Chaminade College Prep School

I first stepped through the gates of this school, Chaminade College Preparatory School, located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, at the beginning of 2021. For me, choosing a school was a long process; I had to consider campus size, facilities, teaching methods, and post-graduation prospects. Fortunately, this school met all the criteria, and I also want to thank my parents, family, and friends for their support and recommendations.

Students at the school are exceptionally friendly; they greet each other when they meet, which makes me feel like I'm part of a big family. The teachers are professional and also humorous. Regarding academics, the school collaborates with several good schools within the state, and the teachers' teaching standards are very high, with no issues of racial discrimination. Furthermore, although the school has a strong religious atmosphere, it has been a great experience for me; after all, understanding different cultures is quite interesting.

As for college applications, the school assigns a college counselor to each student, and you can just go to them if you encounter any problems. International students who graduated last year went on to many good universities, so there are plenty of pathways and opportunities.

During my time in the United States, I've not only learned a lot of knowledge but also gained self-reliance, self-control, and focus.

Next year, I will be graduating from here. Over the past four years, I believe my hobbies and interests have received strong support and cultivation from the school, which has also shaped me into having a relatively mature and calm mindset today. This school has not only imparted knowledge to me but also taught me many ways to be a good person and life philosophies. I am very grateful to the school for nurturing me over the past four years and hope that the school will continue to improve and achieve greater success in the future!

Now, let's talk about a point that is often overlooked when introduced by agencies, but which I believe is very necessary to mention. Since this school is a Catholic school founded with investment from the American Sisters of Notre Dame, theology class is a compulsory subject for grades 6-12. Its content starts with Bible stories and gradually progresses to the philosophical level. The grades from this class will become part of your overall academic performance. In fact, my classmates have mixed reviews about this course, but I personally think it's okay. As a devout and faithful Buddhist, I have always approached the school's Catholic activities and courses with an attitude of listening to stories and broadening my horizons. However, I believe that for a student who temporarily has no faith but is a theist, their heart will surely be profoundly moved by people's piety towards God, and by the melodies and content of the hymns, the first time they attend a mass organized by the school. I believe it is precisely this devotion to God that has fostered the tolerance, simplicity, and open-mindedness of the people in the American Midwest. It is because they believe in God that this school places great emphasis on cultivating students' moral character. Although recently a very few foreign spoilt brats accidentally dropped their mask of civilization within the school, revealing their ugly and unfriendly true nature, the school promptly took corresponding measures after receiving our complaints, punishing these few escapees from the barbaric world who found their way to the civilized world, thus protecting the safety and dignity of all us international students from around the globe. Once again, I would like to thank the school for its protection and attention to us.

For daily life, the school's geographical location is excellent, very close to the city center and Chinatown. The greenery around the school and in the surrounding community is very well-maintained. In summer, shady trees and clear blue skies are basically the norm. International students all live in dormitories. In the past two years, the school has built a new dormitory building, which looks very impressive and modern. This suggests that international students' living conditions will definitely see a qualitative leap starting next year. During weekdays, students generally stay on campus if they don't need to go out. However, on weekends, the school dormitory organizes a variety of outings for residents, such as going to live baseball games, go-karting, playing golf, etc. They also take students grocery shopping to buy food, daily necessities, and so on. The school cafeteria provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner for resident students from Monday to Sunday, with a variety of dishes, and overall the food is quite good. There are quite a few Chinese restaurants near the school, and most of them offer delivery directly to the school. So, if you want Chinese food, you can generally get it on demand. (However, I seem to have heard that the school does not allow ordering takeout during weekdays, and if you don't attend dinner on weekdays, you will be reprimanded. If this happens more than twice, you will be forcibly sent to community service on the weekend.)

It has been almost four years since I first stepped through the gates of this school on January 5, 2020, up until the time this comment is being posted. Below, I will discuss my personal feelings.
First, let's talk about academics. I believe that academics at this school are divided into three stages. The first stage is from grades 6-8. During this period, school teachers mainly focus on nurturing students' interests and teaching in a fun-oriented way, allowing students to have a relatively relaxed and happy middle school experience. The second stage is grades 9-11. All your regular academic scores during these three high school years are required for submission when you apply to universities in grade 12. This is because admissions officers for American undergraduate programs not only look at your academic scores but also the difficulty of the courses you've taken. Therefore, most courses studied during this stage are quite challenging academically. The third stage is grade 12. Students communicate and write essays with their dedicated college counselors (the school has two in total). After the application season ends, the academic burden becomes relatively lighter. Of course, regular academic scores in grade 12 are also very important; although some universities only require scores from before grade 12, there are still a very few exceptions.

Chaminade College Preparatory School data: 800 students, student-teacher ratio 1:9, 8% international students, 15% boarding students, 95% teachers with advanced degrees. Chaminade Preparatory School is located in the suburban St. Louis township of Creve Coeur, just a 20-minute drive from downtown. Chaminade Preparatory School is the first fully wireless laptop campus in Missouri. All students and faculty have laptops for academic and personal use. The college preparatory curriculum is very challenging, including over 100 hours of college credit courses, enabling students to achieve outstanding abilities. The school has excellent instrumental music programs, divided into beginner and intermediate levels, music bands, symphony orchestras, and three jazz ensembles. The drama program is also top-notch, and the school's theater is very professional, capable of accommodating over 1000 people. Boarding students have weekend activities. Regular activities include watching movies, visiting shopping malls, and dining at restaurants. Special weekend activities include trips to Six Flags and watching games of the Blues and the Rams.

Chaminade College Preparatory School, founded in 1910, is a private, boarding school for boys. The school is dedicated to fostering students with inner spirit, intellectual ability, emotional maturity, and strong physical well-being. Below is a brief introduction to the school. The school will be visiting China in September, and interviews can be arranged. Interested families are welcome to contact me to schedule an appointment.
[Location] A century of history, Blue Ribbon honor, only 20 minutes from St. Louis, ranked No. 1 in the state;
[Facilities] First-class teaching facilities, Olympic-sized swimming pool, golf course, gymnasium, etc.;
[Curriculum] 26 AP courses, 100 college dual-credit courses, ACT, SAT, TOEFL preparation courses;
[Signature Programs] Strong academics, STEM leading the nation, outstanding global exploration courses, robotics;
[Sports Programs] Multiple state championships in various sports, including basketball, golf, volleyball, etc.;
[Free Tutoring] Over 20 types of free tutoring, excellent value for money, writing lab, math lab;
[Graduation Outcomes] 100% university acceptance rate, over 75% receive university scholarships. Graduates have been admitted to Columbia University, Duke University, Brown University, University of California (Los Angeles), University of California (Berkeley), New York University, Boston University, and more.

Mr. Ngo Duc Thao - Father of Nhan Ngo ‘22 Khoi Ngo '26

Our family is truly fortunate to have chosen Chaminade College Preparatory School for our eldest son, who started in 9th grade in 2018 and is currently in 10th grade. We found the direct application process to the school very easy, thanks to the dedicated and detailed guidance of the Director of Admissions for all necessary documents, and we received excellent financial aid. The school offers many courses that provide college credits for future university studies. The subjects are very interesting, and my son enjoys them greatly. There are numerous after-school sports options, including outdoor and indoor sports, all located within the school campus, providing safety and convenience for my son after completing his assignments in the dormitory. International students are also encouraged to participate in various clubs (there are over 50 clubs).

Dormitory life is excellent and safe. International students from Europe, Asia, Canada, and even other US states come here to study and live. The students interact gracefully, joyfully, and without any racial discrimination. Fixed study time in rooms is from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, and bedtime for grades 6-10 is 10:00 PM. Good meals are provided by Pedestal Foods, ensuring safety, and the menu changes daily.

Currently, there are 8 Vietnamese international students from grades 9-11 attending the school. An annual Lunar New Year celebration is organized at a teacher's home, which is greatly appreciated for helping to reduce the students' homesickness. The parents of these 8 students are also very friendly, sharing and confiding about their children's lives, and we often meet fully when opportunities arise.

After one year of study, we have observed significant changes in our son's mindset, thoughts, actions, and his responsibility towards his own life.

Overall, we are truly satisfied with this school, and we intend to send our second son to study here as well, starting from 8th grade.

Lan Nguyen ‘23
At Chaminade, the school provided me with many wonderful activities, from sports to social clubs outside of school. From 8 AM until the bell rings at 2:50 PM, I am always in class, studying and practicing. After preparing, I head to my extracurricular activities. In the fall, all my time is dedicated to football, and the same happens in the spring for lacrosse. I participate in Model UN, the Mission Week committee, and a few other clubs to keep myself moving throughout my day.
This active social life balances my daily rigorous academic routine and makes my day much better. Additionally, I've grown closer to friends through these activities and sports, and have become a better person at the same time.

Chaminade College Preparatory School is located in the suburban St. Louis Township, just a 20-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, and only 9KM from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2016, the school received the Blue Ribbon honor, and its tuition fees are affordable. It is the first comprehensive wireless laptop campus in Missouri.

School Features:
1) First-class teaching facilities: The campus boasts an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, a golf course, and an arts building housing a music hall and art exhibition gallery.
2) Rich arts programs, strong in music and drama: Offers excellent instrumental music courses, divided into beginner and intermediate levels, music bands, a symphony orchestra, and three jazz ensembles.
3) Highly challenging curriculum: Provides 26 AP courses and 100 dual-credit courses. Over 80% of the school's students earn college credits by the time they graduate. The school also offers over 20 free tutoring services, including STAR, ARC, Writing Lab, Math Lab, etc.
4) The school places great emphasis on an international perspective, including class trips across the country; study exchanges to England, Australia, France, Portugal, Mexico, and China; and language immersion trips to Rome, France, Spain, Taiwan, Belize, and national parks.
5) Chinese students have good college matriculation outcomes: In 2019, admitted universities included USC, UIUC, Virginia Tech, George Washington University, etc.; in 2018, admitted universities included UCLA, University of Miami, Penn State University, etc.

The pandemic caused our child to fall behind in studies, but now they can finally study a full semester at Chaminade. The school environment is beautiful, the teachers are very responsible and loving, and the academic atmosphere is strong... All of this makes us feel very reassured and grateful. We hope our child achieves great success!

My child has been here for four years. This school is a 6th-12th grade boarding school for boys. The environment is excellent, and the area around the school is very safe. The teachers are all very friendly, and school activities are quite diverse. Each student is equipped with a computer for learning. Through the Canvas and Skyward systems, one can monitor the child's learning progress and school information. To facilitate better, barrier-free communication with parents, a Chinese group chat has also been established, which brings us great convenience!

This is a very reputable private church school with excellent faculty and basic teaching facilities. The school is conveniently located. International students enjoy good accommodation conditions, and the teachers responsible for managing international students are diligent and responsible, addressing issues for students and parents very promptly and seriously. Through the school's Canvas and Skyward systems, parents can timely monitor students' academic performance and subject progress. After our child started boarding and studying at this school, we felt much more at ease and reassured.

The school environment is beautiful, humanistic care is good, and it is very safe.

I enrolled two students; one is in tenth grade, and the other returned due to the pandemic. The school's teachers and administrators are very good.

A fantastic high school with a very large campus that can rival most university campuses. The facilities are comprehensive and all very new. The environment is excellent, and it's also very close to the airport. It's a highly recommended school. The resident program (boarding program) is nationally renowned, and I recommend boarding.

This is a very good private high school. The school's faculty and teaching facilities are excellent, and the accommodation conditions for boarding students are very good. Extracurricular activities are richly arranged, with activities every weekend and during holidays. The senior students responsible for international students are very friendly and can answer and solve students' questions very promptly. The international student dormitory management is quite comprehensive, and epidemic prevention work during the COVID-19 pandemic was well-executed, with vaccines administered to students at the earliest opportunity.

Chaminade School has a good environment and is very spacious. There are ample sports facilities, such as a rugby field, tennis courts, baseball field, basketball gym, and fitness room. The academic building is divided into high school and middle school sections, totaling four floors. Classrooms are spacious and well-lit. The teachers are also excellent and very willing to communicate with students. Additionally, there's an art building dedicated to instrumental bands and fine arts, and the theater is also located there.

Chaminade is a Catholic boarding school for boys located in Missouri, specifically in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, just 20 minutes from downtown. Chaminade is Missouri's first fully wireless laptop campus. All students and faculty members are equipped with IBM laptops for both academic and personal use. The college preparatory curriculum is highly challenging, including over 100 hours of college credit courses, enabling students to achieve outstanding capabilities.

School Advantages:

1. The curriculum is very challenging, offering 26 AP courses and over 70 college credit courses. More than 80% of the school's students have already earned college credits by graduation.

2. The STEM program is excellent. Students can engage in STEM courses starting from 6th grade, with different STEM learning plans each year.

3. Chaminade is Missouri's first fully wireless laptop campus. All students and faculty members are equipped with IBM laptops for both academic and personal use.

4. The school collaborates with Saint Louis University to offer college credit courses. Students can earn college credits by achieving a grade of C or higher in ACC courses.

5. Art programs, including visual arts, music, and drama, are very strong.

6. Sports are excellent, with various teams such as football, soccer, cross country, water polo, and basketball having won awards.