Capital City PCS - Lower School

Posted: February 17, 2021

This school is a joke. As a teacher of your thinking about working here, LOOK ELSEWHERE. There’s the inner circle clique of the higher up administrative that stick together and only protect their people. They are quick to throw blame and shift accountability to make sure they stay out of the line of fire. They point fingers and don’t do anything until the very last minute acting as if they realized the problem at first but it was brought to their attention. They are a bunch of snakes and backstabbers. They throw you in under a bus and don’t help and say your the problem, especially if your a new employee. They give zero about your expertise or experience for the love of teaching. THEY WILL DRAIN YOU. If your looking for a supporting environment DONT WORK HERE. This place is horrible. They need to fire all upper management and start over. They’ve been there too long and they have no idea how the real world or schools work now. What a waste of grant money

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: February 17, 2021

Posted: June 10, 2019

lower school kids don't really get homework. when i hear of schools loading little kids down with homework, I'm glad ccpcs didn't do that. However, the school isn't really academically oriented and there are times that i actually think more homework - some kind of homework, would be good for kids, and help parents get a better idea of the curriculum. As is, they just replicate social inequity. Kids with an involved stay involved parent will learn, but those kids learn anywhere. The school doesn't deserve any credit.

Posted: June 10, 2019

if your kid is average, they'll be fine, just don't expect to be engaged as a parent in any meaningful way. The school is interested in parents as a source of revenue only. If your kid is exceptional in any way, the school hides behind fuzzy words but does little to actually adjust the curriculum to support children's needs. For 5 -10 years - since the school moved to it's current facility, it has had very weak and ineffective leadership, and this trickles down to high turnover and poorly prepared teachers.

Posted: June 10, 2019

I like the regular discussion of values at the school. oddly these aren't highlighted on the school webpage but kids discuss 7 values from prek through 4th grade. I can't list them off the top of my head (which is why i went to the webpage for a reminder) but it's things like courage, persistence, kindness. kids who learn well verbally and believe what their teachers say, will come away with a belief that these are important values - and i agree - they are.

Posted: June 10, 2019

they're getting a new principal. maybe that will be good. but the school leadership has historically actively discouraged parent involvement for years. the principal doesn't stand at the door to greet people. she hides in an office. so far as i can tell, she only does the most perfunctory classroom visits, and I'm sure the teachers must wonder what she actually does all day. it's unclear.

Posted: June 10, 2019

they say all the right things, but in actual practice they typically label kids and fail to follow through on accommodations. They'll push kids through in a very basic way, but it's really sad how underserved kids with learning differences are. this is also true for very bright kids. the school can't do the basic right so it's no wonder that they don't adjust well to kids outside the very typical.

Posted: June 10, 2019

this school was a microcosm of the worst of society - black and hispanic kids, especially boys, are labeled as behavior problems and frequently reprimanded. white kids, especially boys, are very special and treated as such. this comes across in the cliques that develop with kids of color hanging and white kids leading parallel but separate social lives. Teachers and administrators don't really listen. If you manage to get there attention, it won't be for long. They are all talk. It's all really sad.

Posted: June 10, 2019

It's been miserable. My kid had problems with bullying and complained that teachers didn't listen. I tried to advocate and you know what - no one would listen to me either. When my kid ultimately acted out by the end of the year, they blamed the victim. I really wanted to partner with the school - i wanted to be involved. They say they want parents to volunteer, but they don't track hours or activities and they really don't care. They want parents who send their kids to school, donate money, and little else. and seriously - the aftercare program is. the. worst. parent's wanted to get involved to make it better, but they were shut down and shut out. We can't get out fast enough.

Posted: November 8, 2013

We are so happy at Capital City. Our children are receiving a great education, and are actively involved in the learning process. We also really appreciate and respect the social skills curriculum with it's focus on kindness, courage, and empathy.

Posted: September 24, 2013

This is our first year at the school and our son has already learned so much. The teachers are wonderful and very committed to their students. We are very happy and look forward to seeing his progress this year. On a weekly basis we receive communication from the teachers as to what the students have done and learned which is extremely helpful. We couldn't be happier.

Posted: September 21, 2013

This is our second year at Cap City. Our daughter is now in kindergarten. Our family loves this school! It is a warm, loving, nurturing community, with active, caring parent, teachers, and administrators. Together we focus on the "whole child." Academics are important - test scores are just one indicator - but they're not everything. Art, music, fitness - and a focus on community participation -are all significant parts of the curriculum. Communication with teachers and administrators has been frequent, substantive, and welcoming. The school is wonderfully diverse, and I think that speaks to the open, inviting environment. We're looking forward to growing with the school for years to come.

Posted: September 21, 2013

Our son is in third grade now, in his fifth year at Capital City already (!), and we love the school. There is a strong sense of community, a rich extracurricular life of the school that reinforces the values and connections communicated in the classroom, and most importantly, a commitment to a strong academic curriculum that makes learning enjoyable.

Posted: September 20, 2013

What I like most about Cap City is that it strives to educate the whole child -- to form character (perseverance, kindness, empathy) in addition to teaching the fundamentals. Significant time is spent in the early years on the social aspects of school (waiting your turn, listening respectfully to others, etc.), so that real learning can then happen in the classroom. The approach to learning is also holistic: Using the Expeditionary Learning approach, children learn thoroughly about a topic (e.g. recycling, bees, nutrition, water), with every subject (English, math, science, music, art) supporting that topic. As a parent I am very excited for my children to learn more deeply, instead of just memorizing disconnected facts. The teachers are fabulous, and the teacher-student ratio is high, with 2 1/2 teachers per classroom of 25 (18 for Preschool and Pre-K). The facility itself, new last year, has everything you could dream of: gym, theater, and tons of outdoor space including a garden. Windows were installed strategically to allow children to see the inner workings of the building -- plumbing, wiring, etc. I couldn't be happier!

Posted: September 20, 2013

Our kids have been at Capital City since pre-K. One is now in Middle School. We have generally been pleased, though no school is perfect. CCPCS has a tremendous amount of staff resources -- two teachers per class, lots of support teachers (e.g., for special ed and English Language Learners), and specials teachers (drama, Spanish, art, music, fitness, library). The school evironment is generally very positive with a very strong school culture where kids learn to respect each other. This is not a place where teachers run their own little fiefdoms. There is a lot of staff teamwork. The new facility is fantastic, but the doubling of the size of the school last year led to some hiccups with many new staff and kids -- it was hard to integrate everyone into the culture, especially in grades 3 and 4. We are sometimes concerned that the diversity of abilities in the classroom can make it hard to meet everyone's needs. We worry especially about a challenge for kids who are performing at advanced levels. But the diversity, vibrancy, and dynamism, teacher enthusiasm, etc. seem to outweigh this.

Posted: September 20, 2013

They really foster a learning environment that teaches kids to think critically and work together to solve problems.

Posted: September 19, 2013

I Love CCPCS!! My daughter Ariana is so happy and proud to say she goes to Capitol City!

Posted: September 19, 2013

Capital City lower school is a warm, academically-engaged environment. We now have a first grader and have been with the school since PreK. Teachers are dedicated and take great care to meet each student where he/she is, and the expeditionary learning model really lends itself to allowing this individual attention and to deep learning. There's careful attention to social and artistic learning built into the curriculum along with academics; students learn to work thoughtfully in their community and to become responsible both for their own and each others' learning. I think it's a common experience here that kids truly love learning and are invested in the expeditions and in each other. In our own time here, we've been very pleased with the level of intellectual challenge and teacher/student care we've seen abundantly at work.

Posted: September 18, 2013

The teachers really care about the kids, really care about using best and current practices in teaching, and they want parents to know what they are doing in the classroom and why. The kids know the teachers are in their corner, and will ensure they understand and retain what is being taught.

Posted: September 18, 2013

We have been so fortunate to "win the lottery" for a spot at CCPCS. Our daughter loves being there and I feel like teachers and staff love her back - I couldn't count the hugs and kisses she got on her first day back to school. She "owns" her school. As a parent, I can see how her development progresses and how this school is such an integral part of making her a smart, confident and kind little girl. Individual communication to / from staff and teachers is excellent and immediate. The lunch program is fantastic and the facilities are brand new with room for music, art and a dedicated room for the Spanish teacher. It seems like her opportunities are endless... .

Posted: September 18, 2013

We feel so lucky to have our daughter attending Capital City. We love the expeditionary learning model, which uses themes like "My Family" or "Oviparous Animals" to link and give extra meaning to all the academic instruction in language, math, and other areas. We also really appreciate the school's emphasis on community, including a weekly All School Meeting that lets the entire student body learn from, sing songs with, and bond with each other, as well as the school's use of responsive classroom, which approaches discipline and class management by engaging the students themselves in helping develop and buy into a respectful, positive learning environment. CapCity also has wonderful "extra" programs, including weekly exposure to drama, fine arts, music, fitness, and Spanish instruction. The school recently expanded into its new building and grounds, which are simply beautiful, with playgrounds, gardens, and ball fields. We couldn't ask for a more perfect place for our daughter to grow and thrive.

Posted: September 18, 2013

My son and his uncle go to Captal City. Its a great great school his uncle have been with them since 6 grade and my son for two years. They have a fabulious teachers and staff. Their after school problems are great, they get to have fun and learn.

Posted: September 18, 2013

La escuela es magnifica!! Me encanta: porque es una escuela multicultural, el nivel acad mico muy bueno. Por la coordinaci n de trabajo entre padres y personal de la escuela, ademas brindan mucha information a los padres para que estemos enterados de todo lo que la escuela realiza, y sobre todo que es una escuela que cuenta con mucha seguridad.

Posted: December 26, 2012

In grades PK-3, learning is a nurturing and fun experience. However, as time goes on it becomes harder for the school to meet the needs of such diverse student body. Consequently, most of the resources are devoted to struggling learners thus giving those students who are on grade level and beyond little incentive to stay beyond 4th grade. The previous poster who alluded to special treatment for those involved in fundraising could not be more wrong. In fact, just the opposite is true. Most of the school's historically generous and involved families are gone. Even given the above comment, I would still recommend that you apply because you could do a lot worse.

Posted: October 27, 2012

The new building is great. The students finally have a gym and athletic fields that they never had before. Even though the new building is much bigger, Capital City has maintained it's small school feel.

Posted: October 27, 2012

Capital City continues to offer an outstanding personalized education. The addition of the new building has greatly expanded the opportunities available to cap city students -- athletic fields, a play ground, gym, cafeteria and an auditorium only enhance an already great school.

Posted: May 9, 2012

Judging from some of the reviews its fair to conclude some parents are not happy but please be reminded it is only their experience at CCPCS. It takes a lot of hard work, passion and dedication to ensure every child has a fair shot at academic success and for years Capital City has done just that. If your child cannot adapt to this environment it is your duty as a parent to do whats best for your child without being negative by trying to malign the hard working staff. It is utterly tasteless especially for parents and students who continue to attend.

Posted: May 8, 2012

Starts well with the Pre-K and lower elementary then gradullay the quality of instruction and teachers decline. No wonder only a few students in grades 5-8 are original CCPCS students. For us it's been an utter disappointment. In addition to wasting pivotal academic years, we now have to deal with the fact that my child has completely lost self confidence in himself and his ability to be successful in school.

Posted: August 1, 2011

For those who are confused by the conflicting reviews, please be aware that this school is a bit like a private club. If your are actively and aggressively fundraising for the school, your childen's shortcomings will be regarded as qualities and they will get raving reviews from teachers. For those children who are academically gifted and self motivated and do well in any school setting, the school is adequate, especially in the lower grades. Also, quite a number of students are tutored regularly outside the school, throughout the school year. If you can afford this, then keep your kids in the school.. If not, go elsewhere . If you're interested , go on the OSSE website and see for yourself the HUGE achievement gap between the white kids and the rest.

Posted: July 6, 2011

This is the best school I have been to! They have excellent teachers and an amazing arts program. I went there for 7 years and loved every minute of it! You should definitely consider this school! This is coming from a student.

Posted: March 22, 2011

After school activities, fitness and the electives are interesting, Other than that we get worksheets in every subject, give them to the teacher and don't know how we did. One month later we get some worksheets back to put in our portfollios. I am not learning much in this school.

Posted: December 11, 2010

I am a student in middle school and I have some really good teachers like the music and drama teachers and not so good classroom teachers because they want us to do the work at our desk independently and say they cannot explain more when we ask for help. Last year I learned a lot in science in my other school but this year we learned one song about plants. Capital City is a good school if you like to work alone in math and language and do not bother the teachers with questions.

Posted: October 23, 2010

This is our first year at CCPCS. Already two months into the school year and we know almost nothing about the curriculum or guide in Language Arts, Mathematics or Science, as the school does not use textbooks. The only thing we were told is that each class has an expedition to study. Homework in grade six consists primarily of reading library books and free writing, with no comments from the teacher. My child comes home and says the teacher is a "worksheet teacher". I have made several attempts to get a copy of these worksheets, but have not received anything yet. Frequent field trips, music, art and drama classes are this school's forte; unless you can tutor your child to keep the academic core subjects on grade level, look elsewhere. We are.

Posted: November 30, 2009