my 4 year old has learned so much, i like that his teacher sends out weekly newsletters to update on whats going on inside the classroom. very excellent staff from the lunch ladys to the janitors.
—Submitted by a parent

my daughter has been going to this school since PK3, she will be entering Kindergarten this year. She is excited about going to school. Everyday she comes home and tells me what she has learned. I can see her advancement. The teachers are creative, energetic and keep the kids engaged. I don't know where the disconnect is, their state test scores for grade 3 and above are not the greatest. Definately need more community envolvement. We will hang in there.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been here for PreK3-K. We've been lucky to have the most competent, caring teachers who do a super job every day and manage to challenge the students. This despite those who bring their kids late (disruptive), don't complete homework, etc. My son has been in the aftercare program and they do homework for part of the time, then go outside or do free play inside. In the classrooms they group students by ability, and the ones who are advanced are receiving more challenging work. In K, my son is doing some 1st and 2nd grade work, so they definitely push the kids. A little too much homework sometimes (15-20 pgs/week), can't imagine doing this with 2 or more kids... Everyone knows each other at this school and my son has thrived. Great additional (at a cost) activities such as basketball, chess, Lego, gymnastics. Would love to see more parental involvement but there is a small group very dedicated. Also wish they would teach Spanish.
—Submitted by a parent

All this school cares about are test scores and giving young children busy work. The young children that attend there are overstimulated which causes stress and dissatisfaction on them. Honestly this school is a poor excuse of an educational system. Mostly everyone that works there down to administration has an attitude problem. As another parent had pointed out, kids are not even taken outside for recess everyday even when weather permits. I worked at this school and let me just say I would recommended you keep your kids away. Now there are some excellent teachers but those are very few and limited. I've seen with my two eyes a teacher yell in a small child's face "shut up" and I've also seen her pull the child so hard that he fell to the ground on top of another child who was sleeping. I do agree with what the parents are saying about the principal because in my experience she was useless. I spoke to her about the issues I had in the school and there no action to help solve the conflict. She really could care less about her staff and apparently about the children as well. Good luck to her because she's gonna need it with some of the staff members she has working for her.
—Submitted by a teacher

Very unsatisfied! On the first day of school we were greeted by a rude staff member who greeted us with this statement "I need your proof of residency." Even another teacher was appalled by rudeness in her approach. After stayin with our son for about an hour, we followed the class to the playground. As we were leaving, to go the our car, we found our son later trying to follow us out the gate unsupervised! We came back a couple hours later to check on him and he was no where to be found!! The teachers began to argue with one another blaming each other on who had my son last. He apparently wondered off and was with another teacher. Too much for a two year old on a first day of school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school should be converted back into the warehouse it once was, the administration is extremely incompetent. Very few 'highly qualified' and certified teachers are on staff. Not a good school.
—Submitted by a parent

Thats your job . Any school your child attends is just supplementle to what you do at home , nothing can replace you as PARENT
—Submitted by a parent

Hi Parents! Here is what I say: I am happy my daughter is happy. She comes home talking about all these things I know I've never exposed her too, and she has developed a larger than life personality. There are teachers there who are committed to making sure the kids at HOPE like change from the time they walk in. I love that she has a real grown up schedule, and that she has these best friends that i have to hear about everyday. They have a lot events and field trips--I wish I didnt have to pay for all of them, but it looks like the teachers and kids are having fun!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has changed this year. I know horrible and so does he-we were there last year...BUT THIS SCHOOL IS what we both needed! I think everyone has their own experiences, but I dont know how it could be far from mine. I have been to six different events celebrating my son, I have had impromptu conversations with my son's principal, I have built a relationship in one year with many of the teachers just to be in tune with whats going on in the grades he is going to. There is always something going on-hes safe, hes learning, hes having fun...II will be returning and I hope good and involved parents join me! A solid 87% and I hope they climbed to an A next year!
—Submitted by a parent

Horrible, Horrible, Horrible school, every parent should immediately remove their child(ren) from this atrocity under the guise as a school. Principal is past incompetent (never available), teachers are not qualified and the lack of professionalism is shameful to say the least. Avoid this school at all costs.
—Submitted by a parent

I think its great that they are trying to raise funds to have rubber mulch surfacing on the playground. This will make it much safer for the little ones. For all the Hope parents out there please support this effort so that students can have a great playground. Good job Hope Lamond. I cannot wait to see my daughters report from the DC-CAS. Go Hope!!!
—Submitted by a parent

This school has a great early childhood program. Up to 90 percent of children that left kindergarten and went to first grade are rated advanced on their DC tests.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the second year of school for my Pre-K child. We love her teacher (he looped) who has been with her for entire time. The administrative leadership is awful. There is no responsiveness to the parents' needs and the leadership is terrible. There is no outdoor play (even on the very nice winter days); overall this school has great potential through its teachers, but is in great need of new leadership. CH
—Submitted by a parent

This is my oldest daughter 2nd year there. I have a couple of problems with the school. 1. extended day doesn't do homework so your child will come home with alltheir homework. 2) They have changed the lunch menu. My daughter said the food this year was nasty. 3) They dont have enough teachers @ the school, 5th & 6th grade is combined. 4) the extended day & meal program cost entirely to much.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal is not responsive to parents concerns. The PK3. PK4 and K teachers and helpers all do a great job with the children. The school lost more than half of the teachers from 08/09 school year. They all decided to continue their careers at other chartered school in the area. This is a major lost to HOPE because most of the best teachers left. The upper grades are much less desirable. Extrended day for the morning and afternoon combines cost $275. The meals cost $2.20 for breakfast and $3.30 for lunch. I would recommend this school for the early childhood education but I would not stay beyond K.
—Submitted by a parent

There are a high number os teachers leaving form the 08/09 school year. The principal isn't available. Teahcers are great. Before/aftercare $275 and breakfast/lunch expensive ($2.20 and $3.30) the early childhood teachers are awesome..althought 2 of them opted to go to another chartered school for the 09/10 school year.
—Submitted by a parent

Hope is not jus a school it's a family that takes pride and effort in thier determination towards education. I love that my child is a part of the Hope family.
—Submitted by a parent

Fun and active staff members, great parental communication, approachable administration, parent involvement very high. and a great language program for early childhood.
—Submitted by a parent