Key elementary in the Palisades DC for preschool spec ed (and upward)

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if anyone out here has experience with special ed at Key elementary in the Palisades area of DC. We are moving to the DC area from out of state and are considering both Montgomery County and DC. Our educational consultant recommended that we consider Key (i.e. moving to that area) for our son who is 4.5 years old (though more like a 3 yr old). His dx are apraxia, dev delays, and low tone. Not that we can afford to live in the Palisades, but if we could, would it be worth it? We are thinking if it's really as good as she made it sound, we might be able to save on the private school tuition we were thinking we would have to shell out and could put that $$ into a house instead.

I'd love to hear of people's experiences, pos and neg. I know, it's still a DC public school, but people seem to rave about it on all the websites (of course they don't mention the spec ed though...).

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Mont. Co. offers far more services and supports in the public school system than D.C. I'm curious as to why your consultant would recommend a D.C. school over Mont. Co.--unless you told her/him you prefer living right in D.C. Which neighborhoods in Mont. Co. are you considering?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Mont Co will not allow our son, who will be 5 in July, to do another preschool year. They are insisting on sending him to K in the fall, which is a total joke since he is at least 1.5 yrs developmentally delayed and is in a 3 yr old preschool class now even though he is 4.

DC apparently is easier to fight on this. That was why the suggestion to send him to Key and keep him in preschool. Also, I have heard not only from our ed consultant but also from others that Key is as good as any other elementary school around and one of the best, if not the best, in DC. So this is why we are interested, but we would love to know more from parents who are actually sending children there.

Based on the services we need, we are also looking at Bethesda Elementary and Wood Acres (hope I got that last one right - this is all pretty new to me). If anyone has feedback on those places, I'd love to hear it too. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I am not a parent of a child at Key, but I know parents there and know that Key is a very good Elementary School. I would recommend that you visit and take a look for yourself.

Key does have a specific focus for special needs kids - but I think it is around hearing imparied children

Here is a link to the school: http://www.keyschooldc.org/aboutkey.htm

I think one of the things that Key may offer vs some of the other highly regarded DC elementary schools is I do not believe it is as crowded and becasue of the smaller size may be a better fit for your child and his needs.

If you do not get feedback through this site- maybe you could reach out to someone on the Key PTA to share expereicnes (obviously if they are active on the PTA they are going to be a fan - but they might know a family who has a child with similar needs)