Deal kid is floundering in private high school

[Anonymous]

My kid left Deal and is at a top private high school (Sidwell/NCS/STA/Potomac).
He/she was a top student at Deal: As every quarter in every class grades 6-8, top math track (Algebra 2), 5's on every PARCC since 3rd grade. 99% on the 6th grade Deal PARCC in both ELA and math.

Started private high school and it is an absolute SH$%T show. Currently getting Ds. My kid doesn't know how to study, how to read and annotate dense text in rapid fashion. He/she gets dozens of pages
a night to read and process (across history, ELA, science). Homework in every subject each evening. Has already written 5 essays and 2 lab lengthy reports. Has frequent pop quizzes. One class has one every single day.
Has a sequence of exams in every class this week.

It just f-ing frustrates me how little my kid learned at Deal. How he never learned to think critically or write well. So much wasted time in the pandemic. No Wednesdays, 45 minute classes twice a week. The chicken has come home to roost because my
kid is now having his/her ass kicked. And it all counts for college grades. Things will get better but we're quitting activities, hiring tutors and trying to right the course.

Not sure what the point of my post is except---if you have a kid in DCPS. Supplement like a mad person. We did but not enough. His/her classmates who are at Wilson report that they haven't done any
homework yet in most classes because with the 4x4 schedule, many teachers are only teaching for half of it and little or no homework is given (and what is given is done in class). So if you're at Wilson
(I have another kid likely headed there) continue to supplement.

I'm just so frustrated. I'm sure it is somewhat better in typical times but the pandemic learning was just a mess. Those of us who have left DCPS are seeing clearly just how bad it was.

[Anonymous]

This is not a Deal issue Troll. It's an issue in your house.

Public is not the problem. I have done both. Same group of schools.

Another thread of private is better than public NO.

[Anonymous]

Did you do it this past year? Cause the OP's story is the same one I'm hearing from multiple families. It has been VERY ROUGH for kids leaving Deal this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you do it this past year? Cause the OP's story is the same one I'm hearing from multiple families. It has been VERY ROUGH for kids leaving Deal this year.

I have two Deal DC who transitioned to their Big 3 seamlessly. However, I can imagine that COVID has done a number on academic press and executive function. Hang in there. The key to this is 1) seeking help from teachers to understand what's being asked of them; and 2) focusing on time management. The school has a vested interest in your child's success. Encourage your student to reach out for assistance as needed.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that OP. It is very early in high school, and there's going to be a learning curve. Middle school is different from high school. Sounds like you are trying your best. The pandemic really messed things up for the students.

How are their peers faring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not a Deal issue Troll. It's an issue in your house.

Public is not the problem. I have done both. Same group of schools.

Another thread of private is better than public NO.

You're kind of a jerk, you know.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have posted a lot about this child. You might want to take a break from social media.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, Deal really dropped the ball during COVID. Last year's experience is not representative of the education the school previously delivered. During COVID the administration knowingly prioritized the mental and physical health of teachers over that of their students.

My older children who went through Deal a few years ago were way better prepared for high school. Last year I watched my youngest sit behind a screen for 15 minutes at a time with basically no expectations of them. Most of the day was free time to play video games and watch TV because the teachers barely taught.

The school did a huge disservice to the current 9th graders and of course, they are gone so the administration will never have to come face to face with the damage they caused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you do it this past year? Cause the OP's story is the same one I'm hearing from multiple families. It has been VERY ROUGH for kids leaving Deal this year.

I have two Deal DC who transitioned to their Big 3 seamlessly. However, I can imagine that COVID has done a number on academic press and executive function. Hang in there. The key to this is 1) seeking help from teachers to understand what's being asked of them; and 2) focusing on time management. The school has a vested interest in your child's success. Encourage your student to reach out for assistance as needed.

Nice humblebrag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have posted a lot about this child. You might want to take a break from social media.

Where else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have posted a lot about this child. You might want to take a break from social media.

OP here. Huh? Have not posted about this kid before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you do it this past year? Cause the OP's story is the same one I'm hearing from multiple families. It has been VERY ROUGH for kids leaving Deal this year.

I have two Deal DC who transitioned to their Big 3 seamlessly. However, I can imagine that COVID has done a number on academic press and executive function. Hang in there. The key to this is 1) seeking help from teachers to understand what's being asked of them; and 2) focusing on time management. The school has a vested interest in your child's success. Encourage your student to reach out for assistance as needed.

Nice humblebrag.

That isn't a humblebrag. That's just a full-on boast. I don't think you know what a humblebrag is.

Let me give you an example of a humblebrag: Does anyone have trouble with their housekeeper forgetting to clean the baseboards? Mine does. Should I fire her or just dock her pay?

That is a humblebrag.

[Anonymous]

The books they read at Deal are not particularly advanced. And for some reason all the books are about racism or minority groups being oppressed. Like every single book.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know what happened at Deal during covid. I have kids who transitioned from deal to big x. It took them a trimester to adjust to the amount of work required and then they were fine. Both mostly As now, with the occasional B+. Don’t worry, they will get the hang of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, Deal really dropped the ball during COVID. Last year's experience is not representative of the education the school previously delivered. During COVID the administration knowingly prioritized the mental and physical health of teachers over that of their students.

My older children who went through Deal a few years ago were way better prepared for high school. Last year I watched my youngest sit behind a screen for 15 minutes at a time with basically no expectations of them. Most of the day was free time to play video games and watch TV because the teachers barely taught.

The school did a huge disservice to the current 9th graders and of course, they are gone so the administration will never have to come face to face with the damage they caused.

I agree with this. I know so many 9th graders from Deal who are currently having a very hard time in 9th grade. They basically did not have to do anything academic for 18 months and now have giant knowledge gaps and more importantly--really crappy work ethic when it comes to school work. Then the school sent them off with great fanfare! "Go to high school!" (Although we elected not to teach you anything in middle school.).
I'm sure most of these kids will recover but the school really screwed this group. Poor study habits were made and cemented for many at a very impressional time (middle school).