Explorer Community School

TLDR: This is a GREAT school, for non-dual working parents. Kids needing extra social or behavioral support will benefit from the caring and positive environment of this school. The amount of volunteering needed at this school is INSANE! Plan to be spend at least ~1 hour a week ( in person or otherwise) if you’re assigned to committee work.

Experiential learning is the biggest positive for this school. You get as much as you give back, by means of volunteering. If you can rally behind the teachers with weekly clerical work, at home math corrections , safe departure evening support, Friday choices activity leading, and chaperoning field trips at least 2 times a year ( whole day commitment) this is a wonderful environment.

The positives with the school: If your child needs extra social- emotional support and you do not mind being a teacher’s aide- this is a great environment. Teachers love having the added parent support for their in class teaching, corrections. Many opportunities for dedicated parents to support with curriculum enhancements such as Friday Choice, Field Trips. The Passport club syllabus was great, but over the years, very watered down, and not really teaching much to the kids ( much of this is thanks for covid). Parents, Prepare to spend time with slide and material research and PPT decks that would be taught by the teachers.

Art Smart is wonderfully run program, with many dedicated parents going over and beyond sharing their knowledge and time. The core infrastructure of Explorer community piggy backs off of Emily Dickinson school, which has been fabulous.

The biggest value add of ECS is the experiential learning via Field Trips and social events/ bonding outside school with events and meetups the social committee helps put-together. Also if you’re unable to committ or attend these meetups due to professional or personal reasons, there is a slight outcast type feeling given how close knit the school is. The higher grade 4/5 room is great with the Teacher providing additional support for 4/5 kids that may be advanced for their level. Earlier grades though follow mixed grades classrooms, do not encourage above grade level work. This can be a disadvantage to a third or second grader that might be spending more time with socially, academically or emotionally less mature younger kids.

Negatives: In-class volunteering is mandatory, and they typically happens at very inconvenient hours( for working parents), between 10 AM- 2 PM . Volunteering in class is not clustered around pick up OR drop offs, but dictated by teachers when they need added support in classroom. The teachers lay a lot of expectations on some parents that have the time/ effort, to go over and beyond, and there have also been prejudices against some parents that are unable to go volunteer in class. The equity around volunteering is poorly managed by the school staff, admins & teachers, and onus of this falls on parents to “figure out”

The bathroom’s and common area infrastructure is subpar, pathway to using the restroom is open to weather elements & unsupervised.

Summary: Join if you want a close knit community environment, with some
Parents taking the lead on the education decision. Kids that need extra emotional support stand to gain sign up if you can volunteer during your workday. So, join this school, keeping your eyes and ears open with the expectations.