Opinions on Appletree in Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Curious to hear from families that are currently attending the Capitol Hill location. Any issues? How are the teachers? Has it been a good experience for your child? Any progress on the new location on 12th street? I have an upcoming kindergartener.

[Anonymous]

Apple tree is a PreS and PreK program only. They do not have K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apple tree is a PreS and PreK program only. They do not have K.

This is accurate. But for the benefit of others who have PreS and PreK kids (or will have next year), I will say that I have been very pleased with the school this year, which is in temporary space on the Eastern High School campus. My child has really thrived at Appletree and is doing well in terms of letter and number recognition, writing, beginning to sound out words, understanding the basis of compound words (last night she described how "butterfly" is made up of two separate (and very different) words), etc. She came from a daycare environment so already had the "school routine" thing down, although that was a learning experience for some of her peers.

I would wish for more individual attention -- it appears to me that individualized instruction has been more targeted to the kids who are somewhat behind their peers in class -- but I do think she has been challenged and nurtured this year.

They recently let parents know that they anticipate opening the 12th Street location for the fall, but have not yet started re-enrollment or enrollment procedures for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apple tree is a PreS and PreK program only. They do not have K.

This is accurate. But for the benefit of others who have PreS and PreK kids (or will have next year), I will say that I have been very pleased with the school this year, which is in temporary space on the Eastern High School campus. My child has really thrived at Appletree and is doing well in terms of letter and number recognition, writing, beginning to sound out words, understanding the basis of compound words (last night she described how "butterfly" is made up of two separate (and very different) words), etc. She came from a daycare environment so already had the "school routine" thing down, although that was a learning experience for some of her peers.

I would wish for more individual attention -- it appears to me that individualized instruction has been more targeted to the kids who are somewhat behind their peers in class -- but I do think she has been challenged and nurtured this year.

They recently let parents know that they anticipate opening the 12th Street location for the fall, but have not yet started re-enrollment or enrollment procedures for it.

I agree PP--my child is doing well at AppleTree. I like the staff/teachers. I also agree that for kids who are ahead of their peers there is not as much individual instruction, but they are proactive in helping struggling kids to catch up and with social/emotional issues. I believe they will also open a campus at 19th and E St. in addition to 12th St. NE.

[Anonymous]

I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I agree that parking is problematic but I live in the area and people don't park early in the morning to use Lincoln Park on a week day. Also, I understand that AppleTree plans to give priority to local kids at that location who would more likely walk and the majority of the kids via car at the Gibbs location in east Capitol Hill. There is also 2 public buses that run near 12th St. from Union Station.

[Anonymous]

I am at the Columbia Heights location and parking is pretty tight there also. I would recommend doing a scouting trip for parking about a block away. That way you always have a back up if it is crazy right in front. You may also want to organize a pickup zone with the other parents. They don't do it at other locations but they may be willing do it there is parents initiated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I have to say that I don't see this as an Appletree-specific issue -- the parking issues around Capitol Hill DCPS schools are pretty tight, and I have also wondered how I would handle drop-off at Two Rivers, should my child be lucky enough to get in.

It's also worth remembering that not everyone arrives at the same time -- school starts at a specific time, but kids are dropped off for breakfast in advance, and in practice arrivals are staggered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I have to say that I don't see this as an Appletree-specific issue -- the parking issues around Capitol Hill DCPS schools are pretty tight, and I have also wondered how I would handle drop-off at Two Rivers, should my child be lucky enough to get in.

It's also worth remembering that not everyone arrives at the same time -- school starts at a specific time, but kids are dropped off for breakfast in advance, and in practice arrivals are staggered.

I agree--and there is also an assumption that everyone drives. I see plenty of people coming off of public transportation dropping off small kids in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I agree that parking is problematic but I live in the area and people don't park early in the morning to use Lincoln Park on a week day. Also, I understand that AppleTree plans to give priority to local kids at that location who would more likely walk and the majority of the kids via car at the Gibbs location in east Capitol Hill. There is also 2 public buses that run near 12th St. from Union Station.

I didn't know a charter school was allowed to give preference to neighborhood kids. I thought they had to be open to all neighborhoods and not give any preference to any particular area. Seems odd to set up a charter school for free pre school/pre-k in a neighborhood that is 1) quite wealthy compared to the rest of the city and 2) already has numerous neighborhood DCPS options. Aren't Maury and Miner close by? Since most of the neighbors don't even want the school there, why aren't they going to a DC neighborhood that is really needy for free pre school and pre-K?

[Anonymous]

My DS goes to AppleTree on Capitol Hill @ Eastern High. It's a great school compared to all of the other schools I have seen. Unfortunately, most parents aren't really involved as much as they should be. The teachers are really caring. Great for young students, worth the drive.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for clarification on the ages in the school. This thread is still very helpful because I also have a 2 yr that will be ready for school next year. Thanks so much for the insight on the school. It sounds like current families are happy, but I really hope it can be one that gains more parent involvement and becomes a really great charter option. Parking issues aside, I actually think the general location is great.

[Anonymous]

One thing anyone who applies to Appletree should understand is their mission is not to become a full fledged charter school with upper grades. They are also seeking to fold in a lot of poorer kids whose parents may not be so involved but that they can help boost with high quality pre-school into good educational starts. We are at the Columbia Heights campus. We see highly involved well off parents and the opposite, but all the kids are doing quite well. It is a model of integration not often seen in this city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I agree that parking is problematic but I live in the area and people don't park early in the morning to use Lincoln Park on a week day. Also, I understand that AppleTree plans to give priority to local kids at that location who would more likely walk and the majority of the kids via car at the Gibbs location in east Capitol Hill. There is also 2 public buses that run near 12th St. from Union Station.

I didn't know a charter school was allowed to give preference to neighborhood kids. I thought they had to be open to all neighborhoods and not give any preference to any particular area. Seems odd to set up a charter school for free pre school/pre-k in a neighborhood that is 1) quite wealthy compared to the rest of the city and 2) already has numerous neighborhood DCPS options. Aren't Maury and Miner close by? Since most of the neighbors don't even want the school there, why aren't they going to a DC neighborhood that is really needy for free pre school and pre-K?

Yes Maury and other DCPS schools are nearby but what you don't understand is that the schools don't have enough spots for in boundry kids for PS and a few spots for PK. The waitlist from the DCPS lottery is huge. So you are incorrect about neighborhood need. Also the neighborhood is not uniformly weathy- just look in the inboundry FARM numbers for Cap Hill. Also, you are correct that charter schools don't generally give preference but AppleTree has to guarantee a spot for current rising PK kids at the East Capitol location as it is closing next year. Because they plan to open 12th and Gibbs the current parents have a choice. There are several local parents to fill the spots as the 12th st location will only have a few classrooms and half will be filled by current parents. Finally, the school has several locations and asks for your preference when applying. The school can distribute the students as it sees fit and consider the parents geographical location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the 12th St. NE location problematic. It is on a residential street where parking is at a premium (people who use Lincoln Park often park there) in between two major commuter streets (East Capitol and Constitution) Hopefully, it won't be an issue, but dropping and picking up 60 kids who need to be strapped into car seats might not be easy.

I agree that parking is problematic but I live in the area and people don't park early in the morning to use Lincoln Park on a week day. Also, I understand that AppleTree plans to give priority to local kids at that location who would more likely walk and the majority of the kids via car at the Gibbs location in east Capitol Hill. There is also 2 public buses that run near 12th St. from Union Station.

I didn't know a charter school was allowed to give preference to neighborhood kids. I thought they had to be open to all neighborhoods and not give any preference to any particular area. Seems odd to set up a charter school for free pre school/pre-k in a neighborhood that is 1) quite wealthy compared to the rest of the city and 2) already has numerous neighborhood DCPS options. Aren't Maury and Miner close by? Since most of the neighbors don't even want the school there, why aren't they going to a DC neighborhood that is really needy for free pre school and pre-K?

Yes Maury and other DCPS schools are nearby but what you don't understand is that the schools don't have enough spots for in boundry kids for PS and a few spots for PK. The waitlist from the DCPS lottery is huge. So you are incorrect about neighborhood need. Also the neighborhood is not uniformly weathy- just look in the inboundry FARM numbers for Cap Hill. Also, you are correct that charter schools don't generally give preference but AppleTree has to guarantee a spot for current rising PK kids at the East Capitol location as it is closing next year. Because they plan to open 12th and Gibbs the current parents have a choice. There are several local parents to fill the spots as the 12th st location will only have a few classrooms and half will be filled by current parents. Finally, the school has several locations and asks for your preference when applying. The school can distribute the students as it sees fit and consider the parents geographical location.

Looked up the enrollment/lottery numbers from last year: Maury had 50 in-bound kids on the waitlist that they didn't serve for PS; Miner had 15 in-bound kids on the waitlist for PS. PK for Maury had 14 in-bound waitlist and Miner had 4 in-bound not served. Also all the other schools in nearby Capitol Hill also have waitlists for PS/PK in-bound kids.