St. Elizabeth and St. Raphael Schools

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any positive or negative feedback about the upper schools of St. Elizabeth and St. Raphael Catholic schools in Rockville? We live close to both and are wondering which one to choose. We have 2 young boys that we will send, one to preschool and one to kindergarten. My concerns about St. Raphael are that it is a fairly new school (est. in 2006) and I have been told it is going through some "growing pains". However, they have small class sizes and a beautiful new facility. St. Es is a blue ribbon school, seems well organized but the class sizes are larger (about 30 students per class) but with an aide in k - 3. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

St. Raph's has always been known more for their preschool, their school is newer, I don't know a lot about it.
St. E's (unless things have changed) is impossible to get into unless you are a parishioner. If you have not joined, and you want St. E's. I would recommend becoming a member of the parish asap. It is an excellent school.

[Anonymous]

You can be a member of St. R and get into St. E. They are "sister" parishes.

[Anonymous]

I am a St. Raphael parent... no growing pains that I know of. We love it there. Our daughter went to the Nursery School as well. SRS offers customized instruction for each student and small class sizes. I think the student teacher ratio for math and reading is 9:1. Promethean boards are in classrooms. There is an emphasis on physical activity (fitter body, fitter brain) so grades 3 and up have PE 3 times a week and recess every day. K-2 has PE once a week and recess twice a day. There is cross curricular instruction... instruction, projects, field trips all work together. And of course, the school's Catholic identity is a major part of each day. The children start their day with a morning prayer in church and go to Mass weekly. There are lots of opportunities for service. The faculty is absolutely wonderful and the parents are very dedicated and involved in the school. It's a close-knit and welcoming community. Our daughter is happy and thriving there. We couldn't be more pleased.

[Anonymous]

I am a St. Raphael parent... no growing pains that I know of. We love it there. Our daughter went to the Nursery School as well. SRS offers customized instruction for each student and small class sizes. I think the student teacher ratio for math and reading is 9:1. Promethean boards are in classrooms. There is an emphasis on physical activity (fitter body, fitter brain) so grades 3 and up have PE 3 times a week and recess every day. K-2 has PE once a week and recess twice a day. There is cross curricular instruction... instruction, projects, field trips all work together. And of course, the school's Catholic identity is a major part of each day. The children start their day with a morning prayer in church and go to Mass weekly. There are lots of opportunities for service. The faculty is absolutely wonderful and the parents are very dedicated and involved in the school. It's a close-knit and welcoming community. Our daughter is happy and thriving there. We couldn't be more pleased.

[Anonymous]

There is something remarkable at St. Raphael School. This video captures it beautifully: www.vimeo.com/41464373.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is something remarkable at St. Raphael School. This video captures it beautifully: http://www.vimeo.com/41464373.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher at St. Raphael's and have been teaching for 23 years in the Archdiocese of Washington. While every school has things about them that make them special and unique, I can honestly say that I have NEVER been in a school as special as St. Raphael's!! I have experience as a 2nd grade teacher (5 yrs), a middle school teacher (16 yrs) and now a 5th grade for two years at St. Raphael. During my 21 years I taught in two other Catholic schools in the Rockville area. St. Raphael's is unique. There is an emphasis on the whole child and the spiritual, educational, emotional, and physical development of each one. The small homeroom class sizes are further narrowed for math and reading allowing teachers to focus on each and every child. There is an emphasis on cross-curricular learning and the technology used throughout the school is outstanding. The community, under the leadership of our fantastic principal, is warm, welcoming, and nurturing. I had given up believing that a school like St. Raphael’s could exist, but now I know it does. I have told the principal I will never leave! You would be giving your child the greatest gift by sending them to St. Raphael’s.

[Anonymous]

I have two children at St. Raphael School with another starting in kindergarten in the fall. We have been here since 2007 before there was even a new building. It is so great to be part of a new Catholic school. Things are not "like they've always been" which is a refreshing--new ideas are often implemented and parents play a big role in helping to create the school they wish they'd had when they were little. The staff seems very happy, too. One teacher, who has been at other Catholic schools in the area, raves about what a great place this is and how "student-centered" the instruction is. The thing I like best is that the classes do not get too big and that there is a tremendous focus on each student's ability. Our principal, Teri, really puts a lot of resources into the differentiated instruction--both in staff and technology. Good luck with whatever you decide. We are thrilled with our decision.

[Anonymous]

Just saw this post. We have had three children through St. E's (one is still there). Although our experience overall has been good, it is starting to be outweighed by the overcrowding issue. If you are ever on Montrose around 3PM on a weekday, be sure to look at the cars packed into the carpool line in the parking lot. The 3rd-grade parents are really unhappy because there are 67 kids in that grade -- 33 in one class and 34 in another. Older grades aren't much better -- 64 kids in my son's grade. I also just heard that St. E's is building a new preschool, which is only going to make the problem worse. As I said, though, overall it's fine. Just getting way too crowded. I don't know what the class size is at St. Raphaels, but, if I were starting over, this would be a deal breaker for me.

[Anonymous]

Well in light of the recent news, I imagine many are flocking from St. E's to other area schools. I worry about those poor children who were victims. Sad and scary.

[Anonymous]

St. E's (unless things have changed) is impossible to get into unless you are a parishioner.

My neighbor sends her son to St. E's and she is not a parishioner. She's actually fairly anti-Catholic and vocal about it at the school. Pulled her kid from classes about first communion since he receives communion in her episcopal church when their family attends. She pays full freight and had no problem getting in.

If you are going to go to St. R's, start your kid in the preschool. The kids (particulaly girls) can be very hard on "newcomers" who start in K or 1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

St. E's (unless things have changed) is impossible to get into unless you are a parishioner.

My neighbor sends her son to St. E's and she is not a parishioner. She's actually fairly anti-Catholic and vocal about it at the school. Pulled her kid from classes about first communion since he receives communion in her episcopal church when their family attends. She pays full freight and had no problem getting in.

If you are going to go to St. R's, start your kid in the preschool. The kids (particulaly girls) can be very hard on "newcomers" who start in K or 1st.

Former St. R's teacher - the principal and teachers are great!!! But be warned it can be very cliquey - and the mom's are worse then the kids. And many parents and kids have an overblown sense of entitlement. And it's uber-Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well in light of the recent news, I imagine many are flocking from St. E's to other area schools. I worry about those poor children who were victims. Sad and scary.

This is what PP is referring to: http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/Youth-Minister-Arrested-in-Sexual-Abuse-of-Teen/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

St. E's (unless things have changed) is impossible to get into unless you are a parishioner.

My neighbor sends her son to St. E's and she is not a parishioner. She's actually fairly anti-Catholic and vocal about it at the school. Pulled her kid from classes about first communion since he receives communion in her episcopal church when their family attends. She pays full freight and had no problem getting in.

If you are going to go to St. R's, start your kid in the preschool. The kids (particulaly girls) can be very hard on "newcomers" who start in K or 1st.

Former St. R's teacher - the principal and teachers are great!!! But be warned it can be very cliquey - and the mom's are worse then the kids. And many parents and kids have an overblown sense of entitlement. And it's uber-Catholic.

The bolded is an oxymoron to me, but what do I know. I'm a Presbyterian (we have our own issues).