Advice on Two River PCS

[Anonymous]

Hi I have my kid at DC pre (raising 4th grader) but I’m hearing mixed reviews about the school and its safety. Someone mentioned Two rivers and I will like some reviews from parents or teachers about the school and how hard is it to get in. I’m mostly worry about unsafe behavior that I heard DC pre let kids run wild last year.

[Anonymous]

It's very easy to get into Two Rivers for 4th grade because of the behavior problems there, plus the poor academic performance. I'm not sure if it's better or worse than DC Prep, but it's certainly very different in its style.

If you're looking for different options in the area I would suggest Langdon, Inspired Teaching, Burroughs, and Seaton if you're able to get there. Lee Montessori might work if you like Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Could you tell me more about the behavior problems ? I know at Dc prep some 4th graders last year were stabbing peers and breaking glass.

[Anonymous]

It's constant, chronic disruption in the classrooms and hallways. Some physical fights but that's more at the middle school location. Lots of classroom time devoted to managing behavior. The teachers are inexperienced. The school's philosophy isn't as strict as DC Prep, it's very left-leaning, and they aren't quick to expel students who don't behave. I don't know whether it's better or worse than DC Prep. If I were you I would probably stay where you are and try to lottery into Latin and Inspired Teaching and other schools for 5th. This late after the lottery, you'll have a hard time getting in anywhere good for 4th.

[Anonymous]

Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the location for DC Prep, are you talking about DC Prep Ana or Benning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

[Anonymous]

Hey I’m talking about Benning, and I also have a friend who is a teacher that’s who told me everything that was going down because her kid got stabbed by another student and they didn’t do anything not even move them to different classrooms.

[Anonymous]

If your rising 4th grader is a son, I don't know if Washington Jesuit Academy has any more openings but it doesn't charge tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

Sorry, what now? They are no longer filling every seat in every grade and even for formerly high demand ECE seats they are getting awfully close to working all the way through their waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

Sorry, what now? They are no longer filling every seat in every grade and even for formerly high demand ECE seats they are getting awfully close to working all the way through their waitlists.

As long as they're hitting their LEA-wide total enrollment target by Count Day, I consider that filling their seats. Because that's what matters for their budget. I know their waitlists are a far cry from what they used to be, but ultimately that's not what truly matters.

[Anonymous]

Demographically complex population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

I don't entirely understand what "isn't doing very well either but not terrible" means. Can you elaborate?

No MS is DC is perfect so additional details would be useful in comparing it to other options, all of which also have their drawbacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

I don't entirely understand what "isn't doing very well either but not terrible" means. Can you elaborate?

No MS is DC is perfect so additional details would be useful in comparing it to other options, all of which also have their drawbacks.

I mean that compared to other middle schools east of Rock Creek Park that aren't very hard to get into, the test scores, other stats, and what I hear about behavior are worse than some, but not so bad that it's going to be shut down or fail due to low enrollment. Unfortunately a good middle school is hard to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are both TR campuses still struggling? My DS was at the Young campus years ago, we thankfully were able to leave after 4th grade. It was a bad experience for us in terms of curriculum and behavioral issues. Not to mention the leadership seems to be in denial about the issues.

I don't think the leadership is in denial, just not effective.

I think both elementary campuses are doing slightly better, but still not well. They do seem to be filling their seats, but other metrics aren't good. The middle school isn't doing very well either but not terrible.

I don't entirely understand what "isn't doing very well either but not terrible" means. Can you elaborate?

No MS is DC is perfect so additional details would be useful in comparing it to other options, all of which also have their drawbacks.

I mean that compared to other middle schools east of Rock Creek Park that aren't very hard to get into, the test scores, other stats, and what I hear about behavior are worse than some, but not so bad that it's going to be shut down or fail due to low enrollment. Unfortunately a good middle school is hard to find.

What a depressing but true statement.