Birchwood Abc Elementary School

17010 Birchtree St

School District

Anchorage
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

School Map for Anchorage School District

GreatSchools Rating

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 27, 2013

Birchwood ABC is hands down one of the best schools that my children have attended! We are very sad to have to leave, but I am for certain that my children will excel at any other school in the US thanks to the excellent instruction from the teachers at Birchwood ABC! We wish we could take the school with us to the Lower 48! Every school should strive to be just like Birchwood ABC! Thank you for a wonderful 3 years!
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2012

I can not say enough about Birchwood ABC. My son has been there from first grade through fifth, and my daughter from kindergarten through third. This school teaches children how to be good citizens, emphasizing manners, character, citizenship, and patriotism. They demand high academic performance from the children and they rise to the challenge. There is an advisory committee made up of parent volunteers to steer the curriculum. Both of my children have special needs and the entire staff, from principal Mr. Tim Godfrey through to the noon-duty workers, goes out of their way to accomodate and support my children. This school cares about children and families! I recommend this school to everyone!
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2012

On the Overview of this school, it states Birchwood excels in academic contests, badminton and band...I disagree these are the highlights of Birchwood. The staff at Birchwood take my children's education seriously. They use multiple different ways to recognize academic achievements, whether publically through parent-attended assemblies or through bulletin boards. The PTO enhances the kids experience by offering Family Fun Nights, Trunk or Treat fundraisers, running club at recess. However most of the school's focus is on the basics: reading, writing, arithmatic. The local military community is engaged and recognized through the school's emphasis on patriotism. Lots of military families attend this school and the teachers recognize the affect deployments have on the children. Parents are expected to work with their children through homework, reading log, teaching your kids the phonograms, etc. We've had a very positive experience so far and look forward to more years ahead at this wonderful elementary school. Mr. Armstrong is an amazing PE teacher. My son's kindergarten teacher, Ms Banner, is amazing too. She understands the kindergartener's sense of humor.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2010

This school has a strong curriculum and a safe environment. They provide a collaborative learning environment as well, which we have appreciated. The PTO is clique-ish and those parents who are able to participate frequently pick the teachers they want for their kids. Those parents who do work may not have that option. There are some teachers who expect elementary age children to behave like adults and seem to have lost the joy that young children bring.