Advertisement

GreatSchools Rating

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS

Charter | PK-6 | 350 students

We are best known for our language immersion program.
 
 
 
 
Last modified
Community Rating

5 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 2 ratings
2012:
Based on 2 ratings
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
Based on 10 ratings

Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

Rate this school

Click on stars to rate
Please select a star rating for this school.
    Helpful reviews answer questions:
  • What do you think others should know?
  • What do you like?
  • How could your school improve?
    Review Guidelines
    GreatSchools won’t post reviews that contain:
  • Inappropriate language
  • Allegations of criminal conduct
  • Names of students, teachers or staff
1200 characters remaining
Please indicate your relationship to the school.
Please read and accept our Terms of Use to join GreatSchools.
Indicates a required field

84 reviews of this school


Sort by:
Show reviews by:
Posted April 30, 2013

The children are happy to learn in this school, the academics are good, and everyone is involved. The language immersion here is really good as well.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 5, 2013

I think this is a great environment for the kids who attend. The physical space is clean; nice playgrounds - 2 separate (for younger and older kids. The teachers my daughter has Pre K French) are great. They are warm and seem really concerned about the welfare of the students. I am really excited that my daughter comes home speaking words from a new language (we speak english at home). She is able to tell me a new word everyday. I do not know the principal... and I cant understand why. I've asked who the principal is, and I just have never seen her. Non-the-less, the school seems well organized. Special events are handled well. I get letters every week updating me on what is happening at the school, and how I can participate Overall, I am really satisfied. The one drawback is that the academic challenge seems week. I think there is much more of a focus on languages and the immersion concept. Meeting / stimulating individual needs seems to be on the back burner.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 22, 2012

This school is a mixed bag. Some teachers are superb, others not so much. Admin generally does a poor job engaging parents and it can take forever to get an issue resolved, assuming it does get resolved. The property is great, but the classrooms are tiny, which can cause issues among kids. The language immersion program is a key reason why we came, but that's mixed, too, although it does seem to be improving. (Kids who do not speak a second language at home rarely leave bilingual.) Still, it is a warm and welcoming place, and there is an open door policy for parents, which is great. On-site chef is great, which means school lunches are excellent. Great playground, allows for fantastic parent community to develop. I'd recommend this school for kids who can handle close quarters and who are interested in learning the rudiments of a second language.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 12, 2012

Great school! Dedicated teachers. Students love being there. I love the fact that all students learn French or Spanish.


Posted November 11, 2011

Great school, one drawback....the academics are weak. The environment. Is absolutely wonderful. You can tell everyone pretty much enjoys working and loves children. The school lacks a gifted curriculum as well as attention to providing for rigorous instruction for these special learners. Teachers are skilled with scaffolding but not extending. Such a shame, it is truly a jewel.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 1, 2011

Great School which gets better every year. I love the language immersion program. Faculty and staff are excellent.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 23, 2010

My family loves this school! The teachers and administration are awesome! It's very family-oriented and everyone goes out of their way to make sure each child succeeds. We have a personal chef who cooks breakfast and lunch, using ingredients from our very own garden. Our scholars learn French and Spanish, take art and/or music 2 times a week and gym everyday! We have an active parent committee, which I'm a part of, that you can join to help make the school even better. You couldn't ask for more!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 14, 2010

The minute you walk in the doors, you can feel the warmth and welcoming nature of the school. Amazing teachers, administration and scholars. We feel very lucky to be part of this school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

Elsie Stokes is a school that cares about all children. They go over and beyond to ensure the success of their students.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

Supportive, immersive language environment. Attention to creating well-rounded, curious scholars. Available, challenging teachers and staff. Enthusiasm permeates the hallways!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

Wonderful school with its very own vegetable garden, sports and arts programs, and diverse culture!! Caring Administration, great teachers and staff!!!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

It is one of the most wonderfully run schools I have ever seen. The children are engaged and excited and when you visit there you just want to stay.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

I love Elsie Whitlow stokes because the school is doing an awesome job with the after school program as well as the eating healthy incentive for the students. The faculty show a lot of interest in students. job
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

I like the atmosphere and my daughter is happy. The staff is very attentive and the administrators are very committed.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

An international school in an international city!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

I strongly believe the school is doing an excellent job to educate mes kids.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

'I will take care of myself, I will take care of others and I will take care of my community' E W Stokes' mission. Teachers, students, staff and parents making enriching dreams come true.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

I am so grateful that my kids have the opportunity to be at Stokes. The teachers are wonderful, the administration is excellent, and I'm always impressed by how involved the parents are in making Stokes more than just another school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

E W Stokes great school - Bilingual school with optionof English/ Spanish or English/French. Arts, Music, Dance, green garden, library, etc... Happy Children, staff and families.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 13, 2010

This school is on the top of a small hill in a cul-de-sac. After the first month of attending my Kindergartner said on his walk up the hill. 'Daddy, I love this school but I hate this hill' That pretty much sums it up.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 37% in 2012.

41 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
41%

2011

 
 
73%

2010

 
 
55%

2009

 
 
49%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 41% in 2012.

41 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
51%

2011

 
 
64%

2010

 
 
48%

2009

 
 
56%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington, D.C. used the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC-CAS) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, and science in grades 5, 8, and High School. The DC-CAS is a standards-based testing program, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the District of Columbia. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.

See Washington DC's state standards

Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 52% in 2012.

48 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
71%

2011

 
 
53%

2010

 
 
56%

2009

 
 
65%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 49% in 2012.

48 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
65%

2011

 
 
44%

2010

 
 
59%

2009

 
 
56%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington, D.C. used the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC-CAS) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, and science in grades 5, 8, and High School. The DC-CAS is a standards-based testing program, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the District of Columbia. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.

See Washington DC's state standards

Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 50% in 2012.

42 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
62%

2011

 
 
61%

2010

 
 
78%

2009

 
 
71%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 48% in 2012.

43 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
58%

2011

 
 
61%

2010

 
 
65%

2009

 
 
58%
Science

The state average for Science was 36% in 2011.

41 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
32%

2010

 
 
55%

2009

 
 
n/a
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington, D.C. used the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC-CAS) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, and science in grades 5, 8, and High School. The DC-CAS is a standards-based testing program, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the District of Columbia. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.

See Washington DC's state standards

Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 49% in 2012.

31 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
77%

2011

 
 
74%

2010

 
 
64%

2009

 
 
90%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 41% in 2012.

32 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
66%

2011

 
 
53%

2010

 
 
59%

2009

 
 
76%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington, D.C. used the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC-CAS) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, and science in grades 5, 8, and High School. The DC-CAS is a standards-based testing program, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the District of Columbia. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.

See Washington DC's state standards

Source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

GreatSchools Rating

What makes up this rating?

Academic rating
7 / 10
Climate rating
Coming 2013

This GreatSchools Rating is based on academics, including students' test scores, academic growth and college readiness. Soon, the rating will also measure school climate, which includes safety, cleanliness, parent involvement and more.

Learn more about our methodology

What is the new GreatSchools Rating?

Rating legend
Below
average
Average
Above
average

Our rating (from 1 to 10) reflects a school's overall performance. The higher the rating, the more likely the school will prepare your child for the future, so choose an above-average school (8-10) if possible. For average schools (4-7), do careful research and look for evidence that the school has high-quality programs. For below-average schools (1-3), take caution; a low-performing school may not provide the instruction or environment your child needs to learn, and you may need to supplement classroom lessons at home.

Academic rating

The academic rating is made up of equally-weighted parts: students' test scores, their academic growth and their readiness for college (for high schools). If a school is designated low performing (Tier 3) by the DC Public Charter School Board, the school receives a "Below average" GreatSchools Rating. The graphs below compare this school's results to other schools in the city.
Overall academic rating

7

Average

Test score rating 2012*
This school
City
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Learn more about this school's test scores »

Student growth rating 2012**
This school
City
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

*Test scores are based on 2012 DC-CAS results from the District of Columbia.

**The academic growth rating measures how schools affect student test score improvement over time in reading and math. The data is for the 2012 school year and is provided by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Climate ratings

Starting in fall 2013, we plan to release a climate rating as part of this school's overall GreatSchools Rating. The climate rating will be based on survey data about various aspects of this school's climate, such as safety, cleanliness, expectations for students, parent involvement, and more.

Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 45% 78%
Hispanic 41% 13%
White 11% 7%
Two or more races 2% 1%
Asian 1% 1%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 0%
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2010-2011

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 179%N/A73%
Special education 210%N/A13%
English learners 234%N/A7%
Source: 1 NCES, 2010-2011
Source: 2 Office of the State Superintendent of Education, 2011-2012

Attendance

  This school District averageState average
All Students 96%N/AN/A
Female 95%N/AN/A
Male 96%N/AN/A
Asian/Pacific Islander 84%N/AN/A
Black, not Hispanic 96%N/AN/A
Hispanic 96%N/AN/A
White, not Hispanic 96%N/AN/A
Economically disadvantaged 96%N/AN/A
Not economically disadvantaged 96%N/AN/A
Students with disabilities 95%N/AN/A
General-Education students 96%N/AN/A
Limited English proficient 96%N/AN/A
Not limited English proficient 96%N/AN/A
Source: DCPS, 2009-2010

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 6N/A14
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher resources

Special staff resources available to students Art teacher(s)
Cooking/Nutrition teacher(s)
ELL/ESL Coordinator
Gardening teacher(s)
Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
Librarian/media specialist(s)
Music teacher(s)
PE instructor(s)
Nurse(s)
Security personnel
School psychologist
Special education coordinator
Speech and language therapist(s)
Teacher aid/assistant teacher
Tutor(s)
Foreign languages spoken by school staff American sign language
Arabic languages
French
Spanish
Woloof, Haitian Creole
Read more about programs at this school
Source: Manually entered by a school official.

Awards

Academic awards received in the past 3 years
  • Washington Post Education Excellence Leadership Award (2010)
  • Bronze Level Alliance for Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Award
  • Fight for Children Rising Star Award (2010)

Special education / special needs

Level of special education programming offered
  • Intensive - the school offers a full program for many needs and/or offers at least one very comprehensive program for very challenging needs such as autism or complete visual impairment
Extra learning resources offered
  • Differentiated learning programs
Staff resources available to students
  • Special education coordinator
  • Speech and language therapist(s)

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)

Staff resources available to students
  • Gardening teacher(s)
School facilities
  • Computer lab
  • Garden/Greenhouse
Clubs
  • Gardening
  • Science club
  • Technology club

Arts & music

Staff resources available to students
  • Art teacher(s)
  • Music teacher(s)
School facilities
  • Art room
  • Music room
  • Performance stage
Visual arts
  • Drawing / sketching
  • Painting
  • Photography
Music
  • Band
  • Choir / Chorus
  • Instrumental music lessons
Media arts
  • Video / Film production

Language learning

Specific academic themes or areas of focus
  • Foreign languages
Bi-lingual or language immersion programs offered
  • French
  • Spanish
Foreign languages taught
  • French
  • Spanish
Level of ESL/ELL programming offered
  • Intensive - the school offers a full program for many languages and/or offers at least one very comprehensive program school-wide for at least 25% of our population
Languages supported by ESL/ELL programs
  • French
  • Other
  • Spanish
Staff resources available to students
  • ELL/ESL Coordinator
  • Speech and language therapist(s)
Foreign languages spoken by staff
  • American sign language
  • Arabic languages
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Woloof, Haitian Creole
Clubs
  • Foreign language and culture club

Health & athletics

Staff resources available to students
  • Cooking/Nutrition teacher(s)
  • Gardening teacher(s)
  • Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
  • Nurse(s)
  • PE instructor(s)
  • School psychologist
School facilities
  • Access to sports fields
  • Garden/Greenhouse
  • Kitchen
  • Multi-purpose room ("cafegymatorium")
Clubs
  • Cooking club
  • Gardening
  • Girls on the run
School leaders can update this information here.

School basics

School start time
  • 8:15am
School end time
  • 3:45pm
Before school or after school care / program onsite
  • Before school: starts at 7:30 a.m.
  • After school: ends at 6:00 p.m.
School Leader's name
  • Linda Moore
Best ways for parents to contact the school
  • Email
  • Phone
Gender
  • Coed
Is there an application process?
  • Yes

Programs

Instructional and/or curriculum models used

Don't understand these terms?
  • Dual Immersion: French or Spanish
  • Project-based
  • Standards-based
Specific academic themes or areas of focus

Don't understand these terms?
  • Foreign languages
  • Service learning
Bi-lingual or language immersion programs offered

Don't understand these terms?
  • French
  • Spanish
Level of special education programming offered
  • Intensive - the school offers a full program for many needs and/or offers at least one very comprehensive program for very challenging needs such as autism or complete visual impairment
Foreign languages taught
  • French
  • Spanish
Level of ESL/ELL programming offered
  • Intensive - the school offers a full program for many languages and/or offers at least one very comprehensive program school-wide for at least 25% of our population
Languages supported by ESL/ELL programs
  • French
  • Other
  • Spanish

Resources

Staff resources available to students
  • Art teacher(s)
  • Cooking/Nutrition teacher(s)
  • ELL/ESL Coordinator
  • Gardening teacher(s)
  • Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
  • Librarian/media specialist(s)
  • Music teacher(s)
  • Nurse(s)
  • PE instructor(s)
  • School psychologist
  • Security personnel
  • Special education coordinator
  • Speech and language therapist(s)
  • Teacher aid/assistant teacher
  • Tutor(s)
Foreign languages spoken by staff
  • American sign language
  • Arabic languages
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Woloof, Haitian Creole
Extra learning resources offered
  • Counseling
  • Differentiated learning programs
  • Title I Schoolwide program (SWP)
  • Tutoring
Transportation provided for students by the school / district
  • School shares bus/van with other schools
School facilities
  • Access to sports fields
  • Art room
  • Cafeteria
  • Computer lab
  • Garden/Greenhouse
  • Internet access
  • Kitchen
  • Library
  • Multi-purpose room ("cafegymatorium")
  • Music room
  • Parent center
  • Performance stage
  • Playground
Partnerships with local resources and organizations
  • Mary's House
  • Centronia
  • Flamboyan Foundation
School leaders can update this information here.

Sports

Boys sports
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
Girls sports
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Soccer
  • Track
  • Volleyball

Arts & music

Visual arts
  • Drawing / sketching
  • Painting
  • Photography
Music
  • Band
  • Choir / Chorus
  • Instrumental music lessons
Media arts
  • Video / Film production

Student clubs

Clubs (distinct from courses)
  • Book/reading club
  • Chess club
  • Cooking club
  • Foreign language and culture club
  • Gardening
  • Girls on the run
  • Science club
  • Student council/government
  • Technology club
School leaders can update this information here.

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events found for this school
Searching for school events...
Date
Title
  • {{date}}
    {{title}}
Export calendar
Microsoft Outlook
iCal Format
Google Calendar
POWERED BY
Tandem

Photos

School culture

Dress Code
  • Neither uniforms nor dress code
Bullying policy
  • This school has a bullying and/or cyber bullying policy in place.
Parent involvement
  • Attend parent nights
  • Chaperone school trips
  • Join PTO/PTA
  • Organize cultural events
  • Organize fundraising events (school auction, bake sales, etc.)
  • Present special topics during curricular units
  • Serve on school improvement team or governance council
  • Volunteer in the classroom
School colors
  • purple, gold
School mascot
  • Eagle
School leaders can update this information here.

Apply

 

This school accepts applications on a

rolling basis

 
Apply now
 

Planning ahead

Students typically attend these schools after graduating
Sidwell Friends
Deal Junior High
Paul Charter School
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

3700 Oakview Terrace NE
Washington, DC 20010
Website: Click here
Phone: (202) 265-7237

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare this school
to nearby schools

Compare schools »

Compare

Add this school to compare

Choosing a school in Washington, D.C.?

Planning a visit?

Download the school visit checklist

Download

Navigate the system in
Washington, D.C.

Read how to navigate the
local process »
Washington, D.C.

Need more information?

Call the GreatSchools hotline at 202-431-5538

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT