Is Brent the best school in Capitol hill?

[Anonymous]

4:38 - how old are your kids? And how long have you lived on the Hill? Lastly, how long have you been paying attention to school issues?

[Anonymous]

From the perspective of parents trying to research schools and understand what might be a good fit for their student, I think what would be a lot more helpful than these "which is the best" and generic "school issues" discussions would instead be to have posters list what they feel are the pros and cons of each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you aren't IB, or OOB with sibling preference, henceforth, you won't get in to preK, a good sign in my book. Even knowing that we may not have a MS at the other end, we're glad to have a good ES.

The way every Brent-related DCUM thread turns to MS feeder angst is indicative of what a tough issue the school faces on this front. Looks like voting out Tommy Wells, who hasn't lobbied DCPS for the Brent and Maury SH feeds, would be a prerequisite to progress. Maybe Brent parents should consider organizing to back a viable seeming Ward 6 DC Council candidate, one elected to challenge the myopic, old school Cluster mafia.

The Cluster has had more than two decades to work to ensure that a variety of families, including the high-SES crowd, has their needs met in the three schools. Relentlessly high IB attrition rates at Watkins and SH attest to the fact that they've dropped the ball.

I can't see the rush from Brent to charters and privates abating either - too much momentum there, and Cluster indifference to the optimal SH feeds. But it's sad for the Hill to see kids who grow up together scatter to the four winds so young. The Jefferson feed will never work - if you're going to leave the Hill for MS, why bother with SW when there are vastly superior programs with space in NW, and, seemingly, more coming? The well-intentioned but deeply impractical "Brent guy" was barking up the wrong tree and, hence, wasted the community's time at a critical juncture. I feel no debt of gratitude.

So much of what we live here for is community, and the open-ended feeder problem erodes community ties in a big way.

Agree totally about Wells and the Cluster mafia. Not so sure about Jefferson. At one time it was a superior program. It could be again but not in time for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the perspective of parents trying to research schools and understand what might be a good fit for their student, I think what would be a lot more helpful than these "which is the best" and generic "school issues" discussions would instead be to have posters list what they feel are the pros and cons of each school.

Are you just posting this same thing on each thread? My pros and cons might be different than yours. And some of this is really how one person views it. On this thread alone there have been a number that have said Peabody is better than Brent. My response HA. You want to research schools your best bet is to get off of DCUM that usually wanders off into a million different directions and visit the schools you are interested in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you aren't IB, or OOB with sibling preference, henceforth, you won't get in to preK, a good sign in my book. Even knowing that we may not have a MS at the other end, we're glad to have a good ES.

The way every Brent-related DCUM thread turns to MS feeder angst is indicative of what a tough issue the school faces on this front. Looks like voting out Tommy Wells, who hasn't lobbied DCPS for the Brent and Maury SH feeds, would be a prerequisite to progress. Maybe Brent parents should consider organizing to back a viable seeming Ward 6 DC Council candidate, one elected to challenge the myopic, old school Cluster mafia.

The Cluster has had more than two decades to work to ensure that a variety of families, including the high-SES crowd, has their needs met in the three schools. Relentlessly high IB attrition rates at Watkins and SH attest to the fact that they've dropped the ball.

I can't see the rush from Brent to charters and privates abating either - too much momentum there, and Cluster indifference to the optimal SH feeds. But it's sad for the Hill to see kids who grow up together scatter to the four winds so young. The Jefferson feed will never work - if you're going to leave the Hill for MS, why bother with SW when there are vastly superior programs with space in NW, and, seemingly, more coming? The well-intentioned but deeply impractical "Brent guy" was barking up the wrong tree and, hence, wasted the community's time at a critical juncture. I feel no debt of gratitude.

So much of what we live here for is community, and the open-ended feeder problem erodes community ties in a big way.

Agree totally about Wells and the Cluster mafia. Not so sure about Jefferson. At one time it was a superior program. It could be again but not in time for our kids.

Definitely it could be. But make no mistake: when Jefferson was a superior school in attracted the best students from around the city and put them in a totally separate advanced program. It was extreme tracking that led to its shiny reputation for better or for worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the perspective of parents trying to research schools and understand what might be a good fit for their student, I think what would be a lot more helpful than these "which is the best" and generic "school issues" discussions would instead be to have posters list what they feel are the pros and cons of each school.

Are you just posting this same thing on each thread? My pros and cons might be different than yours. And some of this is really how one person views it. On this thread alone there have been a number that have said Peabody is better than Brent. My response HA. You want to research schools your best bet is to get off of DCUM that usually wanders off into a million different directions and visit the schools you are interested in.

No, I only posted it to two of the current "which school is best" threads.

OF COURSE your reasons will be different, and OF COURSE people will view things differently. What's "best" for one parent won't be "best" for another parent. But that's the whole point.

The point I was trying to make is to share whatever your experiences, research, reasoning for deciding on which school, and any perceived contrasts and comparisons. What I'm trying to suggest here is that people get AWAY from these vague, subjective "School 'x' is the best" or "School 'x' is better than school 'y'" because those dicussions don't ever seem to really get into any useful details, reasoning or the comparative WHY that could actually help prospective parents understand and figure it all out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you aren't IB, or OOB with sibling preference, henceforth, you won't get in to preK, a good sign in my book. Even knowing that we may not have a MS at the other end, we're glad to have a good ES.

The way every Brent-related DCUM thread turns to MS feeder angst is indicative of what a tough issue the school faces on this front. Looks like voting out Tommy Wells, who hasn't lobbied DCPS for the Brent and Maury SH feeds, would be a prerequisite to progress. Maybe Brent parents should consider organizing to back a viable seeming Ward 6 DC Council candidate, one elected to challenge the myopic, old school Cluster mafia.

The Cluster has had more than two decades to work to ensure that a variety of families, including the high-SES crowd, has their needs met in the three schools. Relentlessly high IB attrition rates at Watkins and SH attest to the fact that they've dropped the ball.

I can't see the rush from Brent to charters and privates abating either - too much momentum there, and Cluster indifference to the optimal SH feeds. But it's sad for the Hill to see kids who grow up together scatter to the four winds so young. The Jefferson feed will never work - if you're going to leave the Hill for MS, why bother with SW when there are vastly superior programs with space in NW, and, seemingly, more coming? The well-intentioned but deeply impractical "Brent guy" was barking up the wrong tree and, hence, wasted the community's time at a critical juncture. I feel no debt of gratitude.

So much of what we live here for is community, and the open-ended feeder problem erodes community ties in a big way.

Agree totally about Wells and the Cluster mafia. Not so sure about Jefferson. At one time it was a superior program. It could be again but not in time for our kids.

Definitely it could be. But make no mistake: when Jefferson was a superior school in attracted the best students from around the city and put them in a totally separate advanced program. It was extreme tracking that led to its shiny reputation for better or for worse.

Wasn't that the plan with the Academy? I have no illusions about what it would take. Unfortunately I think we need a principal at the end of his/her career instead of the beginning. Someone who has skills and isn't trying to play the political game to get ahead. I also think this person probably should be from outside DC.

[Anonymous]

No. The Academy idea was meant to turn over the staff and administration of Jefferson slowly over the course of three years. It wad a slow motion restructuring. Same exact feeder pattern and students with a plan to differentiate for students at different levels within the classroom using lots of online learning. International Baccalaureate supposed to be implemented at some point. There was no solid plan to assure parents that their on grade level or advanced students would have a significant number of academic peers or get adequate academic preparation for high school and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the perspective of parents trying to research schools and understand what might be a good fit for their student, I think what would be a lot more helpful than these "which is the best" and generic "school issues" discussions would instead be to have posters list what they feel are the pros and cons of each school.

Are you just posting this same thing on each thread? My pros and cons might be different than yours. And some of this is really how one person views it. On this thread alone there have been a number that have said Peabody is better than Brent. My response HA. You want to research schools your best bet is to get off of DCUM that usually wanders off into a million different directions and visit the schools you are interested in.

No, I only posted it to two of the current "which school is best" threads.

OF COURSE your reasons will be different, and OF COURSE people will view things differently. What's "best" for one parent won't be "best" for another parent. But that's the whole point.

The point I was trying to make is to share whatever your experiences, research, reasoning for deciding on which school, and any perceived contrasts and comparisons. What I'm trying to suggest here is that people get AWAY from these vague, subjective "School 'x' is the best" or "School 'x' is better than school 'y'" because those dicussions don't ever seem to really get into any useful details, reasoning or the comparative WHY that could actually help prospective parents understand and figure it all out.

I totally agree. Yes my research is not based exclusively on dcum but it helps to get opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the perspective of parents trying to research schools and understand what might be a good fit for their student, I think what would be a lot more helpful than these "which is the best" and generic "school issues" discussions would instead be to have posters list what they feel are the pros and cons of each school.

Are you just posting this same thing on each thread? My pros and cons might be different than yours. And some of this is really how one person views it. On this thread alone there have been a number that have said Peabody is better than Brent. My response HA. You want to research schools your best bet is to get off of DCUM that usually wanders off into a million different directions and visit the schools you are interested in.

No, I only posted it to two of the current "which school is best" threads.

OF COURSE your reasons will be different, and OF COURSE people will view things differently. What's "best" for one parent won't be "best" for another parent. But that's the whole point.

The point I was trying to make is to share whatever your experiences, research, reasoning for deciding on which school, and any perceived contrasts and comparisons. What I'm trying to suggest here is that people get AWAY from these vague, subjective "School 'x' is the best" or "School 'x' is better than school 'y'" because those dicussions don't ever seem to really get into any useful details, reasoning or the comparative WHY that could actually help prospective parents understand and figure it all out.

I totally agree. Yes my research is not based exclusively on dcum but it helps to get opinions.

I think forums like this can fill in the gaps and show the other sides to the issues, both pro and con, beyond what things like what the school itself will show you in a visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow, I just really wanted to know if I should send my child to Brent for PreK. If it really is "the" school on the Hill.
We are not worried about middle schools.

You're asking a fundamentally flawed question which largely explains the broad range of responses. There is no "the" school, either on the Hill, upper NW, or MoCo. There are different schools which meet different needs. For example, if you want top tier test scores, you're looking in the wrong place. Try Bethesda where there are neighborhoods feeding top statistically performing schools where houses and condos can be had for comparable cost to the Hill. You want public PS 3 option? Even in your prefered Hill school district you can get shut out IB (ask Brent, SWS IB families) and only be assured of a spot for K.

The key differences between many schools can be both subjective and non-quantitative. Some people prefer a smaller ES (ie Maury or Brent vs. Watkins), some people want a defined path through upper grades. Some want parochial or private options. The only answer to your question is that there absolutely is no "the" school on the Hill or anywhere. Sorry, but if you're hoping for a DCUM anonymous board to resolve that question you're likely to be disappointed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The key differences between many schools can be both subjective and non-quantitative. Some people prefer a smaller ES (ie Maury or Brent vs. Watkins), some people want a defined path through upper grades. Some want parochial or private options. The only answer to your question is that there absolutely is no "the" school on the Hill or anywhere. Sorry, but if you're hoping for a DCUM anonymous board to resolve that question you're likely to be disappointed

OK, these are good points, no absolutes, but they don't change the fact that most Hill denizens who plan to stay to the upper grades in PS and can afford to buy in the Brent District, or get in OOB, do. The real estate market speaks loudest.

Watkins, Maury and even Two Rivers are considered second best in the upper grades and that isn't about to change. A good many Brent parents wouldn't touch another ES over concerns about quality after 2nd grade, making the school unique. Brent has recently become the "it" ES, evoking jealousy and resentment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The key differences between many schools can be both subjective and non-quantitative. Some people prefer a smaller ES (ie Maury or Brent vs. Watkins), some people want a defined path through upper grades. Some want parochial or private options. The only answer to your question is that there absolutely is no "the" school on the Hill or anywhere. Sorry, but if you're hoping for a DCUM anonymous board to resolve that question you're likely to be disappointed

OK, these are good points, no absolutes, but they don't change the fact that most Hill denizens who plan to stay to the upper grades in PS and can afford to buy in the Brent District, or get in OOB, do. The real estate market speaks loudest.

Watkins, Maury and even Two Rivers are considered second best in the upper grades and that isn't about to change. A good many Brent parents wouldn't touch another ES over concerns about quality after 2nd grade, making the school unique. Brent has recently become the "it" ES, evoking jealousy and resentment.

PP here Sorry, but I'm calling BS and chalking this to pervasive Brent boosterism. The Hill estate market is very healthy right now, inentory shortages are pervasive, and days on market are short. . . but that's as much of a red herring as Brent's real estate market reflecting its value as a school. Given the fact that Brent families are peeling off around 4th grade just like other Hill ES options reinforces the underlying MS concern.

signed Hill/DCPS parent who CAN afford Brent's district but wouldleave DC outright if driven primarily by public school performance metrics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP here Sorry, but I'm calling BS and chalking this to pervasive Brent boosterism. The Hill estate market is very healthy right now, inentory shortages are pervasive, and days on market are short. . . but that's as much of a red herring as Brent's real estate market reflecting its value as a school. Given the fact that Brent families are peeling off around 4th grade just like other Hill ES options reinforces the underlying MS concern.

signed Hill/DCPS parent who CAN afford Brent's district but wouldleave DC outright if driven primarily by public school performance metrics.

I'm a Brent parent and i agree with you in part. the boosterism is annoying, unseemly and wrong-- how do you really know the other Hill schools are so much worse than Brent?

But I have a rising 4th grader and he will stay thorugh 4th and so will many of his cohorts (or so the parents tell me!!-- hmmmm . . . ). BASIS and Latin pulled off a lot of Brent rising 5th graders this year, but next year (for better and worse) it will likely be far more difficult for rising 5th graders to get into those charters, so there may be more staying put at Brent.

Anyway, whether or not kids will pull out of Brent after 4th, Brent kids will get 7 years of decent elementary school if they start in preK 3. Not bad!

But whether those 7 years are spent at Brent or at, say, Maury, is unlikely to make a signficant difference in the overall scheme of your kid's life.

YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PP here Sorry, but I'm calling BS and chalking this to pervasive Brent boosterism. The Hill estate market is very healthy right now, inentory shortages are pervasive, and days on market are short. . . but that's as much of a red herring as Brent's real estate market reflecting its value as a school. Given the fact that Brent families are peeling off around 4th grade just like other Hill ES options reinforces the underlying MS concern.

signed Hill/DCPS parent who CAN afford Brent's district but wouldleave DC outright if driven primarily by public school performance metrics.

I'm a Brent parent and i agree with you in part. the boosterism is annoying, unseemly and wrong-- how do you really know the other Hill schools are so much worse than Brent?

But I have a rising 4th grader and he will stay thorugh 4th and so will many of his cohorts (or so the parents tell me!!-- hmmmm . . . ). BASIS and Latin pulled off a lot of Brent rising 5th graders this year, but next year (for better and worse) it will likely be far more difficult for rising 5th graders to get into those charters, so there may be more staying put at Brent.

Anyway, whether or not kids will pull out of Brent after 4th, Brent kids will get 7 years of decent elementary school if they start in preK 3. Not bad!

But whether those 7 years are spent at Brent or at, say, Maury, is unlikely to make a signficant difference in the overall scheme of your kid's life.

YMMV


I suspect the Basis will evolve into a 'go to' option for many Hill families, and it's a very rigorouis curriculum and that will prevent it from becoming just another acceptable PCS option. It's not going to serve the merely "proficient" -- it's going to serve advanced students. The charters are continually pushing to fill gaps where DCPS is not meeting expectations. Basis, Latin, or some other PCS (existing or new) will fill this gap. It's a shame, because if you pooled Brent, Maury, Watkins, Tyler SI, Logan Montessori, SWS families, you could make a pretty fantastic MS feeder rather than having SH serve a relatively small number of Hill families, many OOB families, and a pipeline to privates, charters, and suburban MS schools. I'm still looking for a single Hill familiy excited about the prospects for Eliot Hine -- I have yet to meet that family, although I hear some exist, almost like an urban myth.

I agree that Brent is a good ES option and I know families who've been happy there to date (skewing younger, but still). I could see my kid thriving there, much as I see my kid thriving elsewhere. I wouldn't play boosterism for my own kid's Hill ES even though I'm happy with it and think it's an excellent program - parents look for different things in schools. The boosters may find this hard to believe, but I personally know families who've declined offers for Brent.