Parochial Schools in Smithtown and Northport Area- looking for full day kindergarten (Commack: school districts)

[kptree]

Our son will be going to kindergarten next year. Problem is, we live in the Kings Park school district. While Kings Park is known for many wonderful things, they are way behind the times with the 1/2 day or "extended" day kindergarten they offer. We are trying to decide between parochial schools in the area. Can anyone tell me about St. Patrick's in Smithtown, Trinity in East Northport, or Holy Family in Commack. Is one school better than another? More updated? Smaller class sizes? Any help is appreciated.

[Kbinspections]

kptree,

2 years ago we went thru same exact issues with living in KP. We decided on Sts Philips and James in St James. Best decision we ever made.....we are very happy there.

Never looked at Trinity but I would pick Holy Family over St Pats.

[Kbinspections]

The class sizes are bigger in catholic schools but they have a teacher and 2 full time adds in the room which lowers the ratio to around 10 to 1

[omigawd]

Originally Posted by Kbinspections

The class sizes are bigger in catholic schools but they have a teacher and 2 full time adds in the room which lowers the ratio to around 10 to 1

I found the opposite to be true.... My daughter was in Catholic school until last school year. There were only 17 kids in her class. She is now in public school and there are 24 in her class.

Catholic school enrollment is way down --- partially due to the expense (totalling 5K or more per school year in Elementary, much more for HS) and partially due to the academics. Public schools offer much, much more academically than Catholic schools do or will. Even discipline-wise, Catholic schools have fallen off ---- where it used to be strict discipline and respect, it's now more laid back and discipline/respect aren't the "word of the day" the way it used to be.

I would choose public school over Catholic school any day.

[OhBeeHave]

IMHO Catholic school registration are composed of two types of students:
1) Those whose parents desire a Catholic education for their children
2) Those whose school districts may have issues (overcrowding, lack of programs, etc.)

I respect both groups because they are concerned about what their child's well-being and feel that Catholic school will best serve that interest.

That written, I am the product of public schools, my husband's parents sent him to Catholic school until they moved out to Suffolk over 40 years ago. He spend his secondary years in public school.

I am happy with the quality of education my children receive in public school, but then I am in one of the well regarded school districts. If I weren't, I would be enrolling my children in Chaminade and St Anthony's for HS.

I've strayed off topic, sorry. I wish I could give the OP some insight to K in the local Catholic schools. The only thing I can state is that my neighbors send their children to St Philip & James in St James. They are happy there. One of the children was pulled out and enrolled in our local public elementary school when St P&J informed the mother that the child needed reading remediation which St P&J could not provide. The child is now back at St P&J.

I don't know of the OP's situation. If they need full day K as the parents work full time, vs wanting full day K for the educational aspect. I would look into the reading programs within the 1/2 day public K vs. that at the full day Catholic school.

Good luck to the OP with your decision!