Harriet Tubman Charter School

I strongly believe this is one of the finest schools in the bronx. My child has been going to this school for the last 5 years, I'm impress with the attention that most of the teacher give the students. The principal Mr. Person moves around the school striving for excellent from his staff & his students.
—Submitted by a parent

I think harriet tubman has some of the best teachers around. The only problem i have with this school is the apparent favortism the principal of the school has toward some of the staff. If a staff member is breaking the rules they should be reprimanded. Not a slap on the wrist with that in mind how safe are our children. Best wishes to the security that left you are a nice person.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. But some of the staff members are disrespectful. There's one security gaurd, that i really like, because he's caring with all the kids. & with my daughter enrolled in HTCS i like that. I just dont know his name. Whats the name of the security gaurd with the tattoos on his hands?
—Submitted by a parent

Harriet Tubman is a great school, my child have enough home work to keep them out of trouble at home and get me as a parent involved. the school is organised and the principal is involved in every aspect of the school
—Submitted by a parent

my son is at HTCC, i am satisfied with the services they provide for the community
—Submitted by a parent

really like Harriet Tubman School!......I beleive that the school is a POSITIVE environment for the kids and a DEDICATED place for the teachers!.........The staff that works inside of the school are ALL respectful,kind,understandable,reasonalble and most inportant ALL FOR THE KIDS!....NO school is perfect but i as a PARENT feel safe that my child or any other child is attending Harriet Tubman Charter School..... P.S. "The security tries there best and there dedicated officers who ALSO deserves a thumbs up along with the school for the day-to-day safety they provide for our children!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a disgrace. The principal lacks the professionalism to lead this school as it should be! He walks around with a blue tooth in his ear all day. Our presidents doesn't even do this! There are no adequate tutorial programs or extracurriculum activities for our children. Also, there is a revolving door in regards to teachers. Parents, staff and adminstrators are not working together for a common cause which is to proved an effective educational environment for our children. I am in the process of looking forward to removing my children from this school!!!! I am very involved however its just not working. This definitely a school in need of improvement real fast!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is an disgrace to Harriet Tubman's name, legacy and most all our children's futures. I am an old parent of this school (2002), my 2 children attend this school and this will be their last year here due to the current administration they have in place at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My child attended H.T.C.S. for the past 8 years, she grad. this year June of 2009. She was excepted to one of the top high schools here in the city. Clearly somebody has been doing their job. One thing we have to remember about our children, is that it all start's from home. It's the teacher's who need to make sure that our children are progressing properly. I can say that it was a great experience at H.T.C.S. But on the other hand it's also been a rollercoaster for many other's. So i can understand why so many parent's feel the way they do. Maybe more parent's should be more involved in the school. From my experience there it has'nt been many. Just a handful. But i'm glad it's all over. It's time to move forward to a brighter future. I love all the H.T.C.S. staff from the past!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had it with this school. Ok so they put up some college banners and signs. So what? This school will higher ANYONE to teach. It seems they are looking for people to fill up a room rather than EDUCATE. The quality of teachiing in the school is terrible. The administration is week besides the principal. The vice principal is very strange in his demenor and the other, she is just flat out lost. When did education become so unimportant. The kids are out of control, the school enviroment is not safe. I asked how many teachers have advanced degrees two months ago and still don't have an answer. Our kids are not learning at this school. I have decided to take my kids out before it is to late. My kid doesn't like school anymore and I blame Harriet Tubman.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a single mom with a son and a daughter who graduated last year. I had high hopes for this place but have been let down many times. Why can't they keep a good teacher? My son last year had a great class and teacher. He wasn't perfect but he wanted to do good for me & his teacher. I never saw my kid so excited about school until then. His test scores rose over the last 2 years and now, all of the sudden, I fear he is falling behind.I can't afford tutors nor can I let him fail. His teacher this year just isn't getting it done. Except in ELA, that is the only class he seems to be motivated about.Where is the energy in the school? Using other schools ideas & models doesn't make the school better.Its the teachers that make it better. And I don't see it.
—Submitted by a parent

I m a parent and an educator my self. At 1st, HTCS was a great place for us. His teacher was an exciting and energetic guy that kept us connected.My son enjoyed going to school & became a better student so we insisted our 4th grader be in his class also. Unfortunately, the teacher is no longer there & that was never communicated. I'm scared for this school and my kids. There seems to be no control or discipline. Last yr, my son came home and pulled out the chair for my wife & said, his teacher told him to be a gentleman. This year he's coming home with easy work & a lack of ambition. Whats sad is there is no tutoring service; no effective after school service for our kids. we thought we were in a great place with HTCS. We aren't!
—Submitted by a parent

My son and nephew have attended harriet tubman for 3 years. During this time my wife and i saw a revolving door of teachers frustrated with leadership. The administration is hostile and out of touch with education. It feels like our kids are part of an odd experiment. At the end of the last school year, we requested certain 3rd and 5th grade teachers because of the success we saw in there class rooms. We were not told until the first day both teacher were gone. Why? Now we're stuck paying $230 per month for tutoring because he's coming home with work from last year and not learning. This school needs some one to step in a take control before we loose another school for our children. Our kids deserve to have seasoned teachers who can control the class and allow effective teaching in the classroom.
—Submitted by a parent

My child school is a wonderful school.the teachers in the school loves the student.
—Submitted by a parent

Harriet Tubman Charter School is as bad as the worst public school. My daughter attended HTCS for 6 year and the atmosphere has become absolutely chaotic. The teaching staff changes yearly for varying reasons. This year families transfered to escape the nepotism, favoritism and hostility of the administration, atmosphere and poor quality of education. The school offered no functioning lunch room, no playground, no gymnasium and no language other than those with an IEP, no impartial extracurricular activities and no consistent after school programs throughout the school year. The curriculum lacked stimulus and motivation and the school lacked the proper guidance, direction and supervision from the Board of 'Trustees' who were ill managed on down so that the school's charter was at risk on multiple occasions over the last the years. Safety, ethics, morality, decency, human kindness... huge factors that need to be consistently addressed from September to June!
—Submitted by a parent

The school lacks security on the playground. There has been multiple incidents with regards to the well being of the students while in the care of HTC during school hours. Inaddtion, there is a concern not only with safety and discipline but with the lack there of a more challenging academic curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

I loved HTCS when I first took my child there. Unfortunately a lot has changed in two years with staffing and I don't feel the way I once did about the school. I hope the new school year will come with better teachers(like the ones we use to have there).
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's 2nd year at harriet tubman and i have been nothing but satisfied.The comfort level of this school is phenominal!htcs,keep up the great work!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

The premise that the school was set up by Judge McGhee was excellent. I see that the school unfortunately has strayed away from it. I have had two children in the school and have had to transfer both. One becasue a child was allowed to bully my son daily and the school staff was not equipped to deal with it. My child is also advanced the school was unable to meet his needs. My second child becasue of the lack of advanced subject material as well. There are not extracurriculum activities for the children. Children's accomplishments are not acknowledged, there are no school performances or plays for parents to support. The parent association is poorly managed and becomes a griping session. What is most troubling is that children are not given books. The report card is actually a learning contract and is not easily understood. Thank you for reading my feedback.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is currently in the 2nd grade and I feel the school has depleted in value. His teachers is excellent but I believe the school has taken on more than it can handle. The population went from roughly 180 to 400 - almost triple and the quality is no longer there. I applaud the school for taking on the poorest neighborhood in the Bronx.
—Submitted by a parent