Research Harriet Tubman Charter School charter Schools in Manhattan, New York

“I'm a single mom with a son and a daughter who graduated last year. I had high hopes for this place but have been let down many times. Why can't they keep a good teacher? My son last year had a great class and teacher. He wasn't perfect but he wanted to do good for me & his teacher. I never saw my kid so excited about school until then. His test scores rose over the last 2 years and now, all of the sudden, I fear he is falling behind.I can't afford tutors nor can I let him fail. His teacher this year just isn't getting it done. Except in ELA, that is the only class he seems to be motivated about.Where is the energy in the school? Using other schools ideas & models doesn't make the school better.Its the teachers that make it better. And I don't see it.”

“I have a child in 3rd grade and I m am beyond nervous. There has been turn over already and neither of his teachers have very much experience. This seems to be echoed through out the school. There is finally a new Principal who seems to have a good plan but he doesn't have the support. How can this continue to happen?Some new paint and some banners don't change the issues. We need some experience in the school. We want leaders in the school who know what s going on and not making an assumption. Finally we want teachers who can control the students.My sons teacher yells at him so much he's scared to go. He's only 8 and its not fair to us as parents, what can we say?Where can we send him?”

“I m a parent and an educator my self. At 1st, HTCS was a great place for us. His teacher was an exciting and energetic guy that kept us connected.My son enjoyed going to school & became a better student so we insisted our 4th grader be in his class also. Unfortunately, the teacher is no longer there & that was never communicated. I'm scared for this school and my kids. There seems to be no control or discipline. Last yr, my son came home and pulled out the chair for my wife & said, his teacher told him to be a gentleman. This year he's coming home with easy work & a lack of ambition. Whats sad is there is no tutoring service; no effective after school service for our kids. we thought we were in a great place with HTCS. We aren't!”

“My son and nephew have attended harriet tubman for 3 years. During this time my wife and i saw a revolving door of teachers frustrated with leadership. The administration is hostile and out of touch with education. It feels like our kids are part of an odd experiment. At the end of the last school year, we requested certain 3rd and 5th grade teachers because of the success we saw in there class rooms. We were not told until the first day both teacher were gone. Why? Now we're stuck paying $230 per month for tutoring because he's coming home with work from last year and not learning. This school needs some one to step in a take control before we loose another school for our children. Our kids deserve to have seasoned teachers who can control the class and allow effective teaching in the classroom.”

“My child school is a wonderful school.the teachers in the school loves the student.”

“Harriet Tubman Charter School is as bad as the worst public school. My daughter attended HTCS for 6 year and the atmosphere has become absolutely chaotic. The teaching staff changes yearly for varying reasons. This year families transfered to escape the nepotism, favoritism and hostility of the administration, atmosphere and poor quality of education. The school offered no functioning lunch room, no playground, no gymnasium and no language other than those with an IEP, no impartial extracurricular activities and no consistent after school programs throughout the school year. The curriculum lacked stimulus and motivation and the school lacked the proper guidance, direction and supervision from the Board of 'Trustees' who were ill managed on down so that the school's charter was at risk on multiple occasions over the last the years. Safety, ethics, morality, decency, human kindness... huge factors that need to be consistently addressed from September to June!”

“The school lacks security on the playground. There has been multiple incidents with regards to the well being of the students while in the care of HTC during school hours. Inaddtion, there is a concern not only with safety and discipline but with the lack there of a more challenging academic curriculum.”

“I loved HTCS when I first took my child there. Unfortunately a lot has changed in two years with staffing and I don't feel the way I once did about the school. I hope the new school year will come with better teachers(like the ones we use to have there).”

“This is my daughter's 2nd year at harriet tubman and i have been nothing but satisfied.The comfort level of this school is phenominal!htcs,keep up the great work!!!!”

“The premise that the school was set up by Judge McGhee was excellent. I see that the school unfortunately has strayed away from it. I have had two children in the school and have had to transfer both. One becasue a child was allowed to bully my son daily and the school staff was not equipped to deal with it. My child is also advanced the school was unable to meet his needs. My second child becasue of the lack of advanced subject material as well. There are not extracurriculum activities for the children. Children's accomplishments are not acknowledged, there are no school performances or plays for parents to support. The parent association is poorly managed and becomes a griping session. What is most troubling is that children are not given books. The report card is actually a learning contract and is not easily understood. Thank you for reading my feedback.”

“My son is currently in the 2nd grade and I feel the school has depleted in value. His teachers is excellent but I believe the school has taken on more than it can handle. The population went from roughly 180 to 400 - almost triple and the quality is no longer there. I applaud the school for taking on the poorest neighborhood in the Bronx.”

“Harriet Tubman is a school that provides family and students with a family oriented stmosphere. The staff and faculty has each student interest at heart and are totally dedicated to each child. This is my son's 4th year there and I couldn't ask for a better place for my child to learn. The staff offers much love in this nurturing environment.”