Inspired Learning, John Francis - Looking for feedback

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Curious if anyone had recent perspectives on Inspired Teaching Public Charter School, related to the curriculum, environment, etc., particularly from the ECE aspect, but also wondering how well they are regarded as a middle school?

Was also looking for insights on John Francis Ed. Campus in the same focus areas?


Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think they're both good but different. They are physically far apart! Both lack a good high school feeder, ITDS tries to do a good job with 8th grade outplacement but of course nothing is guaranteed.

Be mindful of the new Euclid St Middle school that will be opening, I'm not sure how that will affect Francis in the years to come.

ITDS is more annoyingly crunchy, partly because of the admins but partly because of the parents. But the head of school is a solid manager. Not all the teachers are great, and many are quite young, but none are terrible. There absolutely is behavior and it's not always managed well (they try to, but it doesn't always work).

The middle school is smaller than at Francis. Whether that's good or bad for your kid just depends. I think it's a great size for a 6th grader but by 8th many kids feel ready for a larger setting. ITDS is strong in music and arts, dance, and offers Algebra I and Geometry in 8th (the first is required, the second optional). Not super strong in sciences or sports.

[Anonymous]

I'm also interested in people's thoughts on these two schools, as they're both on our list (perhaps the OP is a fellow Ward 1 resident who lives in between!)

I'm particularly interested in later elementary years (3rd and 4th) - how is differentiation? Do kids stick around that long or is there a lot of student turnover? How's the community at each?

[Anonymous]

At ITDS there's a little turnover each year in elementary and a big outflow after 4th, driven primarily by Latin siblings. There's another smaller turnover in 6th.

Differentiation is okay in upper elementary. They have a lot of push-ins and small groups. There is a lot of SPED staff. In middle school, there is a block of the day for ability grouping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in people's thoughts on these two schools, as they're both on our list (perhaps the OP is a fellow Ward 1 resident who lives in between!)

I'm particularly interested in later elementary years (3rd and 4th) - how is differentiation? Do kids stick around that long or is there a lot of student turnover? How's the community at each?

I think this stays stable at Francis, and in 6th there is a large influx of new students from Ross and Thomson (and temporarily Seaton, Cleveland and Garrison), so it becomes a big middle school. So that means music ensembles and sports, etc.

The schools have really similar test scores IMO, and they both prepare students really well for application high schools. But there are some differences. ITS is a little bougier. But Francis has more overall offerings. But ITS goes one level higher in math. etc. Neither particularly good at teaching science.

We considered both for middle school and i ranked Francis higher. But we went elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in people's thoughts on these two schools, as they're both on our list (perhaps the OP is a fellow Ward 1 resident who lives in between!)

I'm particularly interested in later elementary years (3rd and 4th) - how is differentiation? Do kids stick around that long or is there a lot of student turnover? How's the community at each?

I think this stays stable at Francis, and in 6th there is a large influx of new students from Ross and Thomson (and temporarily Seaton, Cleveland and Garrison), so it becomes a big middle school. So that means music ensembles and sports, etc.

The schools have really similar test scores IMO, and they both prepare students really well for application high schools. But there are some differences. ITS is a little bougier. But Francis has more overall offerings. But ITS goes one level higher in math. etc. Neither particularly good at teaching science.

We considered both for middle school and i ranked Francis higher. But we went elsewhere.

I think because Geometry in 8th is becoming standard in DCPS, Francis will likely have it in the future.

ITDS has solid middle school science teachers, I think they're trying to up their science game a little bit. But the bar for science in elementary and middle school is pretty low in this city, so relative to that. Definitely the musical is a huge priority for ITDS, the theater teacher is terrific. It isn't the level of production you'd get at a big school like Stuart-Hobson, but the kids really enjoy it, and grades 2-4 get to participate a little bit as well.

I am an ITDS parent and I think Francis is a good school. But logistically it would be a struggle for my family.