Stoddert - 25 kids in kindergarten class

[Anonymous]

My family is new to DC (though lived here before) and we in part chose to live in Glover Park because we heard good things about Stoddert. We're coming from a series of small schools and I checked on the Stoddert class sizes and was told from several sources that K was usually around 20-22. This already seemed large to us but I'm amazed/shocked to find the actual class size is 25. That seems extremely large for the age range and I'm curious to know if others have had kids in K classes this large and how it went. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

if its a primary teacher and also an aide, it will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Most kindergarten classes in the area (NOVA, Maryland) have a cap of 24 but will have a “buffer” of 1 or 2 students. They also have an aid so students get more assistance. I don’t think it’s a big deal at Stoddert, but more difficult at schools with many at-risk kids that need lots of extra attention.

[Anonymous]

Our first grader has 32 (at a different DCPS). Even with an aide, it’s a lot.

[Anonymous]

We had 27 last year in MCPS. One teacher. They brought in a long term sub to take out small groups from all the Ks to lighten to load. Still hard. This year we have 6 sections of 1st as enough kids registered early and the school got allocation for another teacher thankfully so it'll be fewer kids per class.

[Anonymous]

They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

It’s hard to predict how many kids will show up for kindergarten. And it’s harder in NWDC, where so many people skip PK because they’re comfortable with private preschool and/or nannies. So sometimes this happens. It’s not some nefarious plot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

You sound uninformed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

You sound uninformed

Huh. Funny that, as I actually am well-informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

It’s hard to predict how many kids will show up for kindergarten. And it’s harder in NWDC, where so many people skip PK because they’re comfortable with private preschool and/or nannies. So sometimes this happens. It’s not some nefarious plot.

It's not just about late enrollees. The target kids per class is higher than EOTP. That's what NW schools have to do to make their budgets work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

You sound uninformed

Huh. Funny that, as I actually am well-informed.

Then please explain how that happens. Show the policy, or the data, or any proof whatsoever that people crowd JLKMs on purpose to somehow short the rich kids. As opposed to them, you know, having buildings too small to add additional classrooms. But please, show us the info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They overload the classes in NW. In other wards, the classes are much smaller. Somehow "equity" is achieved by crowding.

It’s hard to predict how many kids will show up for kindergarten. And it’s harder in NWDC, where so many people skip PK because they’re comfortable with private preschool and/or nannies. So sometimes this happens. It’s not some nefarious plot.

It's not just about late enrollees. The target kids per class is higher than EOTP. That's what NW schools have to do to make their budgets work.

It's been a few years since I worked at DCPS, but it was simply a numbers game. If you were going to have over X number of students, you got an extra teacher for that grade. If you don't have an extra ROOM for kinder to go to, that's a different question. But the number of students/teachers formula is standard. Again, my info is a few years old. But please explain (with proof) of the update.

[Anonymous]

My kid went to a Focus school and only had 15 kids in her K class. I’ll take it.

[Anonymous]

The more the merrier. Your kid will make a lot of friends.
I was an aide in such class few years ago. It will be fine. Kindergartners should be playing, not sitting in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

"good schools" in upper NW, the ones with a lottery waiting list, are notoriously packed. Everyone wants in. Less desirable schools can provide smaller classes, but then you have a less desirable student population with increased behavioral issues and lower test scores.