Alcott Elementary School

We were recommended to Bedford because my son has an IEP since pre-K and we are so happy that we made it here - So many supportive teachers and programs! The engagement with parents are pretty good too. My son absolutely loves this school and he thrives here especially his social skills.

I've had 3 out of 4 kids attend this school. 2 of the 3 received IEPs that they likely would not have received at other schools. As a result, all my kids have flourished at Thoreau. The teachers, assistants, staff, and administration are all wonderful and truly care about your kids. Test scores are secondary, even though they are quite good as well. Teachers and staff want what is best for your kids and are willing to help your kids get to the next level. We have loved every teacher we've had so far and hope that continues. We've had experiences at other elementary schools that have not been nearly as positive so Thoreau is a pleasant change for us.

My two daughters have thrived at Lincoln Public Schools. The teachers are extremely caring and supportive, and the schools have done a lot of work to allow parents more opportunities for engagement both during and after school hours post-covid. The schools have recently been renovated and combine PreK-8th grade in one long L-shape, which allows for lots of co-mingling among grades and supports a truly caring environment among students with the older grades often mentoring and looking out for the younger ones. When one of my daughters was falling slightly behind in a subject, the teacher reached out and put a plan in place with the specialist, and now she is on pace if not ahead of her grade level. There are many options for sports, music, theater, and art, and the smaller class sizes allow for greater participation and oversight. Another perk in Lincoln is that the school is walkable to the public library, and there are many after-school options. The more formal after-school extended day program (LEAP) is also highly regarded and students often beg their parents to let them attend! The school is also incredibly diverse with a METCO program, although I wish there were more opportunities for Lincoln students to attend Boston (but usually one Boston gathering is organized each year for families). The school is a wonderful place for students to thrive - and I feel lucky for the chance to experience it.

Our experience with NBS began coming out of COVID. Our then-5th grader had taken a hard hit in confidence and had newly diagnosed ADHD and existing high anxiety. We were hopeful that by moving her to a small private school, she'd have an easier time getting the attention she needed. However, despite countless meetings with administration and teachers (initiated by us), all we got were empty promises and platitudes. There seemed to be a school policy not to communicate with parents. Despite begging for information on how she was doing socially and academically, we got next to nothing. It became obvious that her teachers did not take her learning profile seriously, and in one instance, actively rejected it. Despite the tiny class sizes, our daughter's needs were ignored, and it fell to us to find external resources to keep her afloat. In our experience, Nashoba staff are great at making big promises, asking for money, and not much else. We wish we had stayed with public.

Our first-grader is in his second year at Birches, and he loves going to school each day. We love knowing that he is getting to experience childhood to its fullest -- scrambling up rocks, peering at salamanders, making forts with friends-- and is getting such a strong academic foundation at the same time. We feel we are giving our son a tremendous gift by giving him this immersion in the outdoors and in such a thoughtful community. The teachers are so easy to talk to -- they see the children for who they are, are curious about them, and eager to help them grow into the best version of themselves. Our son loves the deep dives into areas of content knowledge -- poetry, pollinators. It is a commute for our family and many others, and I understand why families come from all over Greater Boston and beyond to Birches.