Washington Latin (older location) vs Hardy Middle School

[Anonymous]

Our feeder pattern is Hardy and we just lotteried into Washington Latin (2nd st). Looking for help to make a decision--any positives or negatives about both schools?

[Anonymous]

I don’t have advice but know that thr fact that you have this choice makes you extremely lucky. I half want to tell you to stay at Hardy so another family can have thr Latin spot but I get you have to make thr choice that is best for your kid.

[Anonymous]

The biggest differences are commute, size of the school, foreign language option, and staying for high school versus going to MacArthur. Also having to take three years of Latin.

And yes, think of all the Capitol Hill parents who would kill for a spot at Latin, for their kid.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids has been at Latin since 6th grade and it's been an amazing experience--she is thriving. Our younger child is at Hardy, and it's a mixed bag. She loves the friends she has made but I hear a lot about how teachers were absent from class frequently, fights, etc. She's doing well but we hope to move her to Latin with her sibling next year.

[Anonymous]

Can't speak directly to Hardy, but we have two close family friends who have pulled their kids or had terrible experiences at Hardy from JKLM schools. Really disruptive students, checked-out teachers were the two main complaints.

As a NW family at Latin. Commute could be an issue, but if you are close tot he Wisc Ave corridor there is a school bud option that picks up in Glover and Tenleytown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't speak directly to Hardy, but we have two close family friends who have pulled their kids or had terrible experiences at Hardy from JKLM schools. Really disruptive students, checked-out teachers were the two main complaints.

As a NW family at Latin. Commute could be an issue, but if you are close tot he Wisc Ave corridor there is a school bud option that picks up in Glover and Tenleytown.

This year? I know there was a problem principally a few years ago, but my DC is in 7th at Hardy and we have had no such issues. Hardy has been great in our experience.

[Anonymous]

If transportation is not an issue, I would recommend going with Latin, and then consider Hardy if Latin doesn't work for some reason.

[Anonymous]

I would decide based on commute and your confidence in MacArthur as a new and largely untested high school. Latin gets you a stable, known pathway through graduation. Hardy is similar academically, but MacArthur is still going to be in growth mode for another few years. Plus they're on opposite sides of the city - and two buses/over an hour commute on public transport from each other. If I were IB for Hardy, I may gamble on MacArthur. If I were OOB and closer to Latin, I would give my kid those hours of their life back and go for the known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't speak directly to Hardy, but we have two close family friends who have pulled their kids or had terrible experiences at Hardy from JKLM schools. Really disruptive students, checked-out teachers were the two main complaints.

As a NW family at Latin. Commute could be an issue, but if you are close tot he Wisc Ave corridor there is a school bud option that picks up in Glover and Tenleytown.

This year? I know there was a problem principally a few years ago, but my DC is in 7th at Hardy and we have had no such issues. Hardy has been great in our experience.

Nope, last year and the year before that (and the year before that.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would decide based on commute and your confidence in MacArthur as a new and largely untested high school. Latin gets you a stable, known pathway through graduation. Hardy is similar academically, but MacArthur is still going to be in growth mode for another few years. Plus they're on opposite sides of the city - and two buses/over an hour commute on public transport from each other. If I were IB for Hardy, I may gamble on MacArthur. If I were OOB and closer to Latin, I would give my kid those hours of their life back and go for the known.

The commute concern seems slightly overdramatized here if in bounds to Hardy. My kid takes the bus to/from Tenley which is 20 minutes each way and actually a fun, communal experience that my kid loves. If taking from Glover Park, it’s 10 minutes added to this. Not hours on buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest differences are commute, size of the school, foreign language option, and staying for high school versus going to MacArthur. Also having to take three years of Latin.

And yes, think of all the Capitol Hill parents who would kill for a spot at Latin, for their kid.

Now think of the parents who actually live in Latin’s neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would decide based on commute and your confidence in MacArthur as a new and largely untested high school. Latin gets you a stable, known pathway through graduation. Hardy is similar academically, but MacArthur is still going to be in growth mode for another few years. Plus they're on opposite sides of the city - and two buses/over an hour commute on public transport from each other. If I were IB for Hardy, I may gamble on MacArthur. If I were OOB and closer to Latin, I would give my kid those hours of their life back and go for the known.

The commute concern seems slightly overdramatized here if in bounds to Hardy. My kid takes the bus to/from Tenley which is 20 minutes each way and actually a fun, communal experience that my kid loves. If taking from Glover Park, it’s 10 minutes added to this. Not hours on buses.

The bus routes are changing this summer. My kid takes the bus from near the original Latin to Hardy and next year it will be two buses plus walking. That’s over an hour unless we drive him across the park to the bus stop, then it’s just one bus from Military Road. Tenleytown to Hardy is a separate bus that adds half an hour accounting for transfer time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would decide based on commute and your confidence in MacArthur as a new and largely untested high school. Latin gets you a stable, known pathway through graduation. Hardy is similar academically, but MacArthur is still going to be in growth mode for another few years. Plus they're on opposite sides of the city - and two buses/over an hour commute on public transport from each other. If I were IB for Hardy, I may gamble on MacArthur. If I were OOB and closer to Latin, I would give my kid those hours of their life back and go for the known.

The commute concern seems slightly overdramatized here if in bounds to Hardy. My kid takes the bus to/from Tenley which is 20 minutes each way and actually a fun, communal experience that my kid loves. If taking from Glover Park, it’s 10 minutes added to this. Not hours on buses.

The bus routes are changing this summer. My kid takes the bus from near the original Latin to Hardy and next year it will be two buses plus walking. That’s over an hour unless we drive him across the park to the bus stop, then it’s just one bus from Military Road. Tenleytown to Hardy is a separate bus that adds half an hour accounting for transfer time.

That does sound like a long commute for your child. It also sounds like you are describing a metro route. Latin has buses to the 2nd street campus with stops at Tenleytown and Glover Park. We’ve found these to be reliable and very quick.