Bonnie Brae Elementary - Experiences, Please

[Anonymous]

Looking at a home that is zoned to Bonnie Brae.

Based on some other threads, I learned they recently removed a principal and just announced a new one. Other things I read about
1) large class sizes - some as large as 30+
2) few good teachers, you have to hope to get a good one.
3) low parent involvement.

Love the home we found, but am considering bc passing on it if BB isn’t a good option.

We have 2 kids - One starting Kindergarten in 2022 and the other is only 2 yrs old currently.

Would love some feedback/experiences. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It would not be my first choice. I teach at a neighboring school. Your kids are young enough that it would be okay.

[Anonymous]

Bump…?

[Anonymous]

We are at another school in the Robinson pyramid. Bonnie Brae has more low-income students than the other Robo feeders, but the percentage is still fairly low. FWIW, families we know in the community at BB all seem happy with it.

If is a large school, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Robinson is very well regarded and sought after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at another school in the Robinson pyramid. Bonnie Brae has more low-income students than the other Robo feeders, but the percentage is still fairly low. FWIW, families we know in the community at BB all seem happy with it.

If is a large school, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Robinson is very well regarded and sought after.

Same here. I've had kids in two other Robo feeders, and now live in a neighborhood zoned for BB. Everyone I know who has their kids there seems satisfied if not happy. At least I've never heard a complaint. (My ES student goes to the immersion school nearby).

[Anonymous]

We love Bonnie Brae. They are currently going through a remodel so your kids will have a brand new school for most of their ES experience.

[Anonymous]

Not my first choice if your kid has special needs.

[Anonymous]

Horrible Kindergarten experience for my child.

[Anonymous]

Wasn’t there a terrible principal situation there a few years ago? Do some digging and I’m sure you’ll find details. To that, people who were there during that period of time might have complaints. Otherwise, I’ve never heard anything bad about the school. Nice neighborhoods surround the school. Great location.

[Anonymous]

Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

Robinson is an IB school and has a handful of AP classes the same as it has for the past 10 years or so. You can take the IB courses ala carte like AP and get the weighted credit/college credit for individual classes or you can do the full IB diploma. It's been an excellent high school for my kids, and I really like that it's a secondary school so that the transition between MS and HS is a lot less stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

Robinson is an IB school and has a handful of AP classes the same as it has for the past 10 years or so. You can take the IB courses ala carte like AP and get the weighted credit/college credit for individual classes or you can do the full IB diploma. It's been an excellent high school for my kids, and I really like that it's a secondary school so that the transition between MS and HS is a lot less stressful.

We are at LB and have friends at Robinson that have said AP is being eliminated at Robinson, you may want to look into that if you're there. I am aware it hasn't had as many as other schools, but now they are getting rid of them. Also important to note OP, if your child is interested in top schools they really need to do the Full IB at IB high schools. Not doing so isn't considered "most rigorous" I like robinson and LB, but it is definitely something to consider when choosing a pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

Robinson is an IB school and has a handful of AP classes the same as it has for the past 10 years or so. You can take the IB courses ala carte like AP and get the weighted credit/college credit for individual classes or you can do the full IB diploma. It's been an excellent high school for my kids, and I really like that it's a secondary school so that the transition between MS and HS is a lot less stressful.

We are at LB and have friends at Robinson that have said AP is being eliminated at Robinson, you may want to look into that if you're there. I am aware it hasn't had as many as other schools, but now they are getting rid of them. Also important to note OP, if your child is interested in top schools they really need to do the Full IB at IB high schools. Not doing so isn't considered "most rigorous" I like robinson and LB, but it is definitely something to consider when choosing a pyramid.

Different Robo parent here. They are downsizing on AP significantly. It’s been a topic of several parent FB groups. That said, I don’t care. I think they are leaning into IB, and offering AP doesn’t align with that. I’m okay with that. It’s an IB school. That’s what it is. Deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

Robinson is an IB school and has a handful of AP classes the same as it has for the past 10 years or so. You can take the IB courses ala carte like AP and get the weighted credit/college credit for individual classes or you can do the full IB diploma. It's been an excellent high school for my kids, and I really like that it's a secondary school so that the transition between MS and HS is a lot less stressful.

We are at LB and have friends at Robinson that have said AP is being eliminated at Robinson, you may want to look into that if you're there. I am aware it hasn't had as many as other schools, but now they are getting rid of them. Also important to note OP, if your child is interested in top schools they really need to do the Full IB at IB high schools. Not doing so isn't considered "most rigorous" I like robinson and LB, but it is definitely something to consider when choosing a pyramid.

Yes. Robinson is eliminating AP courses.

However, if you want AP, transferring to Lake Braddock is very easy and as Lake Braddock is under enrolled, will remain so.

The issue at hand is that Robinson is eliminated AP Calc BC, which gets 10 credits at certain schools to the 4 credits of IB Math HL.

I will also note that Robinson’s admin and teachers are very tight knit and love the school and send their kids to the school. Which speaks a lot to the schools quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson is an IB school that is eliminating AP classes. It is something to consider.

Also, class sizes depend on how many people register. The principal can't make two classes of 29 into 3 no matter what school. Unless Title 1.

My first grader at another school had 29 in first grade, at a "good school"

Robinson is an IB school and has a handful of AP classes the same as it has for the past 10 years or so. You can take the IB courses ala carte like AP and get the weighted credit/college credit for individual classes or you can do the full IB diploma. It's been an excellent high school for my kids, and I really like that it's a secondary school so that the transition between MS and HS is a lot less stressful.

We are at LB and have friends at Robinson that have said AP is being eliminated at Robinson, you may want to look into that if you're there. I am aware it hasn't had as many as other schools, but now they are getting rid of them. Also important to note OP, if your child is interested in top schools they really need to do the Full IB at IB high schools. Not doing so isn't considered "most rigorous" I like robinson and LB, but it is definitely something to consider when choosing a pyramid.

.

Yes. Robinson is eliminating AP courses.

However, if you want AP, transferring to Lake Braddock is very easy and as Lake Braddock is under enrolled, will remain so.

The issue at hand is that Robinson is eliminated AP Calc BC, which gets 10 credits at certain schools to the 4 credits of IB Math HL.

I will also note that Robinson’s admin and teachers are very tight knit and love the school and send their kids to the school. Which speaks a lot to the schools quality.

A PP here. I started a new thread about this so as not to hijack the BB poster.