Durham/Apex Catholic school feedback (Raleigh: middle school, live, moving)

[aaa3gboys]

I will post my question first...Are there any over-all/big-picture differences between Immaculata School in Durham and Mary Magdelene Catholic School in Apex? I guess I am thinking as far as the general feel or "vibe" of the school community, how involved parents are, extracurricular for kids, diversity. To me they both look like lovely schools but sometimes there might be slight variations in strengths/weaknesses that someone from the outside wouldn't be able to see. We are not catholic, so although I love the idea of spirituality/religion interwoven with school and character building, I do not have a connection to a particular Catholic church.

We live pretty much equal distance from both of them, so commute can't make our decision for us

Thanks for any input or feedback!

[ReaderGirl]

I would suggest that you schedule a tour with both facilities. I would also suggest that you check on availability of space for your child/children. I know that Immaculata tends to have wait lists and can be hard to get into, especially if you wait until the child/children are past kindergarten age. You may end up applying to both schools and going with the one who accepts your child/children.

[twingles]

I know someone who started at Immaculate in middle school, loves it, no issues.

I know someone who moved into Mary Magdalene in late elementary school with two kids, (having come from a Catholic school) hated it, said the parents were not just unfriendly but downright mean. This is not a shy woman who told me this LOL. She ended up pulling them for public school.

[hellorebecca]

Have heard good things about Immaculata and its community (Im a Durhamite)—nothing about Mary Magdalene.

[Pixel_Dent]

My exposure to Mary Magdalene is twofold. First Apex doesn't have baseball for kids younger than 9 and Mary Magdalene fills that gap. My son played in their T-Ball and baseball leagues until he moved up to West Raleigh. The leagues were well run for what they were and everyone from the school was helpful and friendly.

We know three families who send their kids to MM* and they really like the school and their kids who play with my kids and whom I've coached are smart and polite. We've never even sending our kids there because, among other things, we like the public schools in the area but their parents and students reflect well on them.

(* They are also wonderful, friendly people. I find it rather insulting that twingles would pass along hearsay that "the parents" at MM are unfriendly and mean. Why would you think it's appropriate to slur the character of thousands of parents with such a broad brush? You should be ashamed of yourself.)

[twingles]

Originally Posted by Pixel_Dent

(* They are also wonderful, friendly people. I find it rather insulting that twingles would pass along hearsay that "the parents" at MM are unfriendly and mean. Why would you think it's appropriate to slur the character of thousands of parents with such a broad brush? You should be ashamed of yourself.)

Don't kill the messenger. This is someone who pulled her kids from the school - after moving here from another NC city - and put them in public school. If you think someone changes their kids' school TWICE in a year and does it lightly you are mistaken. Those were her words - not just unfriendly, downright mean. I have no reason or interest in making things up. It is not "slurring the character of thousands of people" which is a bit dramatic. The OP is, I presume, a grown up and can filter the info given as s/he sees fit (after asking a near impossible question, as there's a near zero chance of one family having experience at both schools).

I find your statement equally ridiculous. The OP asked for information and she got it. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it irrelevant. I am not ashamed of myself. Sorry.