St. Bernadette School in Springfield

Posted: October 2, 2025

Unfortunately, our family can validate the negative previous reviews. When we started there, the principal was WONDEFUL! She knew every student by name, wrote them personalized birthday cards, and had the confidence of all the parents. Since that principal retired, the school has not been the same. If you have any doubt about the school, I encourage you to take a tour. Walking into St. Bernadette feels like walking into a mausoleum. The vibe is quiet, morbid, and totally lacking joy. The current administration is incredibly toxic; the principal gives lip service to being welcoming and liking getting feedback, but if you ask for a meeting your child is blamed and/or you are accused of gossiping. Ironically, when you ask for facts, the principal is defensive at best, and won't provide them. The principal takes no responsibility, and has no investment in working with you to improve things for your child. Parents are often condescended to. There is an emphasis on Catholic Compliance Culture and being right over what is right for the children. When you approach the administration with any issues, there is gaslighting and defensiveness.

My child had some wonderful teachers initially, but many of them have moved onto the resource department, which is still woefully understaffed. Teachers are inconsistent and there's a lot of staff turnover. The good staff also do not like the current principal and they literally get school policies shoved at them too. If your child has any learning differences at all, I highly discourage this school. If your child is sensitive to bullying, this is NOT the place to be. Teachers use discipline/classroom management issues as part of grading. For example, if a child has one slight behavioral issue in the class, the child is given 0/10 on participation points. Likewise, if your child's spelling is correct, but the handwriting isn't neat enough, the word is marked wrong. Parents are exhausted from having to advocate for their children. One teacher in fifth grade is so underqualified she literally had an argument with the kids about the Prime Meridian, then yelled at them for being right! Parents and children are stressed and overworked, and feel that the school year is something to get through. Our child was coming home stressed, depressed, and vomiting daily. Our child hated school, so we left in the middle of the year; happily, our child has been thriving since starting elsewhere. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend St. Bernadette!

Posted: August 23, 2025

We could validate reviews below. Current leadership is very defensive only to its staffing and systems in place. It does not hone mediation and protection for its children. In fact, a very dismissive approach was given to us. So how do you protect your children under a governance as such from abuse or bullying? We were surprised to be dismissed immediately without further investigation or action. No solution until we suggested a compromise. I call this an unprofessional approach and a very toxic environment. Existing authoritarian power play is so evident across departments. Heard from other parents about multiple complaints on a certain teacher so how is this teacher still employed?! Biased I say. This school needs a principal who is level headed, high on compassion and experienced on mediation. She does not protect the children in this school apart from herself and her position. For a catholic school, it is hypocritical to its standard values.
Strength through Gentleness?! No way youd see that in their authoritarian power plays in the childrens environments. The higher positions are older ladies who are very arrogant and disrespectful. They are judgemental and dismiss you like you are subordinate. Hypocritical to the Catholic beliefs. School needs a refresh seeing from the reviews below.

Posted: June 26, 2025

Do not send your child to this school. Its a harmful environment where students are rewarded for reporting peers, provoking others and taking pleasure in their punishment. The culture promotes manipulation, surveillance, and public shaming over empathy and accountability. As a result, the school becomes emotionally unsafe, damaging student well-being, trust, and healthy development. It reflects a serious leadership failure to build a supportive and inclusive climate. The school has gone downhill under current leadership.

Some students use racially disparaging terms to describe kids who are children of immigrants. There are some good teachers. Some of the best ones leave the classroom to work in Learning Support, for example, or they work in the Middle School. This leaves your child with inexperienced student teachers who lack teaching experience and teaching on the fly. Bad teachers are merely shuffled from one grade or subject to the next instead of out of the school. Teacher turnover is extremely high from one year to the next which is indicative of an unstable environment.

Posted: June 9, 2025

I hated this school. Do not take your kids here, ESPECIALLY if they are in a minority. Extremely racist and don't embrace diversity.

Posted: October 20, 2023

I would strongly recommend exploring other educational options for your child. Unfortunately, this school falls significantly short of providing a nurturing and supportive environment on multiple fronts. The teachers here often rush to assign failing grades, a practice that contradicts the fundamental principles of fostering a conducive learning atmosphere. The current state of this institution does not effectively support your child's overall growth, learning, and academic development.

Rather than cultivating a healthy environment for academic flourishing, it leans towards creating a toxic and detrimental atmosphere. It appears that information is simply disseminated to the students without affording them the opportunity to genuinely comprehend and engage with the material being taught. This one-sided approach to education does a disservice to the students, hindering their capacity to attain true academic success.

The school predominantly relies on memorization and rote learning, an outdated approach to education that leaves students ill-prepared to excel in today's rapidly evolving and fast-paced world, where critical thinking skills are more valuable than ever.

In view of these concerns, I strongly recommend considering alternative educational institutions that prioritize a more holistic and nurturing approach to learning and personal development for your child.

Posted: February 28, 2023

Both of our kids attended St. Bernadette for the past four years and our overall experience has been great!

Posted: February 28, 2023

Saint Bernadette Catholic School sees our students as a gift from God, and we work to form the whole child. Part of this formation is learning to work well with others as preparation for adulthood. Each day, our students learn to work and play with one another, including those whose background or ethnicity may be different than their own. Our school is diverse in all ways--we have students of varying social and economic status, of different ethnicities, academic abilities, and different religious backgrounds. We see this broad diversity as a strength. It is joyful to watch the many shades of children come into our building hand-in-hand, excited to see one another at school! Great care is taken to hire a diverse faculty who are representative of the children in our care.

When issues arise, they are addressed swiftly and thoroughly by our school counselor, assistant principal and principal, working hand-in-hand with parents as our partners. Partnering with parents, we graduate kind and caring students who are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the rigors of high school. They are strong in their faith with their Hearts and Minds formed in Christ. Our graduates are good people who will go on to do good things.

Posted: February 25, 2023

Do NOT take your kid to this school if your kid is a minority. There is a strong culture of racism and the school administration does nothing about it. Every parent who is non white has had several incidents of racism and the administration actually condones such behavior from my opinion. The school is very divisive both parents and children and does not celebrate diversity. Several concerns have been raised about how minorities are being treated and this is never addressed.

Posted: June 7, 2021

Saint Bernadette School has been a life saver. They were very flexible and responsible throughout the Covid pandemic, something I really valued as an essential worker. Also, their ability to meet both my students needs has been remarkable, as I have an advanced learner and a student with learning disabilities. Their math teachers, resource teachers and Sliding Doors dyslexia program is top rate and much appreciated!

Posted: June 7, 2021

Posted: October 30, 2020

Mrs. Dalmut has been very effective the last 5 years. Staff is stable, rules are consistent, and her years of experience show.

Posted: October 30, 2020

The learning resource department really helped one of my children. The LR teachers are very caring.

Posted: October 30, 2020

The homework load is heavy, but my oldest child was very well prepared for high school.

Posted: October 30, 2020

The teachers really care about my children. Ive had teachers from previous years check in just to see how they are doing.

Posted: October 30, 2020

Weve had 3 children at this school. The homework load can be burdensome, but we can now see how prepared our child is for high school. We have found teachers who really love our kids, and that is priceless.

Posted: October 18, 2019

Mrs. Dalmut is a no-nonsense leader who expects a lot from her teachers, and values the time and efforts of parent involvement.

Posted: October 18, 2019

The school support is a unicorn among Catholic schools the in the area, with three resource instructors, they are equipped to handle more than any other Catholic school in the area!

Posted: October 18, 2019

We have seen it been inconsistent; no one wants their child to be labeled a bully, but if a pattern is identified it needs to be shared among the teachers from year to year.

Posted: October 18, 2019

Homework starts in Kinder, so by the time they get to higher grades, homework is a routine and structured.

Posted: October 18, 2019

We have been here 3 years, and have loved every teacher we have.

Posted: October 18, 2019

Great! We love the balance between the community of St. Bernadette and the school. They offer families the opportunity to be as involved as they want to be in their children's education during their school formation. The class sizes are great, and the resources are getting better and better each year.

Posted: September 20, 2019

The principal has been fantastic and listens.

Posted: September 20, 2019

St. Bernadette has been a really fantastic school for our kids.

Posted: September 20, 2019

Many of the teachers are phenomenal. They go out of their way to support the students and make learning fun.

Posted: September 4, 2019

There are so many good things about this school. I am grateful to have discovered it.

Posted: August 4, 2019

This school is the best, everyone is so friendly!

Posted: January 4, 2019

The teachers are all too strict, and yell way too much.

Posted: January 4, 2019

Posted: December 13, 2017

This school is excellent and very effective at communicating with parents and addressing their concerns.

Posted: December 13, 2017

Posted: September 16, 2017

It's a feel good school only, grades are good on paper, but no real knowledge is gained. Even their theology program is menial, lacks a good science program completely, and the math program is not up to par. This is from my own experience K-8, good luck if you're going to go from this school to a high school. I strongly suggest you to look at other schools.

Posted: September 16, 2017

Posted: April 25, 2017

Our child has excelled in the last 2 years more than we could have hoped for. The school is now under new management, with a new Priest and a recently hired new Principal. Tonight we had a meeting and thier new vision was shared with all parents in attendance. I have nothing but high praises for the teachers we have dealt with and am extremely friendly and accommodating staff. I would high recommend this school to anyone.

Posted: April 21, 2016

One teacher at this school made me want to yank my kid out but the rest are very good

Posted: April 21, 2016

All except one teacher at St B's has given a reasonable amount of homework. It has been fine

Posted: April 21, 2016

St. Bernadette's is a good overall school. Academics are on par with or above public schools and other diocese schools (though this info was not communicated well to parents) and the religion program is good. Our kids have had good teachers except for one-but that is no different from what you might get in a public school. The principal to whom other reviews mention will not be returning next year. He was not a good fit. So we are hopeful things will improve.

Posted: January 26, 2016

The most striking thing about St. Bernadette is the love and dedication of teachers, parents, and students alike. The administration is approachable and not afraid to make changes when necessary. One such change is the new standardized testing format, which offers shorter tests a few times a year. It gives teachers and parents helpful feedback so that they may better instruct the students.
The teachers truly care for and challenge students at all grade levels. The learning resource teacher is excellent, offering extra help for both high and low learners.
Parents come together for the good of the community, whether that means volunteering in the school or setting up meals when someone is in need.
The students have a real opportunity to develop their consciences and intellect. Extracurricular activities are varied (music, the arts, sports, spirituality) and help to develop the whole child.

Posted: January 18, 2016

I believe my children have had the best teachers. Both of my children have excelled. We have never had one single issue. I think the Principal is doing a fabulous job and making much needed improvements to the school like replacing all windows. His door is always open.

Posted: January 18, 2016

Posted: December 18, 2015

The middle school teachers all work with me to support my student except for one .

Posted: December 9, 2015

After so many years in this school i would say its a average school.Teachers are good but nothing to rave about this school and its management .All the best to new parents.

Posted: September 1, 2015

The principal is doing the best job he can considering his lack of experience. We think he is a fair and honest man and the VP is wonderful. The teachers are good and our experience here was good. My last child graduated last year. The only issue weve ever had at the school is it is run by stay at home moms who think they can control everything. It has gotten really bad in the past two years. Parents think they can control what teachers they want and what kids they want in a class. For some reason, the Principal and VP let that go on even though the handbook clearly states no requesting teachers! These kids are going to have a hard time once they get into high school when their parents cant control every move they make. We had a good experience in all our years here but like any school, the principal needs to stop being bullied by stay at home moms! I am only writing this because I am shocked about all the negative reviews and have heard from many of my neighbor friends about all the requesting of kids/teachers in the school nowadays. Thats the only negative thing going on not the Principal or teachers.

Posted: August 28, 2015

I guess this is a great school as long as your kid does not have any learning disability. We found out our boy had a mild case of ADD thanks to our Kindergarten teacher suggesting that something was off with him. We started a very painful process of finding a psychologist and running the tests. During this process, the school never responded to any of our emails/calls when we inquired for help and guidance (which you would think any school and specially a catholic one would be there for you during difficult times). We only received 2 more emails asking for tests results as they did not know what to do with our kid.
Again, our kid has a very MILD case of ADD and he is very easy to direct with proper guidance that obviously St. Bernadette's staff does not know how to offer.
Very disappointed with this school, teachers of Kindergarten and its Director.

Posted: August 28, 2015

Posted: August 11, 2015

Those four generic comments from July 17th are suspicious.
There are views from both extremes here. It is a decent school with a strong academic program and people who are invested in its success. The principal is oblivious to the effects of his poor decisions. Teacher, parent, and student morale is low. His determination to move the preschool at any cost has had the unfortunate ripple effect of five classrooms moving, including a newly renovated library. Also there is no dedicated Spanish room for the middle school.

Posted: July 17, 2015

I find all the teachers really care about the students. They don't get paid as much as the Fairfax County public school teachers so they teach for more than the money. Catholic schools are not for everyone but the community has been wonderful.

Posted: July 17, 2015

My child is easily able to complete his homework assignments and be involved in extra curricular activities.

Posted: July 17, 2015

Values are one of the biggest reason we decided on Catholic school instead of public school.

Posted: July 17, 2015

Amazing community with focus on the whole student....values are important. Appreciate that our principal has brought in technology and works with the Parent Teacher Organization.

Posted: June 18, 2015

It's disrespectful, unprofessional and disgraceful how misinformed the parent and teacher community has been regarding the status of the full-time preschool program. Kindly inform the teachers and parents as to the where, when, how and WHY! Everyone is upset and uneasy. EXPLAIN IT NOW before additional parents unregister their children for the new school year.

Posted: June 12, 2015

Posted: June 8, 2015

A decent school pulled down by an incompetent principal.

The 8th grade has traditionally taken a class trip to an amusement park the week of graduation. Last fall that trip was absent from this years schedule. Many parents advised the principal that the trip was important to the kids and should be left alone, but he canceled it, insisting that anything school related be "educational." So he scheduled a bus trip to Philadelphia, 6 hours round trip plus 6 more on and off a bus at various stops, 80 bucks. Unsurprisingly, only about a quarter of the class signed up for his trip, so he sent threatening letters to the parents, insisting that anyone who didnt go on the trip must be in school (where no instruction was taking place) or would get an unexcused absence for failing to show up and sit bored in a classroom. In the end, about 50% of the kids went, most of the rest stayed home, and close to 100% lost what little respect they had for this immature and clueless principal.

He also came up with a half-baked scheme for an all day preschool, which neighboring Catholic schools have tried without success. He advertised the program, even showing prospective families a classroom which he said would house the program. Trouble was, that classroom was occupied and moving the preschool there involved a complicated swap of three classrooms and $50,000 in relocation expenses. When he presented this "plan" to the PTO, he couldn't answer any of the obvious questions about the scheme and the PTO declined to fund it. Why is he so set on this sketchy plan? Who knows, maybe it's because he has a child who will be one of the first enrollees in the preschool program?

St. B's has a genuinely warm and loving atmosphere and a decent if unremarkable academic program. But if I were considering it now, I would be wary of putting my children under this amateurish leadership. St. Bs cannot become the school it could be until he is gone. Wait until a grownup takes over.

Posted: May 25, 2015

-a student

I agree with all the one stars.

There is a bullying problem.

I care for someone that is leaving because of this.

Posted: May 5, 2015

My sons have attended Saint Bernadette's since K and we have been very happy with the education they have received. Every year we have had excellent teachers who truly care about their students. Have there been issues? Of course there have, right now one of the biggest things is the quality of the lunch menu. Nothing is perfect and it is up to the parents to effect change if something is broken. It is all of our jobs to make the school a better place for everyone. Case in point when the parents wanted a 1st grade aide they banded together to have their voices heard and effect that change for their children and children to follow. From the level of reviews recently written it seems that there will be some empty seats next year at Saint Bernadette's. That is great because my sons will get even more attention in class. Please note that if you are willing to post a review (posititve or negative) you should post your name, hiding behind this anynomous site does not help the community here at Saint Bernadette's. - Rob Garcia

Posted: April 24, 2015

If you want your child to be mediocre, send him here. Fairfax county and public schools surrounding St Bees are much better. Case in point, Irving MS has many more advanced classes and opportunity for kids to grow intellectually. St Bees does not give the kids the math requisite to sit in the TJ entrance exam. If they want the opportunity to sit in the test, they would have to take Algebra in the summer at a local school. 9 months of material squeeze into a 6-weeks course is a disaster. I have learned it the hard way with my first child. I pulled out my other children to attend their local public schools. Moreover, most of these teachers do not have degrees in teaching. A majority of them are parents have kids attending the school. Save your monies for college! Last point, the head priest Larsen cares nothing about the school.

Posted: April 12, 2015

My child has been in st. Bernadette since KG and now he is in middle school,yes there have been changes ,but i would'nt rate it that bad.Principal is young but is incorporating new ideas,which is good! Another concern that parents write about overload of homework I don't think its on daily basis,I have seen other catholic schools have 2-3 times load of homework,we have nothing compared to them. I like the discipline,zero tolerance against bullying if you send your child to a catholic school you should expect this.We have a only handful of parents who r never happy and pollute the whole school environment ,my advice to them instead of spoiling the good name of this school they can move.(No, I was not told by school to put up this review,I am tired of reading all those nasty reviews ) I am just a parent!

Posted: April 1, 2015

(Cont.) El principio no est sesgada hacia las mujeres . En el caso de una hembra de estudiantes sorteos o amenaza a un estudiante var n , s lo est n andar por ah , pero , si un alumno tuviera que hacer lo mismo , es punible con suspensi n. Por ltimo , 3 dem ritos equivale a una detenci n, suerte Por Para Los Estudiantes , El Principio no es Incapaz de Contar Hasta tres y los Estudiantes una capacesde A Ganar hijo el menudo 7 o mas demaritos ante agit.

Posted: March 16, 2015

I am pretty sure the principal is putting the positive reviews up, as I do not know anyone that sems happy with the school that I know. Parents, teachers or kids. He even told the children it is a sin if anyone puts a negative review up and is very concerned to get the rating back up to 4.5 stars. We have been very disappointed for years, even before the new principle. There is too much homework, too many tests, starting in 2 nd grade. Boys are definitely discriminated against also. Sometimes my kids are doing 3 hours of homework a night, though the teachers will disagree. I have to basically homeschool them too because they are not learning enough in school, even though they are there for over 7 hours a day. All of my concerns through the years have been ignored and any parents that disagree are labeled as troublemakers. My opinion is not a minority. I know many people unhappy with the amount of homework, etc. Sometimes my kids have 5 tests, plus a project due in the same week, and this is not even in middle school, but the primary grades. We would love to leave but I am concerned about sending them to public school because of the drugs, sex, etc. etc.

Posted: February 14, 2015

As a colleague, I have found the principal to have the highest professional standards. His ever-present goal in all decisions is the academic and spiritual development of the students. He seeks information from peers and superiors and reflects on the pros and cons, before prayerfully making difficult decisions. His teacher in-services have encouraged philosophical and forward thinking discussions. A committee of teachers and parents was formed to provide input on the expansion of the pre-school program. He has supported teachers by providing a school wide discipline plan that has been fair and positive. The plan provides for interaction between principal and students. The principal has an open door policy for students, teachers, and parents to discuss any and all concerns. His open door policy is the most appropriate forum to air concerns, opposed to the GreatSchools website which so often compromises the reputation of the school. St. Bernadette s is an academically successful school with a strong Catholic Identity. With the support of the faculty and parents it will continue in the future under the leadership of this capable, sincere, creative and dedicated principal.

Posted: February 6, 2015

St Bernadette School is the best school around the area. As parents it has been our honor and pride to see my son transform academically and spiritually. The school teaches values and shows the kids a good sense of direction for their future. The principle at St. Bernadette is fair, kind and does a great job. We enrolled my son for the second year because of the fairness and leadership of the principle, he is what will keep us at the school. The principle is understanding and can communicate well with the students and the parents. As my son says regarding the principle "He is a really nice guy and fair".St. Bernadette has become a second home for my son. The school has exceptional academic curriculum that is both engaging and challenging. The school has a wonderful staff, capable teachers that truly cares and are devoted to the excellence of the students. We highly recommend St. Bernadette to any parent who thrives for the success and happiness of their kids. We are looking forward to more years of academic excellence and growth at St. Bernadette School.

Posted: February 1, 2015

I'm amazed at all of the negativity on these reviews! Yes, St. Bernadette has a new principal, for the past year and a half. However, the complaining parents strikes us as "stuck in their ways" and resistant to change. The new principal is working to make the best of the school, but with constant pushback from the long-standing families in the school, he is bound to have negative remarks. One huge change he has made was requiring all students to attend weekly Mass (what a horror!!). This is one of the reasons that our children attend Catholic school--it's unfortunate that so many families and teachers resent this change. We have been very impressed with the faith-based curriculum. The two-track school is a great size to allow families to get to know each other, yet still have variety. There are many wonderful teachers who have been at St. B for many years, as well as some new teachers bringing their talents to the school. Our children are challenged, but not overwhelmed, and teachers are easy to reach via email or to schedule conferences with. The principal is receptive to suggestions and open to discussing concerns.

Posted: January 23, 2015

Some of the reviews here have been a little too hard on the principal, who s done some good things. Last fall there was a new teacher who was completely unqualified and the principal fired him. Sure, the principal was the one who hired him in the first place but at least he fixed the problem and we only lost one quarter of instruction. He eliminated ice cream sales at lunch because taking away the option of buying ice cream will allow our students to make healthier lunch choices. OK, he may not fully grasp the concept of a choice, but at least our kids aren t fat. He cut the traditional 8th grade amusement park graduation trip because it had no educational value. At last! A principal who understands that every moment must be tied to an educational goal and fun has no place at St. B s. After parent outcry, he replaced the trip with a bus tour of Wash, DC. Education AND fun all in one! The kids are fired up about that. He s been vocal about the evils of bullying. He told the students only positive reviews should be posted on sites like this or Rate My Principal and if they posted negative reviews they were guilty of cyber-bullying. So the kids are learning that lesson.

Posted: January 22, 2015

This school is on a downward spiral since the current principal took over. First, he has no people skills and it's beyond me how on earth he is in a position like this when he has no clue how to talk to people. Secondly, he has no regard for women which is the major audience with moms running the school volunteer programs. Thirdly, his arrogance and disdain for everyone, including his staff is awful. The teachers are extremely dissatisfied with the poor way he treats them and no amount of false smiles can hide it. All the new things implemented under his reign were ongoing projects from the previous principal. She was a delight with way more experience, took your opinion seriously, easy to talk too.....basically the opposite of this guy. I am seriously thinking of switching schools because St. B has lost its sense of family and lacks warmth under this miserable principal. Academically, the school is still good but that is thanks to the teachers who are all leaving the first chance they can. I wish the diocese can open their eyes and see that there is a lot of dissatisfaction amongst parents due to the principal ruining this school and do something about it.

Posted: January 20, 2015

When the new principal came in, I knew there would be carping, because most people don t like change. So I reserved judgment while he got settled and made the school his own. Now that he has, it s clear that he is in way over his head, unequipped with any genuine leadership skills, and unable to comprehend his own cluelessness. The previous principal was well-regarded and an unknown quantity is always going to suffer by comparison to some degree. But the new principal is earning the disregard in which he is held. He seems to think that his role is to float above it all, smiling blankly and spouting platitudes without really engaging on important matters. He has little familiarity with the nuts and bolts of the school and the curriculum, and little apparent interest in gaining any. I ve had several conversations with faculty and parents where someone suggested they address a problem with the principal, and the response was almost uniform: A shaking of the head and He doesn t care. Any suggestion is met with Can t do it. St. B s provides a good Christian atmosphere and good teachers, and I would recommend it over local public schools. But it s headed in the wrong direction.

Posted: January 11, 2015

You ve heard of second lieutenants getting fragged by their own men in Vietnam? They d come in, ignorant and inexperienced, but with a commission and shiny lieutenant s bars and thought that because they had a title, they knew what they were doing. But they were dangerous to everyone. The new principal is exactly like that he doesn t know what he s doing, but thinks that because he s the principal, what he s doing must be right. He is a disastrous combination of supreme confidence in his own abilities and no leadership skills whatsoever. His predecessor was older, had far more experience, and knew a lot less. And by that I mean that she had enough experience and wisdom to realize she didn t have a monopoly on good ideas, and in any situation there was value in listening to and considering what others had to say. In contrast, her successor is seldom right, but never in doubt. Trying to talk to him is like trying to talk physics to a dog. He kind of cocks his head and gives you a blank look. He nods but you can see in his eyes that he s not listening to a word of yours but merely rehearsing in his mind what he has planned to say all along.

Posted: January 10, 2015

Once again the principal has made a poor decision in deciding to deviate from the policy that parents agreed to in the handbook to follow FCPS regarding inclement weather. He would rather make his own decisions and put students safety at risk rather than follow the diocesan policy that has been instated for good reason. Once again the principal has proven that would rather make selfish decisions rather than make decisions for the good of the whole. Once an avid proponent of the school, I am sadly reconsidering sending my children to St. Bernadette in future years as I do not want to be a part of a school that is not a team. I pray that no children, parents or faculty are injured as a result of this selfish policy.

Posted: December 21, 2014

St Bernadette's provides the ultimate in Catholic education for its students. The principal exudes quiet confidence as he provides outstanding leadership, guidance, foresight and integrity for every student. The faculty is strong, nurturing ,talented and ever mindful of your child's unique educational needs .The campus provides an outstanding Christian environment for learning. The extra curricular opportunities instill enhancement for the development and growth of every student. St. Bernadette's has provided an unparalleled foundation for my children to meet the challenges that they will face throughout their lives.

Posted: December 21, 2014

St. Bernadette s is a formerly strong school that is in serious decline since the current principal took over 18 months ago. The principal is in completely over his head, has exceptionally poor leadership skills, and poor management skills. Inexperience by itself is not fatal, if it's coupled with the wisdom and maturity to recognize that you don't have all the answers and others (parents, faculty) might have some wisdom to impart. But the current principal has neither of these qualities; in fact, his immaturity and insecurity is a disastrous combination. He makes bad initial decisions and then digs in his heels in defense of those decisions in the apparent belief that changing his mind will make him look weak. His management of the school, particularly the middle school, is extraordinarily poor. There is no coordination among teachers regarding workload, and students frequently have multiple tests and projects due at the same time. It's the principal's job to impose some order on this process and he doesn't seem remotely interested in doing so or even aware that this is a problem. He just doesn't seem to care.

Posted: December 5, 2014

The current principal is both immature, inexperienced and unprofessional. I'm very disappointed and it is evident that the faculty and staff are not happy. I'm currently re-evaluating whether this is the appropriate catholic school for my three children.

Posted: February 4, 2014

I attended Catholic school my through elementary and high school. I am so very pleased with the Catholic school experience my daughter is receiving at St. Bernadette. She loves going to school there. She has made wonderful friends, we have met terrific families with similar values. The teachers are very dedicated and truly enjoy being at the school. Yes, many parents are also teachers they are strong, qualified teacher dedicated to Catholic education. The new Principal is a true and honest leader. He and the Assistant Principal work very well together as he transitions to his first year. The teachers are dedicated to making this a wonderful school. I am proud to be part of the St. Bernadette Community.

Posted: January 26, 2014

What a beautiful school! Our son has attended St. Bernadette School since K, we absolutely love the teachers, the staff, and the administration. From the moment you walk through the doors at St. Bernadette you feel the strong Catholic faith and a sense of community. Our son is in a safe and enriching environment. We can't say enough about our school community and wouldn't want our son anywhere else.

Posted: January 26, 2014

My children have attended St. Bernadette School from Kindergarten through 8th grade and it has been a wonderful experience. They went to high school very prepared! They have received a fabulous education, while continuing to broaden their knowledge of their faith. We have always felt so incredibly blessed to be part of a community that feels more like a second family than a school. The faculty is both experienced in their field and nurturing too. I would highly recommend visiting this school.

Posted: January 26, 2014

With one of the best Public School systems in the U.S. available I can sincerely say we did not take our desicision to enroll in St. Bernadette lightly. But after a few years and being witness to the impacts academically, morally and spiritually...we are very grateful we made the right decision! All the teachers and administration are very dedicated and we have found always available, answer any and all questions even late after hours at times...above and beyond! We would recommend St. Bernadette to any family!

Posted: January 23, 2014

Where do I begin? First off, this school has a few communist teachers. It's the perfect school to send your child for education in communism. One teacher in particular never has anything nice to say to me, my children, or my children's friends. Last month, I gave my child $20 to buy lunch. My child only bought lunch two times in three weeks. The next time he/she bought lunch the lunch lady said, "You have no more money. I can't give you lunch." The school guarantees that your child will be served cereal if they don't have lunch money. My child wasn't even offered cereal! Thankfully my child found spare money in his/her pocket somehow. I will warn you that there is no such thing as a weekend when you are in middle school. Your child will ALWAYS be bundled up with homework. So I suggest that if you do fun family activities on MLK day or Columbus Day, be careful. I know that middle school is supposed to have a lot of homework, buit this is ridiculous. Majority of the facilty/staff are mothers whose children go there. There are four mother teachers in the middle school. Honestly, I don't feel like my children are learning anything in St. Bernadette.

Posted: November 7, 2013

Our child transferred to St. Bernadette from out-of-state. The process can be difficult not only on the child, but administratively as well. The staff and teachers worked tirelessly to make this experience as seamless as possible for our whole family. Our child had a wonderful teacher last year and, at the end of the school year, we gave him the choice to move to public school. He chose of his own volition to stay at St. Bernadette. I give the school four stars as no institution is perfect, but St. Bernadette continues to strive towards excellence in all areas of Catholic education.

Posted: November 7, 2013

Grades K-5 are great. All of those teachers are wonderful. However, I am not impressed with the middle school one bit. We are very disappointed. What a joke this year has been. Some of the middle school teachers are very unresponsive and one, in particular, yells all the time. The two male teachers are wonderful and they are the only shining stars (besides the math teacher) in the middle school. Very impressed with the new Principal though but unless he cleans house, we won t be back next year and I have a feeling more families will be leaving too. I just hope he gets rid of all the parent/teachers in the middle school!

Posted: November 5, 2013

All three of my children graduated from St. Bernadette School, and I cannot speak highly enough of the school and the faculty. When we were transferred here, we enrolled our children in Fairfax County Public Schools. After two years in FCPS, we pulled our children out. While we were very happy with the science and math education they were receiving, it had become clear to us that our children were not being adequately prepared by FCPS in the language arts. It was at St. Bernadette School that they were taught to read and analyze literature critically and write cohesively. In addition, they continued to be challenged in their math and science classes. Most importantly, the fundamentals of our faith were reinforced daily through prayer and reception of the sacraments. While the middle school program was rigorous, it prepared all three of them well for success after graduation. Our son was accepted to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and our daughters were placed in advanced classes at a Diocesan high school. I am truly grateful to St. Bernadette School for giving all three of our children the academic, social and moral foundation they needed.

Posted: November 3, 2013

We are very happy with St. Bernadette. I have 2 children attending the school and both feel very proud to be part of the St. Bernadette family. The teachers are wonderful and the curriculum is excellent. There are also lots of after school activities available such as choir, girl scouts, basketball, etc. The PTO is very active and parent participation is encouraged which is good as the entire family is included in the child's learning experience. We love the Catholic values instilled in our children. This is an excellent school. The reason I did not give it a 5 star rating, is because all schools should strive for continued excellence. You will not be disappointed. Very good choice.

Posted: October 29, 2013

This is a terrible school. Half of the faculty and staff are mothers whose children go there. My children haven't learned anything there. Last year, there was a new English teacher. My child only had two spelling tests that whole year (no joke!). You should expect on averafe about three to four tests a week for your middle school child. The school does not provide financial statements and is completely disorganized. The luch program is very good, however, it is extremely overpriced. Dont listen to the reviews below that say it is a wonderful school. It is a terrible school. The staff may be nice but my children have not learned a lot in that school.

Posted: October 22, 2013

St. Bernadette Catholic School is an excellent school and community. The school provides a solid foundation for Catholic teachings and allows children to practice their faith on a daily basis. The staff are strong educators and provide excellent instruction for pre-K through 8th grade. The school has an abundance of opportunities for extra-curricular activities and has an extended-day program that provides for homework and playtime (inside and out) in a safe and loving environment. The school encourages parent involvement and is diligent in ensuring parents are kept well informed of all aspects of the school. I can't imagine my daughter going anywhere else!

Posted: May 18, 2013

Unfortunately the school this year has seen a decline in oversight of it's staff. The principal who did a great job for the last 6 years was absent from keeping up with the oversight of the school this year. We are also seeing a large turn over in staff which was kept a secret until a note was sent home. This school chooses to hire parents that do not always have the qualifications needed to teach in a classroom. The PE and Music program is lacking direction and an adherence to the curriculum This school also teaches to the middle student. If you have a child who needs enrichment or remediation this is not the place for your child.I was highly disappointed with the school and am now posed with the decision to remove my child from this school. I only hope the new principal can bring some new ideas to the school. The teachers that were hired for next year are also lacking in experience. I hope the school can change the way it hires and keeps staff.

Posted: March 27, 2012

I have had two children graduate from Stl Bernadette School in Springfield, and I have two younger children still attending. The Principle and teachers are fabulous, executing a professional and caring school program. I can't say enough about the school community and their care for each individual student's needs. Great place to send your children!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	West Springfield	Neighborhood/Subdivision	West Springfield	VA	0.5 mi
2	Cardinal Forest	Neighborhood/Subdivision	West Springfield	VA	1 mi
3	Cardinal Square	Condominium/Townhouse	West Springfield	VA	1.1 mi
4	Orange Hunt Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	1.9 mi
5	Burke Station Square	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Burke	VA	1.9 mi
6	North Springfield	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	2.6 mi
7	Long Branch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	3.1 mi
8	Newington Forest	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	3.1 mi
9	Newington Commons	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lorton	VA	3.1 mi
10	The Elms	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Burke	VA	3.2 mi
11	Terra Grande	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	3.2 mi
12	Burke Conservancy	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Burke	VA	3.5 mi
13	Springfield Oaks	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	3.5 mi
14	Willow Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	3.6 mi
15	Greenwood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Springfield	VA	3.7 mi
16	Lorton Station	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lorton	VA	4.4 mi
17	Kingstowne	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	4.7 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	West Springfield	West Springfield	VA	0.4 mi
2	Daventry	Springfield	VA	1.1 mi
3	Springfield	Springfield	VA	2.3 mi
4	Fairfax County	Springfield	VA	2.5 mi
5	Burke	Burke	VA	2.7 mi
6	Burke Centre	Burke	VA	3.4 mi
7	Annandale	Annandale	VA	4.4 mi
8	Kingstowne	Alexandria	VA	4.8 mi

Base	Distance
Fort Belvoir	6.2 mi.
Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church	6.6 mi.
Mark Center Alexandria	7.2 mi.
Henderson Hall	10.6 mi.
Fort Myer	11 mi.
Pentagon	11.5 mi.
Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia	12.3 mi.
Indian Head Naval Base	13.1 mi.
Coast Guard Headquarters DC	13.2 mi.
Fort McNair	13.2 mi.
NRO Chantilly	14.1 mi.
Washington Navy Yard	14.3 mi.
Marine Barracks Washington	14.6 mi.
Walter Reed Medical Center	17.4 mi.
Andrews AFB	18.5 mi.
Quantico Marine Base	20.3 mi.
Dahlgren NSWC	31.6 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	34.4 mi.
US Naval Academy	42.4 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	43.4 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	46.1 mi.
Fort Detrick	47.2 mi.
Fort AP Hill	48.6 mi.

St. Bernadette School

Springfield, VA 22152

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