St Peter's School

We LOVE St. Peter's.  Our children started in kindergarten and are now in the Upper School.  The curriculum is challenging but engaging, the faculty is top-notch and so positive, the administration is responsive and not only willing to have conversations about problems with the school, but proactive in finding solutions.  The families are now really so many of our best friends and our kids are being prepared for an ever changing world.  It's definitely a small school, but we feel that gives our kids such confidence as they get in the upper grades - they are the big kids, looked up to by the younger ones, sort of avoiding all the unnecessary pressures of  a typical "middle school" at a time when they are so vulnerable emotionally.  If we could go back in time we would send them here all over again!
Sep 29th, 2021

Not worth the money.
Jul 3rd, 2018

Im supposed to be going ther next year
Dec 24th, 2012

I have two sons at the school and a third will enter next year. I cannot say enough about the school, the students, teachers, and parents. My boys thrive on the small classroom environment; although, my daughter did not, so the intimacy isn't for everyone. She opted for a larger school (Masterman) and was very well prepared for the academic rigor of that school, because of the foundation provided by St. Peter's School. The traditions (May Day, declamations, Branches of May, etc) provide  families and the entire community with opportunities to share in--and support--the development of the students.I've found the teachers and administration to be responsive and a source of wisdom and support. My family has enjoyed 10 years at the school and we're looking forward to another nine years!
May 19th, 2011

Advantages:* A foreign language and the great French teachers* Declamation* The small class sizes* The backup care as a flat fee (takes it off the mind about getting care for most needed days)* The school spirit activitiesDisadvantages:* The horrible, unorganized administration* The small class sizesDon't expect any Einsteins to come from here -- due to Einstein not speaking until he was 4, this school would have filtered him out as an inappropriate student.  The fact that they post a poster that says "Everyone is welcome and accepted here" is misleading.  The administration are only concerned with low maintenance children, so don't go to this school unless you are sure that your child is cookie-cutter.  There is tons of busy work, which I'm not sure results in learning, as my child got 80-100% on everything, but the administration told us that our child was underperforming.  The administration of the school didn't even congratulate us when our child got an external award, which left us with a cold feeling.I know that this review will not make a difference since the Philly school system is so messed up, that you're desperate to get your child ahead and will send your kid here no matter what.  So, let me be honest here --  St. Peters is good until it's not (meaning that if you have a child that's out of the norm).  So in most cases, you're probably OK and will have a pleasant experience.  Given that most parents reading this are sending their kid to pre-k/kindergarten and have no idea what their child will be like in their academics, let me give some advice.  If this school asks you to get a psycho-educational evaluation, DO NOT DO IT (or do it eventually on a long wait list at a more affordable college but refuse to give it to them).  We did it, spent a fortune, and St. Peters hardly tried to accommodate the child given the evaluation.  We thought that they would truly take it to heart and that the "personalized attention" that they try to imply through the small class sizes, would materialize.  NOTHING.  They just used it to get rid of the child.  It was quite disappointing because the teachers seemed really lazy about  trying new things... they would occasionally try something that worked with my child and then would stop and complain later about the child and I would have to ask "why aren't you doing X incentive that worked"?  Beyond this, if they do go after your child, do not feel alone.  I have heard countless stories about them getting rid of perfectly normal and especially gifted children who just cause them extra work.  I feel like they create an atmosphere that parents are constantly in fear and panic because they put pressure on parents to do their heavy lifting.  For me, "homey don't play that" with their large tuition. But they don't care and kick kids out all the time.  Apparently, they don't need the money because of Philly's lacking schools that create desperate parents.Moral of the story:  Elect officials who will build Philly's public schools, give to your public schools (even if you don't go there).  Because without good competition, private schools don't have to care about every child and surely don't care that children are unique, fragile blooms.Extra negative notes:There is so much evidence of lack of organization -- some major announcements are not until the last minute, I got the initial advice to read the newsletter like a bible because there are things buried in there,  and their graduation took 3 hours, with kids as young as 7 having to wait without dinner until 8:30 to get out.Extra positive note:At least they organized an afterschool program with a flat fee.
Oct 23rd, 2022