Parent Survey Results
St. John’s Military School is blessed to have a very active and vibrant community of parental support. Current and former parents of St. John’s Military School Cadets are pleased to share their pride in St. John’s and discuss the achievements and growth of their sons.
St. John’s sent a survey to parents to ask their opinion on the impact St. John’s has had on their son’s life, what they feel has been most beneficial to their son’s development and growth, and what other elements St. John’s can incorporate into the overall success of their sons. Here are the results:
1. In your view, what is the most important aspect of SJMS that contributed to the progress and development of your son during this school year?
- My son has definitely grown into a young man at SJMS. He has learned to be more responsible.
- Encouraging my son to pick himself up when he falls. Staff models integrity, leadership, caring.
- Discipline my son received, which was lacking before, and the sincere caring of the staff.
- Structure and oversight, and constant demand for accountability have been critical, and it is done with compassion, discussion, consideration and love.
- Son’s grades and self-confidence have improved dramatically with the system of performance/rewards. He now believes he can accomplish goals and is starting to believe in himself.
- He is learning self-discipline and respect for himself and others, as well as learning accountability.
- Academics – allowing retakes, corrections and sometimes extra credit. He is learning to become more confident as a student.
- My son’s improvement in communication skills, public speaking and social skills.
- Clear expectations and consequences, with opportunities for advancement in rank and leadership roles helped tremendously.
- Son’s behavior much improved. He now knows he can do school work on his own. Confidence and self-esteem are so much better.
- St. John’s was good at getting a tutor for my son when needed.
- My son’s ability to gain rank has prompted a sense of accomplishment.
- Both the Military and Academics departments contributed equally.
- My son being held accountable with 24 hour supervision.
- Discipline.
- Teaching my son to look people in the eye.
- Drill team had huge impact on belief in himself and his grades.
- Structure, discipline and caring.
- Personal attributes in all respects of academics and environment.
- Professionalism of staff, military and non-military. Structure, ethics, and discipline.
- Discipline and structured routine. Small classes and individualized attention.
- Small classes, individual attention, structured assignment.
- Structure and discipline.
- Structure and discipline.
- Math teacher made son successful with algebra, calculus and trigonometry.
- Willingness and ability to see growth at any level.
- Opportunity for leadership.
- Structure and discipline.
- Self-confidence.
- Son was very stubborn. Military staff worked hard to guide him through “bone-headed” moves like smoking, AWOL, cursing, etc., and never gave up. Son is fortunate to learn life’s lessons.
- Small classes and more individual attention.
- My son has the ability to take on additional responsibility.
- Consistent discipline by military and academic staff combined with structured environment.
- Small classrooms and constant supervision by staff.
- Consistency, consequences.
- Academics.
- Turning in homework; no video games on school nights.
- The military discipline and regimen.
2. Would you recommend SJMS to other parents and why?
- Absolutely. School provides structure and discipline missing from many young men’s lives, and is done in a caring and consistent environment.
- Most definitely and have recommended and encouraged other families to look into SJMS. Faculty and staff provide an environment of nurturing, with mutual respect and honor as well as accountability.
- There is not enough room on the paper to write “yes” big enough!
- Yes. St. John’s offers an opportunity for growth and development. My son will not get lost as a mere number.
- Yes, although expensive, it may be the best $ ever spent.
- Absolutely. My son learned self-discipline, problem solving, gained self-confidence and self-esteem. He also met some great male role models at St. John’s.
- Yes, I recommend St. John’s to other parents.
- Yes, if they need a structured environment with discipline to follow through for their son.
- Yes, it provides the best opportunity.
- Yes, my son developed into young man capable of making good use of time and good decisions. Structure has been very good for him.
- Yes, many private schools focus only on a challenging curriculum and do not educate the whole person. Here he has the chance to play sports and have religious activity.
- Yes...We already see a change in our son.
- Absolutely. Our son came in a very dark time in his life, and now praises SJMS and me.
- Yes, St. John’s presents a great opportunity.
- Absolutely. It is clear the staff are committed to the growth and well-being of boys.
- Yes. Program is tailored around each boy and his needs.
- Yes, and have. Many boys need more structured development.
- Yes. My son has been here two months, but we have already seen significant changes.
- Absolutely. Great school and develops positive attitudes.
- Yes, for any kid that needs structure and discipline, it is the best possible choice.
- I would and have. Believe it helps boys become accountable for themselves.
- Yes, some boys need the structure. Son loves the military aspect and has no tolerance for those who do not respect it.
- Yes, if needed for academic reasons. SJMS does seem to care about the cadets’ future.
- Yes, and already have. Staff has been patient and encouraging when my son needed it most.
- Yes. I, and many other parents, see a remarkable improvement in attitude toward academics.
- Yes, it has helped my son.
- Yes, teachers and staff seem caring and want the best for boys and school.
- Yes, I consider SJMS a college prep school with emphasis on developing strong character and leadership skills. Son will graduate next year as a man and a leader.
- Yes, primarily for the disciplinary environment, but more for intimate educational experience.
- Yes, because of the structure and discipline provided. They are held accountable for their actions but are also allowed to move on and learn from mistakes.
- Yes, due to the hands on approach to establishing a positive, yet disciplined environment St. John’s provides.
- Yes, and already have.
- Yes, definitely. Simply because we see tremendous improvements from our son.
3. What can SJMS do to improve our commitment and contribution to the educational and development of your son?
- Consider computers mandatory for at least all juniors and seniors, possibly all high school.
- Continue to talk about accountability and consequences for his choices (good & bad).
- Find ways to keep boys connected after graduation – mentoring, recruiting, and building scholarships.
- We fully approve of your program.
- Will courses be available to challenge and educate him to earn acceptance to an elite college or university?
- Consider having part time counselor/psychologist experienced in dealing with teenage boys and their issues.
- I feel St. John’s is doing the best that can be done for the boys.
- More frequent communication with us regarding our son’s progress (or lack of).
- Love the sponsor program. Encourage advisors to communicate regularly with parents.
- Have the Cadets perform more community service.
- Start early with scholarship apps and ensure timely submittal.
- I would like more computer classes and foreign languages offered. Also would like to see cadets involved in community service projects around Salina.
- Better preparation starting junior year for college.
- So far we like what we see in his academic improvements.
4. Has SJMS met the expectations you had at the time you enrolled your son? Please explain.
- Exceeded it. Returned son in a way that is even better than we can remember. Turned hopelessness into hopefulness.
- Yes, we were hoping a change in environment and a lot of structure would benefit him, and it has.
- Exceeded expectations in every aspect. True commitment by faculty and military staff is its “claim to fame”.
- Yes. Past 4 years was a huge challenge from the military through the education department. SJMS made a superlative effort to help my son. We called the school often and were always granted information about my son. Thank you St. John’s.
- Absolutely. My son has grown in various areas and learned to co-exist with all different upbringings.
- Exceeded. St. John’s has allowed my son to develop into a young man of integrity. Firm rules along with respect and caring of the staff combined with Episcopal faith are what make SJMS a special place.
- Yes. Our son was going down the wrong path and wanting to quit school. He is now back to the young man we once knew and is respectful, courteous and has more self-confidence.
- Good job in meeting her expectations.
- Yes, but I could use more support how to integrate him home for breaks and summer.
- Exceeded what was expected.
- Yes, above and beyond.
- I had no expectations…I just felt helpless, and SJMS gave the structure and opportunity for success that was desperately needed.
- Exceeded expectations.
- Our son has only been at SJMS short time. We hope over vacation he will find a bond to want to return.
- Yes, but true test to changes will be when he comes home during spring break and summer.
- Yes. Everything is directed to improve the cadets in all aspects of life.
- Yes, our hope was that our son would improve in the classroom, develop self-confidence and mature to the point of a sense of direction.
- Yes, I expected the staff to provide educational opportunities and confidence building through military programs.
- Yes, we are satisfied.
- Overall, yes. No environment is perfect. Would recommend St. John’s to anybody.
- Very much.
- Yes. Our son has learned responsibility and recovered academically.
- Mostly.
- Most expectations met. First four weeks were hard, but understand, and if I called, questions were answered.
- By and large, yes. No regrets about the experience.
- Yes. We have seen improvement in our son’s attitude and academics.
- Yes, our son has already improved performance in school.
- For the discipline and religious impact, it has exceeded our expectations
5. Other comments.
- This has been a very good experience overall. My son wishes he would have enrolled at St. John’s as a 9th grader.
- I appreciate the honesty of staff with what to expect from my Cadet, and am thankful he is in a place that the staff cares and he is safe. SJMS saved two lives.
- Overall, very pleased. St. John’s cares and the staff works hard – my son has worked harder this year than ever before.
- SJMS continues to have value as it is willing to assess and change to meet the needs of boys.
- We are very impressed with functions for the parents during Parents’ Weekend.
- The St. John’s personnel are doing an above and beyond job to help the school and students.
- We appreciate the honesty of our son’s teachers, and his MA’s are great.
- The men at SJMS have been positive role models to my son.
- I appreciate caring staff at St. John’s.
Parent Ranking
Below are the overall rankings parents gave St. John’s Military School in 25 different categories. Many of the responses were between 9 and 10, showing the deep level of satisfaction and appreciation parents of Cadets have for St. John’s Military School.
The average ranking of all surveys returned as of April 7, 2009, appears following each question in parentheses followed by parents’ comments. The range for ranking is one (lowest) to 10 (highest).
1. What is your overall ranking of SJMS including all programs and aspects of the school? (9)
2. What is your assessment of the quality of education provided by SJMS? (9)
3. What is your assessment of the disciplinary and structured environment at SJMS? (8.4)
4. What is your assessment of the activities program including recreational facilities, sports and the intramural program at SJMS? (8.3)
5. What is your assessment of living accommodations (barracks) at SJMS? (9)
6. What is your assessment of the dining facilities at SJMS? (9)
7. What is your assessment of the educational accommodations at SJMS? (9)
8. What is your assessment of the recreational accommodations at SJMS? (8.9)
9. What is your assessment of the nursing services and health facility at SJMS? (9)
10. What is your assessment of the food quality at SJMS? (7)
11. What is your assessment of professionalism and competency of the faculty at SJMS? (9.1)
12. What is your assessment of professionalism and competency of the military staff at SJMS? (9.4)
13. What is your assessment of the professionalism and competency of the administration at SJMS? (9.2)
14. How would you rank the genuine sense of caring and commitment to your son by the military staff? (9.5)
15. How would you rank the genuine sense of caring and commitment to your son’s education by the academic staff? (8.8)
16. How would you rank the genuine sense of caring and commitment to the overall development of your son by the administration at SJMS? (9)
17. How would you rank the quality of communication you receive from SJMS regarding your son? (8)
18. How would you rank the spiritual and religious components at SJMS? (8)
19. How would you rank the appropriateness and fairness of disciplinary action applied to cadets’ behavioral issues? (9)
20. How would you rank the development of personal qualities such as politeness, appearance, and social graces taught at SJMS? (9)
21. How would you rank the appearance, attractiveness and maintenance of the SJMS campus? (9)
22. How would you rank the responsiveness and timeliness of your inquiries regarding your concerns and other issues relating to your son? (9.1)
