Notre Dame Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona

“The Dean overexerts his power to the extent of harming his students wellbeing. There have been multiple reports of assault and no action was taken. The principal will do anything and everything to make sure that his students suffer before the 'great name and reputation' of his school suffers in front of the arizona diocese and board of education. Please, if you care about your children - think twice before sending them here. The teachers are great, (especially the theology department.) But the administration has no compassion or sympathy towards the hardships of adolesence- however drastic they may be. Save both your pocketbook and your child and take them somewhere they will be well cared for, safe, and happy.”
This review was posted by a other.

“NDP is amazing! i love it and your missing out if you dont go to NDP! it is the best school! everyone is so nice and it is such a blast. the acedemics are very tough but it is so worth it!”
This review was posted by a student.

“My daughter finished her Freshman year at NDP and is entering as a Sophomore next year. After 5 years in Scottsdale's public schools it was a wonderful change! The kids are so much more respectful, the classrooms are under control, discipline is enforced. She has blossomed and made a lot of friends. The best thing about her friends is that they have mostly the same values and morals that we are desperately trying to instill in our kids in this very secular city. It was the best thing I could have ever done for my child.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Someone needs to reveal the truth about NDP. I attended NDP lastyear. The teachers are mostly new, amateurs. I had a few horrendous teachers, one who would often cuss, and had no control of the kids in the class. Eventually he gave up on teaching and sat on ESPN.com all day. Another teacher I had would play games every Friday, just to end the week of no learning with a bang. Often she would play quiet ball and when she wanted everyone to stop, they simply played 'monkey in the middle' with her and didn't listen. Teachers simply have no control at this school. The counseling is truly embarrassing. My counselor ignored me for weeks until my parents stepped in. The Principal emerges from his cave once every year for about a day or two. All idiots are accepted if they have a 12,000$ check. Basically the school is horrible.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son is a Junior at NDP and has had a terrific experience. The curriculum is both challenging and demanding. This is the first time in 11 years of his educational experience that I have received phone calls from his teachers just to report what a great job he's doing. I find the educational staff to be highly qualified and caring. The discipline is strict and enforced consistantly.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I just graduated from NDP this year. All four years of my high school experience were spent at this great school. I am saddened by the negative reviews of the school based solely on the rules and supposedly 'unfriendly' front office people. My time spent at NDP begs to differ. Neither accusation is true. There are very strict rules for NDP students. However, the students of NDP have a voice through their Student Council. During my junior year, the Student Council negotiated with the School Administration to allow us to untuck our shirts. Sadly, a lot of students tried to stretch this new freedom. There was a massive increase in gum fines and disiplinary infractions. I believe that this caused the School Administration to force us to tuck in our shirts senior year. I think that students can have more freedom at NDP if they can be responsible.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Tuition is too expensive. Does not give enough chances for success in the arts. Not run professionally. Students are disrespectful and rude. I am taking my daughter out this year because the other students are so unbearable, I cannot watch her come home crying because of how rude some kids can be.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Tuition is steep, but I love the fact that NDP random drug tests. Gives kids the excuse so they can avoid peer pressure from other kids. The dicipline is also tough, which I am grateful for. I'd like to see more emphasis on how students can successfully navigate through their relationships with peers (school related issues with other students). I'd like to see more of the psychologist -- involved in educating kids in a proactive manner. Not just after there is trouble, but educate kids on what their boundaries should be with tolerating bullling, passive-aggressive girls, etc.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Overall, we are very pleased with the tools NDP is providing our child in continuing his Catholic education. Faculty and staff are very engaged. Theology curriculum is fantastic too.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have been at NDP for two years and we love it. We have another child attending next year and one the following. I love the academics and the teaching staff is superior. Yes the rules are strict but rules are rules. Follow them and everyone gets along. Keep up the great work.. a NDP Parent”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son attends NDP and if we had to do it over again, we wouldn't. We have children also in public high school and we so no big differences other than 12,000/yr and smaller class sizes. They do not hold the kids accountable on homework like they said in orientation freshman year and they are obsessed with rules of which I agree there needs to be some in place but the gum chewing and the tucked in shirt is ridiculous. The teachers are no better than anywhere else; math department is terrible. First impression as you enter the office is a grumpy older woman who has sent several families I know away not wanting to go any further-pretty sad! They also CONSTANTLY are asking for $ in one way or the other.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter is a sophomore and loves NDP. As parents, we have been extremely pleased overall by her teachers. Many have been great, a couple were okay, and several have been outstanding. The only one we truly questioned was let go and even she wasn't horrific. Our daughter has grown in so many ways, has tons of friends, and has no problem with the discipline despite her free spirited nature. She loves the fact that her teachers care so much about her. I see the principal interacting at lunch and at sporting events (not just varsity) every time I am on campus or at a game. I know he lives quite far from the school and wonder when he sleeps. It is impossible for any school to please everybody. We will send our 2 other children to NDP and I work part time to make this possible.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“What a great place. I was on staff here for a year and everyone including students was helpful, respectful, etc. Discipline is inconsistent. But for private school in phoenix metro. It is just fine.”
This review was posted by a other.

“I'm a recent graduate from NDP, and transferred to NDP from a prestigious college prep school in Chicago. I really hoped that NDP would academically challenge me and facilitate my getting into a good college, but I was disappointed. For the area, NDP is above par educationally, but by no means do the students receive a high quality, critical-thinking based education. The academics are average. There are some really outstanding teachers (the entire social studies department is great), but there are also truly incompetent ones. Principal leadership is nonexistent. Extracurricular activities are decent, but art and theater clubs are really horrible compared to other high schools (North HS, for example). Parents really get involved with NDP, which is both good and bad--the mothers guild is great with their senior surprises, but parents need to seriously chill out sometimes and give some independence. Discipline is strict, sometimes about dumb things. Basically Mediocre.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Notre Dame is an excellent college prep High School, with fairly exacting behavioral requirements. We have two children in the school. Both are very happy. The academic demands are definitely much greater than those of most of the local high schools. As our daughter is now being recruited by top-notch universities, we are thankful for the education at Notre Dame. Our kids would like to see fewer rules that they consider to be arbitrary, but what child wouldn't?”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Why would parents object to a policy of no gum chewing -- and what is so tough about tucking in your shirt? The people who have trouble transitioning to Notre Dame are those whose kids have been in public school where pretty much anything goes. This is about teaching kids respect, responsibility, and a host of other values that I want my kids to embrace.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son currently attends Notre Dame Preparatory and I am very impressed with the academic standards, faculty and staff. It is quite telling when most of the parents giving the negative reviews on the school's academic standards have spelling and grammatical errors in their reviews!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school lacks the great educational experience that they claim to give to their students. My daughter currently attends and we are looking to change her school. They are more concerned about whether or not you tuck in your shirt than their syllabus. I would NEVER recommend this school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“They strongly enforce the laws instead of enforcing there academics. The staff is very rude and grumpy with both the kids and the parents.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“They worry too much about the uniforms, and instead should focus that attention on the academics of students. My daughter tells me that she only sees the Princapal during specail occasions, not walking around campus with students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is an environment which plants seeds of Christianity, Morality, Self-Discipline, and a spirit of selflessness...things this country is terribly lacking.God willing, these future adults will be righteous members/leaders of our community. We need schools like Notre Dame that take us back to our creator and accountability!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have been very happy with the education our daughter has received from NDP. She has loved her high school experience. Yes, they are tough on discipline. Anything wrong with that? Dress code in itself makes a huge difference in the students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Oppressive! Some of the teachers were top notch and truly cared about the kids. However the administration doesn't care about the feeling of the kids, only looking for things they do wrong, like have the shirt tails out and charges for detention.”
This review was posted by a parent.