This school has sooo much potential. From what I hear of people my age and older this USED to be a great school. The leadership is certainly poor. While many of the teachers and paraprofessionals do care, I have worked there, and Ms. Edwards is a bully type leader that gives very little direction and genuine kindness to students. I've seen their rap video "school is awesome" an I'm proud of the kids that did it, but the Principal puts on a show for others. She's collecting a paycheck and does not put in the work to truly improve the school. I know several other people that work there and have kids that attend. So I know what I'm talking about. Better leadership would equal a better Orr, period.

Orr has potential but it is failing. The leadership is poor, it is frustrating teaching in an open classroom setting and there are few consequences for students poor behavior. The bathrooms are unclean and students in the neighborhood loiter around the school in the evenings. Teachers are not supported!
—Submitted by a teacher

As a former DCPS volunteer, that now has a position at Orr, I can honestly say that this is a great school. There are numerous activities for the. Students and a full time parent center to support the parents. They offer great extra curricular activities that foster learning such as GeoPlunge, a geography competion. The music department offers both vocal and instrumental training. The students can be a part of the chess club, scrabble team, cheer leading , track and basketball. Orr encourages a family environment , where the parents can be an integral part of their child's education. Come check Orr out,you will pleasantly surprised.
—Submitted by a teacher

Orr is truly AWESOME! At Orr, each student has a mentor; classes are student centered with participatory learning; parent-teacher communication is regular, and teachers and staff build community, confidence and relationships amongst students. Orr offers families before care, after school programs, our very own in-house Orr Boys & Girls Club, French, chess, soccer, tennis, basketball, to include, an in-house farmers market that serves our families and the surrounding community. Most important, Orr is a safe environment with the most passionate, and experienced staff --- very helpful, knowledgeable and able to answer whatever questions you might have.
—Submitted by a teacher

Orr Elementary is a great place for learners small and tall. Teachers engage in high quality job embedded professional development which extends to enhanced and intentional classroom instruction. The parents at Orr are becoming more and more involved in the daily operations of the school.
—Submitted by a teacher

Orr is a fine upstanding elementary school and its teachers are all outstanding. My children attended Orr and to this day all are satisfied with their learning and life experience at Orr. Keep up the good work Orr.
—Submitted by a parent

Orr Elementary is an outstanding school! Students are involved in numerous extra curricular activities and partnerships from the business sectre . The Teachers are highly qualified and care about the students in which they teach. My kids have received a quality education at Orr Elementary.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, I agree with these parents. This is my childs first and last year at Orr. If you are looking for quality education you will not find it at Orr Elementary. My advice to parents that have children attending Orr is to do what I am doing, put your time and energy in teaching your child yourself or hire a tutor because at this school educating children is non-existent.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my child's last year here at Orr and I've been reading the other parents reviews and I must agree. There's more of a safety issue with this school. When you go to pick up your children for dismissal you have to by pass all these older kids who decides to loiter there every after school and you hardly ever see security asking them to leave.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the opinions of most of these parents. The security guard and the teachers are more interested in what the kids are wearing and not what they are learning. When you pick up the kids in the afternoon, there are always people hanging out drinking and smoking and never any police patrolling the area or a crossing guard. This is one of the worst schools in DC.
—Submitted by a parent

Sadly, my daughter has to attend this awful school. The safety is always an issue and most of the staff seems to be indifferent about the students safety. They act as though their unteachable. The staff, with the exception of a select few, are more concerned with clothing and hair than true potential of the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not pleased with this school at all. This school appears to pride itself on the 'open classroom model'. All this theory consist of are approx. 3 classrooms put together with no walls to make one big room. In this room are approx 60-70 children and 3 teachers. The children are placed in to groups in this large room. No walls separate them, nothing. Orr is a disgrace to the public school system. Students do not get regular homework. I do not blame the teachers completely. They are doing the best with what they have. I blame DC because they allow this to happen. When it is time to dismiss, you are lucky if you see 3-4 staff people outside to ensure these children make it across the street safely.
—Submitted by a parent

My experience with this school was terrible. While my children were there they had 3 different principles, and none of them seemed to do much.The teachers that my children had seemed to never be available for me to talk to unless there was a problem. The school itself is unsafe and unsanitary, and more effort needs to be made in the academic sections. this is not a school for children if you want excellence.
—Submitted by a parent