What are wards 1-6???

In case you are thinking of going with Spellman, they are having a Kindergarten Orientation for parents on April 16th at 9:30. I know that there are parents of at least 15 children (including me) from Wards 1-4 and 6 that are planning on sending their kids there for kindergarten.
I have had numerous interactions with Principal Holiday and they have all been positive. We are planning on sending our child there in the fall.
Also, I know many more parents who are dissatisfied with St Ambrose than those at Spellman.
The biggest complaints I've heard from parents with kids at Spellman is about the after care program.

Thanks to the last post very well written comparison. For the parent who is trying to make a decision this should make things much easier. I just happen to see the post with the same question i had since i live in the neighborhood and have heard reviews about both. It is good to know that the academics are similar but i am happy to see that Saint Ambrose is stricter on behavior. This may be due to the fact that numbers are smaller or the fact that it is catholic. However, i have heard from parents that many of the children at the school are not catholic. Thanks a lot.

GNS & St. Ambrose both have strong, amazing principals. Primary grades at Ambrose have assistants but GNS does not. Class sizes are similar at both. However, Ambrose has 1 class at each grade level whereas Spellman has 3-4 classes per grade level. Up to you which you think is better.

Behaviorally, St. Ambrose is much stricter. In general this is a good thing, unless your little person is fairly active and may have a hard time sitting for long periods of time-GNS may be better then.

Academics are similar. More struggling students at GNS, but also more resources to address struggling students.

Parent participation is required at Ambrose. If you don't make your 30 volunteer hours there you pay $15/hour. Participation is encouraged at GNS, but besides a core group of parents, kind of lacking.

public school does not have assistants for K, but I believe GNS k classes are smaller than 25.

The curriculum in the public school is the MD state curriculum -- heavy on reading and math, light on everything else. I think GNS does a good job with basic reading and math.

I am looking for a school that has at least 25 or less in a class, with a teacher assistant for kindergarten. Stong academic curriculum. Strong parent participation with a great leadership/principal.

religion is not on the top of my list i do like the fact that my child will continue to have religion class since she is coming from a chrisitan environment if she attended the catholic school but this is not a determing factor.

PP, what are you looking for in a school. exactly?

Was the parents not happy with the curriculum? was it not rigorous or outdated? One review that i have read from this school was that the academics was not good. I would like to know to because i live in cheverly and need to put my child in school. I am wondering to go private or go public. I would like to know.

I have read the reviews but Saint Ambrose reviews are so outdated. Gladys noon spellman was not so bad. For the person who knew people at Saint ambrose can you tell me why they took their child out. If need be i can give you my email and you can send it through private email. I would really like to know we are taking a tour in two weeks and need to make a decision soon.

Spellman reviews: http://www.greatschools.org/maryland/cheverly/1216-Gladys-N.-Spellman-Elementary-School/?tab=reviews

St Ambrose reviews: http://www.greatschools.org/maryland/cheverly/1583-St.-Ambrose-Elementary-School/?tab=reviews

I have several friends who sent kids to St Ambrose but were not happy there and left for different schools.

Thank you for the honesty. I have contacted saint ambrose which is the catholic school. I hope things work out for your friend but i appreciate the honesty.

FWIW - I have a friend with a child there. Neither the parent nor the child are happy.

Seems as though no Gladys Noon Spellman reviews. It looks like Saint Ambrose is where we will focus.

I was debating between sending my child to Gladys Noon Spellman or Saint Ambrose Cheverly for kindergarten. Any thoughts on the public school? Which way should i go?