Pros/cons of Brent vs Maury?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A challenge at Brent is so many families start peeling off that the kid your child becomes friends with may not be there for 4th (and repeat for 5th).

It happens at Maury as well - but not to the same extent.

Data does not support this claim. Both had 11 move to BASIS.

Can you share the data source that supports this? Mostly curious to see the trends in 5th and 6th grader movements from Maury. As a mom to an ECE kid I am trying to wrap my mind around what ppl do beyond elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A challenge at Brent is so many families start peeling off that the kid your child becomes friends with may not be there for 4th (and repeat for 5th).

It happens at Maury as well - but not to the same extent.

Data does not support this claim. Both had 11 move to BASIS.

Can you share the data source that supports this? Mostly curious to see the trends in 5th and 6th grader movements from Maury. As a mom to an ECE kid I am trying to wrap my mind around what ppl do beyond elementary.

https://dme.dc.gov/page/download-data

It requires some logic and noodling to put it together. For instance, there are 24 kids at Tyler who are IB for Brent. One assumes those kids are in PS3 and PK4 and didn't start at Brent and leave in upper ES. There are 11 kids at SWS who are IB for Maury. One assumes those kids didn't depart Maury for SWS in upper grades. BASIS is easier since the only overlapping year is 5th so we know with certainty that the kids moved there in 5th.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies.

As mentioned we are aware of the middle school concerns but for now are renting. Based on my job, it's unclear whether we'll be in DC for more than 2-3 years. Those 2-3 years when our kid is in elementary thus overlap perfectly. We're aware that if we stay it will probably involve lottery and/or moving and/or private school for middle and beyond. But for now, when we don't even know what the long-term will bring, we would rather live in a neighborhood we love that is closer to downtown (also considering some other neighborhoods but the Hill is a top choice based on ability to get a rowhouse rather than an apartment, plus CHAW for my kid). It seems like an area where many people have found great and lasting community and we hope to do the same.

So that said we're open to the different elementary schools in the area and just looking to find the best fit. Appreciate all of those who are sharing their experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the replies.

As mentioned we are aware of the middle school concerns but for now are renting. Based on my job, it's unclear whether we'll be in DC for more than 2-3 years. Those 2-3 years when our kid is in elementary thus overlap perfectly. We're aware that if we stay it will probably involve lottery and/or moving and/or private school for middle and beyond. But for now, when we don't even know what the long-term will bring, we would rather live in a neighborhood we love that is closer to downtown (also considering some other neighborhoods but the Hill is a top choice based on ability to get a rowhouse rather than an apartment, plus CHAW for my kid). It seems like an area where many people have found great and lasting community and we hope to do the same.

So that said we're open to the different elementary schools in the area and just looking to find the best fit. Appreciate all of those who are sharing their experiences.

you’ll regret this if you end up staying through MS. I’d rent some place zoned for Deal or Hardy, or in Bethesda. Especially because your family seems to be transient, you should be making choices that maximize possible continuity. The only thing Maury/Brent have to offer that might tip the balance is greater rental housing stock for SFH compared to NW/Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the replies.

As mentioned we are aware of the middle school concerns but for now are renting. Based on my job, it's unclear whether we'll be in DC for more than 2-3 years. Those 2-3 years when our kid is in elementary thus overlap perfectly. We're aware that if we stay it will probably involve lottery and/or moving and/or private school for middle and beyond. But for now, when we don't even know what the long-term will bring, we would rather live in a neighborhood we love that is closer to downtown (also considering some other neighborhoods but the Hill is a top choice based on ability to get a rowhouse rather than an apartment, plus CHAW for my kid). It seems like an area where many people have found great and lasting community and we hope to do the same.

So that said we're open to the different elementary schools in the area and just looking to find the best fit. Appreciate all of those who are sharing their experiences.

you’ll regret this if you end up staying through MS. I’d rent some place zoned for Deal or Hardy, or in Bethesda. Especially because your family seems to be transient, you should be making choices that maximize possible continuity. The only thing Maury/Brent have to offer that might tip the balance is greater rental housing stock for SFH compared to NW/Bethesda.

(Also CHAW is not some special place you won’t find elsewhere. NW/Bethesda generally have easier access to extracurriculars and camps of all types.

[Anonymous]

I would pick Maury because of the new building, versus potentially dealing with a temporary location while Brent is being renovated.

I'm not that clear on the culture differences at both schools. I have this sense that Maury has more old-school teachers.

I know that post-COVID Brent aftercare has been meh, to say the least, not sure how Polite Piggies at Maury is.

[Anonymous]

I think renting in Capitol Hill makes sense with upper elementary kids. There is also Ludlow Taylor, Payne, Van Ness. This family can consider/debate spending 5th grade at basis as easily as anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Maury because of the new building, versus potentially dealing with a temporary location while Brent is being renovated.

I'm not that clear on the culture differences at both schools. I have this sense that Maury has more old-school teachers.

I know that post-COVID Brent aftercare has been meh, to say the least, not sure how Polite Piggies at Maury is.

Brent has a new aftercare provider (as of January 1 I believe) that is so much better. An hour of outdoor play, smaller groups, tons of enrichments, etc. They also offer camps on the random days DCPS is closed. My kids love aftercare now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Maury because of the new building, versus potentially dealing with a temporary location while Brent is being renovated.

I'm not that clear on the culture differences at both schools. I have this sense that Maury has more old-school teachers.

I know that post-COVID Brent aftercare has been meh, to say the least, not sure how Polite Piggies at Maury is.

Based on OP's context (2-3 years, renting and ok with moving) I agree. Take the brand new school and eliminate the unknown of temporary space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A challenge at Brent is so many families start peeling off that the kid your child becomes friends with may not be there for 4th (and repeat for 5th).

It happens at Maury as well - but not to the same extent.

Data does not support this claim. Both had 11 move to BASIS.

Can you share the data source that supports this? Mostly curious to see the trends in 5th and 6th grader movements from Maury. As a mom to an ECE kid I am trying to wrap my mind around what ppl do beyond elementary.

https://dme.dc.gov/page/download-data

It requires some logic and noodling to put it together. For instance, there are 24 kids at Tyler who are IB for Brent. One assumes those kids are in PS3 and PK4 and didn't start at Brent and leave in upper ES. There are 11 kids at SWS who are IB for Maury. One assumes those kids didn't depart Maury for SWS in upper grades. BASIS is easier since the only overlapping year is 5th so we know with certainty that the kids moved there in 5th.

Interesting info, thanks for sharing. So does this mean in 2021 no one from Maury nor Brent went to Latin in 5th??

[Anonymous]

New aftercare (as of Jan 2023) at Brent is much better, closer to pre-covid. Looking at 2025-2026 as earliest possible year in swing space, and that's only if no delays between now and then.

[Anonymous]

The schools are pretty similar. I would just find a place you like and send your kid to the in-bounds school.

Overall, the Brent district is nicer and more expensive than the Maury district.

[Anonymous]

No. They only list the schools with 10+ in-boundary kids. You can conclude that the number of kids who left for 5th at Latin was below that threshold.

[Anonymous]

The Maury neighborhood is way more suburban feeling than the Brent one. It's just not near stuff, except for the southwest corner of the district. The L-T and Brent zones (& Watkins, but I wouldn't go there) are the ones that have the commercial stretches/interesting stuff by and large.

I would not head to Brent to possibly get stuck in swing space for 1/3 of your time. That would be crazy.

I'd seriously check out L-T if I were in your shoes. The best aftercare of the lot and comparable test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools are pretty similar. I would just find a place you like and send your kid to the in-bounds school.

Overall, the Brent district is nicer and more expensive than the Maury district.

Depends on where you look. Lincoln Park area is $$$$ but there are cheaper housing in the new ward 7 near the school.