3301 Chestnut St NW
Washington, DC 20015

While a few teachers and certainly the families at Lafayette are dedicated to a positive learning experience, the administration, starting with the activist principal is unfortunately sub-par at best. The principal rules with a top-down approach and often disregards parents' concerns, waving off the "policy-educated" parents in DC. This method ensures there is limited criticism or interference of the many nonsensical approaches to handling any kind of bump at this school from bullying to other behavioral issues. This school is equipped to handle children with clear developmental delays, requiring an aide, or kids who are within the "norm". For kids, especially rowdier boys with any kind of neurodivergent temperaments such as ADHD (which many kids now are diagnosed with!), this school is not for you. They can not adequately manage boys with ADHD or higher energy kids - simply cannot - no matter what they promise. They are very worried about possible outbursts and/or disruption in the classroom in case a DCPS official walks by. It's a "not on my watch" , old-school approach. Rowdier boys are called out as trouble-makers, impacting their self-esteem, made to sit solo or supervised by the principal, and, at worst, placed on a safety plan (which is usually reserved for older kids). The teachers are fearful of making mistakes and the counselors are left overwhelmed and undermined by the principal. While the neighborhood and community are stellar, this school for kids with stronger temperaments and higher energy will be very challenging - the admins are not open, welcoming, or flexible enough for those families. There are plenty of other great elementary schools in NW DC with a different, more humane, and child-centered philosophy including Murch and Mann, even if they aren't perfect. Know your kiddo and try to adjust to the best learning environment for them.

I was impressed the way the teach are there time.good job

Very bad in every way lots of bullying teachers biased unclean teachers yell at you for every little thing like throwing trash away no fun things to do here