Awesome school, great education and teachers who care. Our whole family loves Allen! Small Class…read moresizes lead to your child receiving individualized education and better results.

I attended Allen Academy for many years and graduated from there, and I can strongly say, apart…read morefrom the few teachers who are very kind, Allen Academy is a horrible option for any kid over 5th grade. They don't give you the "college readiness" they boast about, and many end up not knowing anything in college. Many are found being overlooked and disrespected by the school at every turn, ruining their confidence. The teachers give out free A's, and you have to put in absolutely no effort for a good grade, and it ends up being extremely hard when college comes around, because you've learned no material and no work ethic. In addition, Allen makes some horrible staff choices, and even when called out by all students and many parents, they refuse to do anything about it and blame it on the students. They put on a perfect act, but once you go to the school, it shuts off, and they only care about money. Allen Academy ruined high school for me and I wouldn't recommend it for any middle/high school students.

Saint Michael's is a small private school that has done an amazing job of creating a top-tier…read moreacademic education tailored specifically to my child. The school covers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and there is an attached preschool. The focus is on academics, and that focus is laid out in the Mission Statement: "...We are committed to academic excellence and the growth of each child in learning, character, and faith." The teachers really make an effort to teach the children and to help the children learn on their own. We love the teachers, and our child is incredibly happy with them and the school. He especially enjoys teaching us French and Spanish, as well as helping us review math concepts. One of the best parts about the school is that, due to the small size, policies can be changed based on parent suggestions. This benefit affects small things like changes to the uniform, and very significant things like whether a child would better learn with an individual lesson plan or by attending a different grade for a specific subject. Another benefit of being a private school is that a significant portion of the current kindergarten class is just barely too young to enter kindergarten in public schools, but is academically and socially ready for kindergarten work. They have a beautiful new multi-use building (including gym). The multi-use building is the site of drop-off and pick-up, so kids that get picked up after 5pm are often playing in the gym during that time. The school also has daily chapel, though children of all faiths are welcome. Full tuition is less than, or in-line with, many of the other private schools in the area, with discounts for prepayment and/or multiple kids from the same family. Significant amounts of financial aid are also available. Between 1995 and 2010, the Head of School position changed eight times, causing a drop in enrollment that has finally reversed with consistency. This drop in enrollment has had negative effects on the school's cash-flow. The current semester (Fall 2011) has seen a flood of negative publicity with the inaccurate message that the school is currently closing. Actually, fundraisers have already raised a significant chunk of the necessary funds for this academic year, and plans are being put in place to restructure the school's finances to prevent this issue from recurring. Saint Michael's is a great school, and we strongly recommend it for parents who are focused on academics and families who could benefit from a small school environment. Disclaimer: I have met several times with members of the school Board, have volunteered my time assisting with a committee looking at the school's finances, and have donated time and money to the school. I am not an employee of the school, nor have I received any sort of compensation from the school.

As a former employee, I strongly encourage you to send your child somewhere else. They have always…read morebeen in financial struggle and see every child as a dollar sign. The headmaster and daycare director do not really care about the children. I have heard such phrases as "trash" and "her mother is a b****" when talking about kids and thier parents. Kids that are sick are not sent home when they should be. Since there are several daycares and schools in B/CS, I suggest you pick one that treats kids and parents with respect.

We first met Ms. Nazneen, Ms. Rania, Ms. Wendi and Ms. Salwa (just a few to name) back in 2017 when…read morewe transitioned our first son to SWLC. We quickly fell in love with everyone there, as it was so easy to see the love and passion they have for children. It was a bittersweet ending when our last experiences were during Covid, as our son transitioned to Kindergarten. With all of the unknown and drive-by drop offs, the staff continued to make all things wonderful and happy for the kiddos. Even the drive-by graduation was so meaningful. Fast forward eight years and our newest addition has entered the world. When I heard that SWLC had added an infant room, I was immediately there to sign us up. And who all do I see when I go? The same Ms. Nazneen, Ms. Rania, Ms. Wendi and Ms. Salwa that I had after all those years! That alone speaks volumes about a daycare facility and not once have I questioned putting this son there. They are a true blessing, along with all other staff who have made us feel so welcome this time around! We are beyond blessed to be back for a second lap at Southwood Learning Center and look forward to continuing current relationships and developing new ones with all the staff and families.

Always blown away at how loved my children are at this school and how much they learn!read more