“These kids are nice to each other,” my son exclaimed after he spent a day visiting Pittsburgh New Church School. “We didn’t sit around waiting for things to happen. Plus there’s more than one recess.” He was ready to switch schools at once.

I was drawn to the school’s atmosphere–the happy students, calm environment, and creative assignments decorating the bulletin boards. I was also impressed by what I learned about their curriculum, particularly the carefully crafted lessons that built students’ skills in composition and mathematics.

My son enrolled for middle school. For him, PNCS was a place he felt welcome, safe, and engaged by the learning process – all things that can’t be measured by standardized tests but are really important if a child is going to learn.