Dora Kennedy French Immersion

Posted: June 14, 2026

Posted: June 14, 2026

Posted: June 14, 2026

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Posted: June 14, 2026

Posted: June 14, 2026

stinky school. no proper bathroom. terrible teachers. terrible students

Posted: June 14, 2026

Posted: June 14, 2026

Posted: April 9, 2025

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Posted: April 9, 2025

Good school, i definitely don’t understand the bad reviews!

Posted: April 9, 2025

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Posted: April 9, 2025

good school. very inclusive 5 stars for sure

Posted: April 9, 2025

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Posted: April 9, 2025

My child and I have been a part of the DKFI family since she was in the 1st grade; watching her and her peers grow up here has been a dream. I regret to say that the dream has now gone bitter. I can no longer say that the environment is healthy for my child. The academic opportunities and doors that have been opened just for knowing another language are things to which I know most, if not all, schools in the district don't have access to, but there is just not enough support for these students emotionally. Now that my child is in middle school, likewise to her peers, emotions are running high, and there is just not enough support for these kids who are our future. As a parent, I urge you not to enroll your child in this school if you are expecting a social-emotional environment that matches up to the academic environment. Whenever my child comes to me having a mental breakdown, the words 'school, 'teachers, and 'people in my grade' are almost, if not always, in the mix. I wish it wasn't like this DKFI. Do better.

Posted: April 9, 2025

Posted: April 9, 2025

Posted: November 14, 2023

Posted: November 14, 2023

Posted: November 14, 2023

Posted: November 14, 2023

Posted: November 14, 2023

Very good school, but some of the teachers are a little harsh so if your kid doesn't necessarily like harsh teachers this isn't for them. Students are very nice and counselors are always here to talk. And the sports are very inclusive for everyone. There is no cheer coach at the moment but that's okay because there are other sports for both boys and girls. As a student at Dora Kennedy French Immersion I rate this school 4 stars.



#FOREVERINOURHEARTS

Posted: November 14, 2023

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Posted: April 14, 2023

good good good good good good good

Posted: April 14, 2023

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Posted: February 10, 2023

Posted: February 10, 2023

Posted: February 10, 2023

Posted: February 10, 2023

Posted: February 10, 2023

I think the school Dora Kennedy is an excellent school. Most teachers are good. This school has suitable after-school activities and extra curriculums. The school admin is friendly. and the school is always getting worked on and I love that. This one time kids were refilling their water bottles at the water fountain Since this building is pretty old and some pipes aren't cleaned out yet the water came out a brown color. The kids showed the admin and shut it down And opened a new one that's really clean and tastes clean. Sometimes the teachers can talk too fast. It is hard to learn everything in french and when your teacher is talking too fast it makes it even worse.

Posted: February 10, 2023

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Posted: February 10, 2023

Posted: November 2, 2022

Posted: November 2, 2022

Posted: November 2, 2022

Posted: November 2, 2022

Posted: November 2, 2022

I'm confused by the negative reviews. I've had 2 daughters at Dora Kennedy since kindergarten, now both in Middle School grades. The school is generally very good, especially in comparison with other public schools in the area. Most of the teachers are very good, with a number that are exceptional. A few poor teachers unfortunately but "a few" covers 9 years of experience with the school -- and there are poor teachers in all school systems. The school had a problem with turnover in key positions (Principal and Vice Principal) for several years, but the current Principal and Vice Principal are excellent and have stayed for several years, so we think that problem has been resolved. The curriculum is rigorous and teachers are strict, which we agree with. The school is learning-focused and there seem to be considerably fewer student behavior problems compared to other area schools.

Posted: November 2, 2022

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Posted: July 23, 2021

It's a rigorous school/intense curriculum and it has been through a lot of recent changes, but the community and the quality of teaching (with a few exceptions) are terrific. We love the school.

Posted: July 23, 2021

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Posted: June 3, 2021

We have children and our friends have children in this school. Dora Kennedy curriculum is pretty intensive and the parent has to be involved. I just don't agree one bit with the few negative reviews l have seen. There might have been very few incidences when a parent may not have been happy or something happened to their child and it wasn't well managed,but that happens EVERYWHERE,no matter the zone or county you're in and that is unfortunate as we all want and need about kids to be okay. That being said, it's also unfortunate that some parents expect the school and teachers to teach their kids basic home manners while they gi make money and it is not the teacher's place to do that. You as a parent should do your part and the teacher theirs. I am not saying that everything here is perfect...l have intervened a few times when my kids are concerned but not nearly as much as my friends who have kids in private schools(and you pay dearly for private schools?)..Dora Kennedy French Immersion is NOT for every child and family...l have seen parents with twins,one was doing ok Nd the other not so good and they removed one to go to a regular English speaking school.and they are excelling there while the other child is also excelling in Dora Kennedy. And they have a .Principal now and even with the pandemic where we all struggled with our kids,they still tried. So please let's take our own responsibilities seriously as parents and help our children and our schools and if there is something you're unhappy with,nicely take it up to the teacher,Principal and if needed to the School Board. I know for sure that they do not tolerate bad behavior or bullying .

Posted: June 3, 2021

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Posted: November 11, 2019

Horrible. The administration does not care about you and your education.More so about their reputation as a 3 time blue ribbon school,teachers have bad attitudes and don't care about your feelings

Posted: November 11, 2019

The homework is so easy! And it never has anything to do with the curriculum.

Posted: November 11, 2019

The teachers here are horrible! As a student I have seen teachers curse at students,beat students, and discourage them. Which I feel like is NOT a healthy work enviroment.

Posted: November 11, 2019

The administratin at the school does not build you up the more so rather break you down.It makes you feel like your school only cares about its reputation.

Posted: November 11, 2019

Kids now how to be a leader.But the administration could strongly dissagree

Posted: November 11, 2019

They provide special aid classes along with ASL for kids whom are learning english.

Posted: November 11, 2019

My school doesn't really follow through with bullying reports unless you're a targeted student meaning you ahe already been in trouble so they think that you did it even if you didn't do it.

Posted: November 3, 2019

I think that DKFI has a strong academic curriculum and strong parent support. With leadership changes, communication is not as effective as I think it should be.

Posted: November 3, 2019

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Posted: April 5, 2019

Love the school and the diversity. They are doing lots for the kids and the PTA is very active .

Posted: April 5, 2019

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Posted: February 13, 2017

I am a veteran parent at DKFIS (formerly Robert Goddard French Immersion School). The school climate has changed! The new administration is protective, which is a strength and a weakness. The sense of family at the school has deteriorated. Staff do not extend themselves to offer student help or after school enrichment programs like they did in the past. I do not fault staff as I detect a tense climate that has thrown the baby out with the bath water. The water did need to be tended to, but a healthy balance is needed.

There are still pillar staff members at the school so there is still hope, but right now I would rate the school average.

Veteran Parent, who has seen better days

Posted: February 13, 2017

Posted: October 17, 2015

This is my last year at Dora Kennedy French Immersion (previously known as Robert Goddard French Immersion) and I must say this is on of the best schools in the country. Not just because we are learning French and Russian, but because of the amazing environment we are in. From the second you walk into school on your first day of kindergarten, you feel like your apart of the DKFI family. Everybody is so nice,sweet,compassionate and helps you out. Dora Kennedy is a very small school, but everybody knows all of the teachers and students. At DKFI we are taught to treat others with respect, kindness and compassion. Education is a major part in your life when you go to DKFI. By the time your in middle school you're taking advanced math, fluent in French and taking college level Russian. Even though at DKFI we are super serious about education, we also love to have fun with our academics too. When you're in 4th grade you can take a trip to Montreal, Canada and when you're in 6th grade you can take a trip to Quebec, Canada. But, by 8th grade we take a big trip to France and Italy to test out french skills. DKFI is an amazing school that has changed the life of so many of us, last year all of our school's hard work finally paid off when we picked to be a National Blue Ribbon School and a Maryland Blue Ribbon School.

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: May 17, 2015

This has been a great school for both of my children. The best elementary school in the county.

Posted: January 20, 2015

i have been in this school for nine years; yes it's my last year- sadly however this school is phenomenal! i have learned so much while shadowing high schools, it came to my intentions how advanced our school is not only academically but in every way! in response to the parent who complained about the cursive, yes i admit the only time we learned cursive was in 2nd and 3rd grade and a little in 5th but with practice, we can get better! this school's curriculum is not only based on learning french, but throughout your nine years of academic studies, they are preparing you for Eleanor Roosevelt High School and the science and tech program. This means that if you are focused on your studies, then this school has already built you a bridge to great success This school also offers your child a wide range of trips including Canada and France where we are able to practice our french in real life situations i am in love with our music program, i am in band and may i say, we are an exceptional group of musicians we have had many kids get excepted to the best bands in the state we are just a fine school and i am proud to tell whomever asks that i attended this school

Posted: January 20, 2015

i have been in this school for nine years; yes it's my last year- sadly however this school is phenomenal! while shadowing high schools, it came to my intentions how advanced our school is and not only academically in 6th grade he/she is introduced to Russian and if you are serious about learning this language, i guarantee that your child will be able to speak it fluently this school's curriculum is not only based on learning french, but throughout your nine years of academic studies, they are preparing you for the science and tech program like the one at ERHS. This means that if you are focused on your studies, then this school has already built you a bridge to great success This school also offers your child a wide range of trips including Canada and France where we are able to practice our french in real life situations i am in love with our music program, i am in band and may i say, we are an exceptional group of musicians we are just a fine school and i am proud to tell whomever that asks that i attended this school

Posted: October 10, 2013

As a teacher in the Prince Georges County system myself, I can attest to the exceptional quality of this school. My daughter was accepted in the kindergarten lottery and so far, this school as been all around wonderful. Great staff, rigor and most importantly, great parental involvement. My daughters' teacher stays in contact with me on a regular basis and I am extremely thankful for that. Two months into the program and my daughter is making great strides. I look forward to having my son who is now 4, attend next year. In the mean time, I say THANK YOU! to Robert Goddard Elementary Immersion for a great job!

Posted: October 9, 2013

This is without doubt the only elementary/middle school in the Prince George's County district worth sending your kid to. The challenge, of course, is everyone knows that, and so admission is through lottery only. You must apply prior to your child's first year of Kindergarten. Once in, your child's siblings are also eligible. But because the instruction is in French, your child must start at Kindergarten (unless he or she happens to already speak French). The majority of instructors who teach in French are native French speakers (from all over the world, including N. Africa, Belgium, etc); the exceptions are a few specialized teachers such as science. Most importantly, the parental involvement in this school is very high. There is an excellent working relationship between parents, faculty, and staff, and I believe this is what makes the most difference. Within the next year, this program will move to a different building, giving it a separate space from the Montessori program which it shares facilities with. While the building won't be much nicer (it is the old Greenbelt Middle School), it should alleviate some of the crowding and eliminate the need for the classroom trailers.

Posted: August 1, 2013

Academically rigorous, and deliberate. The teachers and administrators are excellent, and parents are involved. It is a gem in an otherwise under-performing school district.

Posted: May 1, 2013

My child just promoted in 2012 and is presently in high school after finishing K-8 at Goddard. The academic preparation was appropriate and if my child had worked harder, the freshman year would have been an easier transition. The nagging concern is...surprisingly enough...cursive handwriting. My child can barely write in cursive therefore writes painfully slowly and the note taking suffers. Goddard is NOT unique in this growing lack of instruction. So, if you are a parent, bring this up; it can become increasingly problematic.

Posted: April 20, 2013

We are nearing the end of our second year at a member of the RGFI Family and have been pleased overall. While the facilities are somewhat lacking and the classrooms a bit crowed, I continue to be amazed at how well most of the children perform. Even as we manage multiple transitions (prior principal retired at the beginning of the school year and we are preparing to enter a different facility the upcoming school year), the leadership of the school (Acting Principal & Instructional Coordination), in conjunction with other dedicated and first-class teachers and staff, continue to cultivate a strong and culturally-enriched learning environment. The PTA is phenomenal and could do even more our community with greater support from our RGFI families. We visited MANY private schools in the County and outside the County as part of our 3+ years school search and believe that accepting the offers to attend Robert Goddard French Immersion was a solid investment in our children's future.

Posted: March 11, 2013

Very strong discipline and expectations. I have been satisfied with this school so far. I was extremely happy that my son was admitted here! I would say that the facilities are not the positive aspect, and I wish there was more updated technology for the students to take advatage of since technology is so important in our world. We are getting a different building next year, so hopefully we will have more access to resources. In any case, the teachers (most) work extremely hard and have been very supportive.

Posted: June 30, 2012

I need to enrolled my child in kindergarten and this looks fantastic. Tell me more!

Posted: December 5, 2011

I have a kindergartener at RGFI. What I like: The discipline; consistent leadership; school pride by students, teachers and parents What I don't like: The drab facilities; the classes sizes: My daughter is expected to pay attentions AND compete with 21 others students for 1teacher's attention; the traditional teaching approach (the Montessori program would have been better for my daughter); could be more high-tech: needs a better website and should be communicating using more online social media.

Posted: December 4, 2011

I am in awe of the leadership at this school. Though overburdened and challenged on a daily basis the staff somehow continue to make this school one of the best in the state of Maryland. The kids love their environment and what's more, they excel too. My only disappointment is that the State has not done more to improve the school's facilities or extend the program beyond 8th grade.

Posted: June 11, 2011

I truly love this school! Fight for the best teacher in your grade, and you will see your student(s) excel! We have a K5 and 1st grader here, I can only hope that they extend the program to 12th grade, because it is one the best kept Lottery secrets in Prince Georges County! Great job RGFI. Were proud to be here!