Capitol Hill Magnet/Rondo

Our son is currently in 6th grade. It has been the ideal fit for him since entering the school in first grade. Even though the classrooms have been large (30+) his teachers have taken the time to get to know him and have done an excellent job motivating him. We recently discovered our son is twice gifted. His teacher did not hesitate to make accommodations for his needs. Things were a little rocky while they went through a principal transition. However, the new principal, like the teachers, seems to have a good grasp of the needs of gifted learners. Parents are very proactive. They are the lifeblood of the school and show it by volunteering for various activities throughout the year. We are looking forward to the Capitol Hill for junior high experience.
--Submitted by a parent

It seemed to me upon observation for enrollment, that there was a high disproportionate number of kids with Aspergers. Not that this is this is wrong, but I do question what real overall affect it has on a classroom as a special need. I also saw children with impulse issues and at least one child who had severe mental health issues and wanted to pinch, cut or hurt other children. The teachers did not seem empowered by admin or SPPS for that matter, to address the concerning parts of their classroom's composition, relying on parent complaint as method. (!) The hallways and atrium spaces should be filled with child color and joy, & were not. Social needs of kids through song and community seemed ignored. Enrichment (visual, tactile...) is very different than accelerated coursework (cognitive). Did not see integrated & child centered enrichment. My daughter's comment was that it smelled like Band-aids and I think that pretty much sums up my impression! Its not just about advancement, its about an innovative approach to the curriculum & a democratic feeling of ownership & authentic learning. Kids here would do well do have some Montessori and Waldorf pedagogy wrapped in.

I have two highly gifted (99th percentile) kids that attend CH. Both of them love the school. Every kid has subjects that are stronger with a wide variety of personalities and learning style. This is also true of my two children. G&T kids have an even larger spectrum (high & low end) abilities than what you typically find in a classroom. The teachers at CH are trained for this and do an amazing job of "customizing" the curriculum to fit the kids. They also work very hard to match learning styles to teaching styles (with parental input.) I find the creative freedom is well balanced with structure - even for my free spirit child. An important aspect of education that is often overlooked for these kids - social development. For the most part, they are in classes with children of their age rather than several years older than they are. The staff and parents are recently, putting much more effort and creativity into building a better sense of community for the school families. This and the spirit and dedication of the new principal are proving to strengthen what was lacking in the school. I would be surprised if even the best private schools could consistently offer all of this.
--Submitted by a parent

Capitol Hill has many strengths. Many strong, caring teachers and staff. Great resources for music and art. The other kids here are really neat, plus the parents are really interesting and caring about their kids' education. That being said, I have the sense that this school is resting on it's laurels. Coasting on reputation. I see a lack in creativity, inspiration, and unified school vision and goals, community building is poor. And leadership is almost non-existent and invisible. I see a community chomping at the bit to boost this school's dynamism and it is not being met with similar enthusiasm by administration. It's worrying. The curriculum is accelerated, but I don't see a lot of enrichment or complexity. I do sense the teachers are under a lot of pressure to get through things quickly. Probably some more than others. It also feels somewhat unwelcoming and cool...not so warm and kid-friendly as I'd like to feel in a K-8.
--Submitted by a parent

Academically, Capitol Hill is a wonderful school. The curriculum is very project-oriented and worksheets are scarce. The faculty is seasoned and strong. Students are able to work at their own levels, especially in math due to the school's dedicated math hour. Where the school falls short is in community-building and nurturing students' emotional well-being. The atmosphere is competitive and strong personalities thrive here whereas quieter students can feel anonymous.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a rigorous school. Most classes are challenge classes. Bright kids and kids who like structure and school will do well. However, there is some rigidity and inflexibility. Some of the teachers were unnecessarily tough on kids (not academically speaking, just in how they ran things). Some teachers were wonderful. Some very bright kids at this age will have trouble with the rigidity. I was disappointed in how the school responded to some harassment issues.
--Submitted by a parent

Love the teachers who are committed, dedicated and work hard with every student, love the parent community, love the students who contribute their creative, thoughtful, bright ideas in many different ways on a daily basis.
--Submitted by a parent

Capitol Hill has an amazing group of teachers!
--Submitted by a parent

I loved the environment, the teachers, the students. The smaller class sized helped the learning environment. Being a Gifted and Talented is self-explanatory.
--Submitted by a parent

I love how it fosters my children's creativity and interest in learning!
--Submitted by a parent