KIPP DC - LEAD Academy PCS

Posted: March 31, 2017

I am sorry to hear that the last parent may have had a negative experience at Lead. My children have been at the Shaw Campus since Pre-K, and now they are in the 3rd grade. They are thriving and succeeding at Lead. They have excellent teachers, who are passionate about education--- and who are the hardest workers in the profession! My children participate in activities such as Girls on the Run, Basketball, and Science Club. We know that our kids are strong readers and excellent problem solvers...thanks to KIPP. If you are considering this school, talk to the principal and ask to meet some parents who are willing to give you a true perspective of what it's like to be a parent of a KIPP student. This school is not for those lacking grit--everyone is working hard to achieve greatness-- students, teachers, and yes, parents too. Good Luck--and hope to see you!

Posted: February 1, 2016

Students and parents do not have a voice here. The entire curriculum is catered to standardize testing. I rarely see students have the freedom to just be kids even though they are in elementary school (ages 6-9) . It is not fair to treat our children like they are little prisoners. They only came to learn and develop because their parents believed the teachers when they said that they would help to develop them into educated members of society.

Posted: February 1, 2016

I feel that the teachers Lead Academy are very effective but the curriculum is the test or standardized testing as a whole. The kids take a science/social studies class combination because the curriculum is built around the test. Science and history are very important subject matters that are not being taught at a full-scale simply because it isn't on the standardized test.

Posted: February 1, 2016

A homework packet every single day and holiday packets/summer vacation/spring break packets are too much. Homework is suppose to reinforce what is taught that day not busy work to give the students while they are on much deserved vacations and breaks.

Posted: February 1, 2016

Teachers and administrators are openly rude, sarcastic and condescending to students and parents w/o any repercussions or apologies. On several occasions I have seen teachers yelling at crying students, being rude in the hallways and doing and/ saying things that they would not do if the parents were present. There isn't a parent organization for parents to voice their concerns about these issues, which should be a huge red flag to anyone who knows about the role that parent organizations are suppose to play in charter schools. I’ve heard that Kipp DC does have a great campus in SE Washington but the one located at 421 P St NW is not comparable on any level.

Lately, I have been to several open houses in search for the best schools to apply to in the upcoming DCPS Lottery and I am amazed at how different the climate in most of the DCPS are compared to Lead Academy. I am impressed w/simple things like teachers being able to handle their classrooms like professionals instead of yelling and deciding to give up on the kids and not teach for the day. I am excited to see teachers encouraging students who are innovative in writing and literacy to excel and be great. I am encouraged by seeing enrichment programs for kids in grades 1-4 and a willingness and desire to teach our children that they can be anything that they put their minds and hard work behind.

At Lead Academy testing is the curriculum and the students are not encouraged to excel if they are past the level that is taught in class. The curriculum is so narrow that I have had to remind the teachers to include Black History Month into the curriculum despite the fact that most of the students at Lead Academy are African-American.

Teachers and people who interact with children are suppose to be nice to them and most certainly not mistreat them in the absence of their parents. The teachers and administrators at Lead Academy are hardening our children, they are treated like a nuisance simply because they are present at school. Lead Academy is dismissive of the concerns of parents and has not made any strides to improve parent-teacher-student relations. Teachers have a chance to improve the quality of life for so many of these students but instead they choose to use their teachable moments as a show of power over the powerless. KIPP DC Lead Academy is failing our kids on so many levels.