St. Joseph Catholic School in Beltsville

Posted: June 1, 2026

II have a beautiful son who attended this school; the principal and the vice principal label him as a troubled child, and instead of helping a child in crisis, they try to demolish his personality and make him believe that he is not worthy of anything good, especially the school principal. I dont know how to describe her. She is such an evil individual that I have ever met in my lifetime. She believes that he is not worthy of any redemption. I just never met a principal in my entire school years who believed that any child is not worthy of being educated by any adult; even the kids with physical and mental disabilities were believed to be teachable, but she believes that my son is not worthy of education or kind treatment in that school.

Posted: June 1, 2026

Posted: May 31, 2024

We are extremely disappointed about SJR, we had very high expectations from what is advertised as a Blue Ribbon School, but dont be fooled, this means absolutely nothing now. There is racial profiling against white students which are a minority in the school. The teacher turnover is very high which leads to a lack of continuity in the childrens education. The school seems to be more concerned about fundraising and social events than to educating the children. The awards granted at the end of the quarter are biased to catholic families only, non white students and to the students whose parents volunteer and literally live to do nothing else than to help the school. Not a good place for a child to learn or develop.

Posted: May 31, 2024

Posted: September 8, 2022

My children have been at St. Josephs Catholic school in Beltsville for over 8 years and we have observed the school only improving from year to year. From obtaining the Blue-Ribbon status, to the increasing numbers of qualified faculty and staff, to updating classrooms with technology such as smartboards and iPads, it has been a continuous dedication to make St. Josephs the excellent school that it is today. The teachers and staff are dedicated to the children and teaching them the Catholic values. The students themselves learn not only the necessary curriculum, but kindness, respect, and discipline that are very much missing in todays world. If you decide to send your child to St. Josephs, be prepared to be involved in the school community with volunteering for various activities, having an open communication with the teachers and staff, and taking an active part in your childs education. St. Josephs is a school that, through a strong partnership with parents, will provide a foundation for your child to thrive.

Posted: September 8, 2022

Posted: June 28, 2022

RUN!!! Unfortunately, we did not have the best experience and it's telling when there's no one place official place to leave a review for this Catholic schools. There was so much turnover that my child regressed in simple educational topics, where she was excelling prior to entering the school. We were able to witness first-hand children that required IEP (Individual Education Plans- required in public schools for children with any type of learning disabilities) but did not receive them because private schools aren't required to tell the parents of the child. This led to disruptive classrooms for children that needed a more constructive environment, elopers during recess which is extremely dangerous, and for the much younger children who take naps - a possibility of being trampled on when the child needed additional assistance acted out. This most likely played into the continuous teach turnover, as they didn't have the support/accommodations they needed to do their job successfully. I inquired with the teachers and aides on whether or not they had spoken with the principal about this matter to which they replied, several times but their inquiries were ignored. There were several instances where myself and other parents caught the principal lying, an ongoing lack of organization from school trips to replying to parent emails, and lastly no structure in the school curriculum...when I asked my child what they learned that day, they stated almost the same content every day. It was extremely discouraging for me because I trusted the Catholic school to provide a rigorous course load to prepare my child for the upcoming school year, that I should be able to reinforce from day to day, but I will be spending my time reteaching and instructing my child topics that should have been covered so they don't fall behind in their new school. The Archdiocese should be ashamed and have more involvement to make changes when there is so much chaos in one school year. It's a no for me! This school lacked partnership with the parents and teacher(s) alike to create success for each student and did not create a safe learning space for all students to be able to achieve their greatest potential. Godspeed if you pick this school for the upcoming plan year!

Posted: June 28, 2022

Posted: March 8, 2022

I agree with the reviews that this school needs to work on discipline, attract more qualified teachers, and work will all students in each classroom rather than just teach to the honor students. There is no control in any of the classes from first grade to 8th grade. Students yell out in class, walk around, and generally show disrespect to adults. I question whether 8th grade students are prepared for high school. As another review stated, there are no quality public schools in my area. I can confirm there are no set dates when assignments are due. There are no penalties for late work. This is a big change from the way Catholic schools were managed in the past.

Posted: March 8, 2022

Posted: November 10, 2020

Exceptional and well beyond our expectations for our daughter's education. e couldn't happier with this school.

Posted: November 10, 2020

Our daughter's teacher provides homework specific to her skills, strengths and needs

Posted: November 10, 2020

We love this school. Prior to starting PreK, I was trying to get our daughter to count by 2s or 5s because I read on the internet that this was an age appropriate behavior. She constantly assured me that I cannot jump directly from 2 to 4, but must include 1 and 3 in the process. A few weeks into the school year, even though she's 100% online, she was counting by 2s and 10s. She still avoids 5s because she says counting by 10s is faster.
She had also begun reading some basic books, but largely just memorized the storylines and try as I might I couldn't get her to focus on individual words, letters, sounds or to try to recognize individual words independent of the sentences. Roughly a month into the year, she picked up a Dr. Seuss book and read, "Take it slowly, this book is ... " and the word dangerous evaded her. I was amazed how fast Ms. Montoya was able to improve her math and reading skills.
She also refused repeatedly to do much Spanish at home, but her St. Joseph Spanish Teacher Ms Moreno was able to get her to move smartly forward in that skill as well.

Posted: November 10, 2020

The school leadership is amazing and has been exceptional during the COVID chaos. We couldn't happier with this school.

Posted: November 10, 2020

Our daughter tested exceptionally high and the school has adjusted her studies to fit her individual level.

Posted: November 10, 2020

The school actively enforces the idea of mutual respect for all.

Posted: July 31, 2020

it was and is amazing I hope all the staff and workers and students grow.

Posted: July 31, 2020

it teaches the kid what they are supposed to learn.

Posted: July 31, 2020

the are so nice and kind an always helping others

Posted: July 31, 2020

when I went there all the student are good to teachers and there pairs.

Posted: July 31, 2020

the are a very good blue ribbon school.

Posted: July 31, 2020

all the student have different times they will be done and this school stays with you base

Posted: July 31, 2020

in this school if you bully (which mostly doesn't happen) the adults will talk to you and correct you on your behavior.

Posted: February 26, 2019

You can tell the teachers love the kids and want them to do well. The teachers and staff are friendly and welcoming.

Posted: February 26, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

I think the leadership has issues with transparency and I am not confident that my child is getting the best education that we can provide.

Posted: June 11, 2018

Recent poster is also wrong to single out old textbooks in one class. Everything is new in this school as compared to neighboring Catholic schools. Recent past principal put in new floors, new roof, new lighting, air conditioning, and a fantastic middle school science lab.

Posted: April 26, 2018

This is our first year at St. Josephs and we couldnt be any happier. I am surprised by the comments of the last review because the former after care director sent her resignation letter to parents in the program and said she was leaving because administration eliminated her marketing job. She was clearly bitter but she never mentioned anything remotely about safety. My kid loves aftercare, so much so that it is a pain to leave because she whines so she can stay. I like that she can play and get her HW done before I pick her up. I also love that she is learning the Catholic faith and going to mass every Tuesday, Penance, Stations of the Cross, etc. The teachers are also top notch and very friendly. You can tell they love the kids there. Her class scored at a Blue Ribbon levels in reading (apparently, the whole school did) which is amazing for such a small school. Her class was also Blue a Ribbon in math (most of the school is). So I know she is getting a great education. I like that they offered new after school programs in Latin, STEM, and LEGO too. She loves those clubs, especially when they made ice cream in STEM. We enrolled for next year and are so happy with our decision.

Posted: January 7, 2018

In fall 2017 There was an abrupt departure of the after-care director, who wrote a letter to parents explaining the reasons she was leaving. We parents got the impression that the current policies/situation were not safe and the director could not stand by and allow it. The 7th grade class of 2017-18 is out of control and the new principal seems at a loss as to how to restore order. Middle school English homework is unnecessarily painful grammar and overkill assignments. Middle school sci-math is terrific if you don't get stuck in the out-of-control class. Admin has a weird Over-reaction to Black hairstyles for boys like hi-top fades. Extremely outdated textbooks for middle school social studies and English, dates so old they would not be allowed on a public school or library shelf. Ironic considering parents pay the cost of books. School seems great for lower grades. Teachers seem to be able to handle even-keel kids but not this current crop of wild middle schoolers, namely 7th Gr. Bullying policy is just words on paper. Don't expect enforcement of it. Religion teacher is uninspired, gruff, classic school marm w no clue how to make the Word of God come alive. Front office staff are gems, real bright lights in this school. Spanish started off shaky, numerous subs. Overall, not a good investment for middle school.

Posted: January 7, 2018

Posted: December 22, 2017

The teachers are truly dedicated to their craft and working with parents to ensure that each child is successful. Kids have countless opportunities to participate in events that help to develop them spiritually, academically, and personally. I am so happy that my daughter is becoming a better person because the school environment provides the conditions necessary for her to thrive!

Posted: July 13, 2017

I love it! My child gets to enjoy the weekend homework free and the homework is age appropriate. The kids look out for each other and kindness is encouraged! It is like a true family. Their academics is also top notch!

Posted: July 8, 2017

Homework is used to reinforce lessons. There is no "busy work" assigned and the home / school life balance is maintained.

Posted: July 8, 2017

The teachers are absolutely the best! :)

Posted: July 8, 2017

I love this school. The teachers are amazing, the students are eager to learn, there is a healthy balance between study/work/social/athletic/faith life.

Posted: July 2, 2015

St. Joseph's is a wonderful community full of passionate educators and dedicated families. All of us here are united in our love of God and our desire to bring out the best in each child. This community welcomed us with open arms and we have been blessed ever since. I've watched close relationships form and it has been a joy to watch our children blossom both in their faith and academics.

Posted: February 22, 2015

I LOVE this school! I have a 5th grader and a 6th grader who both started at St. Joseph's in Kindergarten. The staff is amazing - they all treat the students like their extended family. The middle school team is just that... a TEAM who works together to ensure the students are well prepared for High School. They are aware of tests, quizzes and papers that other teachers have assigned and they take care to make sure the students are working to their full potential but are not overloaded. I love many of the community building events St. Joseph's has every year - a crab feast in the fall, a 5K and one mile fun run, monthly basket bingo nights, pasta dinners and a Multicultural Pot Luck Night in the spring! I can't say enough positive about the school. If you are looking for a quality education for your child in a small, personal class setting, you should set up an appointment to visit the school...you won't be disappointed!

Posted: February 21, 2015

I have three children at this school and have always felt like they receive very personal attention by all of the staff. It has a very diverse population which I believe is quite representative of Prince George's County. I contacted the school about its diversity and they gave me the following numbers: Asian/Pacific Islander - 10%, African American - 45%, Caucasian - 25%, Hispanic - 10%, Multi-Racial - 10%. If you are looking for a school where the students are treated as individuals and special to God, this is the school your children should attend.

Posted: February 19, 2015

I have two elementary aged children at St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School and they are thriving academically, socially, and religiously. They have been attending the school since pre-K and we plan on having them graduate from St. Joe's in 8th grade. The small class sizes allow the teachers to focus on each child and provide the support and encouragement they need. The priests visit the school regularly and allow my children to easily see the connection between religion and daily life . The numerous after-school and enrichment options, including math club, choir, band, games club, fit club, cooking club, newspaper and CYO sports, allow my children to develop in all aspects with various children. The faculty, staff and priests are warm and caring. It is an atmosphere where children thrive.

Posted: January 31, 2015

This school is by far the worst! As a military family my children have been through several different schools in the US and overseas. And we have never been treated so disgusting in our life, as my child did at St Joseph's Catholic School. My child never had a chance from the start. It saddens me to still think how bad they treated my child. Catholic!! They criminate it my child with not even looking into the problem and to top things of the other child that made the worse statement is still attending that school. it saddens me on how long we tortured our child by staying in that school for that long. If you're not the right color of skin don't even bother going to this school. We felt the discrimination in St. Joseph's Catholic School in Beltsville, MD.

Posted: January 16, 2015

We are parishioners at St Hugh Church in Greenbelt. When the St Hugh School was closed and St Joseph became our regional school it was clear that was the place for our son. We are so glad our son is attending St Joseph's Regional Catholic School. The staff is amazing and the Home and School Association and the parish have done amazing things. My son started here in 1st grade and is now in 4th grade. Since he fist attended, ALL CLASSROOMS have had air conditioning installed, all of the lighting has been replaced with state of the art LED energy saving lighting, work has been done on the roof and parking lot. There is always something going on to improve the school. Along with the improvements to the facilities, I love the staff. They are energetic, they motivate the kids, and the kids respond. Help is provided for students who struggle, and challenges are provided for those who are excelling. There are several other Catholic schools in the area where we could have sent our son to, but St. Joseph is the place for us. We love it!

Posted: September 24, 2014

I am so happy that I made the decision to send my daughter to St. Joe's. I love that there is a family atmosphere and the classes are relatively small. I have no doubt that my daughter is getting the attention that she needs. The staff is amazing -- always positive and so welcoming. The school is extremely well-run and the communication from school to home is exceptional. The building itself has gotten a lot of support from the parish and the new pastor has brought a new energy to the whole community. I highly recommend this school to anyone who is looking for a quality neighborhood school!

Posted: September 17, 2014

St. Joseph s school is truly exceptional and, as a parent, I would highly recommend it. Small student body allows for individual care from teachers and staff, who treat and develop each child as the gift from God that he or she is. The principal greets you and your child with a smile each morning at an efficient drop off. And she waves good buy every afternoon at a very well organized pick up. The aftercare staff focuses on doing homework with the kids, but also allows them time to play and relax. Although it is an older school building, the equipment and supplies are on par with the best schools - from the brand new science lab, to smart boards in each classroom, to new air conditioning system. And students reflect all the care and great education that they receive at St. Joseph. They are polite, respectful and get accepted to the best high schools in the area. As another parent stated, St. Joseph is a gem.

Posted: April 7, 2014

My daughter has been attending this school since K; she's now in 2nd grade. My experience so far has been good. Any time I've had an issue, I have been satisfied w/how they were resolved. I feel like the teachers my daughter has had so far have been caring. The only issue I have is the bldg; it really is old and could use some renovating. A/C in all class rooms should be installed.

Posted: March 20, 2014

The teachers at this school help each and every student reach their full potential. And having a small student body all the students are very close to each other and help each other. My son is also in the aftercare program and when I pick my child up from school late in the day I see teachers who have put a full day in still working on projects and lessons for the students. This school is a gem!

Posted: January 14, 2014

I honestly love the school and most of all my child which is most important, currently in Pre-K. She is recieving a great education and i love the programs offered. This is my first school experience in PGCPS and i would like to keep her attending here until 8th if we can continue

Posted: December 17, 2013

Re. the previous 2012-13 comments, the school has a new principal now, a woman who is a lay Franciscan. Things have completely turned around. Parents and teachers all seem thrilled and the place is filled with joy.

Posted: April 26, 2013

No longer a quality institution. Currently undergoing much turmoil....unhappy parents, demoralized teachers and out of control students. School is deteriorating under current leadership.

Posted: April 2, 2013

I could not disagree more with the last review. The current principal is energetic, very approachable and involved in the daily academic and spiritual life of the students at the school. He is a breath of fresh air! St. Joseph s is a wonderful school that fosters a learning environment that is academically rigorous and Christ-centered. The teachers are very dedicated to ensuring that each child is supported, nurtured and academically challenged. My child has grown from her experiences at the school and is happy to go to school every day. I would highly recommend this school (and the current principal) to anyone looking for a faith-based, family oriented and academically strong school with a bright future.

Posted: December 18, 2012

The school used to be a great school, I've heard. The school will decline under the current principal. He is a first year principal and he doesn't appear to have the skills to lead a quality institution. He has been inconsiderate to me and disrespectful to his staff. My child can even see this, which is a serious problem. I believe it is important for parents, teachers and students to respect and believe in the principal. Based on my experience with other schools, I don't think Mr. Jankowski will foster this sort of environment. Otherwise, this is a fine school, so I hope he improves soon.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Hillandale	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	3.4 mi
2	Iverly	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	3.4 mi
3	DuMont Oaks	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	4.4 mi
4	Forest Knolls	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	5.2 mi
5	Takoma Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Takoma Park	MD	5.9 mi
6	Maple Lawn	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fulton	MD	8.2 mi
7	Norwood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Olney	MD	8.4 mi
8	Midway Common	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fort Meade	MD	10.1 mi
9	White Flint	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Rockville	MD	10.3 mi
10	The Willoughby	Condominium/Townhouse	Chevy Chase	MD	10.5 mi
11	Harvest Run	Condominium/Townhouse	Odenton	MD	11 mi
12	Piney Orchard at Pinedale Courts	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Odenton	MD	11.4 mi
13	The VIO	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Washington SW	DC	11.6 mi
14	Old Farm	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Rockville	MD	11.9 mi
15	The Provinces	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Severn	MD	12.1 mi
16	Crofton	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Crofton	MD	12.7 mi
17	Lake Village Town Homes	Apartment Complex	Severn	MD	12.8 mi
18	Shelter Cove Luxury Apartments	Apartment Complex	Odenton	MD	13 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	White Oak	Silver Spring	MD	3.4 mi
2	Laurel	Laurel	MD	5.9 mi
3	Silver Spring	Silver Spring	MD	6.5 mi
4	Hammond Hills	Laurel	MD	7.6 mi
5	Capitol Hill	Washington	DC	11.1 mi
6	Washington DC	Washington D.C.	DC	11.2 mi
7	Georgetown	Washington	DC	11.3 mi

Base	Distance
Walter Reed Medical Center	9.7 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	10.6 mi.
Marine Barracks Washington	11.6 mi.
Washington Navy Yard	11.9 mi.
Fort McNair	12.6 mi.
Coast Guard Headquarters DC	12.9 mi.
Pentagon	13.6 mi.
Fort Myer	13.7 mi.
Henderson Hall	14.2 mi.
Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia	14.5 mi.
Andrews AFB	16 mi.
Mark Center Alexandria	17.7 mi.
Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church	19.5 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	21.9 mi.
US Naval Academy	23.6 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	24.3 mi.
Fort Belvoir	25.6 mi.
NRO Chantilly	30.4 mi.
Indian Head Naval Base	33.9 mi.
Fort Detrick	38.9 mi.
Quantico Marine Base	44.8 mi.
Dahlgren NSWC	48.3 mi.

St. Joseph Catholic School

Beltsville, MD 20705

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St. Joseph Catholic School

Beltsville, MD 20705

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