Second guessing the DC public school choice? please no bashing dcps!

[Anonymous]

i didn't come to bash DCPS or public schools in general, so please don't respond to this if you're going to tell me how awful DCPS are. Thanks!

We're doing DC public schools for elementary starting in kindergarten this fall. Every once in awhile, I get nervous and consider fleeing to Bethesda. Then I meet a great family from the school and fall in love with the city again and want to stay. I've gone through this cycle a dozen times in the past year. For those who plan on/have kids in DCPS - do you have feelings of regret or nervousness that your child won't succeed because they go to DCPS? I've heard so many success stories, but I have this nagging in the back of my mind. We're white, upper middle class and educated parents, so, in theory, our kids should succeed no matter where they go. Does anyone else second guess their choice?

[Anonymous]

What school are you referring to?

[Anonymous]

Oyster

[Anonymous]

There are some great public elementary schools in the District. We were renting when our dd started school here and we made a point of buying a house in DC so we could *keep* her in her DCPS school.

It's been more of a mixed bag at the middle school and high school level when kids have multiple teachers. There have been some fantastic ones (Ms. Bax's Algebra I class at Hardy rocks!) and some train wrecks (they'll remain nameless) and some inbetween. In DCPS I figure I always have to pay attention and be involved (but we would anyway) and do some home schooling to keep her up-to-date. I can understand why some people might prefer to move or go private.

But a fair number of folks send their kids to elementary school in DCPS and then move out of the District or into private schools. I would not worry about kindergarten! Try it out and see how it goes. As you get more information, you'll feel more confident about your decision whether you stay or go.

In terms of our worries -- I would say her math and science education has been the most uneven, ranging from superb teachers to the aforementioned train wrecks. Science I worry less about but math we have made a point of supplementing when necessary. She's generally had a good education in English and is in the literary media program at Ellington, working with professional journalists, playwrights, novelists, and poets. We're very pleased with this program. Dd has been pushed to write *a lot* and in all different kinds of genres and we're seeing good results from that. Truth be told -- she would rather go to private school but I think at her young age she doesn't understand how unique the literary media program is.

I do have my doubts but I also have to say -- if I had sent her to private school all these years, I'd be second guessing whether that was the right thing, too. There are always tradeoffs!

At any rate, you don't have to choose for the next 13 years right now. One year at a time!

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am intrigued by the new Chinese immersion charter school. I think it is called Yin-Yang?

We live outside the District and depending on the progress of that school I might consider applying as a tuition paying non-resident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am intrigued by the new Chinese immersion charter school. I think it is called Yin-Yang?

We live outside the District and depending on the progress of that school I might consider applying as a tuition paying non-resident.

I am too! It's called Yu Ying. We have a spot in our public preK but I am really tempted to try Yu Ying (if we get a spot--not sure how competitive it will be in its first year).

[Anonymous]

I found this column by Jay Mathews (the Post's education reporters) very refreshing, and I think it reinforces the PP's point that you shouldn't stress K/elementary school too much. Pay particular attention to #7:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022500675.html

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks! I know I'm making a big deal out of it - I suppose my own history has come into play here (I wasn't in the right middle or high school and grew to hate it) - I so want my kids to love school that I know I'm being too sensitive about the issue!

To the poster with a daughter in middle school - thanks so much for posting! It's very nice to hear from an actual parent of a child older than 8 or 9 in DCPS!

We plan on supplementing at home, as I plan on reducing work hours this fall to be there after school.

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am intrigued by the new Chinese immersion charter school. I think it is called Yin-Yang?

We live outside the District and depending on the progress of that school I might consider applying as a tuition paying non-resident.

No offense, but I hope that this isn't an option for you. Spots in good DC public schools are hard to come by for residents. I certainly hope that my child, as a DC resident, would not be denied a spot in the school because your child, who is not a DC resident, is paying tuition. I understand being able to pay tuition in public schools where there is extra space, but not in schools that will have waitlists.

What do others think about this?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you. Public schools should be for residents unless there is surplus capacity.

[Anonymous]

Are you applying to Yu Ying?

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone so stoked about Yu Ying? Is it simply the Mandarin aspect?

I am confused by the excitement and devotion already to a school that hasn't held a single class.

[Anonymous]

Who are you referring to exactly? No one I know has even heard of it and as far as I can tell it's never been discussed here.

[Anonymous]

I think it's the same person bringing it up - I've seen it mentioned on other threads.

Let's get back to the original question!

[Anonymous]

yup, a chinese immersion school, in its first year?...hmmm.