Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program

We absolutely love Hyde-Addison Elementary! The school has such a welcoming and joyful culture — it truly feels like a community. The diversity of the student body is one of its greatest strengths, and the environment is inclusive and supportive for every child.The facilities are bright, clean, and thoughtfully maintained, creating a space where students feel proud to learn. There are so many opportunities for students to get involved — from enrichment activities to creative projects — and the staff goes above and beyond to make learning engaging and fun.Hyde-Addison’s approach to supporting students is phenomenal. The teachers and intervention team are dedicated and responsive, ensuring that every child gets what they need to thrive. Teacher and staff retention is strong, which speaks volumes about the leadership and school culture.The PTA is incredibly active and does so much to bring families together and enhance school life. The parent community is warm, collaborative, and genuinely invested in the school’s success.We feel so fortunate to be part of Hyde-Addison — it’s a gem in the heart of D.C.!

My child started first grade here this year. We did kindergarten elsewhere after moving into the area. As a parent I have not felt welcome and my child has struggled to make friends. His teacher seems overworked with a disproportionate focus on test scores and “achievement”. Homework is constantly pushed on us which, although I understand it comes from a place of concern, has been very stressful. And the moment our child met “the metric” he was dropped from being helped. Also the principle is only selectively friendly. I haven’t figured that out yet. But I don’t seem to be on the “list”The best part of the school is the before/after care program which is done in house. There the teachers are warm, friendly and welcoming. They really create a positive and inclusive experience. And it shows: this is the part of the day our child is most excited about. Thanks to those workers!

A specific community is given excessive attention here! not everyone is welcomed open heartedly.

My experience as a parent at this school exposed serious issues in how parents are treated.The approach from leadership was unnecessarily adversarial, with communication that was abrupt, dismissive, and at times openly undermining.I also experienced what I believe to be racism and discrimination. The tone, treatment, and lack of respect I encountered were not consistent with fair or equitable engagement, and this cannot be ignored.The principal’s handling of the situation was unprofessional, and the regional head’s involvement was patronizing and dismissive.This is not a school I would trust to treat all parents fairly or with respect.

OLV is a wonderful school and community. We could not be happier as parents and our children are happy and thriving. The small class sizes allow for individualized support. Additionally, the small class sizes allow for the classes to really function as a unit; we see our children interacting with ALL students which really creates a family like enviornment. OLV is a diverse school and while it is Catholic based, it is welcoming to all faiths. My children are not Catholic and we have never felt that this mattered.OLV has a very strong academic program and students are successful. The teachers and principal really make an effort to get to know each individual child. In middle school, the students are really guided into high school and very well prepared for their high school years.OLV really prides itself on encouraging its students to be their best possible selves and being kind and caring members of society. High standards are set, both academically and socially. Within the academic day, students are expected to respect each other and the school. I find OLV students to be very nice to one another and you'll often see younger students interacting with older students and vice versa- it really is just a sweet community of learners and educators working together.Upon selecting OLV my two concerns were only one class per grade and lack of a playground; both of these concerns quickly turned into assets. By having one class per grade, the children really get to know everyone and learn to work together as a whole; this transitions easily into each grade, allowing teachers to focus on more learning and less behavior management. It is common to attend birthday parties with the entire class and/or see children engaging with large groups (versus small clicks). While OLV might lack a traditional playground, recess is structured so that students can participate in organized activities that rotate throughout the year. This "guided" recess time, albeit self selected, IMO allows for students to interact with other students where they might not in a more traditional playground setting. My kids came from a school with a lovely playground and since attending OLV they have not once complained!OLV truly is a special place in every way.