Walden Street 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.

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.