Agree that info from Cleveland insiders is hard to come by on this board. So here's a snippet from a fundraising letter I drafted:

You may not know it, but one of Washington’s educational gems is located right here in Shaw. Cleveland Elementary School has a long record of high academic achievement, earning the designation of a National Distinguished Title I School, among other accolades. Each and every day, our students and teachers show up to not only beat the odds, but to be the best. Our greatest asset is our amazing teaching staff, made up of some of the most effective and dedicated educators in DCPS. They work hard to ensure that all students are ready, equipped—and excited—to learn. And they are exceeding expectations at every turn.

Here are few reasons we’re cheering:

We’re proud to be home to the DC Teacher of the Year for 2014, Ms. Charisse Robinson!! Last year, 95 percent of her third-graders met or exceeded grade-level standards in reading, even though a quarter of her class started the year significantly behind. Overall, close to 70 percent of our children are proficient and above in math and reading. We want to go even higher. We’re working to ensure our youngest students have mastered critical early reading and math skills by the end of Kindergarten.

We have one of the longest-standing bilingual education programs in the District, with 3- and 4-year-olds beginning in immersion Spanish instruction and continuing in dual language instruction from Kindergarten through the fifth grade. When the State Department recently hosted 24 teachers from around the world to showcase U.S. education, they chose to bring them to Cleveland Dual Language!

We can name those other state capitals, hands down! The Cleveland team finished 1st in the District in last year’s GeoPlunge Challenge Tournament. Go Lions!

We were selected for a competitive $200,000 Breakthrough Schools: DC grant from the CityBridge Foundation. Our winning proposal focused on rethinking traditional classrooms as a way to get every child to mastery at their own pace.

Some of the great teachers are in the English track, including the aforementioned teacher of the year (3rd grade), and wonderful Preschool and Prek teachers. If there is a weak link, it is K in the english track, but kids seem to be learning a lot in that class this year. Cleveland sets very high expectations for its kids. we love it there. Agree with the PP who mentioned the family feel. We get warm feelings from everyone as soon as we step through the door. The children are well behaved, kind and friendly.

My kid was in the teens(?) for English and we did get called off the wait list. I wasn't that impressed for English track so we declined the spot, but that was a few years back & I know there have been a lot of changes there in recent years.

Anonymous wrote:WL OOB with proximity in the 40s and was never called.

My kid was #3 and we never got a call

But I wonder how the new rules will impact this. I think OOB siblings are trumped by some other preference with the new rules? But they added a language preference to the Spanish program this year (like Oyster).

WL OOB with proximity in the 40s and was never called.

Was o waiting list in the 60s for pk3, never called.

Could not get in OOB a few years ago but was impressed at open house.

It's a small school. Very difficult to get in oob.

Now that both of my children are enrolled, I feel comfortable singing its praises. This is just one hell of a school!

All you have to do is go and visit. It will immediately become clear why it is such a gem. The family atmosphere is palpable. Students hold the doors open for one another. The hallways are lovingly decorated with the children's school work. The teachers are engaging and well-respected.

I. Love. Cleveland.

We lotteried in each time. I held my breath throughout each process, hoping that each of my children would become part of the Cleveland family. They are thriving! I see a lot of parent participation. The children are treated well. It's great!

No personal experience but it was one of my lottery picks last year because I liked what I heard and saw.

Very hard to get into the Spanish program OOB. We know people who are IB and very happy there.

It's a great school, amazing teachers, including dc teacher of the year for 2014, long running bilingual program. Our child is there for K. The preschool and prek classes are great. New pta is making things happen. The school has been great for a long time, but has flown under the radar. Maybe because a lack of a high functioning pro for a long time; maybe because of demographics. It's a small school with great facility.

Anyone have experiences / perspectives to share on Cleveland Elementary?

Compared to other DCPS schools in the area -- including those talked about much more often on these forums -- it seems to be doing well.

http://learndc.org/schoolprofiles/view?s=0224#reportcard