Starting immersion in 1st grade? (SCES French)

[Anonymous]

We are considering buying a house near DTSS in the area zoned for Sligo Creek Elementary.

However, we have a rising 1st grader and wondering whether it’s possible/desirable to try for the French immersion program. I’m guessing it’s probably too late for the 2024-25 school year, and even then, guessing it doesn’t make sense since he was in a regular non-immersion kindergarten class?

I have concerns about the Academy side of things based on the recent incidents I’ve read about here - is the principal staying? Any reason to believe things will improve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering buying a house near DTSS in the area zoned for Sligo Creek Elementary.

However, we have a rising 1st grader and wondering whether it’s possible/desirable to try for the French immersion program. I’m guessing it’s probably too late for the 2024-25 school year, and even then, guessing it doesn’t make sense since he was in a regular non-immersion kindergarten class?

I have concerns about the Academy side of things based on the recent incidents I’ve read about here - is the principal staying? Any reason to believe things will improve?

The current principal is leaving next week. A new one could be appointed at today's BOE meeting.

[Anonymous]

The lottery for rising first graders was already conducted, and your child would need to test in after first grade. So that ship has likely sailed even though plenty of kids start immersion in first grade and do fine.

As for the Academy side, I don't think Sligo Creek is any worse or better than other schools. There was a long post here a few months ago about a violently disruptive child at one of the richest elementary schools in the district. It comes down to luck, and whether the administration has the tools and expertise to move quickly on alternative placements. I'm cautiously optimistic that mcps will give the school an experienced administrator, given how much churn has been at that level for the past 5 years.

[Anonymous]

A Silver Spring school is one of the richest in the district? That’s news to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Silver Spring school is one of the richest in the district? That’s news to me.

You are mis-reading. The earlier discussion was about a west county school.

[Anonymous]

DC started Immersion in first grade and there weren’t any issues. There were kids in her cohort who did not join immersion until grade 2 and one kid didn’t join the class until 4th grade. Those kids had to take a test to enroll, but I don’t think it’s too difficult if your kid has some background with the language.

[Anonymous]

It’s much too late for the lottery, so that ship has sailed. Good luck with your search though.