Ashlawn versus Glebe Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone compare how overcrowded the two are? (I keep hearing “very.”) Or how each one does with support services for a child with a 504?

How are they on things like amount of homework? Do kids lose recess for behavior issues? Do they use behavior charts? Does anyone know to that level of detail?

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Our kids went to Ashlawn and it is a gem! No homework (except reading) and in our experience the teachers worked hard to support our child's 504. The teachers are what really makes that school special - that and the global citizen project that sets the tone for the school.

I don't know any schools that are really doing behavior charts anymore, and if they are it's private between the child and the teacher. In our experience recess was not used as a behavior mgt tool. The school values the children being active and having time outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Here is info on the Global Citizen Project:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1096259411176614

[Anonymous]

My kids are at Ashlawn. I can’t speak to Glebe. Ashlawn just expanded a few years ago. There are a couple trailers but it doesn’t feel overcrowded.

Ashlawn has been flexible with us on behavioral issues and willing to do charts, rewards, etc. I’ve never heard of kids losing recess as a disciplinary tactic. Unlike it was in response to behavior at recess, that seems counter productive.


It’s a no homework school so beyond an expectation of reading daily, there is not much- maybe a few special projects.

[Anonymous]

Glebe is less crowded than before the pandemic. The issue really impacts student:teacher ratios, but that's an issue across APS. APS tries to balance its budget by stuffing as many kids into a class with as few teachers as possible. Before the pandemic, parents could regularly be in the building, and it never felt overcrowded in the hallways. There are trailers -- the third grade is in trailers. We are in the 5th grade and the trailers were a non-issue for our child.

Homework is limited, sounds similar to Ashlawn.

My child has a 504 and the teachers and administration work with them/us.

Some of the teachers use a behavior chart in K and 1st, and I don't remember it much past those grades. Even with a child with behavioral issues, I've thought that as far as behavioral charts go, the use was okay (not great but not as bad as our older child had in a different, local district).

We've never had recess taken away and they are almost always outside for recess unless it's very, very cold. They've been eating outside bc of the pandemic.

The principal, assistant principal, and most teachers seem to be genuinely good people, which, again, differs from a previous experience we had. The atmosphere walking into the school is bright and happy.

The PTA is active. They had something for teachers today for Valentine's Day.

My one complaint would be that in the upper grades, the teachers each teach one subject only and the kids rotate. It takes a lot of executive functioning for our child to rotate from teacher to teacher. And it made virtual learning a bit difficult last year (we didn't do hybrid). But we are happy with all but like one of the teachers they have had.

My child's one complaint at this point would be that half of their friends go to Swanson for Middle and half to Dorothy Hamm. So that's something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Ashlawn is under capacity this year. There are trailers, but there are also empty classrooms in the building so the trailers are not really needed for capacity. However note that class size has increased across APS in the upper grades so upper grades is around 25 per class.

[Anonymous]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glebe is less crowded than before the pandemic. The issue really impacts student:teacher ratios, but that's an issue across APS. APS tries to balance its budget by stuffing as many kids into a class with as few teachers as possible. Before the pandemic, parents could regularly be in the building, and it never felt overcrowded in the hallways. There are trailers -- the third grade is in trailers. We are in the 5th grade and the trailers were a non-issue for our child.

Homework is limited, sounds similar to Ashlawn.

My child has a 504 and the teachers and administration work with them/us.

Some of the teachers use a behavior chart in K and 1st, and I don't remember it much past those grades. Even with a child with behavioral issues, I've thought that as far as behavioral charts go, the use was okay (not great but not as bad as our older child had in a different, local district).

We've never had recess taken away and they are almost always outside for recess unless it's very, very cold. They've been eating outside bc of the pandemic.

The principal, assistant principal, and most teachers seem to be genuinely good people, which, again, differs from a previous experience we had. The atmosphere walking into the school is bright and happy.

The PTA is active. They had something for teachers today for Valentine's Day.

My one complaint would be that in the upper grades, the teachers each teach one subject only and the kids rotate. It takes a lot of executive functioning for our child to rotate from teacher to teacher. And it made virtual learning a bit difficult last year (we didn't do hybrid). But we are happy with all but like one of the teachers they have had.

My child's one complaint at this point would be that half of their friends go to Swanson for Middle and half to Dorothy Hamm. So that's something to consider.

Similar MS issue with Ashlawn - a portion go to Swanson, while a larger number go to Kenmore.

[Anonymous]

My child w 504 recently left Glebe for another school. In comparison, Glebe’s support was terrible. I have heard good things about Ashlawn in terms of IEP/504 support and I know they were a phonics beta tester for reading. If we had to choose, we would do Ashlawn, but a lot has to do with how you vibe with the community. Glebe was not a good fit for us.