Federal Hill Preparatory School

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2025

We love this school and almost left last year because of the terrible principal but thankfully she is finally gone and it’s returning to its former glory. The teachers at Prep are top notch, class sizes are small, kids get individual instruction based on their skill level but also learn how to be in an environment with kids who have different backgrounds and learning levels. We have an advanced learner and also a kid with an IEP and we have been equally impressed with their classroom experiences. Also reliable, affordable after care and a lot of options for after school clubs, esp as kids get older. We are so happy at Prep so please don’t let the bad reviews about our former principal scare you off! Our new principal (as of 2024/2025 school year) is great and we experienced almost no turnover of teachers since she started last year.

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: August 17, 2025

Here is a quick summary: Teachers are great for the most part, because the Principal is HORRIBLE. I also bet that she will comment below to say that's not true.

Posted: August 17, 2025

Posted: November 15, 2024

A true community school that prioritizes interpersonal relationships and a strong school pride. A place with a diverse population where everyone gets to know everyone. A proven top rated school for decades! The most impressive Parent Teacher Organization, high quality teachers, and administrators - complete with a true professional school secretary that is very helpful navigating the choice program to get your little kiddo enrolled. I am happy places like this exist and my little one enjoys!

Posted: November 15, 2024

Posted: November 15, 2024

Posted: November 15, 2024

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Posted: November 15, 2024

Posted: May 20, 2024

Here is a quick summary:

Teachers are great but don't stay long at the school because the Principal is HORRIBLE.

I also bet that she will comment below to say that's not true.

Posted: May 20, 2024

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Posted: November 10, 2023

Great school with great programs which allows children to grow into wonderful young adults.

Posted: November 10, 2023

Posted: November 10, 2023

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Posted: November 10, 2023

Posted: November 9, 2023

The school and PTO work hard to make all families feel welcome. They make sure all kids can go to field trips and they cover all the costs.

Posted: November 9, 2023

Posted: November 9, 2023

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Posted: November 9, 2023

Posted: November 9, 2023

Posted: April 15, 2023

Many parents are unhappy and leaving the school because of the new Principal. Principal is terrible, she is more a dictator than a team player. She does not welcome and includes families as partners in their children's learning, and everything has to be done her way.
Teachers are respectful, supportive, and work really hard, they are not the problem.
Serious issues concerning the Principal have been reported by both parents and staff but North Avenue has chosen to ignore them.

Posted: April 15, 2023

Posted: April 15, 2023

Posted: April 15, 2023

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Posted: April 15, 2023

Posted: March 13, 2023

This school, principal and staff do not care about the children. They condone little boys putting their hands on little girls. When we have requested parent conferences, it hasn’t happened. Now my child who is a girl is being suspended for standing up for herself.

Posted: March 13, 2023

Posted: March 13, 2023

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Posted: April 6, 2022

The New Principal here is Terrible and gloats in the title of being principal while not caring at all about doing the actual work or the Children!
I haven’t come in contact with a person who likes Ms.Colfield.

Posted: April 6, 2022

Posted: April 6, 2022

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Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Posted: January 5, 2019

Very good, kids happy, making good progress

Posted: April 17, 2018

Principal Long is always involved and encouraging parent involvement. Her team is great and seems t respect her which shows examples of great leadership. Her work ethics reminds me of my principal when I was in school back in the "City that Reads" days. There are always afterschool activities and programs available and she welcomes parent suggestions and feedback for improvements.

Posted: April 17, 2018

I see teachers working independently and one on one with these students when I visit the school, so I have to say yes.

Posted: April 17, 2018

If they are aware of bullying they will deal with it.

Posted: April 17, 2018

My son is in pre-k and I am impressed by what we've experience so far. I hope it continues to be great.

Posted: April 17, 2018

Homework is given on a weekly basis which allows the flexibility to work at your own pace.

Posted: April 17, 2018

The teachers seem to love children and have a passion for teaching.

Posted: April 17, 2018

My son comes home and reiterate what he learns in school; respect, compassion, integrity and manners are included.

Posted: March 13, 2018

I have 2 kiddos at Prep, one gets homework 4 times a week and probably takes 15 minutes once he is settled. The other has no official homework other than to watch /discuss the news or read a book. I like the idea of more worldly learning instead of a ditto to fill out, but I'd also like to do spelling word drills at home.

Posted: March 13, 2018

My kids have learned a lot more than reading and writing. I'm impressed with the history and science they learn and their advancement in phonics over the year. Loving that my second grader is learning cursive, I know some schools have discontinued this.

Posted: March 13, 2018

I appreciate the school motto especially the "Let go and move on."

Posted: March 13, 2018

The principal is working hard to advance the academic curriculum without teaching to the standardized tests.
The PTO is very strong and brings a lot of after school activities to the school for further exploration of subjects not taught in school.

Posted: March 13, 2018

I don't know how the school supports those with learning differences.

Posted: March 13, 2018

We are new to the school this year and I have been impressed with a lack of complaints by my kids about bullying (this was not the case at our old school).

Posted: March 13, 2018

I am really impressed with how cohesive the school feels and friendliness of the kids and parents. Its hard to be the new kid or mom or dad in town, and I have not felt any exclusion. My family feels welcome at this school.

Posted: August 23, 2017

Didn't experience any bullying. However when things starts to be noticeable the staff will stick together making it seem like it's you and not them.

Posted: August 23, 2017

I had high expectations of the school. So I was very shock to see for myself that this was not a good school for my child. And that's with the principle, teachers and IEP staff. That school needs to investigated to make sure everyone is up to par. You can high anybody for the job but are they really qualified for the job.

Posted: August 23, 2017

When January comes around you start seeing less and less homework.

Posted: August 23, 2017

Posted: August 23, 2017

The leadership in that school is poorly done. The principal do not aide in helping or creating condition to encourage and better the teachers. The principle is more of a friend to her employees which to me seems as though she do not know how to separate friend from employers. They put more effort in creating fun activities than providing better learning.

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Posted: July 11, 2017

Our family's experience has been very positive. Our daughter is an advanced level learner and from her earliest days in pre-K the school (teachers and administrators) have been very supportive of her and meeting her needs. She's been pushed and challenged at every level and doesn't be very well. Knowing several other families at the school our experience has not been isolated. Discipline-wise they run a right (though not oppressive) ship. We've been very happy.

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: May 25, 2017

So far I have had little to no issues with this school and any issues I have had were handle quickly and efficiently.

Posted: May 25, 2017

Posted: November 30, 2016

This is a great community school with many motivated and dedicated teachers and parents. My son started in K last year. Now in first grade he continues to be excited to learn and go to school everyday. Added plus is that he can go walking to school.

Posted: May 22, 2016

Both of my children started in pre-k and have flourished at FHPS. The staff is excellent, the administration is dialed in both locally and with North Avenue, and the PTO is very active.

Posted: April 18, 2016

Posted: April 18, 2016

Posted: April 18, 2016

The school has a daily affirmation in which the students promise to behave with integrity and honesty. I also see the teachers supporting these traits.

Posted: April 18, 2016

We could not be happier with the education our daughters are receiving at Prep. The PTO is very active in supporting the school and the current principal is always available and responsive. I think many of these reviews were from past administrations. (My girls wear patterned tights and boots, for example, with no problems.) I think it is a terrible shame that the school is ranked so low and does a great injustice to the parents and teachers working so hard to make it the educational, supportive place that it is.

Posted: October 28, 2014

People have had mixed feelings about this school but i can tell you that after 3 years at that school we could not have been happier. This is a really good school, there is not need to send your little ones to another school, they will succeed at federal hill prep.

Posted: April 12, 2014

My school is an undiscovered gem in Baltimore. It is as close to a private school as you can get and still be public and free! We are small in size but large in accomplishments. We are teaching an urban population to become a global society. We not only touch the future we shape the future.

Posted: April 10, 2014

My children have excelled at this school. My oldest child has scored in the 99th percentile in Math on standardized test and high in reading too. My youngest has thrived in this school in terms of behavior and learning in a way he didn't when he went to a private preschool.

Posted: April 6, 2014

Federal Hill Prep is a great community school! I confess we were considering other options given what we'd seen and heard about the direction the school had taken, but with the new principal starting in 2013, the school has really changed for the better. I can see that our child is learning a great deal, and the teachers are passionate about their jobs and are very caring. Overall I notice an environment that fosters curiosity and creativity. And the very strong PTO and community involvement really makes the school welcoming. Plus, the school is so small it seems that teachers and staff know each and every student. Finally, they have a great deal of activities that make school fun: from the Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast, to Science Night, Bingo and more. I would recommend this school; a hidden gem.

Posted: January 16, 2014

Federal Hill Prep is a great place. We recently moved to Baltimore and have been extremely happy with the number of cultural activities, field trips and education opportunities that have been made available to our students. The teachers and administrators care about the success of each student and will listen to and address any concerns you have with instruction, environment, staff, etc. And they are getting a salad bar! It's a great environment with great teachers, students, parents and leadership.

Posted: January 15, 2014

I have two kids at Federal Hill Prep, and have been thrilled with the school. A new principal started in Sept 2013, and she is outstanding. I've also been very impressed by all the teachers my kids have had thus far. The school has done a suberb job rolling out the new common core curriculum this year. Federal Hill Prep takes a whole child approach, and recognizes that academics, while important, are only one part of a child's education. The school emphasizes arts integration and has great music and physical education programs as well. There's a well organized afterschool enrichment program, with a coordinator who arranges for programs such as language classes, yoga, art and various sports. The student body is very diverse, with kids from many race/ethnicities and income levels. The school only goes up to grade 5 now, so doesn't have the problems that come with middle school students. Federal Hill Prep partners with Experience Corp to bring more adults into the classrooms, and also has a coach from the Playworks program. My kids are thriving at Federal Hill Prep, both academically and socially, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Posted: January 7, 2014

Great school in a Great neighborhood very happy with staff/teachers/principal our child is happy and learning every single day, would like to recommend this school.

Posted: January 7, 2014

New Principal does a great job! School is changing for good, we have been very happily surprised by the new changes. School is in good hands.

Posted: December 31, 2013

I wish i can say that the school is good ,I have two kids in there my doughter was facing a bulling kids there ,and no action from the school to stop the bulling kids ,

Posted: December 12, 2013

I am very pleased with Federal Hill Prep this year. I have been a parent at Federal Hill Prep for 6 years so I have experienced the ups and downs over the past few years first hand. The changes in administration 3 years ago negatively effected the morale of the school and changed the curriculum by removing the Advanced Academic program. The new Principal is embracing the Common Core Curriculum and is moving the school forward in academics, morale, and in physical improvements to the school. Yes, there have been some additional rules placed on uniforms and visitation to the building, but these have been put in place to increase the safety of our children and to add structure to a program that had become lax over the past few years. I see the school returning to its former position as a great public school option for city residents.

Posted: December 11, 2013

I am a parent my girls have been going here for three years now I love the school and most of the teachers the principle I do not care for she is very mean and does not know how to talk to the children she has a very belittling demeanor about her my first issue with her is the children cant wear boots lady really its winter then they cant wear colorful stockings and they cant wear sweaters if no logo it winter kids get sick miss days then questions about wear they are. the last straw was combing the forth grade he is a young teacher most of the kids do not listen to him which will cause students to fall back that want to learn it is over thirty students in the class very disappointed my oldest daughter honor roll two years straight now her grades are dropping very disappointing I WILL BE CALLING THE SCHOOL BOARD

Posted: August 28, 2013

This is a very good school, and the communcation between teachers and parents is excellent, what i like most about this is the concern and overall concerns about the children. My first day was very unusal but after that it was very wonderful and a great four days of school for me and my daughter, it is in a busy and not tooo bad of a neighbor hood and it close and conveint to the harbor and most of its attrations,

Posted: January 26, 2013

I'm very disappointed in this school's decline. The new administration does not respond to parent concerns in the upper grades and many family who could leave have. Many teacher are very good but some are poor and the risk just isn't worth it in the upper grades. But the lower grade teachers are awesome! The principal does not seem to understand what it means to be an elementary school administrator and the test scores show it. My kids will not be back next year.

Posted: June 12, 2012

I have been more than pleased with the kindergarden program. My daughter loves the school and the teachers. The principal is very involved in the classrooms and always willing to talk to parents.