John Lewis Elementary School

Posted: January 3, 2025

We've been at John Lewis since they opened the new building in 2021, have two daughters there in 1st and PK4 who both started in PK3. We could not be happier with this school. The principal is the most caring, nurturing and committed to ensuring a safe, healthy environment in which all kids can learn and thrive, and has created a culture among all staff who believe the same. We've had no major issues since we've been at the school, and whenever minor ones have arisen the staff work quickly to address them. Teachers and administration are communicative with parents and engaged with the entire school community. This school is magical, and we wish all kids and families could be as blessed as we are to be part of it.

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: January 3, 2025

Posted: June 25, 2024

This is an amazing school in an amazing building.

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: June 25, 2024

Posted: November 27, 2023

JOHN LEWIS ELEMENTARY is an amazing experience. It's a beautiful new building with a great team of teachers and administrators. Heavily underrated school on this site, and they have the name listed incorrectly!

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: November 27, 2023

Posted: March 30, 2018

My son loves West. He's asked to go to school on the weekend a few times (never happened at his old school). Principal Vroman is dynamic and a go getter--she listens to parents and follows through. She (or another administrator) often greets the kids at the entrance in the morning and plays upbeat pop music (so everyone starts the day smiling, in a good mood). She also worked something out with the Fillmore Arts Center so all the kids have music as a fifth special. On top of the musical the phenomenal art teacher organizes.

I love it but hadn't realized a lot of what the school offers until my son went there. I also had three concerns that turned out either not to be a concern or a positive:

1) Main reservation was about the building. But the renovation is happening soon. And my son seems to see the physical space as an asset rather than a negative and I see it more that way now that I compare it with some charters. The outdoor space is huge, they have 3 or 4 playgrounds ("my school has sooo many playgrounds" he says), a spray park, a vegetable/flower/pollinator garden City Blooms helped design and that's a part of the kids' learning, an outdoor classroom, a basketball court, and a huge field, there's a new gym (where he's learning basketball), the cafeteria (where they do a musical), the huge meeting room (where they do school assemblies).

2) I was concerned about not having music as a specials class--but the principal already took care of that--the Fillmore offers music class (most schools its size only have four specials, not five).

3) I was anxious about having young kids with middle schoolers. But that hasn't been an issue. For one, the middle schoolers are on a different floor in a different wing. Also, they'll start phasing out middle school next year. And besides, all my interactions with the middle schoolers have impressed me--they've been super polite or thoughtful.

The 3rd graders rocked tests last year (did better than most of the fancy charters I looked at) so all signs are positive. Room for improvement? I love the special after school activities kids can sign up for (Bollywood hip hop, doctor mentorship, African dance & drumming, soccer, karate) but I'd love to see a few more so my son could get both his soccer AND piano class in during the week rather than weekend.

Update data (test scores, equity section); it's wrong or years old.

Posted: February 27, 2018

Posted: February 27, 2018

Posted: February 27, 2018

Posted: February 27, 2018

Posted: February 27, 2018

Posted: January 30, 2018

Posted: August 23, 2016

Posted: August 23, 2016

Posted: August 23, 2016

Posted: August 23, 2016

This school is a neighborhood gem. Our kids are in early elementary grades, and have grown there tremendously (academically and socially). The school seems to be continuously improving. I think that principal Vroman is doing a great job and steering the school in the right direction, slowly but steadily. When problems have come up she's resolved them in a fair and reasonable manner.

If you're considering the school at all, I highly encourage you to check it out in person. There's also a nice group of parents who were very welcoming in the school

I think there's a disgruntled (former) teacher or staff member that just doesn't get that they didn't fit in, and that's too bad for them, but their incessant trashing of the school is juvenile . The new teachers and admin staff this year have some interesting backgrounds and seem great.

I'm looking forward to another good year.

Posted: July 5, 2016

West EC is a great school. It has everything I was looking for in a school: good location, great testing scores and very diverse. The staff is excellent and teachers are so dedicated to their student's success. If you are looking for a school that makes you and your child feel welcomed then West EC is for you.

Posted: June 14, 2016

Posted: June 14, 2016

Posted: June 14, 2016

West has improved in this regard over the past year with better policies that better encourage developing these qualities.

Posted: June 14, 2016

The new principal and PTA president have done a good job improving West in the short term. The staff are diligent in their work and provide a great environment for the children. Looking forward to what the school can do with the recent ESSA legislation to add a GT program. Would certainly attract more high-performing students AND parents.

Posted: May 9, 2016

Great neighborhood school that is a true gem! My daughter is in kindergarten. She has flourished in both reading and math. In fact, she is now above grade level. Her teacher is very vested as well as the school community. There is also good parent involvement. I'm excited to see what lays ahead.

Posted: March 21, 2016

Posted: March 21, 2016

Posted: March 21, 2016

Posted: March 4, 2016

This is definitely a rising school. The new principal (Vroman) is very engaged and enthusiastic. The school has created some new programs in aftercare for a fee (karate and yoga once a week). The culture of the school is very positive and the children are very respectful and kind to each other. It definitely feels like a family community and there's a lot of school spirit. The preschool classes are amazing and the teachers are so enthusiastic and well-trained. I'm very happy my child is there and it's great to be a part of the school and the neighborhood. There's still some work to do regarding renovation, and I'm not sure if the school will be academically challenging enough as we get to the higher grades, but for now it's great. I really hope to see the test scores of this school rise in a couple of years.

Posted: May 27, 2015

I believe that the teachers at this school try each and every day to instill these qualities into their students. However, the lack of support from administration frequently undermines their efforts.

Posted: May 27, 2015

Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such. However, in this environment that seldom occurs. Teachers are treated worse than the children. A good leader knows how to command respect and attention from the people their subordinates. However, the principal at this school does not fit the definition of a good leader. She yells at and demeans staff on a consistent basis creating an untenable work environment.

Posted: May 27, 2015

The teachers at this school work extremely hard for their students. They will do anything for the students as long as it is in their power. They will buy food for children who are hungry, stay late to help students among a host of other things.

Posted: May 27, 2015

There is not enough homework given at this school to properly ensure that students are learning.

Posted: April 8, 2015

Overall, we're happy with the school. We had a couple of concerns going in that turned out to be no big deal. First, we were concerned about how the middle school grade kids would be around the early childhood kids. It turns out that they're almost never around each other because of the way the school is laid out. And when they are, the middle school kids are really great - like in mentor programs. Second, we were concerned about the "open classroom" layout, until we saw the school in action. The classrooms are set apart from each other, just not completely closed off. But the noise levels are fine, and don't seem to be a distraction from classes. I think any other issues we've had have been pretty routine, and the school has been good about working with us. I also get a great feeling from the other parents - it's a really nice / genuine vibe.

Posted: April 4, 2015

In terms of the good, aside from a few favorite teachers that have left over the years, I have had a positive experience with early childhood at West. I get the sense that most of the posters preceding me can echo this sentiment. The teachers and aides work hard, and the specials teachers are great. In the early years, I do appreciate the smaller community feeling. In terms of the bad: I think that the previous posts match many of the conclusions that I've come to when it comes to staff turnover. For 2013, the DCPS site says that only 3/4 of the school's "effective teachers remained, well below even the DCPS average. Add teachers in the developing range of the district's (imo flawed) rating system, and it's easy to believe that nearly half of the staff chose to leave. A look at West s site confirmed to me that this year saw new faces for PK3, K, 4, 5, 6, and 4/5 middle school teachers. The principal has enthusiasm, but I also know that leadership means inspiring and developing your team. While I really want West to succeed and grow, I can't ignore the fact that this reality troubles me as I consider my family's future with the school beyond the primary years.

Posted: March 30, 2015

One of the things I love about West is that it IS a small school. Even though my son is in kindergarten, all of the teachers know him and interact with him. Principal Caruthers is incredibly energetic, and she sets a great tone for the school. We have a wonderful art teacher. And, our current PSCO leadership is doing great things for the school. West very much has a "family" feeling to it and that makes it a great place to be.

Posted: March 30, 2015

My family has been at West forever - through good and bad. Right now I'm excited to say that we are on a definite upswing. Parental involvement (which is one of the biggest keys to success at any school) is growing rapidly, the curriculum is evolving to exceed standards set nationwide, and the staff are wonderful. I've read through the other reviews, and do see some things that distress me, however I can honestly say that those opinions are the definite minority. I strongly encourage you to come and visit anytime.

Posted: March 29, 2015

West is really a great school. The principal Ms. Caruthers is energetic and pushes to get resources - exactly what you want to see in a DC administrator. The teachers we have had are really amazing - warm and caring, resourceful and smart. Our daughter loves the school. It is truly a great learning environment. To top it off, there is a very involved group of parents who are forming the basis for a really good neighborhood school. We love West.

Posted: March 29, 2015

I live in the neighborhood and was really keen to support a local DCPS but like many, was skeptical about the quality of education and nervous about having our PK3 child with older students. After almost 8 months at school, our son is thriving and I have been impressed by his teachers and the care and interest they have in him and the variety of activities he has been exposed to. The school keeps the little children very separate from the older ones and the older kids I have met have been very respectful and a credit to the school. Principal Caruthers, is really working hard to make the school one of the top elementarys in DC and she has strong support from the staff and parents. The building definitely needs modernizing but the school is working with DC govt to ensure that happens. I would encourage any prospective parent to visit and speak with other parents to see for yourself.

Posted: March 28, 2015

West has been a great school for us. We strongly support the Principal and her strong vision and energy. Our child's teachers have been excellent the past three years. We love being able to walk to school and participate in after school activities easily. Our child is thriving there and we are friends with many parents and teachers. Support your local DC Public School- we have a while community working to make West the best it can be!

Posted: March 27, 2015

Our Daughter has attended West for the last four years and I would definitely recommend others consider attending. All of her teachers have been excellent. She has attended the school's aftercare program and they have also helped her develop very well both socially and academically. The principal has vision and the competence to achieve it. The parents are supportive and engaged. I'm looking forward to our child continuing her success after the preparation she is getting here.

Posted: May 28, 2014

We feel so fortunate to be part of the West community. Our son is currently in PK3 and is absolutely thriving. We adore his preschool teachers who have created a wonderful learning environment for his class. The class takes field trips, explores different themes through projects, books, art classes and fun family projects. We love the Principal and feel lucky that so many teachers throughout the school know my son--which adds to the family feeling. We definitely encourage other families to come to West, a best kept secret in DCPS!

Posted: May 19, 2014

Our son attended West in Pre-K but my husband and I quickly knew we'd have to make a move. We live very close to the school but the convenience was not enough to keep us there. West did help socialize our son but in many cases the experiences were negative. The foul language known and used by such young children is, to us, alarming. Bullying was a problem, too. We completed the one year but now have our son enrolled in an academically rich school that he loves. It is about a 30 min. commute, but worth it. Sorry, this neighborhood school does not deliver if you want strong academics and a positive social climate.

Posted: May 19, 2014

Our experience at West has been great. As parents interested in a good learning and safe environment, we looked at the school prior to making a decision to move into the area. The teachers are attentive, caring, and vested in each child s day. The environment is one of learning and the neighborhood is quiet and safe. Teachers welcome parent support and communicate with us frequently (emails, texts and notes in our child s folder). There is a good group of parents who are interested in building and strengthening the school and improving what is already in place. Even as relative newcomers, they have been very welcoming and inclusive. The principal, Ms. Caruthers, and staff are clearly dedicated to ensuring West delivers a good experience. To the person that indicated that parent involvement was incredibly horrible I m not sure what meetings you were going to. Perhaps a meeting had a small group show up, but that isn t normal, and many more people are helping that don t make it to every meeting. To future and current parents of West, it is easy to volunteer and help out in any school, all you have to do is reach out and share what you are interested in taking on.

Posted: May 18, 2014

I currently have two children at West EC and have been here since my son, now in 2nd grade, was in PK3. My daughter is currently in Kindergarten. We have been extremely happy at West and both of my children are thriving academically and socially. While we are excited about the recent and anticipated growth at West, it remains fairly small, meaning Ms. Caruthers (the principal) as well as most other staff, know all of the children by name as well as their parents. I know that my children are well cared for, safe, loved and are learning every day. Our parent association is very active and more and more parents are becoming involved every year. I would strongly encourage anyone to check out the school and consider it as an option.

Posted: May 18, 2014

My daughter has been at West since PK-3 and is now in kindergarten. She has been thriving and we intend to keep her there for a long while. Like all kindergartners there, she is reading (and loves reading) and is doing well with adding and subtraction. I have been surprised at how rigorous kindergarten is. It is not easy for her. She had very positive experiences in PK, gaining more confidence and new academic and social skills. I recommended West to friends who tell me they are grateful that their child is there now. Also, as an active member of the Parent Staff Community Organization, I must refute the posting that says there are only 3-5 members. We have been growing in participants and activities during our time here. We have one activity per month on average--not possible with 3-5 members. More importantly, West is the second highest performing Education Campus in DCPS. West is a small and supportive school. I encourage you to check it out.

Posted: May 18, 2014

West is a warm, welcoming and enriching community, with very active and engaged families. The teachers are deeply committed to supporting the academic and personal development of the students and Principal Carruthers has created an environment that is both academically rigorous and nurturing. My children are thriving at West, and we are so pleased to be supporting our neighborhood school. The student body is highly diverse (ethnically, racially, socioeconomically), but the community is integrated and welcoming to all. West is a GEM! Proud to be a West family.

Posted: May 3, 2014

West is one of the true gems in the DCPS system. My daughter is currently in PK3. The curriculum has far exceeded my expectations. The teachers are allowed to express themselves creatively and this is reflected in my daughters project based assignments, field work, and field trips. I feel that my child has received a solid foundation and will be more than prepared for PK 4 and Kindergarten. My only criticism is that West could do a much better job of promoting all of the wonderful programs, accolades, students, and teachers it has.

Posted: April 20, 2014

I THOUGHT I hit the jackpot when my son received a space in last year's lottery. I quickly learned that the impressive Principal presentation, open houses and fun activities on the west listserve were really just a show. The early childhood teachers can't make up for the poor environment (there was a recent shooting directly across the street from the school and a bullet found on the early childhood playground - both incidents were separate), high attrition rate amongst teachers (they are not given much leeway to be creative) and early childhood parents (families come but don't stay) and incredibly horrible parent involvement. There are only 3-5 people on the PTA. The school has very limited resources, even as a title 1 school. I attribute this to a lack of parental support. There is never is enough books, toilet tissue, or even soap. Finally, this is an education campus. I never really thought too much about how impressionable my son would be around 6-8 graders. This has not been a good fit for our family. I really wish I had taken more time to dig deeper. We are lucked up and got into Creative Minds! So happy. Good luck.

Posted: December 18, 2013

The Principal has instilled a strong system of discipline that rewards good behavior and creates a productive learning environment. The teachers are very involved and concerned with every child's development. Our child is in preschool which has been known for its excellence for several years now. Its excellence is attested to by the fact that an increasing number of out of boundary families are choosing to send their students here. West is one of the quiet success stories of DCPS. Overall the schools relative strength is in the earlier grades, but the academic achievement in the upper grades should naturally improve as more families chose to keep their children there into the middle school grades. One positive distinction is that West offers more extracurricular activities and opportunities than may other schools. West is a neighborhood school in 16th Street Heights which is itself rapidly changing into a younger, more family-oriented place and these families are sending their children here. Greater city-wide recognition and more parental involvement are two factors that can accelerate the already positive trends. Consider choosing this school.

Posted: November 17, 2013

I am an 8th grader here at West and I started here when I was in the 5th grade. I personally believe that this school is better than my old school. It feels like I'm learning more. Even though the teachers can have a rude attitude with the students, I'm still learning. The other middle graders are rude but very off track with their work and they're an "okay" influence towards younger children. While the younger children are no different. ~Thanks for reading :P

Posted: June 10, 2012

My son is in Kindergarten at West and has been attending for three years, since preschool. My son's preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten teachers have all been fantastic. As kindergarten is finishing he is almost a year ahead in reading, and I am particularly happy with the art program he has had this year. The principal and staff all seem very dedicated and focused, and they are working hard to provide a world-class education. It seems the DC-wide adoption of the national curriculum has really helped provide a foundation for them to work with, and (from what I see) the principal is continuing to support her teachers and generate a cycle of improvement.

Posted: May 25, 2008

Posted: May 28, 2007

Posted: January 7, 2007