Private Schools St. Cloud, MN (Minneapolis, Sartell: appointed, lawyer, home)

[TeaVert]

Hello Readers! I am looking for advice regarding private Catholic schools in the St. Cloud, MN area. I am highly interested in opinions regarding Saints Peter, Paul & Michael school and St. Francis Xavier(Sartell). My child will be primary school age this fall and we are new to the area. I am also looking for insight re: John 23 and Cathedral High School and opinions on going 100% Catholic school compared to Catholic primary and transferring to public.

[golfgal]

They are all excellent schools. Keep in mind that the public schools in MN are excellent as well. The Catholic aspect of the school is nice but if you are looking at private schools for academic reasons the public schools are equally as good.

[StFrancisResident]

I have found that only a small hand full of public schools in Minnesota can come close to Christian schools. I sit on the Board of a small Lutheran school and our students test 2 to 5 grades higher than our public school counterparts. PLUS our students study Christ every day. You can not even say the words Christ or God in the public schools without some ACLU lawyer knocking on your door.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by StFrancisResident

I have found that only a small hand full of public schools in Minnesota can come close to Christian schools. I sit on the Board of a small Lutheran school and our students test 2 to 5 grades higher than our public school counterparts. PLUS our students study Christ every day. You can not even say the words Christ or God in the public schools without some ACLU lawyer knocking on your door.

While your comment about saying God in a public schools is a gross exaggeration I think you are also misinformed about the vast majority of the public schools in MN. Perhaps in your town that is the case but in most areas, and specifically the St. Cloud area that the OP is asking about, the Catholic schools academically are equal to the public schools.

[hnjohnson]

I went to a public school in SW MN and believe I received a great education. However, in St. Cloud, I'm not sure about the public schools. I do know several people that went to Cathedral High School in SC and really liked it and they also did really well in their college classes. I'm not sure about the elementary/primary schools though. I think it's all dependent on whether you want your children to have religion as part of their daily academic routine.

[N8ivGoddess]

I for one, won't send my kids to public schools in Minnesota. I home school them because I am disappointed with the schools here. Once we move back down south, I will send them back to public school. Theirs are so much better than up here, as far as curriculum and people go. They have a much higher rate of excellence too and they are so much more civilized than up here. Gawd, I can't wait to go back home.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by N8ivGoddess

I for one, won't send my kids to public schools in Minnesota. I home school them because I am disappointed with the schools here. Once we move back down south, I will send them back to public school. Theirs are so much better than up here, as far as curriculum and people go. They have a much higher rate of excellence too and they are so much more civilized than up here. Gawd, I can't wait to go back home.

You are the first person that I have ever heard say that public schools in the South are better than they are in the North. I think you need to look at some statistics. Silly home schooler...schools are for kids.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by hnjohnson

I went to a public school in SW MN and believe I received a great education. However, in St. Cloud, I'm not sure about the public schools. I do know several people that went to Cathedral High School in SC and really liked it and they also did really well in their college classes. I'm not sure about the elementary/primary schools though. I think it's all dependent on whether you want your children to have religion as part of their daily academic routine.

Cathederal is a very good school. Tuition $8,595/yr for non-parish students. (2006-2007) Maybe it's $10,000 now...I don't know.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by N8ivGoddess

I for one, won't send my kids to public schools in Minnesota. I home school them because I am disappointed with the schools here. Once we move back down south, I will send them back to public school. Theirs are so much better than up here, as far as curriculum and people go. They have a much higher rate of excellence too and they are so much more civilized than up here. Gawd, I can't wait to go back home.

Wow. Not sure where you're from, or what schools you've looked at up there, but Twin Cities suburban schools seem to be considerably better than many (not all) of the suburban schools down here in Atlanta, and the public schools in Minnesota have been winning awards and being rated at or near the top of the nation for the past 20 years plus.

I grew up in the SW Minneapolis burbs, and that whole area is bursting with public schooling goodness.

[taw1955]

Minnesota schools are geat. Cathedral in St Cloud I have heard is really good. St. Cloud is a majority catholic in that town anyway. B prepared to spend alot on tuition. Southern schools in my opinion are so backward and far behind. Not intended as an insult.