Shut out of lottery/experience with MacFarland?

[Anonymous]

We have no shot with any schools based on the lottery. Our inbound is MacFarland Spanish track. Anyone have any experience with it?

[Anonymous]

Give us some more color. If you are looking for Middle School in the general EOTP but WOTR, submit a post lottery application for Stuart Hobson, E Hines, Washington Global, Social Justice, Creative Minds, Inspired Teaching, Cap City, Capital village, ELHaynes, Sojourner Truth, Two Rivers... I will put $100 bucks on you getting into at least 8 of these in the next couple months

[Anonymous]

If you have a high performing kid (working above grade level, scoring top 10% on standardized testing, etc..), I would move.

[Anonymous]

OP, I know a couple of kids who are there for 6th from a spanish feeder. Its ok. THe kid said its super disruptive in class. Also there have been some race based issues against the handful of white kids. But it seems like the school is trying to address it. I doubt they will will stay through 8th.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about MacFarland but you might want to learn more about chec if you prefer that. Also Jefferson, Haynes, Truth, and Capital City.

[Anonymous]

Our kid in 7th grade is having a good time. Has wide-ranging groups of friends and great grades. Overall very positive experience.

This is a good student but we do not ask for the kinds of special treatment for advanced students that are commonly discussed here and there are only so many of those available.

I would say it has been a great place for this kid, lots of supportive teachers and staff, principal, sports and afterschool opportunities, but it's not a place where you can just say "I want my kid in honors X" and "why isn't there a lacrosse team, D&D club, etc.?" or "can't the PTO support that?"

It's not going to be Deal or Hardy or BASIS. It reflects normal bureaucracy for a student body that is not like schools in Ward 3 without extra money or high pressure from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid in 7th grade is having a good time. Has wide-ranging groups of friends and great grades. Overall very positive experience.

This is a good student but we do not ask for the kinds of special treatment for advanced students that are commonly discussed here and there are only so many of those available.

I would say it has been a great place for this kid, lots of supportive teachers and staff, principal, sports and afterschool opportunities, but it's not a place where you can just say "I want my kid in honors X" and "why isn't there a lacrosse team, D&D club, etc.?" or "can't the PTO support that?"

It's not going to be Deal or Hardy or BASIS. It reflects normal bureaucracy for a student body that is not like schools in Ward 3 without extra money or high pressure from parents.

Thank you for this review, PP. Do you feel that the coursework is on grade level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give us some more color. If you are looking for Middle School in the general EOTP but WOTR, submit a post lottery application for Stuart Hobson, E Hines, Washington Global, Social Justice, Creative Minds, Inspired Teaching, Cap City, Capital village, ELHaynes, Sojourner Truth, Two Rivers... I will put $100 bucks on you getting into at least 8 of these in the next couple months

For what it's worth, my friend's child transferred from DCPS due to bullying to Washington Global for his 8th grade year and loves it. They have languages. I am on this board to find out about ES, so not up on all of the other middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Give us some more color. If you are looking for Middle School in the general EOTP but WOTR, submit a post lottery application for Stuart Hobson, E Hines, Washington Global, Social Justice, Creative Minds, Inspired Teaching, Cap City, Capital village, ELHaynes, Sojourner Truth, Two Rivers... I will put $100 bucks on you getting into at least 8 of these in the next couple months

I have to look to see if CM has spots, close to my house. Not the OP, but this list is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Reach out to Vanessa Rubio, an ANC commissioner in Brightwood (plus parent at Brightwood, MacFarland, and Roosevelt). She will give you her own insights as well as connect you to other families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kid in 7th grade is having a good time. Has wide-ranging groups of friends and great grades. Overall very positive experience.

This is a good student but we do not ask for the kinds of special treatment for advanced students that are commonly discussed here and there are only so many of those available.

I would say it has been a great place for this kid, lots of supportive teachers and staff, principal, sports and afterschool opportunities, but it's not a place where you can just say "I want my kid in honors X" and "why isn't there a lacrosse team, D&D club, etc.?" or "can't the PTO support that?"

It's not going to be Deal or Hardy or BASIS. It reflects normal bureaucracy for a student body that is not like schools in Ward 3 without extra money or high pressure from parents.

Thank you for this review, PP. Do you feel that the coursework is on grade level?

I’d say yes. This kid seems to be learning the things I expect. Gonna do Algebra next year for example. I think that teachers could tell you but I believe there is not a ton of variation across DCPS in class content. I definitely feel bad that other kids, our child’s friends don’t grasp it or do all their work sometimes. But our kid seems to get it.

I would just say - kind of a DCPS complaint - they seem to read more text derived material and get taught how to respond in an essay style than to read books and explore them in depth. And homework seems often to be nil, but again I believe that is DCPS for you. And my age probably.