Is Jackson Reed really that bad?

[Anonymous]

Considering buying a house that feeds into JR. DC only a few years out. Some of the threads here worry me, even with grain of salt re DCUM. Is it really that bad?

[Anonymous]

No it’s not, it’s DCUM being DCUM. Or people who wish they had bought in MoCo and are surprised a city school is a city school. Your high SES kid will do great and learn to be a bit more resilient than if they went to Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No it’s not, it’s DCUM being DCUM. Or people who wish they had bought in MoCo and are surprised a city school is a city school. Your high SES kid will do great and learn to be a bit more resilient than if they went to Whitman.

Did your kid have teachers in all subjects?

[Anonymous]

My hs junior has teachers in all her subjects. It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

9th grade is a total joke and wasted year.

[Anonymous]

9th grade is the weakest year by far...rigor increases a lot after that. I can't compare it to anything else but we had one graduate last year and they are doing well at a Top 20 school; we have another who is there now.

Is the school overcrowded? Yes. Are there behavioral problems that you would expect with a very large high school with a sizeable number of kids coming from disadvantaged backgrounds? Yes. But there are a lot of very good teachers and great opportunities for kids who want to take advantage of them, as well as a sizeable cohort of motivated, very smart kids.

[Anonymous]

My two kids (11th and 9th) are happy there, and we’re happy with their experience. Their teachers this year range from fine to great, with most in the very good zone. The 11th grader had a few less-great teachers in 9th and 10th. Both have ECs they really enjoy and lots of friends. The new principal seems good.

As everyone says on the endless threads on this topic, it’s a big school that I’m sure can feel overwhelming/chaotic for some kids. A lot of what my kids complain about can be chalked up to DCPS/DGS neglect of facilities.

I don’t think you’re going to learn anything new here. Visit the school, talk with the principal, talk with JR families in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9th grade is a total joke and wasted year.

Is this a DCPS thing or specific to J-R? Is Macarthur doomed to the same fate?

[Anonymous]

OP - I recommend you spend some time in Tenlytown both before and after school. Talk with the folks who work in the businesses around the school. Or just sit on the bench by the library and observe. It will give you a good feel for the school.

[Anonymous]

There’s a range of kids who go to J-R. Your kid will get a much more realistic view of the world than they would at Churchill or Whitman. They will be very prepared for college and exist outside a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I recommend you spend some time in Tenlytown both before and after school. Talk with the folks who work in the businesses around the school. Or just sit on the bench by the library and observe. It will give you a good feel for the school.

This person is using coded language to warn other white people that black kids attend this school. Beware!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a range of kids who go to J-R. Your kid will get a much more realistic view of the world than they would at Churchill or Whitman. They will be very prepared for college and exist outside a bubble.

Most of DCUM wants to exist inside the bubble. If you are this type, OP, don’t move into the JR boundary. Move to MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I recommend you spend some time in Tenlytown both before and after school. Talk with the folks who work in the businesses around the school. Or just sit on the bench by the library and observe. It will give you a good feel for the school.

No, it will give you a good feel for Tenleytown before and after school. The school is…in the school, during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I recommend you spend some time in Tenlytown both before and after school. Talk with the folks who work in the businesses around the school. Or just sit on the bench by the library and observe. It will give you a good feel for the school.

What exactly will you learn about the school from observing how kids behave as soon as they're done with school for the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9th grade is the weakest year by far...rigor increases a lot after that. I can't compare it to anything else but we had one graduate last year and they are doing well at a Top 20 school; we have another who is there now.

Is the school overcrowded? Yes. Are there behavioral problems that you would expect with a very large high school with a sizeable number of kids coming from disadvantaged backgrounds? Yes. But there are a lot of very good teachers and great opportunities for kids who want to take advantage of them, as well as a sizeable cohort of motivated, very smart kids.

The cohort of smart kids advancing to JR is significantly declining. Lots of families are making other choices or leaving the dysfunctional system.