Beginning with Children Charter School

This use to be a great school but several years ago the BWCCS Foundation that "supports" the school forced parents and teachers to resign from the Board on the threat of closing the school. Now, the Board is made up of individuals with no ties to the immediate community or students. This allows the Foundation (an organization not run by educators) to essentially run the school as they please with no input from parents or teachers.Their mismanagement has resulted in lowered test scores and the school being put on the Schools in Need of Improvement list. Two years ago they fired a very experienced principal only to hire one that parents and teachers had decided was too inexperienced. This principal has the one attribute they wanted. He follows directions. The school has gone from a nurturing, child centered community where independent, higher level thinking and real world learning was promoted to a test centered, factory learning style. For this reason the school has lost many great and seasoned teachers. Also, many parents, like me have opted to remove our children for these reasons and a lack of response from administrators about our concerns.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my child's 3rd year. In the 1st year all appeared to be good until they went from succeeding to failing.A new principal was hired in 2011.This new principal's leadership style was not welcomed by many,particularly parents.The critical changes implemented within the 1st year lowered morale and changed the historic open-door policy school to a strict and low tolerance school.My child became unhappy mid-year.I reluctantly gave the school a chance for her 3rd year (2012-2013). My child is still doing very good and loves her teacher and going to school.They are still going through growing pains.So if you want your child to be in a school that is determined to teach your child love & respect for Education, Authority, Peers and Community then BwccS is on that mission. Focusing on test preparation is certainly on their priority list while this principal is present. The child-centeredness approach from previous yrs is vastly missed by parents,however,the 2 year track record shows that the new principal is doing what he was hired to do, raise academic expectations, improve test scores by restructuring every part of the school that threatened their license.I'm still on the fence.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children that have graduated from BWCCS. My children were educated and nurtured by the well trained faculty and staff. There is a real sense of community at the school, this past June the guidance counselor and a member of the BWCCS Foundation attended my son's high school graduation. The children are definitely challenged academically and taught to be model citizens. There are numerous resources and programs available for the children. I am very fortunate to be a member of the the BWCCS family and am grateful for the wonderful educators at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my second year having my children attend BWCCS. The LS I am satisfied with. The MS has some issues concerning one newly hired teacher, teaching two classes at this location. My experience before this hire was overall very efficient and the school did a great job welcoming my kids to the school. Now that on of my children are in the MS, the teacher is not making the children overall feel very welcomed. This is a problem because it is affecting the students's self-esteem issues, grades, and previous confidence they had in excelling before she came to teach the classes that they need to succeed in. I am looking for a change in the way the teacher operates or I, as well as a few more parents who have grown with this school, will find a new school next year. (These are the kids of the future!)
—Submitted by a parent

Good programs, great staff, excellent students.
—Submitted by a parent

This school seems to be great, until your child gets there and realizes there is really not enough teaching thee. I don't have anythin against the school, I just think it should have a better academic system, so that the kids are faced with more educational challenges.
—Submitted by a parent

BwCCS is one of the best schools in Brooklyn! The caring staff and teachers makes it a great place for learning. When I ask my children how was their day? It's always WONDERFUL and FUN! Especially, when they have Pysical Education! They LOVE their teacher and the great games and activities she teaches them. Who loved 'GYM' when they were in school? I sure didn't. See when I say BwCCS is the best!
—Submitted by a parent

BWCCS is excellent school in lower school from grades k-5 they have good teachers, excellent staff and good programs. However I think for middle school they need to improve a lot. The homework are son little, the academic program is a little boring. According with my son when I ask him do you have homework today? He answer almost always is not. In exception for the math teacher and ela teacher who always trying to keep them with the curriculum I have to say that the middle school needs a lot to improve overall in their afterschool programs and activities for fitness has been very weak considering that these kids are teenagers and they need to exercise.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at BWCCS, I must say it is one of the best schools in Brooklyn. I wish I had known about this school for my daughter. The teachers are caring,loving and supportive, the parents are involved, and the principal and asst. principal have a vision and reachable goals. The waiting list is long, but well worth the wait. As a parent and child you will not be disappointed.
—Submitted by a teacher

BWC is a phenomenal school. The academic curriculum is challenging and on par with the best schools. My daughter's unlimited potential is being maximized, allowing her the best chance to succeed in an increasingly competitive society. Fortunately the academics are not the sole focus of these students educational careers. Their creative abilities are encouraged and nurtured through wonderful recreational and after school programs. Parents are welcome to participate. The most significant achievement for BWC is the smaller class sizes and the one on one teacher involvement. The impact of these two factors is evident by the level of personal knowledge a teacher has regarding your child's development and personality. But most importantly it is shown by the smile my daughter has on her face after a day of school.
—Submitted by George Smith, a parent

BWC is an excellent school in all levels. Starting from the Principal, all the Teachers, Staff, School guard, Custodians the wonderful ladies in the lunchroom.. BWC is a great learning, caring, School for children. My children are better people today due to there learning experience in this school. I recommend this school to all children. The Science room is awesome filled with great little creatures for kids to learn from, a library room to just fall in love with. We need more schools like BWC in Bed-Stuy. A school that cares that you know your abc and how to use them too. Sincerely, Rosa Toro
—Submitted by Rosa Toro, a parent

This school is absolutley magnificent. The afterschool programs are excellent. The instuments for afterschool include:clarinet,trombone,saxaphone,trumpet and flute. Those are ONLY the instruments that the children play. The music teacher plays the:clarinet,trombone,saxaphone,trumpet,recorder,piano,uniphone,flute and the keyboard. The teachers in this school make sure that the children understand everything, no matter how many times they have to go oveer something. They are also affiliated with the Knicks Reading Zone. Thats a program that encourages children to read. They even recieve tickets to see Knicks and Liberty games. Somtimes the children get invited to meet famous people that come tho read to them. They even get to meet the players now and a then. Once the children met Justin Timberlake,Ruby Bridges and a player from the Knicks,Charlie Ward.
—Submitted by Denise Owens, a parent