DCI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because your kid might have a hard time getting in doesn't make it exclusive. You could send your kid to one of the feeders with over 50 percent FARMs rates. I doubt they have long waiting lists. Stop your whining.

If you are suggesting that it's easy to lottery into DC Bilingual, you're wrong.

Yeah, it was my top choice and I was around 150 on the waitlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My larger point was combating the idea that these schools are somehow exclusive in some nefarious way. I was responding to the person who discussed them perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Other posts have been in a similar vein. Is there a higher percentage of middle and upper income families at these schools than other charters? Yes. But its nothing like the richest DCPS schools, which have FARM rates in the 5-10% range. And remember, those schools are quite literally exclusive in that if you can't afford to live in their boundary, you can not go there. For these charters, you have to fill out a one page form online. Is there self-selection that tilts the applicant pool to be richer and whiter than the DC child population average? Absolutely, anyone who didn't admit that is fooling themselves. But many of these schools purposefully advertise and do sessions in parts of the city where they have fewer students so that they can be an option for kids from all over the city.

Starting next year, there will be 40+ non-feeder OOB seats for 6th grade at Deal, and more for 9th at Wilson. How many at DCI?

I don't mean to deny that DCI feeders are less exclusive than Wilson feeders for early ed. But I suspect there's a lot of families who would happily put a ninth or even a sixth grader on a bus or train who don't have the ability to get a 3 year old to a DCI feeder. I think it's going to be pretty hard for DCI to avoid the impression that it's the most exclusive school in town.

You do realize how ridiculous your argument still is though, right? Exclusive means even if you want in, you can't get in, because only ______-type of person can get in. Charters are actually more equitable because to the degree there are any open spots at all, EVERYONE applying has an equal chance in the initial lottery. That's about as un-exclusive as it gets. Once you get in, it's up to you to see if you can make the commute work for a 3 or 4 yr old, just like EVERYONE in DC has to figure out. I'm at one HRCS and I know several families who go through quite a lot to make the commute work. It's not easy for them, but they'd rather have the option of doing it than no option at all.

I'm sure there are some families for whom the commute is the deal-breaker, but give us a break and do not try to spin this as a hardship issue for underserved families of 3 and 4 yr olds just to try to prove your (unproven and unsupported) point that some how charters are exclusive. Once again, even with Deal's alleged 40+ OOB spots and Wilson's more than 40+ spots (I hadn't heard about that but taking that PP to be correct), Deal and Wilson are both geographically and SES-wise far far FAR more exclusive than any other public schools in DC, as are their elementary feeders. You are still looking absurd if you are trying to argue that DCI gives the impression of the most exclusive school in town. 100% of the people who will go to DCI (excepting Founders kids), if they're coming from feeders, the first child from that family was drawn in a District-wide, open-to-everyone lottery. Then it's siblings and new lottery folks. You are still not explaining in any realistic, concrete way what is "exclusive" about a totally by-chance admission system from all over DC.

[Anonymous]

My nephew (a lottery student) loves this school so far. He really enjoys the teachers and the students. He has been in private school for most of his educational career and this is his second year at a charter school. There have been a few bumps due to this being the first year of operation but overall I am very please with my choice. I am happy with level of communication with parents, the emphasis on the whole child, the IB curriculum, and the student/family activities. We are just completing the second month so only time will tell. In my opinion, DCI seems to be off to a fantastic start.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this update! I was hoping to hear more about how the school is going and glad it's off to a positive start. My DC is at a feeder, but may years away from actual entry. Hoping to get smidgens of info. as the years go by, but hopeful that things will continue to grow.

[Anonymous]

Also great to hear for me in a younger grade at a feeder.

Also do you know where DCI will be next year? And is the Walter Reid space in jeopardy with State Dept asking for the District's land?

[Anonymous]

Really happy to hear things seem to be going well! I'm also interested in what any DCI parents are hearing about 2 yrs from now re: location (assuming they plan to stay put for next School year at the old Mundo Verde). I'm guessing they don't want the whole building for long term, even though Creative Minds is also moving out? Would it even possibly be big enough for long term? Seems like no but I don't really know for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really happy to hear things seem to be going well! I'm also interested in what any DCI parents are hearing about 2 yrs from now re: location (assuming they plan to stay put for next School year at the old Mundo Verde). I'm guessing they don't want the whole building for long term, even though Creative Minds is also moving out? Would it even possibly be big enough for long term? Seems like no but I don't really know for sure.

It wouldn't be big enough for 1,000 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really happy to hear things seem to be going well! I'm also interested in what any DCI parents are hearing about 2 yrs from now re: location (assuming they plan to stay put for next School year at the old Mundo Verde). I'm guessing they don't want the whole building for long term, even though Creative Minds is also moving out? Would it even possibly be big enough for long term? Seems like no but I don't really know for sure.

It wouldn't be big enough for 1,000 students.

Yes, that's what I figured. Given the dreams for DCI's campus, it wouldn't be a good location or building anyway for that school long term. But very glad they have it as swing space!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really happy to hear things seem to be going well! I'm also interested in what any DCI parents are hearing about 2 yrs from now re: location (assuming they plan to stay put for next School year at the old Mundo Verde). I'm guessing they don't want the whole building for long term, even though Creative Minds is also moving out? Would it even possibly be big enough for long term? Seems like no but I don't really know for sure.

It wouldn't be big enough for 1,000 students.

Yes, that's what I figured. Given the dreams for DCI's campus, it wouldn't be a good location or building anyway for that school long term. But very glad they have it as swing space!

Are there any alternative locations? Wishful thinking, maybe, the CAPS charter school will close on N.Capital. That would be a great location near a metro station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really happy to hear things seem to be going well! I'm also interested in what any DCI parents are hearing about 2 yrs from now re: location (assuming they plan to stay put for next School year at the old Mundo Verde). I'm guessing they don't want the whole building for long term, even though Creative Minds is also moving out? Would it even possibly be big enough for long term? Seems like no but I don't really know for sure.

It wouldn't be big enough for 1,000 students.

Yes, that's what I figured. Given the dreams for DCI's campus, it wouldn't be a good location or building anyway for that school long term. But very glad they have it as swing space!

Are there any alternative locations? Wishful thinking, maybe, the CAPS charter school will close on N.Capital. That would be a great location near a metro station.

Not N. Capital, but Missouri ave./Riggs Road. Next door to the Mame D. Lee school building.

[Anonymous]

Is this worrisome enought that DC Admin. is actually looking at alternative locations? I've not heard anything official about this. Could someone in the know chime in?