apple tree on capitol hill

[Anonymous]

I am a parent at apple tree in capitol hill and was wondering what other parents think about the school so far. Do you like the curriculum, the staff in particular the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Totally late to the game on this, but I'm also an AppleTree parent and I do really like the school. My daughter is happy and is learning--not much more I could ask of preschool.

[Anonymous]

Is this affiliated with SW apple tree?

[Anonymous]

^^^ yes, there are 6 or more...not sure exactly...Apple Tree campuses in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ yes, there are 6 or more...not sure exactly...Apple Tree campuses in the city.

Are they al the same? Good? Great? Meh?

[Anonymous]

Good reputation. Different facilities. Quite academic.

[Anonymous]

Best early years programming in the city, hands down.

[Anonymous]

Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

This may be neither here nor there, but my daughter was at AppleTree Lincoln Park for Pre-K 3. Whenever someone asks her whether she liked it, she says, "It was great! We had a big TV in the classroom and we got to watch shows!"

She is now in kindergarten in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

This may be neither here nor there, but my daughter was at AppleTree Lincoln Park for Pre-K 3. Whenever someone asks her whether she liked it, she says, "It was great! We had a big TV in the classroom and we got to watch shows!"

She is now in kindergarten in DCPS.

Seriously?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

My kid is at a different AT campus but yes it is rigorous and he is learning a ton. I haven't spent any time in any other schools so I can't say that nobody else operates like this, but I know my son is doing more structured work than his neighbor friends. They have homework every week (simple worksheets where they practice writing letters and numbers, identify words that rhyme, measure things around the house, etc.). In addition to the typical centers they do small groups with the teachers where they work on letters, numbers, shapes, sight words, and skills of the week. It's all reinforced in aftercare. Since the school is only PK3 and 4, all 8 classrooms are doing the same unit so every few weeks the whole hallway changes themes.

AT has a reputation for a lot of testing but the tests are only partly to monitor the kids' progress--it's primarily to see if the curriculum is working. The school management is very data-driven, but I've found the teachers to be really fun and doting (if strict--tight attendance, tardiness, and behavior policies).

[Anonymous]

9:46 again. Oh and yes they do watch more videos than I would have expected but I'm also surprised how many teaching videos are on YouTube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

My kid is at a different AT campus but yes it is rigorous and he is learning a ton. I haven't spent any time in any other schools so I can't say that nobody else operates like this, but I know my son is doing more structured work than his neighbor friends. They have homework every week (simple worksheets where they practice writing letters and numbers, identify words that rhyme, measure things around the house, etc.). In addition to the typical centers they do small groups with the teachers where they work on letters, numbers, shapes, sight words, and skills of the week. It's all reinforced in aftercare. Since the school is only PK3 and 4, all 8 classrooms are doing the same unit so every few weeks the whole hallway changes themes.

AT has a reputation for a lot of testing but the tests are only partly to monitor the kids' progress--it's primarily to see if the curriculum is working. The school management is very data-driven, but I've found the teachers to be really fun and doting (if strict--tight attendance, tardiness, and behavior policies).

Currently at AT Lincoln Park and I have to say the school is fabulous and we are very happy, the aftercare is a complexity different story and sucks. There is a lot of yelling and indifference and more times than I can count the "teachers" in aftercare are on their phones or yelling at the kids. It is an overall safe environment, but there is little or no continuation of the educations structure of the day.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP with the TV-watching DD. She really did like the school and did well there. I would say the kids who don't do so well there are the ones who have a harder time sitting still, are less geared toward pleasing the teacher, etc. There were some kids who were stuck in that calm-down spot every time I visited the classroom. They also are very discipline-oriented--if I remember right, kids get a series of checks next to their name for behaving throughout the day. Everyone who gets a certain number of checks gets a treat at the end--a dance party, a popcorn party, etc. And the same poor kids end up sitting that out every day.

I think AppleTree is probably helpful for kids who do not get a strong literacy foundation at home. I mean, I'm pretty sure that's who it's created for. Kids who are read to, whose parents practice the ABCs and shapes and colors with them, probably don't need anything as academic. My kid liked the school because she likes practicing stuff (and, yes, LOVES TV). But I don't think the stuff she learned there has given her any sort of academic leg-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more on what makes the programming great? Does it seem to work for most kids?

This may be neither here nor there, but my daughter was at AppleTree Lincoln Park for Pre-K 3. Whenever someone asks her whether she liked it, she says, "It was great! We had a big TV in the classroom and we got to watch shows!"

She is now in kindergarten in DCPS.

Strange, because my child is also now in K and also attended AppleTree Lincoln Park and the TV was only used for short 5 minute songs, as accompaniment while the kids sang or at the end of the day as a "dance party". It was NEVER used to just have the kids sitting in front of it watching TV during regular school (though that last week of school they watched a movie, and I believe it may have been used during aftercare but my kid didn't go to aftercare so I can't say for sure)