Hear from our Community

Our experience with Elm Community Charter School has been wonderful. Now in our second year, we continue to appreciate the small class sizes, catered lunch, and rotating electives. The sense of community is genuine—the faculty truly make an effort to know every child by name.

We chose this school because of its emphasis on children being learners, not just students, and on giving them ownership of how they demonstrate their understanding. Four times a year, students lead conferences where they share their projects and growth with parents and teachers, which has been incredibly meaningful to witness.

The school’s strong focus on social-emotional development and exploring topics through multiple perspectives has supported both academic and personal growth. Perhaps most remarkable has been our child’s transformation from an emerging reader to an avid reader within just a few months of starting in his first year. We are grateful for the supportive, thoughtful environment Elm provides.

我们在 Elm Community Charter School 的经历非常好。现在已经是第二年了，我们依然很喜欢这里的小班教学、学校提供的午餐，还有不同轮换的选修课。学校的社区氛围真的很温暖，老师们会很用心地记住每一个孩子的名字，真正地去了解他们。

我们选择这所学校，是因为学校很重视孩子作为“学习者”的身份，而不只是把他们当成“学生”。学校鼓励孩子用自己的方式来展示他们学到了什么。每年有四次由孩子主导的家长会，孩子会亲自向家长和老师介绍自己的学习和成长过程，看到这些真的让人很感动、很有意义。

学校也非常重视孩子的情绪和社交能力发展，并鼓励他们从不同的角度去看问题。这不仅帮助了孩子的学习，也帮助了他们在性格和情感上的成长。最让我们惊喜的是，孩子在入学后的几个月里，就从刚开始学阅读，变成了一个非常爱读书的孩子。我们真的很感激 Elm 提供这样一个支持、有爱、又用心的学习环境。

Our family chose the school after receiving a flyer in the mail, and we were immediately impressed. Overall, our experience has always been very positive, especially regarding our children’s education and the communication with teachers and staff. Since joining the school, our children have learned to express themselves better, and we’ve noticed a clear improvement in their vocabulary. They especially enjoy the exhibitions, spending time with their friends, and participating in school events. One of our favorite memories was seeing our daughter dance during the Black History Month celebration. Working with the teachers and staff has been a very positive experience, with no complaints at all. The school has consistently supported our family by keeping us informed about our children’s progress. What makes the school feel truly special is the consistent communication, the events, and the kindness shown to both students and parents. We would highly recommend Elm to any family considering joining the community, as we are very pleased with the support, care, and sense of belonging our children have received.

Al tomar la decisión de registrar a nuestro hijo en esta escuela, primero investigamos. Elm se encuentra entre las mejores escuelas en matemáticas y lectura, y realmente somos testigos de ello: nuestro hijo ha crecido enormemente en el área académica. Además, Elm no solo es excelente en la enseñanza; cuando los estudiantes enfrentan algún problema, las maestras siempre están ahí para ayudarles a resolverlo y guiarlos.
También nos apoyan a nosotros como padres, ayudándonos a entender cómo podemos apoyar mejor a nuestros hijos. El resto del equipo de la escuela también es muy servicial; siempre nos ayudan y nos escuchan cada vez que tenemos una inquietud. Están siempre atentos cuando llamamos o visitamos la escuela. Estamos muy contentos de ser parte de la familia Elm.

When we made the decision to enroll our child in this school, we first did our research. Elm is among the top schools in math and reading, and we have truly witnessed that—our child has grown tremendously academically. In addition, Elm is not only excellent in instruction, but when students face challenges, teachers are always there to support, guide, and help them resolve issues. They also support us as parents by helping us understand how to better support our children at home. The rest of the school staff is also very helpful, always listening and assisting whenever we have a concern. They are attentive every time we call or visit the school. We are very happy to be part of the Elm family.

For three years, our children have had the opportunity to study at Elm, and these years have been very rewarding. The teachers are excellent, always ready to provide the necessary support when the children need it. Both the teachers and the support staff are incredible. I want to emphasize the academic progress, which is truly remarkable. Also, we are very happy that the school is growing and that we will be able to continue their studies at Elm Community Charter. For my children, going to school every morning is a day of great joy.

Durante tres años hemos tenido la oportunidad de que nuestros hijos estudien en Elm y estos años han sido muy satisfactorios, los maestros son excelentes con sus enseñanzas, siempre abiertos a dar el soporte necesario cuando los niños lo han requerido, tanto como los docentes como su personal operativo es increíble. Me gusta enfatizar el avance académico que es realmente visible, ahora estamos muy felices que la escuela está creciendo y podremos continuar sus estudios en Elm Community Charter. Para mis hijos ir a la escuela cada mañana es un día de mucha alegría

My story with Elm has a slightly different beginning. I entrusted Elm before it was a fully developed organization. At the time, my daughter was barely reading on grade level while attending public school, and Queens had limited charter school options. Within just a couple of months of enrolling at Elm, her reading level increased so dramatically that I could hardly believe it. From that moment on, I knew without a doubt that her little brother, Noah, deserved that same opportunity.

My overall experience with Elm goes beyond numbers and beyond words — it’s more of a feeling, a burst of joy and happiness. I have seen such positive changes in my children, especially their eagerness to help others, their love of learning, and particularly their love of reading. They are genuinely excited to go to school each day, excited to see their friends and chat with their teachers.

One of my favorite memories was the year both of my children graduated — one from 5th grade and the other from Kindergarten. One was named Valedictorian and the other Salutatorian. Seeing all the hard work that was poured into them was incredibly emotional. That moment became a core memory for our family.

Over the past eight years, I have built lifelong relationships within the Elm Community. The staff is always warm and welcoming, and Elm has supported me through life-altering events — emotionally and mentally — even when they may not have realized it. Elm is truly different. From the fun, cool handshakes with scholars to celebrating diverse ethnic backgrounds through school performances and schoolwide family potlucks, there is a strong sense of belonging and community.

I always tell families: Do you want a quality education for your child? Do you want your child to be seen as an individual and not just another number? Do you want a supportive and positive environment? Then send your child to Elm. You will not regret it.