Marie Reed in Adams Morgan

[Anonymous]

Are there any Marie Reed elementary parents out there? I know that there is a new principal, has it been a good transition? I am looking for a new school and trying to figure out my options.

[Anonymous]

Surf the posts. There are a bunch of parents who tried it out this year. There's a really nice guy trying to get a PTA started. My impression: a nice little school that people are quietly returning to, without fanfare.

[Anonymous]

We love Marie Reed. My son is in the three-year-old class. I'm not sure I'd keep him there for school, but for the younger kids, it's wonderful. The principal is very concerned and responsive. The atmosphere is friendly, and the teachers are good. The kids get both breakfast and lunch.

[Anonymous]

I searched the archives and most of the posts are related to the pre-k program and annual debate about principals. I have met the principal before and found him impressive but looking at Marie Reed's stats it does appear challenging. Does anyone know about the upper grades? Are they similar to other schools where parents with choices start emptying out around grade 3? I am extremely unhappy where we are and I have only limited transportation options to get from downtown to school to pickup my child so I am trying to make the best of it.

[Anonymous]

What grade are you looking for 8:14?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I searched the archives and most of the posts are related to the pre-k program and annual debate about principals. I have met the principal before and found him impressive but looking at Marie Reed's stats it does appear challenging. Does anyone know about the upper grades? Are they similar to other schools where parents with choices start emptying out around grade 3? I am extremely unhappy where we are and I have only limited transportation options to get from downtown to school to pickup my child so I am trying to make the best of it.

My sympathies. Looking at similar situation for next year. Logistics make a hard school situation harder.

[Anonymous]

OP looking for grade 5 and K

[Anonymous]

With a 5th grader you could probably ride the wait list over the summer at most any school. If the 5th grader gets in, then the K moves to the top of the list.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the first year with the new principal, and he appears to be doing well by all accounts. I do think that most of the excitement about Marie Reed is still in the younger grades, tho' I did meet a very nice 3rd grader at a bake sale recently who adamantly (and articulately) defended her school. Their PTA president has a 4th grader, and he's pretty impressive.

I agree with PP 16:07. You could likely get your 5th grader into any of the local (or Charter) more desirable schools (Oyster, Ross, Shepherd are all doing relatively well test-scores wise and aren't too far from Adams Morgan), and then use sibling preference to get your K in.

I'd also note that there are a lot of upper income higher-grade kids in Bancroft, but their parents just quietly send 'em there and don't lurk on this board, so you'd have to go to their open house & meet their PTA president to get an evaluation of the upper grades.

Also, places like Cap City and DC Bilingual both have exoduses after 3rd grade (so they'd have slots for your 5th grader), and those are both walking distance from Adams Morgan.

You may also want to consider looking at schools close to where you work, if you're relatively sure that you'll stay at your work for awhile. Thompson is close to downtown and is still a decent school, tho' many families pulled out after last year when their principal resigned.

[Anonymous]

OP - I am one of the Thomson parents planning on pulling out. I have realized that it is going to take several years of very intense change for that school to turn around, if it really does and I can't deal with that level of stress. I also have realized I don't like IB and I need to be part of something successful and that is a while off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the first year with the new principal, and he appears to be doing well by all accounts. I do think that most of the excitement about Marie Reed is still in the younger grades, tho' I did meet a very nice 3rd grader at a bake sale recently who adamantly (and articulately) defended her school. Their PTA president has a 4th grader, and he's pretty impressive.

I agree with PP 16:07. You could likely get your 5th grader into any of the local (or Charter) more desirable schools (Oyster, Ross, Shepherd are all doing relatively well test-scores wise and aren't too far from Adams Morgan), and then use sibling preference to get your K in.

I'd also note that there are a lot of upper income higher-grade kids in Bancroft, but their parents just quietly send 'em there and don't lurk on this board, so you'd have to go to their open house & meet their PTA president to get an evaluation of the upper grades.

Also, places like Cap City and DC Bilingual both have exoduses after 3rd grade (so they'd have slots for your 5th grader), and those are both walking distance from Adams Morgan.

You may also want to consider looking at schools close to where you work, if you're relatively sure that you'll stay at your work for awhile. Thompson is close to downtown and is still a decent school, tho' many families pulled out after last year when their principal resigned.

Put down the crack pipe. Who pulls out of Cap City for Marie Reed?!

[Anonymous]

anyone currently at Reed. I am seriously thinking about putting my 3 year old there for the bilingual program.

[Anonymous]

Do they have before care?

[Anonymous]

You would move a 5th grade student from Thomson to Reed because you don't like IB?

You seem very focused on how YOU feel about the school, not how your child feels about the school. If you're going to make your child switch for 1 year, why not chose a school that feeds into Deal.

Seriously, focus on your child not yourself.

[Anonymous]

9:14 it is because I am focused on my child that I want to leave. I really believe IB is harmful. It does not provide nearly enough content, it is very challenging in the Thomson environment when so many kids are struggling and frankly the teacher turnover is going to be very intense most likely for several years. I am also thinking about a younger 2nd child. I get the question about Deal but I have a great deal of logistical difficulty getting to their feeder schools. I think a lot of folks on the West side of the city just don't get how hard it can be for any of us in any of the other quadrants to get across the city every day twice a day. Until you are in failing school and feel trapped by it refrain from judgment.