Shell-shocked student - on to Deal?

[Anonymous]

This fall, we moved our dear child from an excellent charter school to 5th grade at an upper NW elementary school, primarily so that child could go on to Deal. Three months in, we are thinking we made a huge mistake. Dear child has gone from consistent and high-level academic success to middling test scores and complaints about lack of attention or focused instruction from teacher. Dear child has also expressed concerns about size of Deal and whether it will be any better. Can anyone with actual, first-hand experience at Deal provide some insight?

[Anonymous]

Not firsthand, but a number of my child's friends went to Deal and had amazing experiences. I did not hear a single complaint. They divide the school into teams of 100, so you get to work with a small group. Have you been? Has DC done a shadow day?

[Anonymous]

We have visited Deal, as how our child. Child has also gone on a shadow day - that's part of what sparked the concern about the size of Deal, where even the "small groups" are more than twice the size of her charter school class and 25% larger than the elementary school grade where she's now being ignored. Before we moved our child to the current elementary school, we heard nothing but glowing reviews. Now that we're there, we hear much more mixed things from parents in the system - who also have very mixed things to say about teacher quality at Deal. That's why I'm looking for first-hand experience, especially from parents who might have a child in similar circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for your experience. Parents at these schools always give glowing reviews publicly. That is, at least until they get their child into the private/charter/suburban school of their choice. No one seems to want to admit that even the best DCPS schools just aren't very good. You're right -- you will consistently hear just how wonderful your local school is...until you enroll your child. It's almost like the parents do not want the air the "dirty laundry" in public. Once you arrive at one of these elementary schools, it doesn't take long to discover they are sub-par and most of the parents with any means are long-gone or working every angle to get their kids out of the system. I'm sorry you made this move only to learn this sad reality after the fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for your experience. Parents at these schools always give glowing reviews publicly. That is, at least until they get their child into the private/charter/suburban school of their choice. No one seems to want to admit that even the best DCPS schools just aren't very good. You're right -- you will consistently hear just how wonderful your local school is...until you enroll your child. It's almost like the parents do not want the air the "dirty laundry" in public. Once you arrive at one of these elementary schools, it doesn't take long to discover they are sub-par and most of the parents with any means are long-gone or working every angle to get their kids out of the system. I'm sorry you made this move only to learn this sad reality after the fact.

I'd like to ask you a fair question(s). Do you live in DC? Did you ever send your kid to an upper NW public? Where do your kids go now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for your experience. Parents at these schools always give glowing reviews publicly. That is, at least until they get their child into the private/charter/suburban school of their choice. No one seems to want to admit that even the best DCPS schools just aren't very good. You're right -- you will consistently hear just how wonderful your local school is...until you enroll your child. It's almost like the parents do not want the air the "dirty laundry" in public. Once you arrive at one of these elementary schools, it doesn't take long to discover they are sub-par and most of the parents with any means are long-gone or working every angle to get their kids out of the system. I'm sorry you made this move only to learn this sad reality after the fact.

It is certainly true that people try not to air dirty laundry about their schools. This is true across the board--public, private, charter, urban, suburban. No one likes to slam the thing they've invested in, so you're not going to get a true picture until you are part of the school.

It certainly is not true that "most of the parents with any means are long-gone or working every angle to get their kids out" of DCPS. As someone "with means" who is at a DCPS elementary school with lots of other parents "with means," I know what I'm talking about.

OP, I don't have kids at Deal yet, but I (like others) hear pretty much only glowing things--just last week from someone who is new to DCPS (and to the local area) and has a 6th grader there. But regardless of the team structure, I'm guessing it still feels like a big school, so if that's what your daughter is concerned about I can understand why you'd want to explore your options. I hope you find a solution that works for your family. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

There are those out there that want to see Deal succeed and there are those out there that, for what unfathomable reason I do not know, want to see Deal fail. We, parents of means, think that Deal is a fabulous school. Our bright and shy child is thriving there and we have been pleasantly surprised by how well the faculty and staff know our child. It IS a big public school. It is fine to have an issue with the size without this turning into an assault on Deal or DCPS as a whole. It is very unhelpful to those who don't have another option or who do have options but have chosen Deal, which is a great option.
OP, which elementary school does your child go to? A fair question here.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you OOB for your new upper NW elementary school and thus Deal? It sounds like this is the case from your pot.

If so, maybe you could check out your in-boundary option for middle school. Maybe you and your DC would prefer it to Deal?

[Anonymous]

OP, your child is going to have to deal with and get used to "bigger" at some point. This may be the time.

[Anonymous]

PP, why do you say that OP's kid will have to get used to "bigger" eventually? That would be true if their only options were big public schools, but there are smaller private schools, charters, and academies like Walls that are smaller. I believe that being in a smaller school has allowed my children (now teenagers) to feel comfortable and engaged in the learning process, and I don't see them goign to a big school as inevitable.

[Anonymous]

OP: We know a number of people who have sent their kids to Deal and their kids are thriving and happy. They like the team approach, having a larger number of friends and many, many things choices. My DS is in 5th and uniformly, it looks like most of DS's class will be moving on to Deal from a NW elementary.

That said, we don't think the team approach and size are going to work for DS who really needs smaller classes. Since we can't afford the big bucks for a small class private, we are looking to send him to a local Catholic which we think is as good as Deal, but a much smaller school and of course, less afterschool options.

Our DS has also done a Deal visit and wants to move to Deal with his friends. In his case, he has some LDs and really needs an overall smaller setting. It has nothing to do with Deal and everything to do with his needs. If he were a different kid, we would have no hesitation in sending him to Deal.

The real issue is that different schools meet different needs. I went from a small HS of 250 to a college of 12,000 and was overwhelmed. I was not a big school person, but that's where the scholarship was, so I ended up following the money.

You have to think about your DD - she may need to be in a smaller school, especially if she is struggling in a mid-sized classroom now.

[Anonymous]

Some kids do fine in a school like deal, some kids for a lot of reason just don't. What you are seeing now may tell you that any large middle school will be a problem. I know I have a lot of reservations about 6th grade and middle school.

[Anonymous]

Very well said 18:33. OP, if you have buyer/renter's remorse for moving in-boundary, you may find your DC feels very differently after adjusting to the move. Your child might be feeling anxious about no longer being a big fish in a little charter pond. I sincerely hope your child is not being ignored. That's just plain wrong and you need to raise it with principal and counsellor if teacher is non-responsive. Deal is Lafayette on steroids, just like any middle school with high retention of in-boundary elementary families will be a larger version of the feeders. If your gut says smaller would be better for your child, then definitely look for other options. It sounds like you've learned the lesson that no school is perfect. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, why do you say that OP's kid will have to get used to "bigger" eventually? That would be true if their only options were big public schools, but there are smaller private schools, charters, and academies like Walls that are smaller. I believe that being in a smaller school has allowed my children (now teenagers) to feel comfortable and engaged in the learning process, and I don't see them goign to a big school as inevitable.

There is so much research to support the fact that smaller is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for your experience. Parents at these schools always give glowing reviews publicly. That is, at least until they get their child into the private/charter/suburban school of their choice. No one seems to want to admit that even the best DCPS schools just aren't very good. You're right -- you will consistently hear just how wonderful your local school is...until you enroll your child. It's almost like the parents do not want the air the "dirty laundry" in public. Once you arrive at one of these elementary schools, it doesn't take long to discover they are sub-par and most of the parents with any means are long-gone or working every angle to get their kids out of the system. I'm sorry you made this move only to learn this sad reality after the fact.

I so agree with this comment and at our good upper NW DCPS the refusal to speak openly about what was really going on at the school and how to ameliorate it even extended to the internal dialogue about the school among principal, PTA and LSRT. So sad. I can only say listen to what your gut ( or your child's gut) is telling you.