Question for those who are doing the DCPS lotteries-- why did you choose to live where you live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids don't go to Yu Ying. I have no opinions on the school. But 90% of the families I've met who go there have a major connection (usually one mandarin speaking parent). Have I just had weird luck? I've probably met 20 families (none are close friends).

Weird luck. Most families at YY are escaping lousy IB schools, particularly schools on Capitol Hill and in Brookland. A good many want language immersion, don't care what the language is. Some of these families low-income, some are lower-middle-class, some are upper-middle-class. Maybe one-quarter of the families at YY would have chosen Mandarin immersion without the push factors. Almost all of these parents are white or black, a good many with kids adopted from China. Mandarin, just one dialect, IS Chinese to YY helping explain why the DC immigrant population, largely Cantonese speaking, doesn't feel welcome there. No ethnic Chinese administrators, no Cantonese-speaking American staff. But all this is old hat on DCUM and non-Chinese love the school anyway. Any of the folks you know are Chinese immigrants to the US? We know lots, none at YY for more than a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are none of you concerned about your kids missing out on the traditional neighborhood school? Maybe it doesn't matter as much if you work full time and your kids don't get home from after-care until 6pm. But I would hate to think that every child in my neighborhood went to a different school. I would hate my child's school to be miles away from our neighborhood. We don't live in D.C. anymore. One of the things I absolutely LOVE about our neighborhood is that all the kids in our neighborhood ride their bikes to school together. There is a real sense of community because all of us are concerned about working to make our neighborhood school the best it can be. My son's teacher lives four houses away from me. The principal lives two streets down. We have crossing guards to help the kids cross the streets safely. They know all the kids by name. Community events are often held at the schools. Our community is tied together in many ways by our school.

I would hate it if my kids' schools started allowing out-of-boundary kids, if for no other reason than the additional traffic. We have almost no car riders. ALL the kids walk or bike. The only time there is a car pool line is in bad weather.

I really think you are missing out on the value of supporting the elementary school in your community.

I'm not concerned about a neighborhood school. I'm concerned about my child speaking fluent Chinese. Someday, when your child is working in the mailroom
at my child's company, maybe he can submit a question to the president, and ask her.

That lady must be on crack. I hope her kids turn out OK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids don't go to Yu Ying. I have no opinions on the school. But 90% of the families I've met who go there have a major connection (usually one mandarin speaking parent). Have I just had weird luck? I've probably met 20 families (none are close friends).

YY probably has more 1/2 Asian biracial kids than any other school in the area. I assume the 1/2 Asian kids are there for the Mandarin and not to escape their IB school. We did. Our other choice were private schools but they don't offer immersion Mandarin starting in preK. One of the best Mandarin speakers in my kid's K class is white: was born and lived in China until they moved to DC. Most of the families I know are there b/c they value Mandarin or grow too. It's simply too much work otherwise. And the only family I know who left did b/c they were reassigned. They were white and had lived in China/spoke Mandarin and are missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids don't go to Yu Ying. I have no opinions on the school. But 90% of the families I've met who go there have a major connection (usually one mandarin speaking parent). Have I just had weird luck? I've probably met 20 families (none are close friends).

YY probably has more 1/2 Asian biracial kids than any other school in the area. I assume the 1/2 Asian kids are there for the Mandarin and not to escape their IB school. We did. Our other choice were private schools but they don't offer immersion Mandarin starting in preK. One of the best Mandarin speakers in my kid's K class is white: was born and lived in China until they moved to DC. Most of the families I know are there b/c they value Mandarin or grow too. It's simply too much work otherwise. And the only family I know who left did b/c they were reassigned. They were white and had lived in China/spoke Mandarin and are missed.

Is it your contention that these half-Asian biracial kids are unusually lucky in their lottery hand, or that they are disproportionately interested in the school vs. regular whites, blacks etc.? because interest, background and links to China are all well and good, but they don't give you any edge in the YY lottery. The white kid who was born and lived in China until he moved to DC and a Hispanic kid who never left Takoma Park, D.C., are playing equal odds.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I picked my neighborhood because I did not want to leave dc. Do not like the burbs and the commute. My neighborhood schools suck. I didnt care. Our budget would not put us in city in half decent schools unless we wanted a small small house west of the park, or out of city with a great school (mclean, etc) unless we had a long commute. Instead we opted to stay in our budget , hope for the charters we wanted, and if not deal with paying for private until we found a better option. we got lucky...great charter. We will reevaluate when we hit middle school. BTW, thankfully we all ave different values and goals. If not this would be a pretty boring world. OP, I do not wonder why you chose differently. You are a different person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids don't go to Yu Ying. I have no opinions on the school. But 90% of the families I've met who go there have a major connection (usually one mandarin speaking parent). Have I just had weird luck? I've probably met 20 families (none are close friends).

YY probably has more 1/2 Asian biracial kids than any other school in the area. I assume the 1/2 Asian kids are there for the Mandarin and not to escape their IB school. We did. Our other choice were private schools but they don't offer immersion Mandarin starting in preK. One of the best Mandarin speakers in my kid's K class is white: was born and lived in China until they moved to DC. Most of the families I know are there b/c they value Mandarin or grow too. It's simply too much work otherwise. And the only family I know who left did b/c they were reassigned. They were white and had lived in China/spoke Mandarin and are missed.

Is it your contention that these half-Asian biracial kids are unusually lucky in their lottery hand, or that they are disproportionately interested in the school vs. regular whites, blacks etc.? because interest, background and links to China are all well and good, but they don't give you any edge in the YY lottery. The white kid who was born and lived in China until he moved to DC and a Hispanic kid who never left Takoma Park, D.C., are playing equal odds.

Disproportionately interested. Immersion Mandarin attracts families who would not consider public school. If you want Mandarin in the younger grades, YY is the only game in town. Also, we are in the jumbo K class when YY went through it's entire waitlist so pretty much anyone who wanted a spot got one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids don't go to Yu Ying. I have no opinions on the school. But 90% of the families I've met who go there have a major connection (usually one mandarin speaking parent). Have I just had weird luck? I've probably met 20 families (none are close friends).

YY probably has more 1/2 Asian biracial kids than any other school in the area. I assume the 1/2 Asian kids are there for the Mandarin and not to escape their IB school. We did. Our other choice were private schools but they don't offer immersion Mandarin starting in preK. One of the best Mandarin speakers in my kid's K class is white: was born and lived in China until they moved to DC. Most of the families I know are there b/c they value Mandarin or grow too. It's simply too much work otherwise. And the only family I know who left did b/c they were reassigned. They were white and had lived in China/spoke Mandarin and are missed.

Is it your contention that these half-Asian biracial kids are unusually lucky in their lottery hand, or that they are disproportionately interested in the school vs. regular whites, blacks etc.? because interest, background and links to China are all well and good, but they don't give you any edge in the YY lottery. The white kid who was born and lived in China until he moved to DC and a Hispanic kid who never left Takoma Park, D.C., are playing equal odds.

It is becoming an increasingly open secret that YY hand picks its students by manipulating the "wait list." I've started a thread on this general topic. The "time stamp" on the "wait list" is one wiggle factor.

There's the transparent lottery outcome, and if all ## of those lotto kids don't take their seat that they scored, then suddenly the next batch is oddly much more Chinese and/or connected than the district population that enters the lottery. How can that be, hmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For 95% of people the lottery works out.

We live in a neighborhood that the OP would undoubtedly consider undesirable. We moved there before I was pregnant. We thought we would move before our kids were school aged.

I now have 3 kids OOB at one of the best EOP elementary schools in the city. My kids litterally run into the school like they were going to Disney World every day. Our house payment is slightly less than $1600 a month. We live 2 blocks from a metro station. Our house has doubled in value. Our commutes are very reasonable.

The middle school lottery craziness looms ahead, but if we strike out we can move to Takoma Park or whereever. I kind of think on the lottery stuff that you just have to fight letting it get to you, and getting obsessed with it. Go to a couple open houses. See where the chips fall.

I really don't think that NWDC was the safest bet for you OP. If I was going to be totally Ms. safe choice, I'd have gone with Arlington or Bethesda near a metro.

That's the key isn't it. OP probably considers a majority of the neighborhoods in DC undesirable - except maybe in her perfect Ward 3 world.

Right, but it's so desirable to you that you want to send your kids to school anywhere but there (dare I even say her precious ward 3). Give me a break!

Nope, wouldn't even send my kids to Ward 3 schools. No immersion programs that is acceptable to me in DCPS. My kid goes to charter school. My child is bilingual and will most likely be trilingual by the time she graduates. I'm sure your kids will enjoy working for her.

You say your kid will be trilingual like it's a big deal. My kids all spoke three languages fluently before they entered K, with no formal schooling, just because mommy and daddy do. They may or may not pick up language #4 by the time they graduate, we don't care. Paying for language education is so ...American.

1. I'm not American

2. Is calling someone an American an insult now? I didn't get the memo at the foreigners meeting. Thanks for the tip.

3. You DO realize that charter schools are public so they are free? Or is your reading comprehension in English not so good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For 95% of people the lottery works out.

We live in a neighborhood that the OP would undoubtedly consider undesirable. We moved there before I was pregnant. We thought we would move before our kids were school aged.

I now have 3 kids OOB at one of the best EOP elementary schools in the city. My kids litterally run into the school like they were going to Disney World every day. Our house payment is slightly less than $1600 a month. We live 2 blocks from a metro station. Our house has doubled in value. Our commutes are very reasonable.

The middle school lottery craziness looms ahead, but if we strike out we can move to Takoma Park or whereever. I kind of think on the lottery stuff that you just have to fight letting it get to you, and getting obsessed with it. Go to a couple open houses. See where the chips fall.

I really don't think that NWDC was the safest bet for you OP. If I was going to be totally Ms. safe choice, I'd have gone with Arlington or Bethesda near a metro.

That's the key isn't it. OP probably considers a majority of the neighborhoods in DC undesirable - except maybe in her perfect Ward 3 world.

Right, but it's so desirable to you that you want to send your kids to school anywhere but there (dare I even say her precious ward 3). Give me a break!

Nope, wouldn't even send my kids to Ward 3 schools. No immersion programs that is acceptable to me in DCPS. My kid goes to charter school. My child is bilingual and will most likely be trilingual by the time she graduates. I'm sure your kids will enjoy working for her.

You say your kid will be trilingual like it's a big deal. My kids all spoke three languages fluently before they entered K, with no formal schooling, just because mommy and daddy do. They may or may not pick up language #4 by the time they graduate, we don't care. Paying for language education is so ...American.

Not pp, but in the same position. What an odd comment. That is nice that your kids are trilingual becuase you are. Do you know tht other people are not all exactly like you? And, you don't pay for charter schools.

Being a 3 yr old who's trilingual is not the same thing as a 23 yr old who it trilingual - meaning they are literate and can operate in all three languages equally. That takes schooling. Honestly, a trilingual 3 yr old is not impressive. Get back to us in 20 yrs.

My kids are three times 3 yr old and can read and write in all three languages; thanks for the free lecture anyway. I see you completely missed the point I made. The point of my comment was to mock the pp's assertion that her kid's trilingualism will guarantee that other people's monolingual kids will end up working for her. My kids are trilingual. They are not special. I have no clue whether it means other people will end up working for them. I don't see multiple language ability as a stone-set path to executive offices. Trilingual, yawn, nothing to it.

None of us can see whose kids will work for who, it's arguing on the Internet lady. I'm sure you can figure that out with one of your many languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sheesh....I feel sorry for all the kids. So much stress all around.

Lighten up DC parents.

I know. That's what I hate about dcum. So many discussions are polluted by stupid fights. This one about trilingual kids is just plain dumm. I feel sorry for these people.

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at other schools now bc our IB school is not working for my child. I'm looking at the suburbs and have applied to charters. I'm willing to go to through the "crazy'' charter process to open my options for a better school that fitts my child, but i don't think that fits the example you are posing OP. And as for the suburbs -- i think the commute downtown and and having to contend with the traffic and other things that suburban living that wear on us personally would not be good for our family personally, even while it would be great for other famlies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

None of us can see whose kids will work for who, it's arguing on the Internet lady. I'm sure you can figure that out with one of your many languages.

Thanks for making my point. You realize you are agreeing with me, yes?

[Anonymous]

Unless you get lucky with a good charter school in your neighborhood, your commute within DC might be difficult too.

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking at other schools now bc our IB school is not working for my child. I'm looking at the suburbs and have applied to charters. I'm willing to go to through the "crazy'' charter process to open my options for a better school that fitts my child, but i don't think that fits the example you are posing OP. And as for the suburbs -- i think the commute downtown and and having to contend with the traffic and other things that suburban living that wear on us personally would not be good for our family personally, even while it would be great for other famlies.

[Anonymous]

No doubt the dc system is insanely dysfunctional. The system is full of sinking ships, and the charters are rickety lifeboats, indeed. Look at the kids at the school. Will they grow up to be stellar kids? Maybe - but doubt it is due to the school. What's sad is how a city full of vital, intelligent, and go-getting parents are sitting back and lapping up the spoiled milk they're trying to feed us. Charters were the Republican dream answer to failing public schools. You take resources away from the public schools, in the form of funding as well (and more importantly) parent led change. What you do with charters is you take the power that in-bounds could harness (the better in the better-or-for-worse involved with gentrification) and you fritter it away piecemeal across the city. There is no concentration of like-minded parents behind the in-bounds school. Instead, you're left with the parents who either don't give a damn or can't give a damn. Many of the parents are struggling for survival, not strugling to thrive like the rest of us. Every single parent among the list of parents we put together initially interested in getting behind our local in-bounds went the charter route. Every single one. And we're not talking about the worst of the worst school by any stretch.

Let's face it, the charters have done what they are supposed to have done. The nail in the coffin of public education.

R.I.P.

[Anonymous]

It's not the charters that will destroy DCPS when DCPS did the job themselves. Lets face it if there were no charters, many of the higher SES families EOP would either be moving to MoCo or Fairfax or sending their kids to private school.

We bought our rowhouse EOP without regard to public schools b/c we did not consider DCPS even a remote possibility past preK. If it wasn't for our charter, we would have moved or sent DC to private school.