Grace Episcopal School

Posted: February 8, 2019

I'm consistently amazed at the relationships these kids have with one another. They genuinely care for one another and support each other.

Posted: February 8, 2019

Mrs. Culbreth is a seasoned administrator who is approachable. We're happy with the direction of the school and decisions we've observed in our time here. She knows the names of each kid and the parents as well.

Posted: February 8, 2019

Posted: February 8, 2019

I haven't heard of any bullying at this school and given comment above on building character in children, we're confident the school would be on it and deal with it very effectively.

Posted: February 8, 2019

Our daughter's teacher strikes a good balance with challenging them with work to do at home and not overloading them. It gives us a good idea of how she's progressing and gives her an opportunity to show us what she's learned.

Posted: February 8, 2019

All the teachers have advanced degrees and pursue continuing education opportunities. Every teacher we've had has made a good connection with my child and helped nature a love of learning. They're also approachable and provide excellent and regular communication with us.

Posted: February 8, 2019

Excellent. Our daughter is learning and loving it. She tells anyone who asks about her school that it's the best. We also love the community at the school and the opportunities we've had to meet other parents. Very helpful when you need help with drop off/pick up as well as arranging playdates.

Posted: January 30, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2019

Grace focuses their curriculum around character keys (basic principles about being a good person, treating others with care and respect, and always trying to do the right thing). These character keys are the foundation for how teachers interact with the students and for how the students learn to interact with the world around them.

Posted: January 30, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2019

Posted: January 30, 2019

Fantastic! Our children thrived in the small and loving environment provided by Grace. There is a good sense of community among the students and families as well as between the teachers and students. We found the handoff between teachers as kids moved from one grade to the next very effective (strengths and weaknesses in academic performance were understood by all faculty and communication with the parents was phenomenal). Students were able to receive focused attention from teachers as necessary given the small class sizes and teachers were able to clearly articulate unique characteristics of our children during teacher conferences (ie: what brings our child/children joy during the school day; where they seem to excel; how they are supported by or supporting other students; ideas for helping them become more organized with homework; opportunities to further develop an interest area, etc).

Posted: January 25, 2019

Grace does a great job of teaching the kids how to organize their time and their approach to homework supports this. They start with small amounts in the lower grades but ramp up as the kids get older to prepare them for the workload they'll have once they go off to middle school. I like the longer-term projects they give that encourage the kids to figure out how to manage their time....doing bits at a time versus trying to do it all in one night.

Posted: January 25, 2019

The teachers at Grace truly care about the wellbeing of the kids. They hold the kids to high standards academically and behaviorally, while balancing that with a kind and nurturing attitude.

Posted: January 25, 2019

Grace's mission is focused on building the character of its students. There is a strong emphasis on the five "character keys" which students know backwards and forwards. They are respect, responsibility, honesty, courage and compassion. They discuss these keys in classrooms, chapel and assemblies and the faculty and administration role model these keys daily.

Posted: January 25, 2019

The head of school is phenomenal. She is approachable and kind, and is a strong leader. She is highly respected by teachers, parents and students alike.

Posted: January 25, 2019

Grace is a small school be design, and because of this, they are able to give individual attention to students in ways that bigger schools simply cannot do, in order to help kids where they are.

Posted: January 25, 2019

I've not seen issues with bullying in my child's class, but the few instances I've observed where kids have acted in a way that's inappropriate or counterproductive, they've dealt with it quickly and effectively, bringing in parents as necessary. Overall, the kids I know at Grace are kind and supportive of each other.

Posted: January 25, 2019

Exceptional. Our child will be graduating this year from Grace and we're sad to say good-bye. We feel our child is more than prepared for his middle school experience and Grace has set him up for success. It's truly a gem in Alexandria!

Posted: January 17, 2019

Neither of our daughters has learning differences.

Posted: January 17, 2019

We haven't had any issues with bullying at Grace.

Posted: January 17, 2019

Our experience at Grace has been fantastic from start to finish. This little school is a hidden gem with an excellent teacher/student ratio. The dedicated school board, strong staff, and amazing faculty provide an excellent academic education for our daughters, and the caring, close-knit Grace community has helped provide a safe place for them to grow and develop socially. The emphasis on caring and kindness, the focus on the character keys, and the strong math and language arts curriculum are all highlights for us. We couldn't be happier with our daughters' experiences at Grace.

Posted: January 17, 2019

Our daughter has been at Grace for almost eight years, and the homework workload has always been appropriate for her grade. It has grown from a few minutes a couple of nights per week in first grade to 30-45 minutes each night in fifth grade.

Posted: January 17, 2019

The amazing teachers are one of Grace's biggest assets. The small class sizes allow them to tailor what they're doing in the classroom to suit the needs of individual students.

Posted: January 17, 2019

Grace emphasizes five character keys: honesty, compassion, responsibility, respect, and courage. They are on the wall in every classroom and hallway, and the teachers emphasize them in the classroom. Grace places importance on being a good and kind student, and teaches children what it means to be a member of a community.

Posted: January 17, 2019

The new head of school has been a great leader over the last three years, recruiting excellent faculty and staff and ensuring the schools strengths are protected and enhanced. She's been very supporting during the middle school admissions process, as well.

Posted: January 9, 2019

Homework is always a review of items that have been covered in the classroom. The amount is very manageable and increases gradually from one grade level to the next.

Posted: January 9, 2019

The class size/student-teacher ratio is excellent. This allows the teachers to really know your child's personality, strengths as well as challenges. Teachers are able to make adjustments to what each student needs so that they are challenged if able or given some extra assistance if necessary.

Posted: January 9, 2019

I feel these qualities must largely be cultivated/reinforced at home, but the school provides a good framework for all these character components by having a set of character keys that they address in variety of ways as part of school life.

Posted: January 9, 2019

The head of school is very personable and knows each student. She is available and responsive to discuss any issue and really tries to make this school the best it can be.

Posted: January 9, 2019

The teachers are very effective at making adjustments in the classroom to address learning differences. If a child has an area that would benefit from additional tutoring, the school can sometimes assist in that as well. It should be noted that due to the small size of the school, there are no special education-type services.

Posted: January 9, 2019

We have not personally had any experience with a child being bullied.

Posted: January 9, 2019

We love the small, caring environment Grace provides while also being academically challenging for our elementary-aged children. We have enjoyed all our teachers as well as the community.

Posted: December 12, 2018

My daughter was at this school from kindergarten through fifth grade and she really benefitted.

Posted: December 12, 2018

Posted: December 12, 2018

Posted: December 12, 2018

This is a strong emphasis for the school. It also plays out in activities where older students lead activities for the younger students.

Posted: December 12, 2018

Patti Culbraith is an excellent head of school who has strong support from the parents, teachers and church. She's been with the school for four years. The previous head of school was also excellent and had been at Grace for over 10 years.

Posted: December 12, 2018

My daughter had mild vision issues and was slow learning to read. The school arranged for a tutor worked with her regular teacher.

Posted: December 12, 2018

Posted: November 26, 2018

I would love to rate this school more highly, but the recent unresolved conflict in the parish has created an unacceptable learning environment.

Posted: November 26, 2018

Homework is age-appropriate and helpful, and there is ample support for students who need additional assistance.

Posted: November 26, 2018

Generally quite good, but underpaid, as often is the case at small private schools.

Posted: November 26, 2018

I like the head of school, but she is far too influenced by Fr. Malm. Also, the latter should not be teaching religion, as his efforts are not age appropriate.

Posted: November 26, 2018

Posted: November 26, 2018

As stated previously, Fr. Malm sets a bad example.

Posted: December 1, 2017

Grace is a hidden gem among independent schools in Northern Virginia. It has small classes, excellent teachers, and a wonderful community. The children know and care for each other, even across grade levels. The tuition is lower than many comparable schools. We are incredibly thankful that we found it.

Posted: December 1, 2017

Posted: December 1, 2017

We have had children in every grade with nearly every current teacher at the school. They each have a passion for knowing each child as an individual and will tailor their instruction to the individual.

Posted: December 1, 2017

Grace character instruction centers on five "character keys"--respect, responsibility, honesty, courage, and compassion. Our children have grown up with these keys as the foundation to their education.

Posted: December 1, 2017

The head of school is an incredible leader who is adored and respected by teachers and parents alike.

Posted: December 1, 2017

Posted: November 9, 2017

Posted: November 9, 2017

Our child has been at Grace for a year and a half now, and she as well as the rest of our family, could not be happier. She has grown both as a person and in her learning exponentially since she started. She never wants to be late to school and dislikes missing even a minute of what's going on the classroom. The teachers are wonderful, smart and up on the latest in teaching techniques -- never afraid to change things up if there is a new, better way of doing things. They also care greatly about the children, each and every one. The parent community is terrific and robust -- you can be as involved as you like without any pressure to do more. We wish Grace didn't stop at 5th grade as we'd keep our child there all the way through high school if we could!

Posted: November 9, 2017

The teachers considered the best approach for young children and we feel the amount of work at home is just right. We also like seeing the older kids doing their homework in after-care, a great setting for this.

Posted: November 9, 2017

With small class sizes and a small student: teacher ratio, each child gets an incredible amount of attention and needs are met every time.

Posted: November 9, 2017

The character keys are taught to the children as a regular part of the school curriculum. This is terrific as this way "character" isn't seen as something "other" -- it's treated as something important to learn about in the same way reading and math are.

Posted: November 9, 2017

We think Mrs Culbreth is sharp, concerned, involved, and great fun. She absolutely has her finger on the pulse of everything at the school. I have never been afraid to approach her with any thoughts.

Posted: November 9, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

Posted: October 29, 2017

My son has been a part of the Grace community for three and a half years and could not be happier. He is only in the first grade but already looks forward to being a "lifer"! We couldn't be more pleased with his academic growth, as he is already reading at the second-grade level and easily picking up Math in Focus (Singapore Math) which the school recently added to its curriculum. We credit Grace's small class size and teaching philosophies for this. The head of school, teachers, and staff always make themselves available for meetings when needed and genuinely care about my child. Our son enjoys playing soccer on Grace's outdoor space with younger and older schoolmates alike at recess and in after care. Grace is a true "community" and we feel this everyday when we enter the building. Highly, highly recommend this elementary school experience for your child!

Posted: October 26, 2017

My daughter has had a wonderful experience at Grace! The faculty, staff, and administrators are supportive, nurturing, and innovative. The curriculum is challenging, but developmentally appropriate. The teachers work to educate the whole child. Our daughter has to learned to be a good friend and good community member through the hard work of her teachers We really feel that the school community has become part of our extended family network. We couldn't ask for a better place for our daughter to grow and learn!

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

Posted: October 26, 2017

I cannot imagine a more wonderful place to send my children. The environment is loving, nurturing, and supportive, while still placing a strong focus on education and knowledge. It was amazing how much my child began to enjoy learning when we moved him to Grace from another local school. He was excited to show us his art and to talk about what he had learned. The teachers and staff are seasoned, professional, and motivated. They are actively involved, and excited to be, in the children's lives, both inside and outside school. The school is excellent in every way, and I feel very lucky to be a part of this community.

Posted: October 25, 2017

GES makes available a school psychiatrist to work with individual students and/or groups of students about a variety of problems, including issues with bullying.

Posted: October 25, 2017

My daughter is currently in kindergarten, so she started some "official" homework this year, but the focus is on relationship building and nurturing compassion. She does have to bring in assignments, but they are about learning to be more mindful and compassionate and have led to some great discussions at home!

Posted: October 25, 2017

Whether they are veteran teachers or beginning their careers, I have loved all of my daughter's teachers! They are supportive and concerned for the students' welfare, growth, and health.

Posted: October 25, 2017

My kindergartner has learned more about character (through the character keys that are emphasized starting in preschool) than many of the adults I know!

Posted: October 25, 2017

Patti Culbreth (now in her third year at GES) is amazing--she has tremendous vision but understands the need for on-the-ground implementation, and she has a great sense of humor about herself and the school.

Posted: October 25, 2017

We're just at the kindergarten level, so we haven't had too much experience with this yet, but the students are put into reading groups during this year to more effectively nurture where they are and support their growth as readers.

Posted: October 25, 2017

My daughter has been at GES for three years and is thriving. Almost every day, the answer to the question "what was the best thing that happened today?" is an enthusiastic "everything!!!!!" The parents are very involved with supporting the school and the teachers are caring and supportive. I have had nothing but good experiences with the administrative staff and leadership.

Posted: October 24, 2017

Both of my children were at Grace, our oldest through 5th and youngest through 3rd grades. We were very happy with our experience there and found the teachers to be knowledgeable, enthusiastic and caring. The administration is supportive and easily available.

Posted: October 24, 2017

Posted: October 24, 2017

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Posted: October 21, 2017

Homework at this school is completely teacher dependent rather than curriculum dependent. Some teachers don't even care if the students do not turn in homework. What ends up happening is that if your child happen have a teacher who gives out a lot of homework based on the curriculum one year and then a teacher who does not give out close to no homework the next year, your child become bored in class that year and the academics suffer because the class is not moving as quickly as the child has been conditioned to previous year.

Posted: October 21, 2017

Teachers at this school do not know how to control their classes, nor do they know to recognize when there is a problem. Teachers are not trained to deal with most of the problems that could happen at a school.

Posted: October 21, 2017

This school has bullying problem in just about every grade, and since the school lacks leadership, the rest of the students learn from the bullies how to "survive".

Posted: October 21, 2017

Leadership...hmm...the nicest way I can put this is that the leadership at this school has its head in the sand...so to it, everything is just fine.

Posted: October 21, 2017

Posted: October 21, 2017

As stated before, this school has bullies in just about every grade, but the teachers are either unable or unwilling to deal with the problems and the problems continue. In fact, the school leadership and teachers victim blame rather than suspending or kicking the bullies out of the school.

Posted: October 21, 2017

RUN, DON'Y WALK!!!! Get as far away from this school as possible. This school is not worth the money you will spend. There are plenty of public schools in the area that is much better than this school. If you want a private school option, there is a much better one just across the street, even. WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND! FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS GO TO GRACE!

Posted: March 26, 2017

Our child was recently accepted to attend kindergarten at Grace. We made the decision to apply given the fact that while the parents in our area speak highly of McArthur Elementary, its testing scores have gradually continued to slip over the last several years and it remains the largest elementary school in the area (over 700 students with five kindergarten classrooms) and is about to be rebuilt in 2017/2018 with children either being bussed to other nearby elementary schools, or placed in temporary trailers. This we felt would be entirely too disruptive and ill-planned for a child just beginning elementary education.
While we can't speak for the Kindergarten experience at Grace yet, we were attracted to the school by its small enrollment, personable staff and unique neighborhood community feel once we visited. For comparison, we visited multiple private schools nearby to include St Rita's as well as St. Stephen's, St. Agnes, both much larger, each with their own positives and negatives. But Grace just seemed like the perfect balance of everything we were looking for- traditional academic base, a feeling of community, happy kids, faculty and staff, relatively affordable, and in the neighborhood.
The admissions process was fairly painless as far as that goes. Students applying to kindergarten or later are required to take the WPPSI test and parents are required to complete an application which includes a short narrative on your child. There is a school tour by the wonderful Director of Admissions where you have the opportunity to see just about every inch of the school, as well as meet and interact with faculty and staff. Following the tour, there is a required play date of sorts at the school so teachers can evaluate how your child interacts with others, to include the faculty. The application process remains competitive, surprisingly so for such a small school that is not known to many, however we appreciate the fact that Grace is focused on maintaining the right academic environment for the children attending. As well, some private schools these days seem like glorified colleges, with facilities that rival many campuses. While Grace's is a dash dated, it's entirely appropriate for an elementary school. That said, our one knock would be its library, which is about the size of your kitchen. Hope this helps anyone considering whether to apply.

Posted: May 9, 2012

My daughter is 3 and is a preschooler at Grace. She is the youngest in the class/school right now. Her three teachers have been wonderful with her. We get weekly updates from them about what the class has been doing, and notes about things they notice her doing well, like sharing with other children, being caring, paying attention, being a good friend, etc. There's an overwhelming amount of positive energy when we enter Grace. Every morning when we come in, we are greeted by the school Principal, who shakes each child's hand and says "Good Morning!" I think it is a wonderful way to start the day, and as a result everyone knows the Principal and she knows every child. I think this school is a very special place. It is small enough for every child to be noticed and be able to develop his or her talents, and its caring staff makes every day at school an amazing experience for every child. Parents I've met at Grace are very involved both in their child's life as well as in the overall school life. My husband and I feel that Grace has been a very accepting community. There is a diverse student body here, and everyone can contribute to their child's and the school's success.

Posted: June 29, 2011

Our twin daughters attended Grace for two years, prior to entering kindergarten at a nearby public school. We think Grace is top notch in every respect - the quality of the teaching, the class size, the strong and challenging focus on academics and character building - all in a nurturing, loving environment, with lots of one-on-one focus for each child. The school principal is superb (and widely known and respected throughout the Alexandria school community), and she directs a talented and experienced staff. We would have loved to keep our children at Grace, but finances dictated otherwise. Having said that, Grace is relatively inexpensive compared to other private schools in the area, and a bargain at any price.