Washington Heights El School

I have to share my experience because I took my children out of STS due to the previous principal. We tried public school, it was terrible. We are now back with the new principal, and it is SOOO much better! The education even when you don't have an experienced teacher is still better than what is being taught in public schools. My specific experience was with Mechanicsburg Area School District. The curriculum at STS is rigorous and demanding of the kids. It teaches them hard work, time management, and discipline. The community at the school is also amazing. Being able to connect with other families and having that relationship year after year really builds a comfort of knowing your kids are in a great place. The administration right now is also doing a great job. It is sad that one bad principal ruined things and a lot of good teachers and students left the community, but it has turned a corner for the good and I hope it keeps going!!! One thing to note, unfortunately they are not a great place for kids with special needs or learning disabilities. They are better served through CAIU, which only visits the school once a week or so.

I love this school, the lunches are amazing, the teachers there are soooo nice. I go home telling my parents about good it is every day.

Poor. In the process of trying to work through some issues with our child we were told our child could not come back. Mind you it was here that our child was choked out by another student. If your child is perfect and presents no issues this school will be fine. If your child presents any struggles you will be told the public school would be a better place and they are not equipped to help. I simply do not recommend this school.

This school’s communication with parents is awful. Buses are always late and they don’t tell you until after they’re 10-20 minutes late. They are very disorganized and there is a lack of transparency, parents are not welcome into the school. The special needs classrooms are anything but special. The kids seemed to just be lumped together without any consideration for skill, cognitive or sensory need. They also seem to be short on staff. I am very disappointed.

As a parent, I personally would not recommend this school. My child did not have a positive experience here, and I felt like communication and support could have been much better. Some staff members were kind, but overall the environment was not the right fit for our family. I would encourage other parents to look into all options before deciding.