Has your child attended AppleTree - Columbia Heights?

[Anonymous]

We really like the philosophy of Appletree, and the location in Columbia Heights works for my commute. But I would love to hear from parents who have (or had) their child attend Appletree!

One of my concerns is that the classrooms are a little gloomy with no windows. I can overlook that if my DS will have a good experience.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was there for two years (she's in first grade now) and we loved it. Teachers were great both years. I went to a high school in Atlanta without windows so maybe I'm oblivious to being in a basement but it seemed like a pretty cheerful place to me. Great school imho!

[Anonymous]

I did an evaluation project there. The teachers constantly yelled at the children, and the curriculum was prescriptive and not creative. It's designed to close the language gap for low income children. If you have books in your home and read to your child, there are better options for you. I wouldn't send my kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did an evaluation project there. The teachers constantly yelled at the children, and the curriculum was prescriptive and not creative. It's designed to close the language gap for low income children. If you have books in your home and read to your child, there are better options for you. I wouldn't send my kid there.

Were you at the Appletree in Columbia Heights, or another location?

[Anonymous]

Our child was there for PK3, before moving them to a WOTP elementary. Overall thought the schools was great. Communication could be improved. But we loved the teachers and staff and the emphasis on academics. Did not see (or could even conceive of) what 12:12pm highlighted. The classrooms in the basement were no big deal. Would definitely recommend. Parking for drop and pick-up can be trying at times, so beware of that, if that is an issue for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did an evaluation project there. The teachers constantly yelled at the children, and the curriculum was prescriptive and not creative. It's designed to close the language gap for low income children. If you have books in your home and read to your child, there are better options for you. I wouldn't send my kid there.

Were you at the Appletree in Columbia Heights, or another location?

Yes, CH.

[Anonymous]

My kid went there for two years and I'm not aware of any yelling problem. Most of the teachers and teaching fellows were very good. My daughter loved the school. The basement location was not a problem. I was sometimes unhappy with the school's rigidity but if you are looking for a rigorous academic program that won't feel rigorous to your child (because the kids have fun), Appletree is very good, especially the first year. Agree with a previous poster that drop off and pick up by car can be tough at times.

[Anonymous]

Had a child there for one year and then lotteried into our top choice school. Our child loved it. No complaints.

[Anonymous]

We were fine with PreK3, but by PreK4 we were fed up with report cards complaining that our active kid wouldn't sit still (for long periods). We're thrilled that the younger sibling has landed in an early childhood program that's loads more active, fun, creative and nurturing. Our kid was drilled on early reading skills too much, and promptly forgot much of what she learned.

We also wearied of a set-up that oozed paternalism (we planned a party for low income families and these annoying gentrifiers turned up!). AppleTree pretends to be user friendly, but it's very top down outfit at all the campuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were fine with PreK3, but by PreK4 we were fed up with report cards complaining that our active kid wouldn't sit still (for long periods). We're thrilled that the younger sibling has landed in an early childhood program that's loads more active, fun, creative and nurturing. Our kid was drilled on early reading skills too much, and promptly forgot much of what she learned.

We also wearied of a set-up that oozed paternalism (we planned a party for low income families and these annoying gentrifiers turned up!). AppleTree pretends to be user friendly, but it's very top down outfit at all the campuses.

What the heck does that mean?

Anyway, I'd be interested to hear Appletree CH's version of their feedback about your child. I work in education, have worked in a tremendous number of both charters and DCPS schools in the last 10 years, and my child went there for PK3. Not only did I see NONE of the yelling another PP mentioned, I was absolutely impressed and surprised with just how well the teachers handled "extra active" kids. The first week of school I looked around my DS's classroom and thought "Wow, I want to give this school a shot but I don't know that these teachers are going to be able to wrangle some of these students who've clearly never ever been in a structured environment into the routines they've set up..."

How wrong I was. They were phenomenal teachers, and they hadn't been teaching for long at all.

I saw and heard similar feedback from parents in every single classroom of the 5 or 6 I knew people in.

Not only that (this part goes to general feedback) but the year she went there we changed insurance companies so my DS had appts with 2 different pediatricians. Both pediatricians stopped in the middle of the appointment and asked where DS went to school and said some version of "Wow, I don't usually hear kids so young this articulate about so many topics!". And one of them had a very high-income population as patients.

PP the best thing you can do is just go to CH and ask them for a tour. We found them pretty good about doing it during the day quickly if they weren't too busy, even just as a drop in which is how we did it when we were checking them out. See for yourself. Even though we got into our #1 pick for PK4, we actually lamented a bit that DS would miss PK4 at Appletree because we thought so much of the school and he did so well there. But we are very happy we took that other spot of course, since Appletree doesn't go past PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did an evaluation project there. The teachers constantly yelled at the children, and the curriculum was prescriptive and not creative. It's designed to close the language gap for low income children. If you have books in your home and read to your child, there are better options for you. I wouldn't send my kid there.

Were you at the Appletree in Columbia Heights, or another location?

Yes, CH.

Never heard of anything like this, and certainly never saw yelling while we were there. Teachers were great and the Principal (different one from now, although I hear good things about the current one too) was very impressive and would have never tolerated yelling at students.

OP you asked about the basement thing, we noticed it immediately and were pretty bummed when we toured. But from Day 1 when school actually started, the kids were so engaged and the classroom environments so bustling and lively and positive, we really never worried about it again for the whole year we were there. Ideally they'd get a space with windows, but if I was taken back to the space in time where we chose to go to Appletree and I had the option of making another choice, I'd choose it again with no hesitation.

[Anonymous]

My son was at AppleTree CH last year for PK3. He thrived, and I loved the school. We left for two (and a half) reasons:

1. commute
2. parent involvement was lacking
2.5 (related to 2). wanted the neighborhood school feel, and more school community

The curriculum is rigorous but it worked for my kid. He came home every week with new facts and things to tell me (even sending me to Google to check stuff). He made friends with lots of different kids. His teachers were fantastic--clearly smart, well trained, and lovely warm people.

Yeah, it's in a basement. But he can't see out the windows at his DCPS classroom now either.

[Anonymous]

We are there now -- in PK3 program. Its been a beautiful surprised and totally exceeded our expectations. I wish there was greater parental involvement and a tighter knit "village" feel among the families, but considering that its just a 2 year program, we focus on the great experience that our child is having and know that the community feel of a school will matter more when she's in the place she will be from K-5 (or 6th) grade. This is an incredible option to have in pre-school and they do a tremendous job of teaching the kids and making it fun. The teachers are skilled, compassionate, supportive, communicative and so loving towards the kids. Its a great mixture of kids in the classroom and our child has thrived at AT. Its a fabulous school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did an evaluation project there. The teachers constantly yelled at the children, and the curriculum was prescriptive and not creative. It's designed to close the language gap for low income children. If you have books in your home and read to your child, there are better options for you. I wouldn't send my kid there.

Were you at the Appletree in Columbia Heights, or another location?

Yes, CH.

As an AppleTree parent for two years I find this VERY difficult to believe. I just don't think it happened.

[Anonymous]

My child was part of a study done by the AppleTree Institute. My child was a part of the control group - we had won the lottery for AT but turned them down.

I would go to AT CH 2 times a year for the study and always during after school hours. There was definitely a lot of yelling as a part of the aftercare program.