East Harlem School at Exodus House

A horrible experience. One of our biggest regrets is that we subjected our child to this bizarre environment. My son, now an adult and a college graduate, looks back at his treatment by the director as mentally abusive. Students and parents are treated with extreme disrespect. Oddly, they think this is preparation for the real world, but unless you are planning on going to prison, you do not need this type of preparation. If you are used to being treated with common courtesy, you are in for a big shock. If your child needs shock treatment or needs to be scared straight then this is the place for you. If you want a safe place for your child to learn and grow, look elsewhere. The few perks are not worth the emotional damage.
--Submitted by a parent

The East Harlem School is not for every family. There is a time and place for everything. I don t think the time for my child to receive an education should be wasted on disciplining someone else s child. My daughter strived at EHS. She grew as an individual and as a student. Many of the skills she learned at EHS, she has carried to high school and they are working well for her. The head of school can be intimidating at times but he does care about his students. In the real world and the work force there are always intimidating individuals and EHS teaches students how to deal with them. You must pick and choose your battles and have conviction despite the opinion of others. Many times I am amazed by my daughter, when she wants to make her point she comes with supporting facts and a prepared argument and multiple rebuttals. However, I always encouraged her to think things through and to anticipate what others are going to do and say. I appreciated the extended day, the weekly progress reports and the special events my daughter had the opportunity to request to be a part of. I always felt my child was safe. The halls were always clean and quite.
--Submitted by a parent

I hate the East Harlem School. Im a 6th grader currently and I cant wait to leave this school. There are so many things that are horrible about this school that I dont have enough space to write them. The director seems nice when you meet him but he isnt, at all. I really hope that you trust me and my opinion when I say this school is not worth the struggles. Everyday is just another day where creativity is sucked out of the students bit by bit.

This school is highly NOT recommended. The students are obligated to eat their entire lunch, if they do not, they receive a demerit. These demerits prevent children from earning honor roll for performance and can lead to a disciplinary meeting. Children are being suspended and expelled for not doing their homework and talking. A child must ask for permission to cover a cough or a sneeze. Students are expected to sit up straight at all times with their feet pressed on the ground and their backs up straight in their seats. The leader uses inappropriate comments and jokes in the presence of his students. Many of the teachers are not certified to teach. Students are being stripped of their identity and self worth.
--Submitted by a parent

The folks at this school are working hard to make students and families understand what it takes to get a better than decent education in this country. Too many people think that good (or less than good) is good enough. Forget about it, folks. To succeed you need to meet your personal best (or go beyond it), AND have the people around you (family, community, all of it!) supporting you. This school does what it can with whatever you are willing to give it. Sign up, go in, give it your all, and you will reap a lifetime of rewards.

My family has had the most humiliating experience at this school. The administration has violated my childs privacy and have stripped her from her dignity and self confience. They do not care at all about the opinions and suggestions made by students or parents. The school does not welcome a good relationship between the staff, teachers, and students. The school prides itself in teaching kids about good public speaking but they are hipocrites because the minute a parent or student expresses their own opinions or challenges anything about a situation, the family will be subjected to retaliation. I have pulled my daughter out of this school. I beg parents NOT to send thier children to this school. I would love to speak to other parents who have had a similar experiences with the school. We cannot allow our children to suffer in the hands of these monsters.
--Submitted by a parent

I was referred by a friend about this school in which she said was outstanding. After having my child attend this school for 11 months I am sad to say that I am extremely disappointed with the school. During the 11 months of my child attending this school all the events were not well thought out or organized, including the stepping up ceremonies or graduations. I am also extremely disappointed with the way 5th and 6th grade parents are treated here. The principle has a "god-complex" because makes the students bow to him every morning which I believe is unnecessary and has nothing to do with education. The school implies the students to be their own person yet they are not allowed to speak their minds or have opinions or they will be penalized. In closing, I will not be allowing my child attend this school next year and I do not recommend any student to apply to this school. It is an utter DISAPPOINTMENT!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I saw the conduct first hand while working near the East Harlem School in construction. Being approached by a certain official at the school...he does what he can to get your name than makes a complaint to bosses. He goes out of his way as if construction workers across the street from the school are his students, employes, kitchen staff, to cause problems. Very bizzarr behavior.

EHS is a good school, but like in every school it does have it's glitches. The teachers are very dedicated to the students but there must be a problem because, there's a big teacher turn-over in this school. My son has been attending two years now and every year there has been teachers leaving, just staying the one year. Discipline seems to be a little more important than learning. The students get demerits for any little thing and suspended for nonsense. I think the action of suspension should be taken when there is a very serious matter at hand, not just because a student was talking or fooling around standing on line, thats just ridiculous. This school is ran like a military school. If your child doesn't eat all their lunch, there goes a demerit! All this over bearing discipline might just turn the parent and student against the school.
--Submitted by a parent

The East Harlem school is a place where parents can be sure their children will receive the education of an Elite private schools of Manhattan in East Harlem. The discipline, dedication and overall enviroment of the school is something rarely seen in NYC.
--Submitted by a parent