Long term prospects for Macfarland dual language?

[Anonymous]

Particularly curious on thoughts from parents with upper elementary or just elementary kids at the feeder schools to this program. We are a bilingual family looking at Pre-K and I like what I see at a lot of these schools. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, enough families will stay to make this a real option. What are the families above us thinking and feeling?

[Anonymous]

We've sent one and will send another next year. It seems like every year there are some HHI/educated families who will send their kids through MacFarland. Total kids like this in each grade like 5-10.

It was a bit like this at our DL elementary, which now to put it crudely has white family numbers more in line with the numbers of white children in the neighborhood.

I neither expect nor need a big change at MacFarland to have my second kid go there. First kid did great.

I believe that there will be a gradual change to support a persistent thread of white and other higher income higher education families sending their kids through MacFarland, but it will be very slow growth.

If you have a 2 year old, expect 12-15 kids out of 175 in grade 6 to be dual language MacFarland white kids by the time your kid is 12. For some that is an improvement, for some it is fine, for some it is not enough, and for some being a minority will never be OK.

The school is not magic. DCPS doesn't have that on offer. It's a bureaucracy. But it's been good enough, and first kid had great experiences and I expect second one will as well.

[Anonymous]

Where did/will your child go for high school after Macfarland?

[Anonymous]

We were at a DL feeder and did not choose MacFarland, but know other higher SES families (not all white!) who did. For us it came down to academic rigor and classmate behavior. The academics are fine for a child that has to put in effort to stay on grade level. Probably good actually because they can finally gain some confidence by doing well in school. There is not enough challenge for even "regular" above average kids, and there won't be until the demographics are significantly different. Regarding behavior, that was starting to become an issue for my anxious, sensitive child by late elementary. Middle school is worse universally for behavior and my DC recognized the situation and said they wanted a change to get away from it.

I agree with the PP that said to expect 5-10% higher SES families (AGAIN, of all races!) in 10 years. I wouldn't expect things to be significantly different than they are now, so don't expect some natural progression of high SES buy-in improving the school.

All of that to say, the DL feeders are lovely and I wouldn't discourage you from enrolling a pre-K age child now because of school quality later. Lottery for the DL charters if you want, but don't be afraid of elementary at Bruce Monroe or Powell because of MacFarland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did/will your child go for high school after Macfarland?

First kid went on to Banneker.

[Anonymous]

How successful do you think a DL middle school will be when half the feeder schools aren’t DL? It is set up for failure.

You may say it doesn’t matter for the DL program, but when a middle school is telling half the student population they aren’t valued and only offer them a lesser program, don’t be surprised when those feeder families with options say f that.

Just look at all the drama at Cleveland ES over the years with the friction between DL and English track families. You can probably search this thread and find references to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Particularly curious on thoughts from parents with upper elementary or just elementary kids at the feeder schools to this program. We are a bilingual family looking at Pre-K and I like what I see at a lot of these schools. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, enough families will stay to make this a real option. What are the families above us thinking and feeling?

Let me guess, you are either relatively new to town and/or new to the DC school situation.

There is going to be no improvement to Macfarland in 5-10 years. You might get a handful more of pioneer woke families.

You will find out soon enough all the issues/problems/dysfunction in DCPS by the time your kid gets to 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly curious on thoughts from parents with upper elementary or just elementary kids at the feeder schools to this program. We are a bilingual family looking at Pre-K and I like what I see at a lot of these schools. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, enough families will stay to make this a real option. What are the families above us thinking and feeling?

Let me guess, you are either relatively new to town and/or new to the DC school situation.

There is going to be no improvement to Macfarland in 5-10 years. You might get a handful more of pioneer woke families.

You will find out soon enough all the issues/problems/dysfunction in DCPS by the time your kid gets to 2nd.

+1
My kids are in high school now and I remember this exact 5-10 year trope of improvement BS from when they were entering DCPS for Pre-k.
The bottom line is you have to do what works for your family at the time. Powell, Barnard, Bruce Monroe. They’re all fine. Until they’re not. Or they’re fine until you decide MacFarland won’t be. Or they’re fine and MacFarland is fine with you too. Ultimately with a 3 year old, you really don’t know.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t shout at her just for being curious. No need for the “you must be new here” or default to negativity. Let people judge for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t compare to language and academics at DCI, sorry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Particularly curious on thoughts from parents with upper elementary or just elementary kids at the feeder schools to this program. We are a bilingual family looking at Pre-K and I like what I see at a lot of these schools. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, enough families will stay to make this a real option. What are the families above us thinking and feeling?

Let me guess, you are either relatively new to town and/or new to the DC school situation.

There is going to be no improvement to Macfarland in 5-10 years. You might get a handful more of pioneer woke families.

You will find out soon enough all the issues/problems/dysfunction in DCPS by the time your kid gets to 2nd.

+1
My kids are in high school now and I remember this exact 5-10 year trope of improvement BS from when they were entering DCPS for Pre-k.
The bottom line is you have to do what works for your family at the time. Powell, Barnard, Bruce Monroe. They’re all fine. Until they’re not. Or they’re fine until you decide MacFarland won’t be. Or they’re fine and MacFarland is fine with you too. Ultimately with a 3 year old, you really don’t know.

+1 Former Bruce monroe parent. It was a wonderful school, but like 90% of the upper income families we left the school by 5th grade to get into a JR feeder. I know a few families at MacFarland. its been an ok experience, concerns about disruption in classes though. And none of them want the feeder high school Roosevelt.
I think in about 12-15 years MacFarland will be solid.

[Anonymous]

The lesson post-pandemic is that it is a mistake to anticipate a school changing significantly. There are no "hidden gems" or schools about to "turn the corner."

Of course they could change, but it's foolish to plan on it.

The school pyramid I bought into more than 20 years ago has not changed

[Anonymous]

My kindergartner might get into Powell off the wait list for 1st grade. #7 on WL.

How does MacFarland differ if coming from a DL feeder? I'm having problems finding info. Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t compare to language and academics at DCI, sorry

I know a high SES kid who started at MacFarland in 6th grade, switched to DCI, and came back to MacFarland because their family perceived MacFarland to be better. So, at least some people disagree with you.

OP, your kid will be fine likely be fine at MacFarland in 9 years. Refusing a PK spot because you are concerned about a how a middle school will be in 9 years - when 100s of people successfully send their kids their now - is planning too far in the future. It’s fine school. Ignore the fear and take things as they come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartner might get into Powell off the wait list for 1st grade. #7 on WL.

How does MacFarland differ if coming from a DL feeder? I'm having problems finding info. Thank you

There are 2 programs within MacFarland, one DL, one only English. But unlike in elementary programs with DL track and EO track, the kids in the 2 programs are all mixed together in the classes taught in English. Kids from DL elementary schools go into DL automatically and the kids from English only programs go into English only. I think kids who speak Spanish at home but come from EO programs can also ask to switch into DL if they prove Spanish proficiency. Kids in DL take Science, Social Studies (or similar) in Spanish, and a half-year Spanish language arts “elective,” which is taught at a higher level than what’s taken by EO students.

Unlike the problems at Cleveland in the past, there is not friction across programs at MacFarland (at least not visible to parents or students). The two programs are much, much more integrated across the school and do not feel separate to the students.