Key Elementary School

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

My son loves going to Key - he literally runs up the stairs each morning because he is so excited to learn. Every teacher and administrator with whom I've interacted has been warm, welcoming, and professional - they really care about the kids and the hard work they invest is evident. It's truly a neighborhood school, even in a neighborhood where many families could afford to send their kids elsewhere, and in many ways the heart of the community. We feel lucky to be part of it.

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

Our daughters love being part of the Key family. The school offers academic excellence, a diverse and inclusive community, and dedicated educators who tailor instruction to each child. Key excels in reading, math, science, and more, with teachers using data-driven strategies for growth. Its active PTA supports enrichment programs, classroom resources, and community events, creating a close-knit, well-resourced environment. Parents are deeply engaged, from volunteering to fundraising. The well-maintained campus includes outdoor space and modern classrooms. With a strong focus on social-emotional learning and equity, Key nurtures both academic achievement and character development.

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: October 26, 2021

We have two children at Key and have had a very positive experience. The academics are good, but could be more rigorous. Overall, it is a wonderful neighborhood school with a welcoming community.

Posted: October 26, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: July 19, 2021

The teachers are committed and enthusiastic. It's been great for my kids and I've enjoyed the community of parents and teachers at the school.

Posted: July 19, 2021

Posted: April 9, 2019

Some grades are better than others but overall outdated and unenthusiastic.

Posted: April 9, 2019

Competitive and aggressive parents and children. Emphasis is placed on winning. Emotional and character building are not part of curriculum. The 3Rs are a standardized joke that the students don’t even absorb.

Posted: April 9, 2019

Senior staff are disillusioned and out of touch with modern realities

Posted: April 9, 2019

Posted: April 9, 2019

Bullying is constant and poorly handheld. The school therapist is disengaged at best.

Posted: April 9, 2019

Homework is inconsistent and a joke. It’s either incredibly simplistic or poorly explained and frustrating for both children and caregivers.

Posted: April 9, 2019

We left this school owing to all the above factors. It really lends itself to a pseudo upper class fraternity crowed.

Posted: May 22, 2015

Just awful. The parents here are vicious and will do anything to advance their child over others. Helicopterism and competitiveness abound. Very little community spirit here in the Land of NIMBY. Spoiled child and adult bullies abound. We are so thankful to have gotten away from this miserable place.

Posted: October 20, 2014

Key balances the tests with the independent creative learning and style of each teacher. There is nothing typical or cookie cutter about this school or their teachers. Key is a gem of a school on a little hill. I wish it went on through middle and high school.

Posted: August 19, 2014

This is not a Blue Ribbon school. Period. (If you come from another state or country, just compare it to the best schools there and you'll end up agreeing. DC parents have lower perceptions of quality.) This is a test-taking factory. The principal may be organized, but he is an extremely weak academic leader. There is no common vision or plan for improving teaching. The curriculum more often than not defaults to pre-packaged worksheets and test preparation drills. Poor learning disabilities and ESL support. Most teachers teach the same things year-after-year and seem more intent on getting home or to their side-job rather than developing deep learning activities. We were very disappointed. You'd do better at Janney, Mann, Eaton, or Lafayette.

Posted: January 30, 2014

Key is arguably the best public elementary school in DC. The teachers are outstanding and take great care in attending to the needs and education of their students. Plus, it is small compared with other excellent DCPS elementary schools. The parent body is very active and involved, raising money for aids, and playground equipment, expanded library and more. The principal is committed to his team and does an excellent job maintaining an outstanding public school. Our family has spent 8 years collectively at Key with 2 students, and both had an excellent experience. It is truly a "neighborhood" school where people look out for each other's kids, and it is a warm and close-knit community. My older child who has already graduated was well prepared for private middle school afterwards. We love Key!

Posted: November 4, 2013

Key School is a happy place, and I think that is the best thing you could say about an elementary school. I've had two kids now, go all the way through. 2/3 teachers are excellent, and the rest are fine. The principal is a true leader. Many public schools have the same fault, that they are geared toward moving the middle, rather than the top or the bottom, and I suppose Key has this flaw. If your child goes from Key to a rigorous school, some parents complain that Key did not prepare them. Not only have I been happy with Key School, but I'm jealous of it. I wish I had gone to a school like this for K-5. It's a very good school, and a great community. Your child will love it. I found it to be very welcoming, and they had many opportunities to not welcome me.

Posted: March 8, 2012

Key School can be a great school for children that do not have learning differences and that fit into "the box". There are some fabulous and very committed teachers here. If your child has moderate learning differences, like both of ours do, it was our expericence that Key School was not equipped to meet their needs. The IEP process was ineffective and did not provide our children with the necessary resources they needed to succeed. When the IEP was written, it is weak and lacking substance. Confidence and self esteem took a huge hit with both of our children. It was challenging to get them back on track and even more difficult to reingnite their love of learning and of school. If your child has learning differences and you choose to place your child at Key School, my advice is to hire a special education consultant who can guide and direct the IEP process with you to make sure that your child is getting as much support as possible.

Posted: March 1, 2011

This school did not live up to its expectations. This school is completely run by the parents. The principal is very committed to parent involvement but gives the parents whatever they want without being objective to the current situation. This school (parents) is not very welcoming to new parents and has a hard time integrating different cultures into their school community. I am a very involved parent within the classroom and the PTO. The students can be very rude and mean to their peers and the teachers picks their consequences based on the relationship they have with the child and their parent. If you are looking for an objective school were the best interest of your child is a priority then the Key school may not be for you. On a positive note the curriculum seems to be a lacking substance but my child is learning, which makes me happy. I truly like the daily structure of the classes to keep the students in engaged and interested in learning. All in all I just wish the leadership at the school would spend more time protecting the students and less time trying to be best friends with the parents.

Posted: December 21, 2010

Great school - the principal is incredibly committed and open to parent involvement. Teachers are amazing.

Posted: September 29, 2009