Maryknoll School

I selected something significant to write about since this is my 100th Yelp Review. It has greatly affected my life and has a large part in the shaping of who I am today - and that is my education during my formative years.There are two entries for Maryknoll School. This Dole Street address refers to the Grade School. The Punahou Street address refers to the High School, located next to the freeway where the famous "Freeway Five" basketball team originated... This review will refer to the Grade School.Upon reflection of my childhood years, I have come to appreciate all of the discipline and character-building lessons that the Sisters and Lay teachers have taught me. The uniforms we wore helped to bring us students together and decrease competition in superficial areas. I believe that our coed environment allowed us to think, speak, and act as responsible citizens. My classmates became outstanding professionals and I am fortunate to keep them in my life as friends - they were quality students and it is because of them that I studied and tried to keep up with their intelligence. Lastly, I am grateful to my parents for sacrificing and sending me and my 3 sisters to 13 years (including Kindergarten) of Catholic school. I know it wasn't easy, but it was really worth it. We all turned out to be productive and compassionate individuals!

We, meaning our family, both student and parents, had a pretty good experience with Maryknoll School. Daughter attended from eighth grade and graduated after 4 years at the High School. Then she finished college successfully in 4 years. I believe Maryknoll Schools contributed to her success. Before choosing MK we applied to some of the major Oahu schools, toured all, and interviewed at some. All kids are different and the parents are all different too. And the parents are just as important as a consumer as the student. We saw some parents come prepared with detailed lists of required classes to be certain all math and science classes could be completed in a timely manner, if not a year ahead of time. We were more concerned with an overall positive high school experience. We weren't into putting pressure on her to succeed at all costs. We were hoping she would build self esteem, develop as a well rounded person, and make friends too. Personally I really liked La Pietra's program the best. Le Jardin's IB program seemed legit and they had a better campus. I was overruled and informed that several of her friends were transferring to MK and that is where she wanted to go.We knew lots of local families who had made similar decisions for their kids. Bottom line is not all kids are Punahou material, but some are. The parents hopefully know their kids the best. School selection is not a perfect process.The reality is, raising a child and surviving the teenage high school years is still a hair raising experience. The resulting praise or blame falls on the parents and not the school.Financial Need and Scholarships: Not all the students are from well to do families. Don't let cost stop you from applying though as there is no harm in trying. Tuition is very high at all the private schools. And the cost goes up every year. There is no way to sugar coat this. Life is not fair. No one is going to help you. Most families are caught in the middle. Too much income to qualify for financial aide. Physical Plant: Grade school is normally sized. High School is on a micro campus next to a freeway. Weird parking. Excellent new multipurpose gymnasium facility sort of close by. No football stadium, no track and field, no tennis courts, no pool, no cafeteria, but it is air-conditioned and the class rooms are high tech. No band, minimal language programs, no cheerleading or student commons. College Prep: Now a days all high schools are college prep and they all tout 100% college acceptance/admissions. ALL the private schools claim this. Reality is it is probably 98% because there are always those who can't or won't get it together. I know this is true. Dysfunctional families and screwup students. But, chances are, barring unusual circumstances, your child will go to college and do just fine.Faculty: Many Maryknoll faculty have taught there for years. Some are alumni of Maryknoll. Some are award winning. Other than one or two, I felt all the teachers were adequate. Most seem devoted to the school and the students.Administration: Recruitment, retention, parent relations, tuition realities, community relations, paying the bills, student discipline, long term planning etc. Running a private school is no easy task.Overall High School Program: Despite the micro-campus and general lack of space I believe the school offers a quality program. Your student is not likely to get lost because the school is small. If someone falls behind or stumbles someone is going to notice. Faculty and administrators will know your child and probably you too. Some of these factors are intangible but Maryknoll tries hard to support its students.

One star. This is for the excellent early childhood program and academics they have. The lack of stars? They have yet to use their Christian, CATHOLIC beliefs in guiding their students. They don't like "problem" children in their school. Being Catholic, I don't find their ways of shunning a problem, a child for that matter, a Christian thing to do. Practice your faith Maryknoll. Who are you to judge?

No matter what school you go to in Hawaii, they are all trying to teach the children. Now - no school is a perfect match for every child or family. But since my daughter has attended since Kindergarden, she has made friends, done amazing in academics, and has a Christian value towards life. Does she enjoy mass? Heck NO! but did any of us love our parents dragging us to church? : D But we've seen a few friends pass away, and she was able to fall back on her teachings, and actually comfort those who lost loved ones. and she's only 7.The staff will take the time to meet with you and discuss anything that you have questions on. From the teachers, to the office worker to the custodians. The new gym is amazing. I have seen Maryknoll constantly upgrading the technology in the classrooms, at least on the grade school side, which I'm familiar with. They don't have a cafeteria, so meals are eaten in the classrooms, the snack bar has breakfast and lunches.They don't have green open fields. But when you walk the campus at recess, the kids are laughing, running around and having fun. So for my family, Maryknoll is a great fit, and I thank them for what they do and the guidance they provide.

Continues the long tradition of teaching drugged-out rich kids who are too ungrateful to know they're getting a quality education (relatively speaking - schools in Hawaii suck).When I was here, it was great. I had a blast. College-prep was poor.

Love this place. Great place to work, great place to send your kid. As a product of a really great public school in California (high rankings even with private schools) and working in the private sector majority of my life, I didn't know being so caring was so cool - from a professional and educational stand point. My son now attends school here and I'm just blown away at the LOVE and care all the teachers and staff have for every student. Some people/students gripe about the "Catholic" traditions and rituals but honestly, it's the foundation of the love of God that makes this place so caring. My first year of employment here, I was so impressed that the principals and teachers could say the name every kid who crossed their path regardless of age/grade! I've never been at any school where that happened before! As an employee, they are supportive of your whole welfare. Yes of course there's going to be some "conflicts" as personalities are all different in this world, but I've worked in the cut through world of corporate America where I've seen bosses make employees choose a sales call over their children. Here....nope, family always first. Your well being always first. As a parent who's child attends the Grade School....I'm excited at quality and well roundedness of education they're getting here. Really blows away a lot of the private schools I know of in Northern California. And the level of personal attention the teachers give to both our son and us as parents, wonderful. Open door, helpful, collaborative, guided. Could be coz I work here so they're biased but oh well! lol! It's unfortunate that some people did not have the same great experience as I did/am, as I can only attest to for the here and now. One thing is for sure, no one business, school, time, era, etc is perfect....or perfect for all the people. All I do know is that regardless of its a public school or private school one thing remains the same: Your school experience is as good as your parents involvement. Period. Parents must be involved for their student to get the most our of their elementary/high school life. Again, no one school is right for everyone but if you are looking at quality, caring, 'boutique', intimate and forward thinking education environment (we now have one of the only STEM/Civil Air Patrol/Aeronautics programs in HI for HS students!) at a not break your pocket price, this is the place!

My son has been a student at this school for the past ten years. Although his brothers all graduated from the KS school on the hill with unbelievable odds of getting in - this one would NOT even try to go there - and he did threaten to say so in his interview. So, he continues on at a small (less than 150 students per grade level) school - with caring and overtime worked teachers - who really want to see each child succeed! He was not always the most intelligent nor the most out-going youngster - but the school has taught him well in that each year in his high school days - when it really counts - he's gotten honors or principal's list. Way to go, Maryknoll School - I can only look forward to the next few years of his success and on to college!

Same as Keane (probably because we went to school around the same time) it was great while I was there. But there are, like any other private school, kids that are rich and ungrateful going there. On the other hand, there are kids that are smart and grateful going there and I'm honored to know them.A lot has changed since I've been in school with the introduction of a full blown laptop program. But the one thing hasn't changed is the size of the school; forever small and forever next to the freeway (high school). Some day soon there will be a gym which will increase the size of the grade school about two blocks. HURRAY!

This school is not worth 19,000 dollars. When I was there I was picked on by multiple teachers. The teachers don't care about you nor' does the head of the school. They don't do anything about the bullying problem and yolk it on. The teachers encourage bullying if anything. I experienced racism in a classroom with a teacher in the room and they didn't even care. If anything they ran along with the bullying. When the teachers do care, they care about the wrong things. There is so much bullying at this school but if a girl's shorts are too short that's what they're concerned about. Do NOT send you kids here because all the teachers care about is how much they get paid that day.

The teachers are not kind and inconsiderate of their students. If your child needs a school, go to Punahou of Kamehameha.