the work the school does on health issues (diet, exercise, sun protection, classes with the school counselor offered on topics like friendship, anger mgmt., etc.) and the cafeteria does a great job with lunches (yes, I've eaten them myself!) There's a wide variety of after-school activities and sports offered. STA has an amazing level of parent involvement. The school does a great job balancing religion, academics, and other aspects of the students' lives.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The good thing about STA is the curriculum toward excellence and the teaching staff along with the administration. Sister Patricia really cares about our kids and wants them to be role models as good citizens as well as christians. We are of course Catholic first, but all faiths are welcome. St Thomas has track, girls/boys basketball, flag football, baseball, softball,and volleyball. From drama classes to latin classes, St Thomas offers it as well as molding our children for academic excellence. STA Rocks! Blue Ribbin Award winner 2006! Yeah!”
This review was posted by a parent.