Concord Children's Center #2

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.

Do yourself a favor and try to avoid this school at all costs. The Air Force needs to revaluate how they determine which towns will staff/support the elementary/middle school on Hanscom. Currently, k-8 falls under Lincoln School District. The current contract would be better negotiated with a town like Bedford who can adequately support the diverse needs of this unique population of students. Expect your child to not only be bullied by other children, but by the staff as well. While the building is nice, the school needs a major staff overhaul.

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.

My daughter started at Nashoba Brooks School in 5th grade, and is currently an 8th grader. Nashoba Brooks has been a wonderful experience for her and for our family. The teachers and staff at Nashoba Brooks very quickly saw our daughter and sought to nurture her unique talents and interests, and to bring out the best in her in a thoughtful and gentle way. When there were some behavioral challenges within her class in 5th and 6th grades, the school doubled down on the social emotional curriculum and helped to foster a spirit of collaboration and kindness that has been a blessing for her and her classmates in what are usually more turbulent middle school years. In her time at Nashoba Brooks, my daughter leveled up her leadership skills in so many ways, tried many new athletic and extracurricular activities, and thrived academically. It's been a joy to see her and her classmates blossom, and we could not be more grateful to the dedicated teachers and staff at Nashoba Brooks.

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.