What kind of school will Van Ness Elementary end up being? More like Brent, Maury, or Ludlow-Taylor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or Brent should sort out its messed up PreK4 lottery situation and problematic K instruction.

Maybe we could turn Van Ness into a Pk3 - Pk4 only school to handle all the Brent overflow. That would free up the rest of Brent for K - 5 for the IB crowd. Van Ness IB could go to Watkins or somewhere else that always has OOB spaces.

No way. I want the option to send my kid to VN for a grade or two if I find that there are a great many complaints about the teachers in a particular year at Brent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or Brent should sort out its messed up PreK4 lottery situation and problematic K instruction.

Maybe we could turn Van Ness into a Pk3 - Pk4 only school to handle all the Brent overflow. That would free up the rest of Brent for K - 5 for the IB crowd. Van Ness IB could go to Watkins or somewhere else that always has OOB spaces.

I hope this is sarcastic. Otherwise, wow, how disposable do you think non-Brent IB kids are? Don't get me wrong - I am actually a fan of Watkins but that is a haul for VN kids and it sounds as if you think "any old school" would do for them. Why wouldn't you just cluster VN and Brent for PS3-K and 1-5 instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh really, not even for a grade or two?

We're IB for Brent and there for PreK4, but planning to try to lottery into Van Ness for K. Two of the Brent K teachers aren't for us (and parents can't choose teachers), we live nearer to VN than Brent, and close friends involved in the VN PTA would welcome us. The 2 VN K teachers seem great, and we like the principal.

I've heard wonderful things about the K teachers at Van Ness Elementary as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or Brent should sort out its messed up PreK4 lottery situation and problematic K instruction.

Maybe we could turn Van Ness into a Pk3 - Pk4 only school to handle all the Brent overflow. That would free up the rest of Brent for K - 5 for the IB crowd. Van Ness IB could go to Watkins or somewhere else that always has OOB spaces.

I hope this is sarcastic. Otherwise, wow, how disposable do you think non-Brent IB kids are? Don't get me wrong - I am actually a fan of Watkins but that is a haul for VN kids and it sounds as if you think "any old school" would do for them. Why wouldn't you just cluster VN and Brent for PS3-K and 1-5 instead?

Not gonna happen. DCPS is not going to cluster VN and Brent after VN parents made such a huge stink against clustering with Amidon (for the alleged reason that crossing S. Cap would be too dangerous). To get to Brent, these families would need to cross under the highway and over the CSX tracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is obnoxious for two reasons. First, because it is basically a bunch of parents voicing their hope that low SES kids can be kept out of their school. Second, because it implies that if Van Ness "ends up" like Maury or LT it won't be good enough for the poster, and only a Brent clone is acceptable. It's OPs right to think that, but those schools work for lots of neighborhood families (obviously Maury more universally, but LT's IB population is ticking up every year and there is an IB waitlist for pre k).

And it's all just speculation at this point anyway

I agree with the bolded, but have noticed several posters in this thread with their fingers seemingly crossed hoping the school is full of kids from public housing. Not sure I understand the motivation on either side.

I hope Van Ness is never anything more than Watkins or JO Wilson, because I don't like the snottiness and presumption of Van Ness boosters.

Given the demographics, I'll get my wish. (besos!)

[Anonymous]

FYI.... Van Ness Open House is tonight at 5:30pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is obnoxious for two reasons. First, because it is basically a bunch of parents voicing their hope that low SES kids can be kept out of their school. Second, because it implies that if Van Ness "ends up" like Maury or LT it won't be good enough for the poster, and only a Brent clone is acceptable. It's OPs right to think that, but those schools work for lots of neighborhood families (obviously Maury more universally, but LT's IB population is ticking up every year and there is an IB waitlist for pre k).

And it's all just speculation at this point anyway

I agree with the bolded, but have noticed several posters in this thread with their fingers seemingly crossed hoping the school is full of kids from public housing. Not sure I understand the motivation on either side.

I hope Van Ness is never anything more than Watkins or JO Wilson, because I don't like the snottiness and presumption of Van Ness boosters.

Given the demographics, I'll get my wish. (besos!)

wow, pot meet kettle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is obnoxious for two reasons. First, because it is basically a bunch of parents voicing their hope that low SES kids can be kept out of their school. Second, because it implies that if Van Ness "ends up" like Maury or LT it won't be good enough for the poster, and only a Brent clone is acceptable. It's OPs right to think that, but those schools work for lots of neighborhood families (obviously Maury more universally, but LT's IB population is ticking up every year and there is an IB waitlist for pre k).

And it's all just speculation at this point anyway

I agree with the bolded, but have noticed several posters in this thread with their fingers seemingly crossed hoping the school is full of kids from public housing. Not sure I understand the motivation on either side.

I hope Van Ness is never anything more than Watkins or JO Wilson, because I don't like the snottiness and presumption of Van Ness boosters.

Given the demographics, I'll get my wish. (besos!)

wow, pot meet kettle

Im with PP. The Van Ness boosters are offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is obnoxious for two reasons. First, because it is basically a bunch of parents voicing their hope that low SES kids can be kept out of their school. Second, because it implies that if Van Ness "ends up" like Maury or LT it won't be good enough for the poster, and only a Brent clone is acceptable. It's OPs right to think that, but those schools work for lots of neighborhood families (obviously Maury more universally, but LT's IB population is ticking up every year and there is an IB waitlist for pre k).

And it's all just speculation at this point anyway

I agree with the bolded, but have noticed several posters in this thread with their fingers seemingly crossed hoping the school is full of kids from public housing. Not sure I understand the motivation on either side.

I hope Van Ness is never anything more than Watkins or JO Wilson, because I don't like the snottiness and presumption of Van Ness boosters.

Given the demographics, I'll get my wish. (besos!)

wow, pot meet kettle

Im with PP. The Van Ness boosters are offensive.

And the comments about Watkins and JO Wilson aren't offensive? You people are all terrible.

[Anonymous]

Official Van Ness Demographics (Discussed at Back to School Night):

49% AA
40% White
8% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Native American


Population 171
Not a Title I School

Two 1st Grade Classes
Two Kindergarten Classes
Two PK4 Classes
Three PK3 Classes

[Anonymous]

Aargh, no!!! Facts have no place in this discussion!

[Anonymous]

did they mention if DCPS would be stopping the IB PK guarantee since it's no longer a Title I school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Official Van Ness Demographics (Discussed at Back to School Night):

49% AA
40% White
8% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Native American


Population 171
Not a Title I School

Two 1st Grade Classes
Two Kindergarten Classes
Two PK4 Classes
Three PK3 Classes

How many IB/OOB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Official Van Ness Demographics (Discussed at Back to School Night):

49% AA
40% White
8% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Native American


Population 171
Not a Title I School

Two 1st Grade Classes
Two Kindergarten Classes
Two PK4 Classes
Three PK3 Classes

How many IB/OOB?[/quote


I don't have the official numbers, but I would bet that it's at least 70% inbound students. My child's PK3 class is 100% IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Official Van Ness Demographics (Discussed at Back to School Night):

49% AA
40% White
8% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Native American


Population 171
Not a Title I School

Two 1st Grade Classes
Two Kindergarten Classes
Two PK4 Classes\
Three PK3 Classes

Finally some stats. Thanks a lot, PP.