Bancroft, Cooke, Marie Reed and Tubman

[Anonymous]

We are considering these schools in the OOB lottery because they are fairly close to where we live (between U St. and Columbia Heights). I know the upper NW schools are much better and are highly sought after, but realistically I can't see driving 30 min or longer in each direction to a school in the opposite direction of our offices - and during rush hour. If we do that, it negates having a short commute and being able to walk, which is a big part of why we stay in DC. If we start having to drive an hour r/t each day, it may make more sense to move to VA or MD and be able to walk to a neighborhood school. It seems like some of these schools, particularly Cooke, are making a turn around and have greatly improved over the past two years. We have also applied to all the nearby charters. Maybe the drive will not be as bad as I imagine? Anyone out there with experience doing this?

If you have a child at any of these DCPS schools, particularly Marie Reed (very little info out there), please share your experience. Reed interests me because of location and language immersion. TIA

[Anonymous]

Here are two relatively decent threads mentioning Cooke and Tubman:

Cooke:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/46823.page

Tubman and Cooke:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/147984.page

Hope these help.

[Anonymous]

And, here's a Bancroft thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/145036.page

[Anonymous]

Not sure this answers a lot but here is what I have heard & experienced.

Sat in an interview cycle for new principals that included the current principal at Marie Reed, Gene Pinkard, and found him very impressive. So I think the school has excellent leadership to lead improvements.

Tubman has a principal that has been there for several years and I have heard good things about him from other principals. I also understand it has a pretty involved parent organization a major plus in my book.

I also made the choice to go to a less successful school than the JKLMOs and trade the convenience for involvement. I did not regret that trade-off until the upper grades. Those issues are hard to judge and do vary school to school.

[Anonymous]

I'm also curious about Marie Reed. There's an open house on Feb 16th I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure this answers a lot but here is what I have heard & experienced.

Sat in an interview cycle for new principals that included the current principal at Marie Reed, Gene Pinkard, and found him very impressive. So I think the school has excellent leadership to lead improvements.

Tubman has a principal that has been there for several years and I have heard good things about him from other principals. I also understand it has a pretty involved parent organization a major plus in my book.

I also made the choice to go to a less successful school than the JKLMOs and trade the convenience for involvement. I did not regret that trade-off until the upper grades. Those issues are hard to judge and do vary school to school.

i second the high opinion of gene pinkard at marie reed.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a nice guy. No experience in elementary education though and embarrassed himself on the school website when he introduced himself as the "principle." The errors are now corrected, but you can still read his mangled writing on the Reed website.

In terms of Rhee appointees, probably about as good as it gets.

[Anonymous]

I hope you're joking. How can you trust your child will be given a great education? With more educated families in the system, the expectations must be higher.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a nice guy. No experience in elementary education though and embarrassed himself on the school website when he introduced himself as the "principle." The errors are now corrected, but you can still read his mangled writing on the Reed website.

In terms of Rhee appointees, probably about as good as it gets.

[Anonymous]

12:11 here. Not joking. Dead serious. And please note, I didn't say my child attends Marie Reed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:11 here. Not joking. Dead serious. And please note, I didn't say my child attends Marie Reed.

Exactly.

No, no, no, and no.

Schools like these are the reason we have privates and charters.

[Anonymous]

You know I get that grammar is an important skill and for many DCUMs their most favorite method of making themselves feel superior to others but it is not everything. I can life with a minor typo in a letter too many other really important things going on during the start of the school year. No I am not at Marie Reed but I being in DC public school I know how many things are going wrong and can tolerate a person not being perfect. Honestly lets get our priorities straight.

[Anonymous]

True 16:27, but given that he made the mistake repeatedly gives me pause. Since it is his job title, he should probably know how to spell "Principal."

Of course the fact that he has zero experience in elementary education is even more troubling to me.

Clearly different parents have very different expectations of what school leadership.

[Anonymous]

to finish (baby on lap) "...what school leadership should be."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know I get that grammar is an important skill and for many DCUMs their most favorite method of making themselves feel superior to others but it is not everything. I can life with a minor typo in a letter too many other really important things going on during the start of the school year. No I am not at Marie Reed but I being in DC public school I know how many things are going wrong and can tolerate a person not being perfect. Honestly lets get our priorities straight.

Having read your post carefully, I am not so sure that you do.

[Anonymous]

That is a major bummer.