Please convince me: DCPS over MoCo for smart kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the earlier poster, this is the school we've had luck with:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/09/AR2008110901937.html

Again, it's the principal and her expectations that make this school work for my child. (She expects a great deal from her staff as well.)

It takes a certain amount of effort to keep a child who operates 5-7 grades above level challenged, but it's not a fight at this school. We do work at it though. I'm happy because this principal works with me and my child to make sure he's getting an appropriate education. FWIW, she works hard for every child in the building, regardless of their level.

What school is it? That link is to the Obama school choice article.

[Anonymous]

The article suggests that if the Obamas were considering a DCPS school to look at Strong John Thomson Elementary School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


My son is four. He has been reading aloud for two years and reads above his grade level (most other four-year olders cannot read, period). He has other behavior and emotional issues to overcome. So reading has been the one thing he has going for him.

To have his teacher at his "good" DC public school be upset (at him or us?) because other parents ask her "why he can read" is infuriating. I could care less that she has "been doing it this way for 30 years." Obviously, because I was a teacher, I understand that the curriculum establishes certain limitations on what she can do - so why take it out on me and him? She has recently begun making snide suggestions that his apparently "unnatural" reading ability has been produced by us forcing or otherwise being abusive.

So we will be placing him in private school next year, despite the fact that she said she "will not give him a good recommendation," because of his behavior. I don't really see another option.

Honestly? You sound misinformed and excusing your son's behavior because he is just so "brilliant". DC uses the most rigorous curriculum in the country. More rigorous than Mont Co or in NoVa. I too was "advanced" and you know what? I had to learn to sit through some muck on the subjects in which I was advanced, but it was also an opportunity for me to learn self control and understanding.
You're doing your son a disservice by acting like this

Shame on you, PP, for criticizing this parent for doing what's best for her child. You don't know her child's issues. Her child's teacher sounds rigid and totally inappropriate for this particular child. I don't think all of DCPS is to blame for this poster's experience. But since her child has emotional and behavioral issues, in addition to being gifted, a private school is the right place for him. Public schools have to accept everyone, and usually are one-size-fits-all, whereas private schools can specialize, pick and choose, and are usually small enough to accommodate kids who have various types of issues, learning or otherwise. After such an awful experience, I don't blame her for leaving DCPS. I'd leave too if this happened to my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


My son is four. He has been reading aloud for two years and reads above his grade level (most other four-year olders cannot read, period). He has other behavior and emotional issues to overcome. So reading has been the one thing he has going for him.

To have his teacher at his "good" DC public school be upset (at him or us?) because other parents ask her "why he can read" is infuriating. I could care less that she has "been doing it this way for 30 years." Obviously, because I was a teacher, I understand that the curriculum establishes certain limitations on what she can do - so why take it out on me and him? She has recently begun making snide suggestions that his apparently "unnatural" reading ability has been produced by us forcing or otherwise being abusive.

So we will be placing him in private school next year, despite the fact that she said she "will not give him a good recommendation," because of his behavior. I don't really see another option.

Honestly? You sound misinformed and excusing your son's behavior because he is just so "brilliant". DC uses the most rigorous curriculum in the country. More rigorous than Mont Co or in NoVa. I too was "advanced" and you know what? I had to learn to sit through some muck on the subjects in which I was advanced, but it was also an opportunity for me to learn self control and understanding.
You're doing your son a disservice by acting like this

Shame on you, PP, for criticizing this parent for doing what's best for her child. You don't know her child's issues. Her child's teacher sounds rigid and totally inappropriate for this particular child. I don't think all of DCPS is to blame for this poster's experience. But since her child has emotional and behavioral issues, in addition to being gifted, a private school is the right place for him. Public schools have to accept everyone, and usually are one-size-fits-all, whereas private schools can specialize, pick and choose, and are usually small enough to accommodate kids who have various types of issues, learning or otherwise. After such an awful experience, I don't blame her for leaving DCPS. I'd leave too if this happened to my child.

For parents of bright kids with learning or emotional/behavioral disabilities or "issues," I would be very careful about private school. A private school has no obligation to retain a child and a child can be expelled or encouraged to leave if the private school can not or will not deal with the issues.

By contrast, public school is obligated to meet the need of documented learning or emotional issues. The IEP and 504 processes, I believe, address these. I would encourage the poster who mentioned the early reading combined with emotional/behavioral issues to check out MoCo schools, and their GT/LD programs and the BRIDGE program which is specifically for older kids who have emotional issues.

Also, at the elem. level, you can visit schools and try to suss out which principals would be supportive.

There are some private schools which may specifically deal with certain types of learning or behavioral/emotional issues, but I wouldn't count on these to offer advanced instruction as well. It varies highly by school and you have to visit and try to feel out the private school commitment in the same way as public.

[Anonymous]

If the OP is still reading this thread, she may want to check out this link from another thread:

check out the NAEP scores by ethnicity by race
http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/10/a_different_loo.php

If her children are white, they're probably going to get better educations in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the OP is still reading this thread, she may want to check out this link from another thread:

check out the NAEP scores by ethnicity by race
http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/10/a_different_loo.php

If her children are white, they're probably going to get better educations in DCPS.

Thanks for posting this link, but I couldn't figure it out. Could you explain what it shows and what you mean? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the OP is still reading this thread, she may want to check out this link from another thread:

check out the NAEP scores by ethnicity by race
http://www.schoolinfosystem.org/archives/2007/10/a_different_loo.php

If her children are white, they're probably going to get better educations in DCPS.

Sorry, but the NAEP data doesn't necessarily mean that white kids in DC are getting a great education. All it means is they are performing well -- could be because they come from a high socioeconomic status that is much more likely to perform well on tests. Could be that mediocre white students flee DC and excellent white students stay because they "do well" there and that MoCo and VA have a much more mixed white socioeconomic status picture. Could be that they get a "great education" in DC. Have to say that that last reason wasn't our personal experience in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP, and we've finally decided on MoCo. We missed the charter lotteries, and don't feel we can successfully negotiate DCPS for our kids, who are talented, and will likely be bored without a gifted program. We don't want them hanging around in ES enjoying a social time, but learning little until they get to high school.

What finally decided it for me was 1) We'd have to stretch to buy a house in NWDC, and 2) The poster who was the most thoughtful and eloquent about the value of living in the city and raising kids in DCPS, nevertheless sent her child to private school.

I am such a city person, and want to raise my kids in the city, but I can't see DCPS working (all the way through HS) for our kids. Thanks everyone for all your posts. It really helped us make this decision.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on reaching a decision--it's not an easy thing to face all the trade-offs of the D.C. area. Inquiring minds want to know: where specifically will you end up?

[Anonymous]

Actually, OP, you did not miss the charter lotteries for the start of the 2009 school year. They haven't been held yet. I appreciate your decision, you seem like a very thoughtful person, and good luck.