Our World Neighborhood Charter School

Strong leadership. ELA and Social studies curriculum outstanding. Math program has shown amazing improvement. Science curriculum is nearly non-existent with inefficient teaching.. And administration is beginning to look like nepotism central. A very good school that I still recommend to others, but it needs to expand administration to include a representative sample of the community. In this economy, it seems laughable that the ONLY people hired are relatives or friends of administration. This needs to be addressed by the boar before it affects the good reputation the school has as a diverse community.
--Submitted by a parent

One of the best schools in Queens. Strong leadership by the principal, diverse school, a lot of parent involvement. Strong academics , small classes and caring teachers who are determined to have the students succeed.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has encouraged my child to be their very best. Teachers and staff are great. Middle School academically excellent.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children at OWN and have been very happy with the atmosphere in the school and the quality of the education. The kids are engaged intellectually, and happy socially. The school has some physical obstacles -- for instance a space shortage, including lack of a gym or playground in the elementary school. However, this is the kind of school that promotes respect for others and a love of learning, but has to make do with using the gym at a local health club (NOT too shabby a solution, if you ask me!) I have concerns about the middle school, but we still have a couple of years, and I understand there have been improvements such that there is more continuity between the elementary and middle school experiences. So far, my family is very pleased with OWN and would recommend it whole-heartedly.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has thrived at this school since First Grade and will be graduating this year. It has had growing pains and struggling with the demands the NYC DOE puts on it as well as funding but my child has excelled academically. This school is very academic oriented and encourage my child to be their absolute best. Great teachers (bad ones don't last long) and high standards. The only thing I wish is that the school had an expulsion policy. There are a handful of kids who don't really belong here - when there is a waiting list of eager students to get in.
--Submitted by a parent

It has been an amazing experience. The teachers and administrators work so hard to make sure our children get the best education. They take the time out to support all their needs.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a middle school child I am not at all pleased the way the school is being run. I find that some of the staff singles out certain students & are quick to issue detentions or punishments without having all of the facts. They are quick to believe certain students while others are not given the benefit of the doubt. I also find that when I as a parent request to have a meeting with a staff member I should be accommodated. Instead there is never a response to my request. The senior trip that is planned for the students is not a fun type of trip - I feel it's more educational. Not even a prom is being offered - while many public schools do have that option. From my experience I wouldn't send my 2nd child to this school.
--Submitted by a parent

If we were talking about the elementary school, I would have given 4 stars... great atmosphere, excellent academics, fantastic teachers. Always room for improvement...high teacher turnover!! When your child goes from 5th grade onto the middle school years, as a parent one must look to competing in the wider world of high school and beyond. 7 years ago, there were promises made of a focus on getting our school K-8 under one roof, with a proper gym, lunchroom, music room, science lab etc. So far, our leadership has failed in that regard. Our middleschoolers are still 'doing without' and that is sad. We have a music program with no musical instruments!! The up-side is the small community feel of the school. The teachers work very hard with 'what they have'.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student in the Our World Neighborhood Charter School Middle School and I was new in that school.I started that school in September and I loved it.A lot of the teachers arenice and treat children with respect over there.For anybody who wants to go to that schoolit's a great school ith great education.
--Submitted by a student

I am a student at the middle school in OWN. The teachers are very nice(most of the time), but I'm extremely bored. I get 4s on my standardized tests and 100s on tests in school. I finish all my work long before the bell rings. Another thing: they punish everybody. They take away the whole grades priveleges, even if its only 5 people misbehaving. They say the students are responsible for other students behavior. I do what I'm supposed to do and do my work. I do not enjoy getting yelled at. I dont enjoy having silent lunch. I want to get into another school for 7th grade. I hope I make it into that school.
--Submitted by a student