LAMB experiences?

[Anonymous]

We have a bright child who was pushed in a gentle and supportive way at LAMB. They did a lot more work and more interesting work than friends’ kids went to other schools, both private and public. It’s not perfect (no school is), but it was great for our family. I can’t speak to a child with special needs or other circumstances. But our child was not bored and came out very prepared.

[Anonymous]

I have a first and third grader at LAMB and we will be moving this summer to be in bounds for a different school. This is partly motivated by the feeder pattern of the new school, but mostly because we have been unhappy with the academics in the lower elementary years. Our experience is entirely community (classroom) dependent - one child is having a strong/good academic experience, the other is not, and this is because of the teaching. The disadvantage of LAMB is that you are put in a community with the same teachers for 3 years. There's a lot of variance between the quality of teaching. If you're put in a "bad" classroom; you're stuck there for the entire 3 years.

There's a lot we'll miss (community, mission, the Peace Ceremonies etc.) but it ultimately comes down to academics for us, and we desperately need a change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a first and third grader at LAMB and we will be moving this summer to be in bounds for a different school. This is partly motivated by the feeder pattern of the new school, but mostly because we have been unhappy with the academics in the lower elementary years. Our experience is entirely community (classroom) dependent - one child is having a strong/good academic experience, the other is not, and this is because of the teaching. The disadvantage of LAMB is that you are put in a community with the same teachers for 3 years. There's a lot of variance between the quality of teaching. If you're put in a "bad" classroom; you're stuck there for the entire 3 years.

There's a lot we'll miss (community, mission, the Peace Ceremonies etc.) but it ultimately comes down to academics for us, and we desperately need a change.

We moved our child out of one community and into another that was a better fit.

No shade as to your family’s choice, but the administration is open to such shifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a first and third grader at LAMB and we will be moving this summer to be in bounds for a different school. This is partly motivated by the feeder pattern of the new school, but mostly because we have been unhappy with the academics in the lower elementary years. Our experience is entirely community (classroom) dependent - one child is having a strong/good academic experience, the other is not, and this is because of the teaching. The disadvantage of LAMB is that you are put in a community with the same teachers for 3 years. There's a lot of variance between the quality of teaching. If you're put in a "bad" classroom; you're stuck there for the entire 3 years.

There's a lot we'll miss (community, mission, the Peace Ceremonies etc.) but it ultimately comes down to academics for us, and we desperately need a change.

We moved our child out of one community and into another that was a better fit.

No shade as to your family’s choice, but the administration is open to such shifts.

The administration usually only does this for families who volunteer and donate a lot or threaten lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LAMB has a very special primary program (prek-k). Warm and nurturing environment, excellent and experienced teachers. Play based academics with Montessori pedagogy. The classrooms are beautiful.

We have been really happy with lower el and decently happy with upper el, but I know that it can vary by teacher.

We have been exceptionally happy with the student support program and reading intervention team for our child with an IEP. Not perfect but very good. I have several friends with kids in DCPS navigating IEPs and our experience with LAMB’s program has been significantly better.

We have one child in prek4, one in 1st, and one in fourth, so we have lots of experience!

Only have kids in the elementary program now but the special Ed program at lamb is terrible. They hired an advocate specifically to fight parents on IEPs. They’re really short on teachers but beefed up the administration side which has been an huge net negative. Even when you have a solid psych report, they will still use shady tactics to reduce or remove services. I don’t know a single person who is happy, but maybe it is different for the primary kids.

[Anonymous]

To counter the point above, I have a child in lower El with a pretty extensive IEP that is being implemented. It hasn't always been easy but I find DC's SPED teacher and the special education manager to be helpful and responsive MOST of the time (definitely not always). For what it's worth, I don't know anyone, including kids outside of LAMB or even DCPS, who are completely satisfied with their IEP services.

We also have a kid in upper el who is doing really well and looking forward to going onto DCI.

Just my two cents!

[Anonymous]

I have an upper el kid now, and a middle schooler who went through LAMB. It's fine. The 4 & 5th grade years aren't awesome. I want to think its because they were covid kids, but not sure that's the case. It is a really lovely place for little kids though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To counter the point above, I have a child in lower El with a pretty extensive IEP that is being implemented. It hasn't always been easy but I find DC's SPED teacher and the special education manager to be helpful and responsive MOST of the time (definitely not always). For what it's worth, I don't know anyone, including kids outside of LAMB or even DCPS, who are completely satisfied with their IEP services.

We also have a kid in upper el who is doing really well and looking forward to going onto DCI.

Just my two cents!

Yes, agree with this poster- we have been extremely happy with LAMB special education. We have a lower EL kid with a 504 and the school has been terrific at supporting them and us in figuring it out. I have a friend with kids in DCPS with an 504 and the amount of self-advocating they have had to do is light years more than what I have had.

I definitely have had to stay far more involved with my kids academics than I had intended, but in comparison to other options, LAMB has been great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To counter the point above, I have a child in lower El with a pretty extensive IEP that is being implemented. It hasn't always been easy but I find DC's SPED teacher and the special education manager to be helpful and responsive MOST of the time (definitely not always). For what it's worth, I don't know anyone, including kids outside of LAMB or even DCPS, who are completely satisfied with their IEP services.

We also have a kid in upper el who is doing really well and looking forward to going onto DCI.

Just my two cents!

Yes, agree with this poster- we have been extremely happy with LAMB special education. We have a lower EL kid with a 504 and the school has been terrific at supporting them and us in figuring it out. I have a friend with kids in DCPS with an 504 and the amount of self-advocating they have had to do is light years more than what I have had.

I definitely have had to stay far more involved with my kids academics than I had intended, but in comparison to other options, LAMB has been great.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To counter the point above, I have a child in lower El with a pretty extensive IEP that is being implemented. It hasn't always been easy but I find DC's SPED teacher and the special education manager to be helpful and responsive MOST of the time (definitely not always). For what it's worth, I don't know anyone, including kids outside of LAMB or even DCPS, who are completely satisfied with their IEP services.

We also have a kid in upper el who is doing really well and looking forward to going onto DCI.

Just my two cents!

Yes, agree with this poster- we have been extremely happy with LAMB special education. We have a lower EL kid with a 504 and the school has been terrific at supporting them and us in figuring it out. I have a friend with kids in DCPS with an 504 and the amount of self-advocating they have had to do is light years more than what I have had.

I definitely have had to stay far more involved with my kids academics than I had intended, but in comparison to other options, LAMB has been great.

Lamb used to be great. They are going after certain students and trying to exit them out of services or transition 504 to IEP.

Anecdotally this seems more of an issue for black or Latino students so I can see why people would have different experiences.

We ended up consulting with an attorney who noted the advocate that lamb hired is notorious for her shady practices. This was our experience as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To counter the point above, I have a child in lower El with a pretty extensive IEP that is being implemented. It hasn't always been easy but I find DC's SPED teacher and the special education manager to be helpful and responsive MOST of the time (definitely not always). For what it's worth, I don't know anyone, including kids outside of LAMB or even DCPS, who are completely satisfied with their IEP services.

We also have a kid in upper el who is doing really well and looking forward to going onto DCI.

Just my two cents!

Yes, agree with this poster- we have been extremely happy with LAMB special education. We have a lower EL kid with a 504 and the school has been terrific at supporting them and us in figuring it out. I have a friend with kids in DCPS with an 504 and the amount of self-advocating they have had to do is light years more than what I have had.

I definitely have had to stay far more involved with my kids academics than I had intended, but in comparison to other options, LAMB has been great.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Different poster but yeah. Academics are very weak and unless you’re on top of it your kid might breeze through lamb and really struggle later. We have a fleet of tutors after realizing how unprepared our older child was for DCI. And yes, a huge percentage of the kids we encounter at tutoring are also from lamb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid graduated from LAMB in 2020 (pandemic years), so we know that there have been a lot of administrative changes. I am going to share our academic observations about the immersion and Montessori experience only. Our kid went to Sojourner Truth Montessori for Middle School and then chose a DCPS for H.S.

Montessori myth: kids don’t just do what they want to learn. Classroom instruction is called “work.” The teacher teaches a concept in small groups. The kids practice that concept until they master it. The kids do choose at what pace they finish their work with the support of the teacher and guidance from their older peers.

1) Immersion: instruction was appropriate for elementary school. Your child will not likely have a large Spanish vocabulary unless you speak Spanish at home (which we did).
That being said, in MS, they no longer wanted to speak Spanish and lost a lot of their fluency. Lesson for us : use it or lose it.

2) Math: the Montessori experience was great. In MS, our child really soared and as a 9th grader, they are doing work above their grade level (taking Geometry and Algebra 2 at the same time). I think the concrete way of teaching with Montessori tools really worked for our child.

3) Reading: our child needed support at LAMB. They received in-classroom help and worked with a reading specialist. We were very grateful for the resources the school provided.

4) Social Emotional: our observation was that in elementary, the LAMB Montessori students tended to be a bit more confident, yet kind, patient kids versus some kids from other schools. We saw that first hand when LAMB and Perry Street students shared a playground. The Perry street kids often bullied and fought each other. (Note: I was a classroom parent who volunteered 1x a month at the school). Clearly, no young kids are angels, but LAMB kids seemed to be a bit more chill than other kids their age.

Practical life skills: that was pretty awesome. Your 3/4 year old will learn how to wash dishes, sweep, polish silver and cook. Our kid really loved being able to help in the classroom and house.

Multi-generational classrooms: great for peer-peer leadership. It’s very cool to see the kindergartners mentor the 3 year olds and 3rd graders help guide 1st graders through their concept work.

No grades/no homework : Montessori was good for teaching our child to love learning. They only had progress reports from age 3-13. Your child is assessed on their mastery of skills so it is a continuum of progress, then they start over at level I for new concepts.

It was not until 9th grade that our child received traditional “grades”. They didn’t understand why you need grades. They were used to trying their best at their classwork because the work needed to be done, not because of a grade.

No homework- Montessori teaches kids from a very young age time management and agency. Being able to finish your work in the classroom and have more free time afterschool to be a kid is a great benefit of Montessori.

Good luck, OP, there are a lot of great school options in DC so hope this helps provide some insights on a LAMB experience.

One of the best reviews I've read, thank you. Attending LAMB for prek3 this fall 🍂