Wilmette Catholic Schools (Chicago, Evanston, Winnetka: pros and cons, maintenance, live in)

[vesta75]

Anyone know the pros and cons of St. Francis Xavier vs St. Joseph schools? We are planning a move to Wilmette and plan to send our children to Catholic school. We have toured both and like them both for different reasons and would love some additional input.

I'm particularly interested in more information on the general community feel and perceptions of academics.

Thanks!

[chet everett]

Have you used the search function? I seem to recall that there was a thread on this not too long ago. For this sort of question, heavily influenced by personal experience, the feedback on the sites that allow pretty much anyone to comment are probably OK...

The feedback that I have heard from many is that the decisions about choosing a private school in an area known for very good public schools is that social concerns, especially for parents, are quite a factor. If you choose to be very involved in the fund raising, family events, organized socialization the opportunities and pressures are different than those of a public school...

[vesta75]

Thanks Chet. I appreciate your feedback. I did a search prior to posting and there is some helpful general information but nothing on specific differences between these two particular schools. I'm hoping to find some personal experiences here.

[chet everett]

I understand your concern. I really doubt there are more than a handful of folks that have experience with both schools. The decision is often made based on location, as it is one of those things that neighbors sort of share.

I have friends that live in southern part of Wilmette and they literally don't have any interaction beyond attending services at Saint Athanasius in Evanston, mostly because their friends went there...

[Sarah H.]

I've heard good things about both schools but know more families who go to St. Joe's. I know that they have full day kindergarden. Not sure about Xavier. Did either school give you names of current families to call? That may help. Of course they'll say great things but may be able to tell you more about the feel of the school.

[vesta75]

Thanks Sarah. The schools didn't give me families to call, but I should ask for that. What do the people you know say about St. Joe's?

[slow_nerve_action]

We looked at both this spring when we considered moving up there.

St. Joe's seemed like more of a community, though if I understood correctly, more of the kids came from outside Wilmette. There was some friction there about that. St Francis Xavier looked real nice, was impressed with the commitment of the teachers, had a great principal that stressed discipline, but if your kid needs any help on with end of the learning spectrum, (smart or slow), they wouldn't be much help. The curriculum seemed about half a year behind where my kid was in their public school.

Both seemed like just fine private schools, but didn't blow the walls off.

[Anthera]

St Francis has a lot of Wilmette families. St. Joseph has lots of kids form outside Wilmette because it has a reputation as a very conservative school. The people I know whose kids go to both schools love them.

The difference betwen the schools is very much like the east vs west Wilmette differences.

[Anthera]

Plenty of Wilmette families send their kids to FHC and Sacred Heart in Winnetka too. Depending on where you live FHC may be closer. If you are in SE Wilmette St. A's in Evanston is also an option.

[Sarah H.]

Originally Posted by vesta75

Thanks Sarah. The schools didn't give me families to call, but I should ask for that. What do the people you know say about St. Joe's?

Everyone I know who sends their kids to St. Joe's loves it. I've never heard a bad thing about either school- but if a family didn't like it they probably wouldn't be there. I've heard St. Joe's is a wonderful community. They don't use the Everyday Math program that is used at the Wilmette public schools. Some parents find this a plus if their kids didn't do well with the program. A neighbor said one thing she loves about St. Joe's is the ethnic diversity that her kids are exposed to. She said this wasn't so in the public school they went to prior.

From what I know of Faith Hope (since someone else mentioned it) it's one of the most expensive of the Catholic schools, if not the most, in the Chicago area. It's a great school too but I've never heard it's any better than any of the others. The general reputation of the parents at Faith Hope is that they are high maintenance, always dressed to the nines, and very into their social life. Not necessarily a bad thing but something to consider if your family is more crunchy and child focused.

Good luck with your decision.