Key School is a phenomenal school for children in the pre-k to 5th grade age. The school nurtures love of learning. The friendships and parent's involvement are one of the strongest I have seen. Their before/after school foreign language program is great. Key school was designated a Blue Ribbon School
... Read more in 2008 - and is by far one of the top private/public schools in DC. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/16/09
Key School is an outstanding Blue Ribbon school with high-quality teachers, good student-teacher ratio (20-1), impeccable facilities, and a positive and enriching learning environment. Sometimes characterized as overambitious (partnership with overseas schools, etc...) but also the reason why it is the
... Read more best DC Public School and private or public school in the area. It was the only school in the Metropolitan Area (public or private) to receive the U.S. Education Departments Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in 2008, which is a testament to its dedication to teaching and learning. Read less
Posted by a parent on 09/15/09
The classes are large and the teachers seem overworked. Very slow paced for the kids.
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Posted by a parent on 03/30/09
Overall, we have really enjoyed Key. The quality of the teachers is relatively high, but varies from average and overly wedded to the curriculum to incredibly creative, enthusiastic and very experienced in challenging a broad range of kids. PTA and Parent commitment is top-notch. The school needs a
... Read more gifted program and more access to team sports as PE does not include team sports. The kids get art, music and drama through Fillmore and teachers tend to be very dedicated. Because the Fillmore building is being renovated, the teachers come to Key which means less access to necessary resources (e.g., computers for digital arts class). Key classes tend to have 24 or more students in older grades with only one teacher. Good diversity of student body. Excellent science teacher, but she is leaving. Principal has can-do in spirit, but sometime says yes when he shouldn't as he can't follow through as needed. Read less
Posted by a parent on 10/29/06
Key is a great school if you put it in the context of DC schools. It is one of the top 2 public schools and it is comparable to DC best private schools. It has the best facility in DC. However, the teachers could be more challenging and more demanding if Key wants to find itself among the best schools
... Read more in the country. Some teachers are very solid and very good, but some are average. Too much attrition among teachers recently. More attention should be paid to solid fundamentals in kids education and there should be more extra-curricular activities. But all in all, I think Key is your best choice among DC public schools and one of the best overall in DC. Read less
Posted by a parent on 10/17/06
I am a parent to a current Key student and I feel that Key is without a doubt one of the top 3 best public schools in DC. Their facility, staff, administration, and academic rigor is comparable to any private school with a lot less of the pomp and circumstance. I would rather have my tax dollars put
... Read more to good use helping lead the trail for all DC schools to come to Key's standards and save my $25k a year for college. It is worth getting a house (albeit expensive) in this area because if you put your kid in from prek to 5th you will save $175,000 in private school tuition. The staff care and know your kids name and the academics are above the standards. The PTA suppliments the budget with teachers aids and before and after care. It is a great place you want your kids to. Read less
Posted by a parent on 05/31/06
Key is now over crowded especially the kindergartens. each have 27 kids to one teacher and one aid.
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Posted by a parent on 01/14/06
I attended Key school from pre-k to fifth grade. It was the best school and both of my younger brothers attended as well. One just graduated, the other is in the first grade. Key school is probably the best public school there is. The environment is caring and the whole school family is closly knit even
... Read more though it has grown considerably because of the new building. Yes, NEW. Key school has brand new facilities and a whole new building. The old building still exists as well but has been completely redone. The teachers are wonderful, i still go back and visit them more than once a week, and the friendships i made their i will hold dear forever. Parent envolvment is the highest i have ever seen. Noone should think twice about sending there child here. The answer is a definite YES! Read less
Posted by a former student on 03/02/05
I am a former student of Key. It is a really great school and all the teachers and staff are very friendly and concerned about their students grades and academics. I gave Key 5 stars for everything except for extracurricular activities. This probably could improve since they don't have as many activities
... Read more as they possibly could. (Peer mediation is one of the good ones)But besides that it has a lot of important activities, such as PE and science twice a week. Also there is computer lab and library too. This school has some of the STRONGEST parent envolvement I have ever seen in a school. Also the facilities are very nice. There are two wings, one of them renovated about three years ago and the other one built brand new also about three years ago. Please send your kid(s) to this school and you won't regret it! Read less
Posted by a former student on 03/01/05
Key school is a wonderful enviornment for children. Enthusiastic, caring teachers that nuture and motivate children to be well rounded students. The family community at Key school is very involved and supportive of the school's objectives and helps to ensure a consistant standard of excellence.
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* In 2007-2008 Washington, D.C. used the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC-CAS) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10. The Elementary School results displayed on GreatSchools profiles are for grades 3 through 5 combined for each subject. Secondary School results are for grades 6 though 8 and 10 combined. The DC-CAS is a standards-based testing program, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the District of Columbia. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.
Student enrollment:
249
Students per teacher:
21
Full-time teachers:
12
Number of classrooms:
12
Special Education
Hearing Specialists
*The resources listed are programs that the institution is staffed to support. Staffing for a program does not guarantee that it will be offered. This content is provided by the institution and may be incomplete. The institution may offer programs not listed here. Please contact the school directly for additional details.
Advanced Placement
AP classes are college-level classes offered at the high school level. Once a student completes an AP class and passes a final comprehensive examination conducted by the College Board, the student earns college credit for the course. AP classes are specific and not to be confused with other higher-level classes such as honors classes.
Before/After School
"Extended day" programs where the school day is extended before and after school to accommodate working parents. These programs should not be confused with common after school clubs or athletic activities.
Gifted and Talented
A school system may identify 10% to 15% or more of its student population as gifted and talented. A brief description of each area of giftedness or talent as defined by the Office of Gifted and Talented:
general intellectual ability or talent - high intelligence test score (usually two standard deviations above the mean), and high levels of vocabulary, memory, abstract work knowledge and abstract reasoning;
specific academic aptitude or talent in one area such as mathematics or language arts;
creative and productive thinking, the ability to produce new ideas;
leadership ability, the ability to direct individuals or groups to a common decision or action;
visual and performing arts, special talents in visual art, music, dance, drama, or other related studies;
psychomotor ability, such as practical, spatial, mechanical, and physical skills.
Vocation/Technical Curriculum
Vocational and/or technical courses offered within a comprehensive school, usually a senior high school.
Special Education Classes
A school or program within a school that provides services and training to students with moderate to severe mental and/or physical disabilities.
Adult Education Classes
Programs offering GED or equivalent courses for adults within regular schools, whether classes are held during evening or daytime schedules.
English as Second Language
English language classes for students whose first language is not English.
Washington schools — Key Elementary School is located at 5001 Dana Pl Nw, Washington DC 20016. 5001 Dana Pl Nw is in the Palisades neighborhood and 20016 ZIP code in Washington, DC The school district for Key Elementary School is the Dc Public Schools. Key Elementary School is a Public school that serves grade levels PK - 5.
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Test Score Ratings
Test score ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results reported by this state. These ratings may help
you compare similar schools in this district or area. For example, a rating of 8 indicates that, on average, students in
this school scored better than 70% of the students in the state on the same tests. We have indicated below which tests
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experience, academic programs, extracurricular activities, resources for special needs students, etc. These ratings are
not provided by the state Department of Education, which may have their own rating systems.
