Notre Dame Des Victoires Grammar School

BEWARE of this school! Most of all BEWARE of Ms. Desiree Alemendares! I was recommended to speak to her about some issues that have arisen in the care of my child, and she did not acknowledge my concerns what so ever, very defensive and aggressive towards my complaint/​concerns. It seems to me that she needs more training on how to interact with people that have conflicting views. Nice school, but not with horrible heartless people like her!

I have two kids in grades 1 & 3 at NDV. They love the school and so do I. The core academics and quality of instruction have helped them to excel. The school also offers an impressive variety of learning opportunities beyond the core curriculum.
Many teachers and staff have been part of NDV for many years. One might worry that they are set in their ways. However, I have found that they adapt and change (with due consideration) to needs of the school community.
Some reviews on other sites were critical of the former 1^st grade teacher. That changed in 2014 when the long-​time kindergarten aide was promoted to be the first grade teacher. She has brought a ton of energy and experience to the role and earned the praise of students and parents.
NDV has a very active and welcoming parent community. Community spirit is fostered through a series of events including the annual school picnic, Halloween carnival, crab feed, international night, and more.
The end result can be seen in the well-​spoken, intelligent, and self-​confident 8^th graders. Every year NDV graduates move on to a wide array of top-​tier high schools. Their success reassures me that NDV is the right place for my children to succeed.

We were not looking for a Catholic school. Our children had attended a Jewish pre-​school, I was raised Catholic, my wife Protestant. We were open to a range of possibilities.
We’d lived in San Francisco for years, and wanted to stay in the city to raise our family. Not an easy choice. We were looking at several schools until we came upon NDV through a recommendation by friends. What luck.
What we cared about most was strong academics, strong community, and solid values.
NDV had them all.
This is not my fathers Catholic school. The tolerance and diversity this city is known for permeates the culture of the school.
There is a class trip each sixth grade class takes; a week in Yosemite. I was a chaperone on the trip this year, and got to see the kids in action over the course of a week on trails, in the dining hall, mucking about at the campsite. What I saw were 32 kids* who had genuine appreciation for each other. It reminded me of my friends from elementary school. A handful of us are still close, emailing weekly. Friends for life. My sense is that my kids will have at least a few of their NDV classmates as friends for life. That’s what the culture at NDV produces. Given the minefield of challenges kids face growing up today, I consider the close friendships — genuine caring for each other, to be among the greatest assets my kids have received from NDV.
The academics are excellent. Graduates are readily accepted by the best high schools in the city.
If you’re looking for a school and any of this makes it seem that NDV could be a fit for you, then stop reading and give the school a call.
*(the class sizes are large, and when you’ve got a good teacher, an aide, and 32 kids behaving and listening it doesn’t matter).

NDV is a superb child-​centered school offering a solid balance of academics and enrichment (especially with regards to art, music, sports and robotics). If you are looking for exceptional academic results, NDV is always at the top with the results and high school placements year after year to back it up. The school has significant diversity, encompassing a healthy mix of different cultures and religions outside of its French and Roman Catholic core. The environment is safe, positive, and fun with a caring and active community. It is a small school that encourages parent involvement so it feels like everyone knows and is looking out for your child. There is a strong alumni tradition and its location makes it unique and special for city natives and residents (especially great for working parents downtown!). The teachers are engaged and challenge the children, and enough can’t be said about the principal who goes above and beyond on a daily basis — her love of the school is undeniable. My daughter is receiving an excellent education, stretching creatively and making life-​long friendships. We are thrilled to be part of NDV and highly recommend this school.

My three children attend the school (5^th, 2^nd and K) and it has fabulous attributes. NDV provides a Catholic education, with an emphasis on arts, language (French) and music, in the urban setting of downtown San Francisco. One of the reason’s we chose the school is that it exposes our children to the cosmopolitan city that San Francisco is and it is near my work. When the children embark on field trips they most likely will ride muni or walk to the various sites they visit. And these trips through San Francisco extends their education outside the class room.
Music seems to be getting lost in education today and it is so important. The extra-​curricular music program can start as early as Kindergarten or 1^st grade. My 5^th grader has been playing violin for 5 years and my 2^nd grader plays piano and my youngest is learning the cello.
The world is getting smaller and learning a language is even more important. NDV does not promise to make your child bi-​lingual by graduation but most kids enroll in French 3 when they enter the 9^th grade of high school and can speak the language. It puts a child on a good footing to really excel in French Language at the High School and College level.
The Catholic community is amazing and definitely puts God in the forefront of the child’s education. It can be as little as Father Phil greeting the children as they walk in to school or the children’s preparation for the sacraments with daily catholic education in-​between.
And of course, as almost all schools, NDV offers athletics as an important part of a child’s development, but a ‘part’ not the ‘end all… be all’. With the Olympic Club close by children who want to engage in a higher level of sports seem to participate in the Olympic Club’s various youth programs, such as swimming and AAU basketball.
A telling sign to the school’s success is the breadth of high schools the children are accepted to each year. It does not ‘feed’ one high school and I cannot imagine how one high school can fit for 20 individual students of a graduating class. NDV fosters each child’s talents and does a fantastic job preparing them for the next level.

I have a very special history with Notre Dame des Victoires. I graduated from NDV in 1984, my brother in 1994, in 2005 my eldest daughter enrolled as a kindergartner, her sister enrolled in 2009, and my god daughter enrolled in 2011. As I write this, I am an alum, a parent, a coach, the co chair of the parent’s association, member of the parish and strong supporter of the faith community that is NDV.
A school like NDV is a blessing in the best sense of the word. Founded in 1924 by the Marist Fathers and the Sisters of St. Jospeh of Orange, it has consistently dedicated itself towards growing the minds, souls and bodies of our children. It is a truly urban school, located at the intersection of the Financial District and the Gates of China Town — for me a huge plus being right in the middle of where all the action is. It may be tiny in size, having one class per grade, K through 8, but NDV is huge in community, a word we toss around a lot down on Pine Street. The community is focused by the Parent’s Association which sponsors an endless stream of events to support & enrich the students: Back to School Night, Halloween Carnival, School Picnic, Father Daughter Dinner Dance, Mother Son Baseball game, Sports Award Night, annual 6^th grade week long Yosemite Trip, International Night and many others.
The school is a member of CYO, supporting youth sports, 3^rd to 8^th grade, throughout the Arch Diocese. Children play CYO basketball, soccer, baseball and volleyball, and we are blessed with an indefatigable athletic director whose passion for the school and children is unparallelled.
NDV has an outstanding academic tradition, with award winning teachers and proven success in placing graduates in the top High Schools: in 2012 NDV will send students to Saint Ignatius, Sacred Heart, Riordan, Convent, Mercy SF, Mercy Burlingame, University, Lick, & Lowell among others — and this list is the same year after year, stark proof that NDV has a reputation for sending well prepared young people out to the best high schools where they flourish and go on to top Universities. It is a rigorous school, with high expectations both academically as well as spiritually & in terms of discipline. But high expectations lift young people up, especially when there is a caring and nurturing environment to support these expectations. The school leadership, both its administrators and the priests, are consummate professionals, dedicated, hard working, open to suggestions and willing to listen and take action. Over a thirty year period I have had NDV enrich my life and the lives of my family, and I will always be grateful that such an excellent school is here in San Francisco.

the middle school is more like military camp. the rules are too insane and I wish I would have pulled my child out. THe school is not child centered… it is a dogma
and not enough french is taught! Not enough french culture is provided.

As an alum (Class of ’91, thank you very much!), I have to admit something: I miss the uniforms! I hated them for 9 years of my life, but now… (le sigh)
Uniforms make life easier.
Great sports and amazing exposure to the arts. We also took a trip to France when I was in the 7^th grade (super-​cool!), though it was definitely NOT included in the tuition.
One star off because I made it through 9 years at this place without being diagnosed with ADD.