Hearst Elementary School

I recommend Hearst however, there is blatant grade manipulation and teaching to the test. They may as well just call it "Kaplan" Elementary as there is so much emphasis on preparing for tests.A much insidious issue is the school is now issuing fake, absurdly low grades at the beginning of the year to be able to show improvement by the end of the school year. My son is in STEM and his first math grade was really low - it was insane and no connection to reality. His other grades were also artificially, and dramatically, much lower than reality.He was upset and how does a parent even begin to explain to a child the reason for this approach? Our older son (at Deal) also was at Hearst, and he didn't experience the fake initial report card. I don't understand how DCPS can allow this dishonest approach.

The administration needs to improve on their communication with families. The children are not respected.

This is second year that my child has been at Hearst. Many people, parents and teachers have described our entry time as one of the best as so many new and positive things are happening on campus. The obvious item is the brand new addition that includes new class rooms, a new library, new gym, new music room, new cafeteria, and more. Besides the new physical environment I've found the principal and the teachers of my child to be welcoming to my engagement in my child's scholastic life. On another front, the parent community at Hearst are involved in making positive things happen. From after-school programs, to the PTA, to basketball games, and choral events, our family has participated in many Hearst events. We look forward to having our child continue her education at Hearst for many years and to our being more involved with the parent activities. Yes, I do recommend Hearst.

I have been told by my daughter that during lunch the kids are not allowed to talk - they call it "the silence punishment" - to what kind of civilized society Hearts is preparing our kids - where having a conversation during lunch time is not permitted ?Our two dogs do not converse during their lunch - our kids however - should congregate around their meal and share their thoughts and their laughs. This is a basic human value that we can just assume we do not share with the principal of the school.