St. John the Evangelist School

Posted: June 7, 2023

Posted: June 7, 2023

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Posted: May 11, 2023

I had three kids at SJE and each had good years and bad years. The quality of the teachers is extremely inconsistent. One year, it feels like your kid’s teacher is the best and then the next year, it’s poor instruction, poor classroom management and disorganization. There’s no social emotional curriculum and it’s sorely needed. There’s kids having all sorts of problems that go unaddressed - learning difficulties, bullying, - and it just gets ignored for years. The middle school has overcrowded classrooms (there are no lockers and full backpacks on the floor) and no electives to offer. The discipline policy is inconsistent and negative. We didn’t really connect with other families and the kids don’t have good opportunities to bond. We switched to public school and feel like it was the best move we ever made.

Posted: February 25, 2023

Academically, the school is alright. A majority of the work assigned to students is busywork along with projects that do not contribute to actual learning. There is also an excessive amount of homework assigned to students starting from the lower grades. A sixth grader at SJ would have 2-3 hours of homework while a public school sixth grader might have 45 min-1 hour. SJ also lacks resources & is extremely disorganized. There are no proper professional counselors, academic or for mental health. They do not have a proper online learning management system. Most schools use Google Classroom, Canvas, Brightspace, etc. SJ uses around 5 websites for students to submit work, with the main one being Microsoft OneNote. OneNote is a total disaster & is not used as a proper learning management system. There are too many tabs & it is difficult to locate assignments & handouts. There are many times where work does not come through or submit. There is no submit button, rather it works through "syncing". If your child does not write what their homework is in a planner, it is not guaranteed they will be able to locate it on OneNote, as sometimes it is not posted or is unable to be found without being told exactly where it is. Teachers do not post clear instructions as to what is done in class. If your child is absent, they have to rely ontheir peers to know what they missed.
Students are not taught how to write. Transitioning from elementary to middle school, students are expected to know how to write after not being taught how. Teachers then proceed to get frustrated when students resort to getting help from tutors or their parents.
Students are placed in to level groups for English and Math. Students who are placed into higher level groups receive better education. Unless you have a special connection to the school, it is difficult to have your child moved up to an accelerated level to be challenged.

Socially, the school has a lot of problems. There are families at the school who receive special treatment because they donate money to the school or volunteer. Their children get away with things like misbehaving & bullying because of their parents connection to the school.
Especially during the middle school years, children are disrespectful towards one another. Cussing, gossiping & teasing are very common. If your child has special needs they will most likely be made fun of.

Some teachers try their best and care for their students, but overall I would not recommend

Posted: February 25, 2023

Posted: February 25, 2023

Posted: February 25, 2023

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Posted: January 24, 2023

Academically, students will leave SJE prepared for high school. Socially is another story. Additionally, there is a lot of room for improvement on teachers and staff creating a welcoming and supportive environment. Students are afraid to ask questions and feel they have no voice whatsoever. They simply do not feel that they are cared about. It’s a pressure cooker. They learn, but in a caustic environment. Lip service is all parents should expect from administration.

Posted: January 24, 2023

Posted: January 22, 2023

Our family tried so hard to fit in here and to like this school, but unfortunately our experience at SJ was terrible. Principal is disingenuous, rude, on a power trip and is more concerned with proving her point, rather than the kids best interest. Think twice before you pay for this experience.

Posted: January 22, 2023

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Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Students pick on other students and cuss at each other.

Posted: January 5, 2019

Everyone on the internet likes the school. It’s terrible! Students are not friendly!

Posted: January 5, 2019

Homework OVERLOAD! For middle school they overload students with studying and homework

Posted: January 5, 2019

Only a few are nice. Most are disorganized and shouldn’t be teaching children

Posted: January 5, 2019

Students leave class in groups to mess around in bathrooms. Bathrooms in the middle school have inappropriate thing on them!

Posted: January 5, 2019

The principal is rude, strict and abrasive

Posted: November 7, 2017

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Posted: November 7, 2017

Amazing family environment with faculty and staff that care about the children.

Posted: October 20, 2016

Posted: October 20, 2016

Posted: October 20, 2016

Posted: October 20, 2016

Posted: October 20, 2016

While this environment is spiritually rewarding, the culture of the school is very cliquish at all levels. Behavior issues are ignored and go unaddressed.
Some of the teachers are unapproachable, unfriendly and sometimes just rude. Academics are not as strong as other schools in the area including the public schools.
Perhaps the new leadership will be a catalyst for change and things will improve.

Posted: September 9, 2015

Posted: September 9, 2015

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Posted: September 9, 2015

We love being a part of St. John's school and community. Strong academics within a caring environment helps give our children a good start with a strong moral foundation.

Posted: September 4, 2015

My daughter has been at St. John's for three years. I have fallen in love with the community and school. The staff is amazing. They truly love the kids and work hard to teach them in their school subjects and about how to be good citizens of the world. The class sizes are wonderful and as a first grader my daughter still has an aid in the classroom to assist the teacher. I also love that they are exposed to a language starting in pre-school. Every classroom has IPads that are incorporated in the classroom, but the students also go to a computer lab weekly. Sending our daughter to St. John's was the best decision we made, we can't wait to send our other daughter there!

Posted: September 1, 2015

Posted: September 1, 2015

Posted: September 1, 2015

Posted: September 1, 2015

My daughter is currently in her 3rd year at St. John’s and each year has been great. The school is truly a wonderful community, there is an emphasis not only on education but also on values and they care for the whole child. The teachers we have encountered have all been approachable and professional and have a real passion for their profession. The new administration is poised to make an already great school even better. Our family is thrilled to be part of such a warm, inclusive community.

Posted: April 8, 2015

St. John was the best decision we made for our children. Our children were well prepared for high school and have had great academic success! The family atmosphere at St. John is another special quality....our family has made friendships that will last a life time!

Posted: January 25, 2015

They do not teach their students how to WRITE. Students are rarely given writing assignments. Book reports in the older grades are non existent.

Posted: October 13, 2014

St. John's is far and away the best educational decision my wife and I could have made when choosing a school for our daughters. The entire school community has been welcoming, supportive, and demonstrated the types of values my family treasurers most in a school environment. We have been members of this community for eight years, and we have had nothing but positive experiences with the school! It's a blessing to have a school like St. John's where we know our children are receiving a great education in the type of environment that encourages them to be the best they can be in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, St. John's has opened up a new network of friends from my wife and I. The parents, faculty and staff have been tremendous in their outreach and welcoming efforts. If you are searching for a school for your children, I would highly recommend placing St. John's at the top of your list!

Posted: October 13, 2014

SJ's is an exceptional school that provides all students with the tools to succeed. I started SJ's in preschool and graduated 8th grade in 2005. Having recently graduated college and presently applying to veterinary school, I owe not only my educational successes to what I was taught at this prestigious school, but also, I owe extreme gratitude because this school helped shape who I am. Without a doubt the school maintains an exceptional educational standard, hence why it is one of twenty five private schools to be a Blue Ribbon School. Aside from receiving a great education, parents can be guaranteed that their child will make lifelong friends along the way. My best friend and I attended SJ s, we met in first grade. Since elementary school, all of our educational diplomas and certificates have read the same alma maters. What SJ s provides is far more than an education. It gives each kid the tools needed to build the foundation of who they are. It instills a mindset in every one of them that there is a world full of opportunity waiting to present itself to them. SJ s affords its students the potential to grow and flourish; in the classroom and outside of it.

Posted: October 12, 2014

We have two children attending school at St. John's, and have never for a moment doubted that our decision was the right one. We feel blessed every day that they are part of a community surrounded with so much love and compassion. This is visible in their steady development into hard-working and disciplined individuals, as well as good and honest human beings.

Posted: October 9, 2014

My son is new to St. John the Evangelist this year. We went through a rigorous examination of this school (and several others in the area), critically observing it not only for the current school year but beyond as it was/is our goal to continue his education at this school. Now by way of a little background, we did not return to his previous school because he experienced continual bad behavior (i.e., bullying) from a few classmates, which was not reduced by the teacher or upper Administrators. When I used to pick him up at his old school, I could see the dread in his eyes. He did not want to return to his old school because there were too many problems for him and distractions in the classroom, which were never remedied by his teacher (even after multiple meetings with the teacher and the upper Administrators). Now, every day that I pick him up from St. John the Evangelist, he tells me that his day was "awesome" and that he loves his teachers and classmates. He's doing well in school academically and socially. We are thrilled for him and with St. John the Evangelist. We give this school 5 stars!

Posted: October 9, 2014

We love St. John's! I have had children there for the past 6 years. My favorite part about the school is the sense of community - from the students, to the faculty, to the parents. Both my children and myself have made what I'm sure will be lifelong friendships with the many St. John's families that we have met over the years. I would never have my kids go anywhere else.

Posted: October 9, 2014

There is not enough characters aloud in this post to express just how fabulous of a school Saint John's is ! Saint John's has been part of the Severna Park community since the 1950's and because of this has built a great reputation and following . Saint John's is a school that has raised generations of families as well as employed many former alumni . It is a place where memories are made and children grown and come back . It is a place where children do not just get an amazing enriching education but they also feel loved , cared for and part of something bigger . Starting in preschool children learn about our God as well as make life long friends. As the children get older they get to experience the sacraments with their classmatees as well as see the daily presence of both priests and sisters . Saint. John's has a beautiful safe campus with over 32 security cameras . There are also Smartboards in every classroom and carts of iPads for each department . Children also really enjoy being part of the wonderful athletic association that is highly competitive .Saint John's is a dream !

Posted: October 9, 2014

St. John's is exactly what we were looking for. It is a perfect balance of nature and discipline. It is exactly what you would expect from a Catholic school, a strong base in the Catholic faith with a lessons in self respect as well as respect for others. The education is top notch and the community and parental involvement is strong. I volunteered for recess and lunch duty and was able to witness first hand the care the teachers and Sister Linda puts into all the students. I watched a teacher notice that one child was alone so she called over some other students to encourage them to include everyone. I would highly recommend St. John's !

Posted: October 9, 2014

Our experience with St. John's has been AMAZING. We are new to St. John's but have been welcomed with open arms. We were immediately put in contact with several mentoring families with children the same age as our boys and then invited to meet other St. John's families. The environment at the school is very nurturing and family friendly. The amount of parent involvement and visibility is astounding. There is a parent volunteer everyday for lunch and recess for each class. As a military stay-at-home mom, I have never felt more welcomed and appreciated as a volunteer at the school. The faculty and administration are very sensitive to the issues that effect military kids and are open to new I deas to improve their experience at St. John's, however long it may be. I can't say enough about the Sisters of St. Joseph's that live and work at the school. They are so kind and loving to the kids. They are the epitome of Christian love. St. John's is s true school home for our kids. I feel at peace knowing that my boys are being nurtured and challenged everyday by a staff that thinks of them as family.

Posted: October 9, 2014

St. John's is a great school, but even more an amazing community. I have two children that currently attend St. John's, and I am extremely satisfied with their education as students, and their development as individuals. The Sisters of St. Joseph, the teachers, and the staff truly care for the children. My wife and I moved to the area from out-of-state in 2004. However, it was not until 2010 when we enrolled my daughter in Kindergarten, and we were welcomed into the St. John's family, that we began to feel like Maryland was home. I would highly recommended St. John's to anyone...and often do!

Posted: October 9, 2014

St. John is well known for its committment to forming the whole child: body, mind, and spirit. There is a well established learning differences program that allows students to be in smaller classes for language arts and math. The vast majority of graduates are accepted into their first choice for high school, with many testing out of Algebra I and even Geometry upon entering high school. The faculty is dedicated, putting in that extra effort to give the needed attention to students who need a little extra help. The Sisters of St. Joseph provide a wonderful religious presence. Prayer is central to each school day and most of the children attend weekday mass once each week. Technology is utilized across the board with Smartboards in every classrooms and more and more iPads being utilized. True to its Catholic idenity, service is a strong component of the community with various outreach programs. This year the school participated in Catholic Charities' Dragonboat Races, partnering with a senior living home and also participated in the "Nun Run" raising funds for the elderly served by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Truly a great school!

Posted: October 9, 2014

Mind-body-spirit. You know when you walk in a place and just "know" THIS IS IT! That's the way we felt 3 years ago when we were interviewing schools for our kids and we walked into St. John. We have 3 children who are thriving because of this wonderful community of parents, teachers, students and administration. Dropping my children each morning and knowing that they are loved by using positive discipline techniques, a rigor in the curriculum,a healthy focused lunch program, and fun on the playground. Parents and teachers work together to do what is best for each individual child. The music and athletic program is wonderful too. I am an educator in the AA county public school system and we choose to send our children here, where students are challenged and encouraged to be stewards of good will. I love that they are getting a spiritual foundation for living life on life's terms and to always act with integrity. We LOVE St John the Evangelist School! Hands down, this school is the best thing that ever happened to our family's education. 5 STARS

Posted: October 9, 2014

St John's has been a little slice of heaven for our family . We searched far and wide for a school where our child would receive an excellent education plus have good values reinforced. St John's is an amazing community for both the children and their parents. We are not a catholic family but have been welcomed with open arms. We feel so fortunate to be a part of the school!

Posted: September 16, 2014

The decision to have my son attend this school was and apparently continues to be a horrendous decision for my child and my family. He attended for two years and left at 10 years old after constant year long, painful bullying and humiliation from a known bully teacher (not the children!). She was never reprimanded by the administration. He had straight A's and no behavior problems. I pulled him out after the administration inappropriately and without my permission had him confront the 55 year old bully teacher alone about her bullying of him. Since then he attended the public schools and has had several children and parents from the public school and the community tell him they were informed that he was "kicked out" of St. John's. He's always been an excellent student with no behavior problems and has NEVER been kicked out of any school. To first victimize my son, and then afterward and into the present imply or actually state that my son was kicked out of the school....St. John's epitomizes the kind of hypocrisy that I don't think will be forgiven ultimately under true Catholic faith and beliefs. I questioned my own Catholic faith after what they did to my family.

Posted: September 4, 2014

Excellent school. Great parental involvement with subsequent great community / parish spirit and unity. We enjoy the many family activities along with the excellent education and Christ centered environment.

Posted: April 9, 2014

We have three kids at the school and we have been extremely impressed with the time and attention the teachers give to the students -- their academics as well as their values and morals. My children are being challenged to reach higher levels of math, focus on their writing skills, science, and so much more. I think the Prayer Partner program which pairs older students with younger students is such a great way to have younger kids model older students' behavior and have older student learn responsibility and being a role model. It also builds relationships across grades. We feel there is also a great community among the parents and a feeling of shared values.

Posted: April 8, 2014

St. Johns school is an amazing school on varoius levels! It is absolutley worth every dime and sacrafice made to send my children there. to I have a son who graduted from there and is now in a Cathiolic secondary school thriving!! I also have an elementary daughter who is at St. Johns is is having a wonderful expereince academically, socially, and spiritually. The teachers and staff have an authentic interest in each childs developement and are consistently aware of any changes which need to be made to ehance your childs development whether academically or socailly. I feel it is a blessing to be part of a community centered on the children and parents and supported in faith and enthusiasm!!! The school also strives to meet the changing needs of students and parents through its stategic planning. Their updated technologies include smartboards in every room and even even mini I-Pads for the children to use in certain grades! The children love it! I highly recommend this school for any parent interested in the all around development , happiness and success of thier children. The entire family benefits greatly by being a member of the St. Johns community!

Posted: April 8, 2014

St Johns is an amazing school. It is such a great community. We have three children who have grown, learned and thrived there. The teachers are wonderful, and address each kid with kindness and respect. It is a great environment that teaches values, faith, spirituality - and outstanding academics. Our kids have repeated tested in the top 10% of the national standardized tests, but more importantly they have learned to live their values. We are grateful to the administration and teachers of St Johns for all the time and effort they give to each child at the school

Posted: April 8, 2014

St. Johns was the perfect school for my son and daughter to attend. The teachers were great and the curriculum level offered was much higher than a regular public school. Both of my children are in high school now and they are both exceling in AP and honors classes. If grooming your child for high school and college is important to you, St. Johns is the school for you and your children.

Posted: April 8, 2014

I have had three kids go to this school, and the staff is very concerned about the individual students and their needs. The Christian values that are reinforced are a must have for this generation, and the world they are being raised in!

Posted: April 6, 2014

Worst school ever. Teachers are emotionally and psychologically harmful to the children. Administration does not care and is more concerned about their egos and running the ship with an iron hand. Children should be seen and not heard philosophy. God help you if you have an active or enthusiastic boy that does not quickly conform to the role of a boring stepford robot child as required by the teachers. They are just horrible. I cannot say it enough. Save your money, send your child to the public schools and also get a better, higher level education since they actually teach to your child's level, unlike St. John's.

Posted: February 27, 2014

In my opinion: What I experienced was anti-male sexist holier than thou Catholicism at its pinnacle. I do not believe they know what it means to be Christian. The teachers and the administration will not take responsibility for anything. If you have an issue of any kind it will be your child's fault or your fault - NEVER theirs. They know everything and do not care about your opinion. Do your children a favor and send them to the absolutely wonderful public schools just down the road. A lot of us have done just that.

Posted: February 6, 2013

As a parent of 4 St. John students I will say that this school provides everthing we look for in a catholic, plus more! The teachers go above and beyond to reach each and every student. The lessons in values and faith are not just taught, they are demonstrated by every teacher in their words, their actions and their beliefs. My children who have graduated from St. John the Evangelist often say how well prepared they were entering into highschool. They really value their time spent there!

Posted: February 6, 2013

I am a parent with a current student and a child that graduated from St. John a few years ago. St. John's has provided an excellent education for my children. Students also develop spiritually thru attending weekly mass, service and other activities. What sets St. John apart is the wonderful dedicated teachers and staff. They truly care about the children. The principal Sister Linda knows every student by name and wants the best for them. St. John also has a strong community environment for both students and parents.

Posted: February 5, 2013

As parents, we are very fortunate to have a principal and teachers at St John the Evangelist School who are dedicated to providing children with a quality Catholic Education. Our principal was named 2012 Archidoces Of Baltimore Principal of the Year. The school is a recipient of the 2008 National Blue Ribbon Award as well. Each of our four sons ages (twelve and under) enrolled at St John"s benefit daily from these many achievements in academic excellence the school has achieved. There is the chance to attend Weekly Mass together as a School Family. The Sisters of St Joseph Convent located on our school campus grounds and children are blessed by the daily interaction and contact with these dedicated Nuns. By attending St John's, we are confident that our children will be better prepared academically, spiritually and emotionally for both their future educational and life experiences.

Posted: January 20, 2013

This is a great school! We are parents of 3 children at St John and are overwhelmingly happy with the school. Our oldest, a graduate attends an academically challenging high school and has been extremely well prepared; certainly academically, but in organization, confidence and most importantly character. Our other children have blossomed as students, challenged in a way that has brought them to realize the excitement in their own capacity to learn and the success from hard work. The dedicated and experienced administration and teachers are professional, communicative and most of all caring, where the children are valued, each as unique and gifted. All of this works in a Catholic community of enormous hospitality where there are many opportunities to participate in the enrichment of the school and develop lasting relationships with the families of your children s peers. The school continues to have stable enrollment. The few who leave are mostly due to career relocation and have difficulty replacing all of the good things that exist here. Even among very good public schools, this is a clear and definite value. We cannot say enough of the benefits of this Catholic education.

Posted: January 6, 2013

I took my child out of this school in the past year, along with several other long term parents who also took their children out of the school who were not satisfied with the lack of concern for the children displayed by the administration and a few of the teachers. The administration is more focused on what the community thinks about them rather than addressing the needs of the children. There is little room for adequate or healthy social development at the school. Parents that contribute a lot of money or time to the school virtually run the school and decide who the children will even friend at the school. Most of the people at this school are not even from the Severna Park area - but rather Pasadena. People in Severna Park know that the public schools are better and they don't have to pay for a good education. Many parents with kids still at the school feel this way but are just too afraid to change schools for fear that it may be worse elsewhere. At least one teacher is a known bully to one student in her class each year and the administration does nothing about it to really address the problem.

Posted: January 4, 2013

I went to this school the past two years and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I felt traumatized on so many different levels. The teachers are bullies, especially with boys, and very negative. All they wanted to do was find fault and attack me verbally. This was confusing for me as I was very young. I didn't even want to go to school for the first time in my life and I was always a good student. I even had straight A's in the highest classes, with good conduct and good effort marks in all of my classes. Parents don't sent your children to St. John's, and parents listen to what your children are telling you about what is really happening there right now. It's true.

Posted: September 20, 2012

St. Johns is a great, caring learning environment for my children. We are very pleased with the kid's teachers, and appreciate how dedicated the principal is to the school and kids. We especially appreciate the lack of drama, which we had a great deal of at our previous school. This is clearly due to the principal. The school is a warm and quality community with great participation from families, and support from the school and parish leadership.

Posted: August 1, 2012

I really love this school. The church is so involved with the school and all the teachers are highly qualified. I could not want a better school. The school is very diverse to be so small. I was welcomed with open arms and the staff and teachers are willing to work with you. If you are deciding which Catholic school is right for your family, look no further! I love this school along with my kids and family!