Achievement First Crown Heights Charter School

this school need to sweat the small stuff, if they know a child does not misbehave at all and happen to wear a wrong pair of socks one day, they place my child in the dean office and they call me to bring a pair of socks when im at work this is crazy! it is not the socks that is learning, its not like they could see the sock my child wear a high top shoe they happen to ask the kids to take off their shoes that morning . they are mostly focus on discipline than the child working hard for college.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been in achievement first since Kindergarten and I have seen the school go from being a supportive organizations that work with parents to accomplish the most important goal of educating our young ones to one that is working against both the parents and the students by turning it into a detention center where kids get detention and ultimately out of school suspended for going to the bathroom, not having a pencil, slouching in their chair, putting their head down when they are not feeling well or by responding "that was not me!" when accused of something they did not do. Teachers are spending most of their attention on tracking demerits and detention instead of teaching. It's like military school. Personal Story- I notified the school a week in advance and the day of that my son would not be able to attend detention on Fridays and would need to take his private bus service. I get a call at 2:45 from the Principal stating that my nine year old son would left outside until I came from work to pick him up - which is an hour away endangering the safety of my son. Its a constant battle and with the school having a current NYC report grade of C - so not worth it.
--Submitted by a parent

So Far, so good. I am impressed with cosmetics. I am not sure of the academic achievement in the school. Evidence of learning is important to me but I am not sure yet. This is my son's first year at this school and he seems happy. I need a little more time before I could review it properly.
--Submitted by a parent

Since the original Principal Mr Kerr left the school the academics has decreased. Many of the students and parents are not happy. The new principal does not have a clue about what is going on.Their new way of teaching is settiing our miniority children up for failure. The students don't have books to review their lesson for the day. How do they prepare for big exams is the biggest question.
--Submitted by a parent

When I saw the overall score of this school, I had to run in and see how it happened... Glad to know almost all of it was from earlier years, when the principal was outstanding and he maintained the school despite the CharterHead. But, he was made to leave, quickly and quietly , after which they quickly adopted a, discipline = education theology.. If you don't mind your child serving hours of detention ( even during class hours) for sitting wrong, yawning, telling a bully to "stop", not transitioning in deaftening silence, or perhaps your child is polite and says "excuse me" or "sorry" when bumping someone - if it is not an authorized speaking time, he will surely pay for having manners... This is their no-excuses policy that was suppose to be about them teaching every child, but has flipped the owness on to growing adolescent children.
--Submitted by a parent

the pride themselves on developing the whole child not only academics
--Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with this school. My daughter is in the 5th grade and she is doing so much better than in the private school she previously attended. She looks forward to going to school and the scholar dollar program is an excellent incentive for the students. I am pleased with the school so far and look forward to my younger child enrolling in Kindergarten next year.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have been students at Af for the past two to three years, and I must say I am pleased. To the parent who says that it is like a military school, I really do appreciate the fact that the teachers will not accept any disruption of any sort during class time. The reason why they didn't have recess is because they needed to get access to field across the street. And they are beginning to open up instruction to suit students with IEP's. I should know because my middle schooler has one. I think that before you jump the gun maybe you should consider that most schools don't care how your child behaves or performs academically. If you are not pleased then there are plenty of other schools that are not like the military in Brooklyn.
--Submitted by a parent

I am not very pleased with the school. It's more like military school. This school is better suited for children with behavior problems. I understand they want the students to be very disciplined but they expect them to act very grown up too fast. They do work during breakfast and they don t have recess. By the time my child gets home, she's burnt out. They are also not equipped to handle students with IEPs. I realize this is their first year in operation, but I don t want my child to lanquish here while they're trying to get their act totally together.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is an offshoot of Amistad academy in CT, an award winning charter school. It's in it's 3rd year and my child has gone here since the beginning. The academic program is rigorous and individualized. There is a huge focus on academics and College. The school motto is 'we sweat the small stuff' and they can be a bit harsh in their behavioral expectations for younger students but this has eased this year. This year they've added a Spanish teacher and some recess which was lacking before. The principal is very much involved in the school and knows each child and the parents by name. A good school.
--Submitted by LW, a parent