St.teresa's Academy

Well, if you want the facts about St. Teresa's, look right below my review to Colleen's, who gave a really great review of STA. I'll share a personal story with you.Nan Bone, current president of STA, was kind enough to let our company teach both ACT and HSPT classes on campus at STA. I loved working with the girls, who range from sassy and smart to quiet and thoughtful. As a single-sex-educated guy myself, and a brother to three sisters, I love to see these young women thrive in an environment where they aren't battling for male approval as they learn more about themselves.My second cousin, Sr. Mary Grace Heiner, taught here in the 1960s and when I discovered that fact, and her name on the ground floor of Donnelly Hall, I took a pencil rubbing of it and sent one to my Dad and kept one for myself. A Heiner was once again teaching at STA.The campus itself is gorgeous, and set within a beautiful and historic neighborhood near Loose Park. I've said this in another review, but when your school looks lovely and old, or even dignified and new, you will inspire, subconciously via architecture, your students to strive to achieve to match the tradition within those walls. When you construct schools to look like jails or DMVs, can you blame kids who are bored or skip class?There's a great story about how the trees got to STA also. The Mother Superior contracted with a gentleman who brought them from...Swope Park. It was only later discovered by the city and while that gentleman received his reprimand, you can imagine that those trees were not removed. And today, they decorate the already lovely STA campus.If you have a smart or serious or fun-loving or artistic or quiet girl - or just one you think needs her own space to develop - consider STA.

There's no rule about reviewing high schools, right? Well - I've spent more time here than at any restaurant or boutique in town so why not! STA is an all-girl Catholic high school. This review could be enormously long because I have so much to say about this place - so I'll break it down rationally.I know most yelpers are younger, maybe don't have children yet. BUT if you are considering raising kids in the future in Kansas City, it's never to early to consider where you'd likely send them to schools and coming from a graduated student - there's no better source to hear it from.Year it was founded: 1866 (and being 142 years old means it is the OLDEST school west of the Mississippi River - a little fact that's drilled into our heads as freshmen).Size: 530 students (my class was 100).Teachers:STA teachers are a mix of feminists (to teach the young women right now) and liberal artist-types. You get very personalized attention because the school is so small - the student to teacher ratio is 12:1. Personally, I loved my teachers and my adviser (it's like homeroom) and even the secretaries and administration - I had a heart for all of them by the end because the school's too small not to gradually get to know them over the four years.Students:They come from over 65 grade schools. Mine was in Kansas and transferring over to a Missouri school might not sound like a big deal - but MO Catholic grade school cliques run blood deep, haha, seriously! The good thing is, the campus is too small to be exclusive with friendships - we called ourselves a sisterhood and took the title seriously. Academics: Here's probably the most important thing about the school. It's a liberal arts education - I read a crap load of Jane Austen freshman year to make me absolutely sick of feminist literature, but that being said - it's academically intense and comprehensive and everyone is very motivated to want to be academically sound. No one really wanted to be the 'slacker' when I went there - everyone was too concerned with grades and college to not work hard. As I remember - we were all a bunch of little neurotic perfectionists - wearing Birkenstock and red wool sweaters (fun fact about our sweaters: they were flame-retardent, the fibers would melt under a lighter - it's been tried many ties over).My BEST ADVICE: Get your kid or future kid or cousin or whomever is considering STA to get into the honors academic program. This is where you want to be as a student - the administration gives you fuller attention, you take all of the courses that top colleges are looking for, it sets you on a track for success beyond the four years of attendance. It was the best decision of my life to get in the program (thanks to the wisdom of my two older sisters having gone through the school and discovering that sometimes, non-honors students get the shaft in placement and opportunities). AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS (and trust me, they don't advertise this information) is to attend their morning math class in eight grade (call and ask about it if you are interested - but this tip is as good as GOLD).SoulThe heart of the place is this: girls roll out of bed, no makeup and roll in by the random hour established as the start of an official school day (7:46 was always weird to me). Girls love journalism here - STA has a nationally acclaimed newspaper (The Dart) and girls love soccer here (we've won countless state titles). Girls here may be initially hesitant of the no-boys aloud thing - but after about a day, they figure out it's an opportunity to get to know themselves without the stresses of the opposite sex. I can say honestly, that all girl schools are not for everyone but they are certainly for some, for shy girls who want to get loud (cheesy but true), for girls who are following family tradition (people's grandmother and mothers and aunts have gone here, mine included), for girls wanting a sisterhood instead of Saved By The Bell - it's what I chose and I've never regretted it for one day in my life.

Our experiences at St. Teresa's Academy have been everything we expected. If you are searching for an all girls environment, this school should be at the top of your list for consideration. I really cannot add anything more to the reviews already on here as they are spot on. There are other private schools to consider obviously, but if the all girl environment is appealing to you, then please consider STA!

As an ancient graduate of St. Teresa's, you may think I have nothing to offer here. But my four years at STA were wonderful -- still a highlight of my many life experiences. I made lifelong friends there, learned so many things - both academic and skills for living, and never stopped loving the school and its teachers and students.It's a beautiful setting -- oh, I could go on forever telling stories about so many fun and funny things I experienced there. I loved the atmosphere of a girls school, experienced at just the right age. The freedom allowed us to grow and take chances without fear of looking dumb (to boys in particular). My education there allowed me to secure a place at a fine Jesuit university - Creighton - where I graduated in four years. Later I attended graduate school as well. But my foundation for learning was built at STA.Most of all, I am so grateful for the friends I made. I love every one of my 98 classmates. Several are still dear friends (even though we are in different cities, we see each other often). Reunions reunited far-flung friends, and it always seems like not a moment has passed since we last got together.For those of you thinking about where to send your daughters to high school (even if it's still a few years off) make this school a must on your short list. The traditions, friendships, academic excellence, and real caring will be hard to match, let along beat!A true believer,Lorraine B. Class of '64