Private Academy's in Houston (to live, kindergarten, education)

[vertigo5110]

I think the majority of private schools in Houston do their best to make everybody feel welcomed and accepted no matter what their background or circumstances are.

For example, I know St. Thomas has a yearly "Round Up" fundraiser to raise money for the school's financial aid program (which I was a part of). In my opinion, it's kind of inevitable that private schools will have students who come from well established families. I can't speak for my friends from other private schools but at St. Thomas there was a good mix of those people who were from well established families and those who were from humbler roots. I will say that never in my four years at St. Thomas did I witness somebody use their family's background against another student in a malicious manner. I feel safe in assuming that such behavior is highly discouraged.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by vertigo5110

I think the majority of private schools in Houston do their best to make everybody feel welcomed and accepted no matter what their background or circumstances are.

For example, I know St. Thomas has a yearly "Round Up" fundraiser to raise money for the school's financial aid program (which I was a part of). In my opinion, it's kind of inevitable that private schools will have students who come from well established families. I can't speak for my friends from other private schools but at St. Thomas there was a good mix of those people who were from well established families and those who were from humbler roots. I will say that never in my four years at St. Thomas did I witness somebody use their family's background against another student in a malicious manner. I feel safe in assuming that such behavior is highly discouraged.

This is totally true.
Public school there is no recourse, and some of the worst class warfare is in the burb schools.Pull that mess in private school and you are out, not to mention you would be stupid to do so, considering the means of some of those families. Small fish in a big pond type thing.

[houstmom]

I have always wondered about these private schools that are affiliated with a church or religion such as St. Johns, St. Thomas etc. Forgive my ignorance about this but I just don't know how it works. When you apply to these schools, do the schools ask if the student is Christian or religious? Do they care? Do these schools have religious education as part of their curriculum? Does the student have to participate in religious activities such as a weekly chapel or whatever it is called?

[EasilyAmused]

They don't ask about the child's beliefs. If you want to leave blank your personal parental beliefs, it's fine. They don't refuse admission based on beliefs in my experiences. Yes, a chapel is a manditory event once or twice a week, and often religion occurs during one of the quarters. At most schools it's not a brow beating, but more lessons on kindness and how to live with others. And really religious or not, if you approaching from a learning aspect, it's all good. Besides, if you chose to pay the tuition, you are chosing to participate in religion. If you don't want reigion, don't attend.

The only fire and brimestone religion I've heard about centers around Second Baptist.

[texas7]

Had a kid who went to Lutheran High South and one who attended a public school in a mediocre school district. When the one graduated from Lutheran H.S. - it was the snobbiest graduation ceremony I had ever seen - how they were better people and better educated and a step above because of attending that school and blah blah blah. Surprisingly the one who attended the mediocre public school actually walked away with a better education and more compassion for his fellow humans and fared much better at the University level. Now whether that was the school itself or just the intelligence of the two kids - who really knows but I do know that the kids are snobby as could be at Lutheran (including my own - took forever and some real world experience to get that out of him) and I didn't care for that. That sort of left a negative taste for me, particularly if you live in a good public school zone -- now if you don't then that is an entirely different matter and probably a necessity.

[vertigo5110]

I had friends of all religious denominations at St. Thomas including Muslims and Buddhists. Yes, we had school wide mass about once a month and four years of "theological" education but by no means was it indoctrination. In fact, one of the theology courses that are offer is called "World Religions" and which (of course) focuses on other religions from around the world. I would think the majority of religious private schools approach their theological curriculum from an education perspective.

[CaroleF]

What about the Harmony schools? This one is near my house: Harmony Science Academy - Houston

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by vertigo5110

I had friends of all religious denominations at St. Thomas including Muslims and Buddhists. Yes, we had school wide mass about once a month and four years of "theological" education but by no means was it indoctrination. In fact, one of the theology courses that are offer is called "World Religions" and which (of course) focuses on other religions from around the world. I would think the majority of religious private schools approach their theological curriculum from an education perspective.

When you say St. Thomas do you mean the one in Meyerland?

[vertigo5110]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

When you say St. Thomas do you mean the one in Meyerland?

No. I'm talking about St. Thomas High School on the corner of Memorial and Shepherd. You're thinking of St. Thomas Episcopal.

[texas7]

St. Thomas would be a good call. My friend's kid went there - he had to learn to play the bagpipes. He got to go to Ireland w/St. Thomas to play.