St. Luke Catholic School

Posted: April 16, 2026

I have been a Saint Luke parent for 6 years. It is a wonderful community, and the faculty and staff are kind, creative, supportive and engaging. I highly recommend it!

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Posted: April 25, 2024

my daughter attended St Luke’s for two years … i was extremely dissatisfied overall … the school had a horrible problem with bullying… the teachers are ok but the administration is horrible … the Priest needs to look into replacing the entire administration .. they are rude and very self serving… the school is very average when it comes to academics… the parents are gossipy which doesn’t help foster a christian environment… parents seem to be competing with each other to push their children ahead of the line .. although most of the parents at St Luke’s are mostly blue collar and low income families they like to put on heirs as if they come from money… again this works against trying to get everyone to work together… overall i found a lot of families competing with each other even though it’s really a low income school … no one really has any money there… so it’s kind of silly that they pretend and try to impress each other… all of that is a distraction to why the children are there… at this point i could not in good conscious recommend St luke’s to anyone… its a shame because i'm a very big supporter of Catholic School education.

Posted: April 25, 2024

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Posted: August 26, 2021

At nearly 30 kids per class, this is not the "private" school/ small community we were promised a couple of years ago. Sadly, the principal has prioritized revenue over education by capitalizing on the pandemic to accept a record number of students. As a parent of a student, this is defeating. As a parishioner, this is upsetting. Greed wins again. Today, with the expanding classroom sizes and stretched resources, FFX county schools seem to be a better choice.

Posted: August 26, 2021

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Posted: June 10, 2021

Deeply disappointed in this school and it’s curriculum. Was expecting small classes and active teaching at all levels, but teacher quality is not impressive or at all consistent. This school does not devote the necessary resources to effectively educate and across the board - from the library, to counseling, to sports - these necessities are either weak or nonexistent.

Posted: June 10, 2021

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Posted: February 4, 2021

St. Luke is an incredible school with fantastic leadership. The teachers and faculty are organized. They teach in a professional manner without any bias. The curriculum is challenging and my children are offered so many unique opportunities for specialized education. Placing my children at St. Luke's was the best decision I could have made.

Posted: February 4, 2021

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Posted: November 10, 2019

Turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. An affordable quality education that empowers our children to realize their fullest potential.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Currently have all 4 of our kids in the school. Very impressed by the academics, quality of teachers, and the friendly educational environment. Graduates get accepted to the top schools in the region.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Very impressive and engaging. Our children all find their teachers to be very approachable.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Completely agree. We welcome the values based approach to our children’s education.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Our new principal is top notch and creates an excellent environment for teachers and families.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Posted: November 10, 2019

Bullying was the reason why we transferred our oldest to St. Luke from the neighboring public school.

Posted: December 8, 2016

I have known anything that even suggests bullying to be swiftly addressed. My children have never experienced or talked about another student experiencing any bullying.

Posted: December 8, 2016

I am not sure but believe they do their best.

Posted: December 8, 2016

There is strong leadership at this school.

Posted: December 8, 2016

The school embraces HEART - Honesty, Empathy, Achievement, respect, Trust in God - in all that they do.

Posted: December 8, 2016

The teachers at SLS not only love teaching but they truly love and care about their students.

Posted: December 8, 2016

I have found homework to be appropriate to the development levels of my children.

Posted: December 8, 2016

There is no better school to nurture the whole child within the framework of the Catholic faith.

Posted: November 8, 2015

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Posted: November 8, 2015

Saint Luke's has been a wonderful experience for my family! We moved to McLean a few years ago and the Saint Luke's community welcomed us with open arms.

Academics are top notch (Blue Ribbon school) and in line with our previous private school experience in another state. My children are working on subjects one level higher than the public schools. Parents are highly successful, intelligent and very involved in their kids and school life. Teachers have been there for years and love the school.

We are so happy with the school and our decision to send our kids there!

Posted: February 3, 2015

I have had four kids go to Saint Luke and the three who have graduated have excelled when they went into high school. They placed into the highest honor classes and skipped freshman English and Math where skipping is available. I disagree that the teachers do not prepare these students. Lower school is loving and nurturing. It is not rigorously academic but we send our kids there for the Catholicism and the community and faith formation. Middle School is incredible and academically rigorous. Our kids leave and get into the best high schools in the DC Metro area.

Posted: October 17, 2014

We were disappointed in St. Luke based on our children's experience with: behavior of some teachers (yelling), lack of fairness (some students given extra help by teachers or were prompted to go back & correct answers on tests but my child couldn't ask a question about the test), poor planning for teacher absences (non-educational movies shown during absent teacher's class time repeatedly because there was no plan in place), & lack of communication/ attentiveness by staff (issues not adequately addressed). Many people who left St. Luke told us their kids were behind when they entered new schools (public and private). We left & our kids who had received As and Bs at St. Luke, were behind at their new schools. We learned from our children that some of the teachers at St. Luke would allow students to finish timed tests after the time ran out. We learned that if many of the kids did poorly on a test, some of the teachers at St. Luke would have the class re-take the test. Our kids had to adjust to new standards & are now thriving at their new schools & we feel they are better served & won't have to catch up in high school. Academics and teacher quality are important to our family.

Posted: July 28, 2014

We have three children at St. Luke's and I have to say the school is simply incredible. The strong sense of community and involvement that others talk about is truly amazing. I remember when switching schools, we were struggling with where to send our oldest. But I have to say, hands-down, this was the right choice. In terms of the prior post, I'm not sure why they think the school has a hard time recruiting and keeping good teachers. I don't see this anymore of a problem then at any other school. One thing that I have enjoyed about St. Luke is that you can go in and meet with the teachers at any time. Ultimately, the choice between public and private is a personal choice. But I can tell you that St. Luke offers a very caring environment with high parent involvement. The academics seem to be on par with other institutions. The mark of success in all of this is that at the end of the day -- our children come home happy and look forward to going to school.

Posted: June 13, 2014

This school seems to have a hard time recruiting and keeping good, skilled teachers. Several good teachers are leaving this year. One teacher would not send our child's work home and we did not know what our child was learning. Our child said they often watched videos in this class and we feel this is lazy teaching. Public schools in the area have more to offer for students of all skill levels. St. Luke is small and does not have the resources that nearby schools have. We are disappointed and are leaving.

Posted: January 4, 2014

Saint Luke's is the type of school that every parent wants their child to attend. Excellent academics in a warm an nurturing environment. They really know the children so the approach is highly individualized. The sense of community among students, parents, faculty and staff is not comparable. I have had my children in FCPS, which are excellent, but Saint Luke's out matches the experience at every level. Then on top of all the comparable points my children are being educated in a beautiful, faith centered environment. I could not imagine a better school.

Posted: October 10, 2013

The big upside for the school is the community aspect. The public schools put enough pressure so that they maintain acceptable academic rigor, but they absolutely focus on the whole child. Every teacher knows every kid...it's nice. It's family. The biggest negative is that they struggle with those outside the norm...both the gifted and those requiring remedial instruction. Pushing the school to provide meaningful enrichment is a constant struggle. Grades 6-8 are the best academically. Although the grade 1 teacher is honestly the best in the land.

Posted: September 15, 2013

The community of parent volunteers and the great teachers who communicate often and know each child individually is what I love about this school. Our children thrive and they leave very well-prepared for high school and beyond. We love Saint Luke - the community, the education, the emphasis on kindness and the spirituality.

Posted: February 10, 2013

Great school. Great Teachers. Great Families. Great Environment. Our kids are thriving and happy! School and teachers communicate extensively and welcome parent participation.

Posted: October 9, 2012

My son is in middle school at St. Luke and the teachers are really impressive. I feel that he will be prepared for higher level coursework in the core studies in high school. The new principal has infused the school with a very positive learning environment, the teachers are really happy to teach the kids, the parents are friendly and cooperative.

Posted: October 1, 2012

I can't say enough good things about St. Luke. After experiences with public schools and other private schools in the area, this one beats them all hands down! The teachers are amazing and unbelievably well qualified. My sons are learning by leaps and bounds. The best part is that they love school. I am also impressed by how kind the kids are to each other. The kids themselves don't tolerate bullying which is nice.

Posted: September 19, 2012

Wow, what a comeback! New leadership as of summer of 2012. The school is united again, strong and looking forward. The happiness and kindness are contagious and my kids skip their way into class. *sigh* happy parent again. You give peace to parents, St Luke.

Posted: September 10, 2012

Our 2 children started at St. Luke this year and it has been a great experience. The teachers are focused on the students, and the classes are small enough to allow for individual attention. The academics are challenging to each of my kids and there are programs in place both to challenge the kids who might otherwise be bored, and also to support the kids who may struggle a bit. The school community has been fantastic. Both of my children were immediately made to feel welcome and both come home with big smiles each day telling us about what they learned and about the fun they had with their new friends. I have receive better communication from their teachers than I ever had from their previous schools. The parents have also made an effort to include us "new parents" in the community and been very welcoming. We are so pleased with our decision to send our kids to St. Luke. This is a school that truly is focused on teaching the academics and on the other important life lessons they will need to be successful adults such as responsibility, caring for others, and community service. I would strongly recommend St. Luke to anyone in the area.

Posted: September 6, 2012

I am very active in the school community and continue to be impressed by the dedication of the faculty, staff and families. Saint Luke School has been a wonderful community for us. My children comes home happy every day.

Posted: September 5, 2012

My children are so happy at this school. Each day I ask my K daughter how school was she says "better than yesterday!!!" with a grin from ear to ear and my 2nd grade son is no different - all smiles!!

Posted: June 5, 2012

We love St. Luke school. This is our first school year at St. Luke and it has been an "interesting" year with a happy ending! Teachers, children and parents are wonderful. The first months of the school year were hard on us - parents - because the new principal was not incompetent and we did not trust him. Thanks got he left after just a few months on the job. Now the new principal was selected and will be running the school starting 2012/13 school year. We know we made the right choice to send out children to St. Luke school.

Posted: January 27, 2012

Times have changed at Saint Luke. The new principal "talks" about implementing programs, but nothing has been done. He has managed to mess up the programs already in place. Activities normally scheduled by the PTO have been cancelled. Emails from the PTO Board to the principal are not returned. Field trips are cancelled the day of only leading to disappointment for the students and frustration to the parents. He can't even get the 2012/2103 tuition rates correct. One day there was an email from the principal with a double digit increase in tuition and now we have not received the "revised rate" although parents are expected to reenroll in three days. If you come expect continual frustration at the most expensive Catholic elementary school in Arlington Diocese!

Posted: January 26, 2012

St. Luke is a great school because of the community. The PTO sponsors events throughout the year which allow parents, children and faculty to spend time together. Parents and faculty are welcoming and work together to ensure the best for the children. Newer programs to enhance the education of the kids are underway. There is a wrinkle in the fabric of the community at present, but this is because parents are involved in the school and care about its direction. It is no different than the very strong opinions which existed relative to the recent county school board elections. When people truly care about the education of their kids, they express their concerns. The community is working together. While some of the communication has become heated at times, the community continues to be respectful of one another and to work together. At the end of the day, we all want the best for our kids. My kids love St. Luke. They love their teachers, the various events and the school itself.

Posted: January 26, 2012

We really like St. Luke. The children and very polite and respectful and there is a quiet calm in the school that really promotes an optimal environment for learning. The small school feel and structure is great for our kid, much better than the public school she was at before St. Luke. The teachers are very warm and committed, and have a genuine interest in promoting learning so that the children are working to their potential. I highly recommend the school and the tuition fees are very reasonable. It's a great value for a private school education.

Posted: January 26, 2012

Saint Luke is a wonderful place with committed teachers and a strong community. At the end of the day, my children are happy and are learning. We support the attempts to bring differentiated education to the school so all students can learn in a small setting.

Posted: January 25, 2012

Im not sure I could've heard a pin drop the other night, but I definitely heard the gasp when it was revealed that a particular school leader left movie night (he had committed to chaperone) to have dinner and drinks. making it back just in time for parents to see him.The debt is real and solutions need to be found.However, Im not sure that hiring a carpool company, buying calendars as gifts,or purchasing an Otis Spunkmeyer oven (where are those cookies anyway) are steps in the right direction.The issues speak for themselves and it is sad to see personal vendettas try and cloud this dismissal situation.Just this last week the school had a visit from the fire marshall (guess that no one checked about whether it was ok to block the fire lane before enforcing a new drop off procedure) and the state department had to call over the "proposed" diplomatic tuitions discriminatory nature.This is past "change being hard" Change often leads one in a better direction. Lets please stop the pettiness-parents had keys for things like basketball practice.what else would they be for? a hot party on a saturday night?gimme a break. stick to the facts.We all need the one change that offers solution...

Posted: January 25, 2012

St.. Luke is a fantastic school!! I could not agree more - it is fantastic because the majority of teachers are excellent, and they CARE about our school and our children. Those self-entitled moms who "run the school" are actually volunteers that help to make the school a great place - the back to school BBQ, the 5K race, the cultural arts assemblies, hot chocolate day, pizza day, field trips, Santa's Workshop, faculty appreciation luncheons, the basketball teams, the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised....I could continue on and on...none of these things would exist without parent volunteers. Many parents volunteer much more than the required 24 service hours to make Saint Luke School a very special place for our children. Now, our school administration has shown disdain for most of what we hold dear. So please, the attitude of self-entitled moms running the school is at best ignorance, and at worst vindictive and petty. Take some time to educate yourselves about the situation. Read the PTO minutes. See how often our leader is absent and missing from the school.

Posted: January 24, 2012

St.. Luke is a fantastic school!! I could not agree more with the previous post. The self-entitled moms that were allowed to run the school under the old principal are on the warpath because they don't run the school anymore. And they think by disparaging the new principal and new priest that they can somehow regain control. Not happening, ladies!! The vasy majority of families are happy and all of the kids are. The new principal is taking needed steps to make the school better academically. I am looking forward to the naysayers leaving so we can get back to focusing on the school that we and our children love so much.

Posted: January 24, 2012

The school is great, I could not agree more, especially our amazing teachers. However, the principal is an extremely incapable leader, as is proven each day and from past endeavors. I am in fact a father, and I could not disagree more with the last two posts. Let's clarify, the issues and comments are felt by a majority, FATHER'S INCLUDED, as was witnessed by an unprecedented recent parent meeting representing approximately 80% of the school. A trend that seems to have followed the new principal with each school he has attempted to lead. Let's also clarify that nothing negative has been said about our new pastor. The school was previously lead by capable leaders that did not show favoritism, nor allow it. The reading program, long standing traditions & school procedures have been stopped or changed, so yes, our "perks" have been stopped, all of which have affected our children. Our community remains strong, especially our wonderful, caring, and devoted wives/mothers that want nothing but the best for our kids. I encourage anyone to contact the principal, but from experience e-mails go unanswered for weeks, calls aren't returned & meeting times are often missed...good luck.

Posted: January 24, 2012

We are not coming back to St. Luke next year. I am not a self-entitled mom who was trying to run the school, but an average parent who puts in the minimum volunteer hours. If everything is great, then the previous poster should host a meeting for all the parents who are happy with the school and see if you get more than 50% attendance like last night's meeting. I am concerned because I see drastic changes being made at the school that have a direct and negative impact on my children. After reading the PTO meeting minutes, I can trace every negative change in the school directly to the new principal or new pastor. As an example, the reading program was halted with no notice to the parents. A reading committee was to be formed by the principal for finding a replacement program. According to the PTO, no committee has been formed even though they repeatedly ask him about it. My children went from checking out a book every week (and more importantly, reading each book) to rarely reading their library books. We love the parents and teachers at the school, but I refuse to wait and see how this all shakes out when my children's future is in question. We can get better elsewhere.

Posted: January 23, 2012

I am responding to the previous misinformed poster with the truth. The grievances at this school became so numerous as were the amount of concerned parents that it required an off campus meeting with a professional mediator tonight. Over 50% of the parents attended. The purpose of this "parents only" meeting was to discuss the issues at hand and to come up with proposed solutions for the administration. It was a successful, well run meeting and will hopefully contribute to the restoration of harmony.

Posted: January 23, 2012

I have been at this school for many years and have been very involved in participating my time and efforts in helping this school succeed for the sake of not only my children but of all the children. As a member of the "long time families" I have personally experienced the inablity of the "new" administration to adequately govern this school. There are safety, communication, and integrity issues just to name a few. Now that my children are being directly affected by the incompetence of the management, I will participate in restoring Saint Lukes back to exceptional school it once was last year. We are a strong community that cares how our children are being nurtured academically and spritually which is the foundation of who they will become.

Posted: January 12, 2012

Since August when a new administration took over the integrity of the school has been compromised. The reputation our school is building is one of such: 1. no overall vision for the school; 2. Low morale 3. inability to put in place and maintain academic programs; 4. Administration does not build relationships with the children or community at large 5. There is often not an administrative presence in the school 6. There is no productive communication 7. There are lots of yes conversations but no action. Saint Luke School needs leadership that can breathe life back into our classrooms and community.

Posted: January 6, 2012

Our family has been a part of Saint Luke School for many years. Until recently this has been an overwhelmingly positive school to raise your children. St. Luke has always been our home away from home with dedicated staff, friendly families, and amazing community. It had a supportive it takes a village to raise a child vibe. Fairfax County public schools are great schools so I at least don t send my children to SLS for academics alone I send them there for the community. Unfortunately that old St. Luke, that many worked hard to build up to be the phenomenal school it was, has been destroyed in 4 months time. We were assigned a new principal by our also newly appointed pastor. Our new principal hails from Thea Bowman charter school in Washington DC. Don t bother going there or looking it up because it has been shut down (but there are many blogs written about it, so Google it). Despite my better judgment I gave him the benefit of the doubt and listened as he said those complaints against himself were from one aggravated parent who was posing as many. BIG mistake on my part!

Posted: November 28, 2010

I am currently attending middle school at St. Lukes. Everyone here is so friendly, including the teachers. I used to go to Our Lady of Good Counsel, but of course had to move and transfer. I am glad that I did transfer because the minute I stepped into the classroom everybody, including the boys, greeted me kindly and played with me at recess. It made me feel at home! I had the best first day I could ever wish for and the teachers were great! My homeroom teacher is also very fun, she breaks everything down for you so you can understand it better. Although we do not have some rooms other schools have, this school is VERY cozy. Its been here for 50 years and there are lots of legacies here. In my old school, I barely had any friends. Even in elementary school there were cliques! I never fit in and the only friend I had were my older brother's. St. Luke School offers a variety of activities, for instance, when I was in 3rd grade my classmates and I were on 'Good Morning, America!' for All Saints Day. If your child does not like being on TV it's perfectly understandable because you will always have a choice. The staff is truly WONDERFUL! Consider St. Lukes!

Posted: October 20, 2009