what's the best public elementary in DC?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Just starting to think about this. What are a few of the better elementary public schools in DC? Is there a trusted resource with that kind of info?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

This pretty much breaks it down -

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/08/26/school-house-rock-is-michelle-rhee-becoming-a-force-in-d-c-real-estate/

[Anonymous]

Very helpful link! Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

I would add Capital City Public Charter School to the mix. It now goes to the 11th grade.

[Anonymous]

Stoddert (Glover Park) isn't mentioned in that article, but I think it had the top test scores in the city this year, and the new building looks incredible.

[Anonymous]

I think it's Marion Barry Elementary in Barry Farms

[Anonymous]

greatschools.org is currently the only independent resource for comparing schools across type and geography.

http://www.greatschools.org/geo/landing/washington-dc.page

"Best" is a subjective word in DC because of the geographically based socio-economic divides across DC (east of the river, upper NW, etc, etc.). In addition, we have more charter school options than any city except New Orleans. 40% of DC kids are in charters which offer open enrollment no matter where you live. Roughly 80% of students are AA, but the numbers of white and other ethnicities is rising.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:greatschools.org is currently the only independent resource for comparing schools across type and geography.

http://www.greatschools.org/geo/landing/washington-dc.page

"Best" is a subjective word in DC because of the geographically based socio-economic divides across DC (east of the river, upper NW, etc, etc.). In addition, we have more charter school options than any city except New Orleans. 40% of DC kids are in charters which offer open enrollment no matter where you live. Roughly 80% of students are AA, but the numbers of white and other ethnicities is rising.

Good luck!

I don't really care for greatschools.org. Their methodology is really vulnerable to having schools driven up by boosters or driven down by disaffected families or staff. It isn't nearly as useful as the OLD version of the DC Chooser book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This pretty much breaks it down -

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/08/26/school-house-rock-is-michelle-rhee-becoming-a-force-in-d-c-real-estate/

On this board, I think most people would subtract Eaton and Oyster from the DCPS list and add Cap City and maybe Stokes or LAMB to the charter list, though those a hardly the hills I'd choose to die on. It's a pretty good list. Seems like it should probably include a Capitol Hill school or two to be more thorough.

[Anonymous]

why do you say subtract eaton and oyster? they are incredibly strong schools, parent communities and principals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This pretty much breaks it down -

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/08/26/school-house-rock-is-michelle-rhee-becoming-a-force-in-d-c-real-estate/

On this board, I think most people would subtract Eaton and Oyster from the DCPS list and add Cap City and maybe Stokes or LAMB to the charter list, though those a hardly the hills I'd choose to die on. It's a pretty good list. Seems like it should probably include a Capitol Hill school or two to be more thorough.

That's ridiculous. Oyster and Eaton should certainly be on the lists. Just because Oyster has a large population of lower income Hispanic children and a growing special ed group compared with Janney or Key or Lafayette. Of course the all-white schools do just fine - the white kids at Oyster score just as high as the white kids in the other Upper NW schools. It's simply more diverse (racially AND economically AND special needs) and has the language component, which is desirable on a whole other level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really care for greatschools.org. Their methodology is really vulnerable to having schools driven up by boosters or driven down by disaffected families or staff. It isn't nearly as useful as the OLD version of the DC Chooser book.

PP here. Very good point! I should have clarified. Greatschools website should be used as a tool for finding options, and definitely NOT a source of recommendations or rankings.

It's a helpful starting point for looking across all types of from one site.

For example, if you put in a zipcode or address, you can see a map with all DCPS, charters and private/parochial schools nearby. Then you can sort by distance, type, etc. and save a list of schools you want to investigate more.

They also have FAQ documents that explain the whole DC school choice process and details like what's OSSE, how is testing done, etc.

It's an independent national nonprofit that's sort of new to DC. They told me they know ratings aren't perfect and many - myself included - preferred old format. They were very open to suggestions. The new one comes out in Oct. (I don't work for them BTW. )

HTH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This pretty much breaks it down -

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/08/26/school-house-rock-is-michelle-rhee-becoming-a-force-in-d-c-real-estate/

On this board, I think most people would subtract Eaton and Oyster from the DCPS list and add Cap City and maybe Stokes or LAMB to the charter list, though those a hardly the hills I'd choose to die on. It's a pretty good list. Seems like it should probably include a Capitol Hill school or two to be more thorough.

That's ridiculous. Oyster and Eaton should certainly be on the lists. Just because Oyster has a large population of lower income Hispanic children and a growing special ed group compared with Janney or Key or Lafayette. Of course the all-white schools do just fine - the white kids at Oyster score just as high as the white kids in the other Upper NW schools. It's simply more diverse (racially AND economically AND special needs) and has the language component, which is desirable on a whole other level.

Take note OP. This is like comparing apples to kiwis to grapes. It's all fruit. Different skins, prices, availability and preference impact supply and demand.

[Anonymous]

Somebody with a little time should compare the test scores of the white kids from school to school to school. ie, at Mann, 67 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.' at Lafayette, 64 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.' At Eaton, 60 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.'

Then compare apples to apples WRT your type of kid.

That, to me, is more persuasive than the umbrella "what is the best school" answer.

People might be interested to know, for example, that the percentage of white kids scoring 'Advanced' in reading is much, much, much higher at Eaton than at Key. To me personally, this says there's a whole lotta test prep going on at Eaton, because I do not believe that the white daughters of public interest lawyers and journalists living in Cleveland Park are 40% smarter than the white daughters of public interested lawyers and journalists living the Palisades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somebody with a little time should compare the test scores of the white kids from school to school to school. ie, at Mann, 67 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.' at Lafayette, 64 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.' At Eaton, 60 percent of the white kids score 'Above Average.'

Then compare apples to apples WRT your type of kid.

That, to me, is more persuasive than the umbrella "what is the best school" answer.

People might be interested to know, for example, that the percentage of white kids scoring 'Advanced' in reading is much, much, much higher at Eaton than at Key. To me personally, this says there's a whole lotta test prep going on at Eaton, because I do not believe that the white daughters of public interest lawyers and journalists living in Cleveland Park are 40% smarter than the white daughters of public interested lawyers and journalists living the Palisades.

Since when can public interest lawyers and journalists afford Cleveland Park or Palisades?