DaySpring Arts & Education — Local services in Maryland Heights

I always say that Dayspring has been a godsend for us. My daughter has been in private school, public school, and homeschool, but with Dayspring we finally found the right fit. The hybrid model allows her the chance to socialize and get instruction from great teachers twice a week, and work from home—at her own pace, with as much or as little help as she needs from me—twice a week. On Fridays, she has chosen a variety of enrichment classes, from Art to dance to acting, and it has really helped her discover what she enjoys. Her performing arts classes have given her opportunities to confidently be on stage, and I love that she can take these classes right here in the same place where she goes to school. There is so much communication from the school, both from administration and from the teachers; I have always felt very welcome to reach out, and my concerns are always addressed. Miss Alicia, the academy administrator, is always visible in the building and seems to know all the parents by name. The school is small and really has a community feel. I not only know all the kids in my daughter’s class, but their parents and often their siblings as well. Dayspring offers a safe & supportive environment, with “Christian values” at its core while being welcoming to all faiths. (Our family does not identify as Christian, and it has never been a problem.) We are so glad that we finally found the right school for...

FINALLY was able to get out of here. I spent my 9th grade year at Dayspring and about 3 weeks of my 10th as well. I have never felt more insignificant and unimportant in my own community than I did attending this school. From a students perspective, the staff and especially the principle (Ms. Angie) treat the students like children, but expect them to act like adults. They do not listen to any of our input about our own education, or school life. I, as a student, was completely silenced and expected to blindly follow their beliefs and ethics. I never felt like I truly belonged, and I was told that I didn’t belong. I was shunned because of my political views, my religion, and even so little to the clothes I wore. I was harassed by a fellow student throughout my 9th grade year, to which the school did absolutely nothing about. I was removed from Spanish class after declining to participate in a project with Psalms, even after Ms Angie told me I did not have to participate in any of the religious aspects of Dayspring. I truly believe that my family and I were cheated by the school throughout my time there. If you want your child to receive a mediocre education, be surrounded by blind followers by hypocrites who don’t acknowledge any religion/belief/ethics against their own, then by all means, send...

My love for this place and the impact it has had on me goes beyond words. DaySpring has been so impactful on my life that my first tattoo was the DaySpring rays (logo). I started at DaySpring in preschool (my family started before then) and I stayed with DaySpring until I went off to college. I have taken engineering, music, puppet, history, Biz Town, drama, circus (now Kinetic Tapestry), musical theater, ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and modern classes to name a few. I was homeschooled so DaySpring enrichment days and night classes were how I interacted with other kids. There are truly incredible teachers at DaySpring that I owe so much to. They are kind people who care about you. My teachers helped me so much not just with the content they were teaching, but also with life. My ballet teachers taught me how to work hard and how to act professionally. They created a safe environment for me and I cannot thank them enough. I call myself a DaySpring Baby because I have been at DaySpring since before I can remember. DaySpring holds a very large place in my heart and has grown so much since I started. DaySpring is full of incredible people who create a safe, consistent place to grow up in and learn how to be a person. I really do love DaySpring and they are the reason I am here and who I...