It has taken me over a year to gather the courage to write this review, and my motivation is not…read moreborn out of anger alone, but from a place of profound disappointment and a broken heart. My journey with this school, which spanned nearly five years, was full of moments that initially filled us with hope but ultimately left us deeply disillusioned.
When my daughter and I were first accepted, we were elated. I remember the tears of joy as we shared the news with family, and we even brought a cake to the staff to express our appreciation. We believed we had found a safe, nurturing Christian environment where my daughter could thrive academically and spiritually, and where she would form lasting, meaningful relationships under the guidance of a Christian curriculum and staff.
Unfortunately, as the years went by, our experience was consistently marred by disappointments, particularly with the behavior of some of the teachers. What was even more troubling, however, was the principal's response--or lack thereof. Time after time, when issues were brought to her attention, Miss Westgate, the principal, would dismiss concerns or, worse, turn the situation around, making the staff out to be the victims despite undeniable evidence to the contrary. This lack of accountability was heartbreaking, but I continued to hope that my daughter was still receiving a good education.
One of the more distressing events during our time at the school involved a teacher who submitted a letter to CPS, claiming that I was unsafe with my daughter because she sat in the front seat of the car. The car in question was a two-seater, and the airbag had been turned off--perfectly legal. CPS, when contacted, dismissed the claim as frivolous, noting they often receive baseless reports from this school. This was just one example of many, where the school staff overstepped, and yet no action was taken to address the behavior.
Another shocking incident involved the leaking of private information from a live scan to parents who were not authorized to see it. Despite my attempts to bring this to Miss Westgate's attention, there was no explanation, just a shrug and an admission of ignorance. I had nothing to hide, but the idea that such sensitive information was handled so carelessly was inexcusable.
As time passed, my daughter's emotional well-being became a growing concern. She was bullied by a former close friend, and after repeatedly addressing the situation with the staff, I was forced to take matters into my own hands. I spoke politely with the child involved, reminding her of their past friendship and encouraging her to reconcile. I even communicated this to the child's father and Miss Westgate, who assured me she would look into it. The following day, however, Miss Westgate informed me that I was no longer allowed on school property, that my behavior was deemed inappropriate. I was barred from participating in school activities I had been a part of for years, including chapel and father-daughter events. Despite my efforts to resolve the matter amicably, the school took an aggressive stance, forcing me to withdraw my daughter.
When I made the decision to pull my daughter from the school, it wasn't out of spite but out of necessity. I needed to protect her, and unfortunately, staying at this school was no longer in her best interest. The final blow came when we enrolled her in a local public school, only to discover that she was a year behind academically, despite having been told that private education would provide a better foundation. This gap in her education, combined with the emotional toll of her experience at this school, has been incredibly difficult to navigate. We've had to hire a tutor to catch her up, a process that has added more stress to an already challenging situation.
As I reflect on this experience, it is clear to me that the principal, Miss Westgate, failed to hold her staff accountable for their actions. Despite providing her with ample evidence of their misconduct, she chose to defend them and, in the end, made it impossible for us to continue our relationship with the school. It's with a heavy heart that I share this review, but I feel compelled to speak out. My daughter's experience, our family's experience, was far from the Christian, nurturing environment we had hoped for. I would caution any parent considering this school to carefully weigh these factors and consider whether this is the right place for their child.
