Capital City Public Charter School

[Anonymous]

I have had the pleasure to come to the Capital City Public Charter School once a week after school for the past two years, as my student assists with an after-school program. I always leave so impressed at how many amazing things the school has going on from garden clubs to theater to homework clubs to debate teams, and how happy and involved the students of all ages seem. Great work DC.

[Anonymous]

It must have improved quite a bit since we were last there several years ago.

[Anonymous]

^ Your response makes no sense and adds nothing to this thread.

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Like the OP, I am constantly amazed at the fantastic things they offer and the loving/supportive environment they provide for the entire school community. If anyone has questions for a current parent about experiences with the school, I'd be happy to answer to the best of my ability.

[Anonymous]

What do you think of the high school? What kind of kid would be happy there? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It must have improved quite a bit since we were last there several years ago.

Yes, it must have. My experience is only in observing the after-school activities over the past two years. I am also impressed with the diversity of the student body, the faculty, and families, and with how respectful and well-behaved, yet active, happy, and engaged the students appear to be. My grandmother taught for a decade at the public elementary school that served Chicago's Cabrini Green housing project, and my sister and I would visit with her at the school one day each year. I thus have a place in my heart for urban public schools, their teachers and staff, and the children they educate. CCPC seems like a great model to me.

[Anonymous]

Have friends who were very unhappy there. They left for DCPS and never looked back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of the high school? What kind of kid would be happy there? Thanks

Unfortunately, my experience is only with the Lower School so far. However from the limited observation I have had of the Upper School the kids are happy, engaged, friendly and courteous. In addition to the Expeditionary Learniong curriculum, Capital City stresses social and emotional learning and the community really embodies these values. I find it truly impressive.

For the other posters who are posting about negative experiences (their own or even hearsay), perhaps you could share specific areas of concern?

[Anonymous]

The negative commenters could have been there a few years ago.

Things were a little bumpy when they moved -- in part because a good number of families didn't follow them across town and they absorbed many new students who were unaccustomed to expeditionary learning.

Since then I think they've figured out how to get new students up to speed, which was good since they expand at 5th and again at 9th.

[Anonymous]

In MS and HS, CCPCS is decent option for the right student--one who is self-motivated and focused. IME, the place is a disaster for kids with SNs, and particularly for kids with mental health issues. The teachers and admin lack awareness and training around those issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In MS and HS, CCPCS is decent option for the right student--one who is self-motivated and focused. IME, the place is a disaster for kids with SNs, and particularly for kids with mental health issues. The teachers and admin lack awareness and training around those issues.

To be fair, this is the challenge of charter schools: They get what walks in the door, including an IEP. If a kid with significant challenges shows up, the school has to deal with it right there with the staff that they have. They are, in essence, their own small school system. In large school systems such as Montgomery County or Fairfax County, there are programs within schools all around the county that have staffing to teach students with significant learning needs. A student with a significant emotional disability can receive services in a nearby school if their neighborhood school is not staffed for it. CCPCS doesn't have that as it is its own school system.

[Anonymous]

To PP: I don't fault the school for being small. I DO fault them for not acknowledging that the school could not/would not meet DC's needs. That's not true of all charters. I know of families at other charters where the school acknowledged its limits and guided the familes through successful alternative placements.

In a school where so many kids come from hard places, and live with the effects of trauma, there school be ongoing training and support around student mental health.

[Anonymous]

Sorry--there SHOULD be ongoing training and support, I meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The negative commenters could have been there a few years ago.

Things were a little bumpy when they moved -- in part because a good number of families didn't follow them across town and they absorbed many new students who were unaccustomed to expeditionary learning.

Since then I think they've figured out how to get new students up to speed, which was good since they expand at 5th and again at 9th.

No it was before they moved when they were still at their 16th street NW location. Teachers who were basically printing out articles from the computers, passing them out to pre-teen students in 5th and 6th grade and telling them to read and write their reflection. How many reflections can you write every week??? Math was scant and science was non-existent. As for after school activities, my kid signed up for tennis -- again no instruction from the teacher ( 2 students practicing hitting the ball, while others had to watch and wait for their turn), and origami (teacher putting a you tube video showing how to do it). So if what OP is saying is true, the school and the quality of the teachers have come a long way since they moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negative commenters could have been there a few years ago.

Things were a little bumpy when they moved -- in part because a good number of families didn't follow them across town and they absorbed many new students who were unaccustomed to expeditionary learning.

Since then I think they've figured out how to get new students up to speed, which was good since they expand at 5th and again at 9th.

No it was before they moved when they were still at their 16th street NW location. Teachers who were basically printing out articles from the computers, passing them out to pre-teen students in 5th and 6th grade and telling them to read and write their reflection. How many reflections can you write every week??? Math was scant and science was non-existent. As for after school activities, my kid signed up for tennis -- again no instruction from the teacher ( 2 students practicing hitting the ball, while others had to watch and wait for their turn), and origami (teacher putting a you tube video showing how to do it). So if what OP is saying is true, the school and the quality of the teachers have come a long way since they moved.

They were never located on 16th street. I think maybe you are confusing with a different school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negative commenters could have been there a few years ago.

Things were a little bumpy when they moved -- in part because a good number of families didn't follow them across town and they absorbed many new students who were unaccustomed to expeditionary learning.

Since then I think they've figured out how to get new students up to speed, which was good since they expand at 5th and again at 9th.

No it was before they moved when they were still at their 16th street NW location. Teachers who were basically printing out articles from the computers, passing them out to pre-teen students in 5th and 6th grade and telling them to read and write their reflection. How many reflections can you write every week??? Math was scant and science was non-existent. As for after school activities, my kid signed up for tennis -- again no instruction from the teacher ( 2 students practicing hitting the ball, while others had to watch and wait for their turn), and origami (teacher putting a you tube video showing how to do it). So if what OP is saying is true, the school and the quality of the teachers have come a long way since they moved.

They were never located on 16th street. I think maybe you are confusing with a different school?

They were on 14th St. Typo.