Key vs. Hearst?

[Transplant_1]

Hearst is a small, neighborhood school, if that's what you're looking for. 2 classes per grade. Many inzone. Some out of zone that seem to get off lottery, or, it seems there is some sort of DCPS program to place students at Hearst for diversity. We walk to and from school, along the way parents run into each other, get to know each other, build community, hang out after drop off and pick up to chat. It's very parent heavy (not nanny heavy, which I hear is the case with some of the other local elementary school.)

Now older, my kids walk to and from school on their own. After school they self release, play in the playground, then walk home. I don't need to continually set up playdates and drive them. They go on weekends to Hearst field and playground to play pickup soccer, basketball, playground, with high chance of running into others. it has become their "center" -- a place of safety, fun, belonging, being known and knowing others. One child is now in 7th at local middle school, the other in 4th. Middle school may not be working out for us, so we may move. But our lives have been super enrichened -- friends, memories, community, independence - for the years we were at Hearst. If I had to re-do, I would definitely do our "lives at Hearst". I'm now onto figuring out lives for middle and high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hearst better feeders, but also a principal that has sucked the life out of the school.
Key, drugs and stuff

Considering Hearst for DD next year; what do you mean that the principal has sucked the life out of the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst better feeders, but also a principal that has sucked the life out of the school.
Key, drugs and stuff

Considering Hearst for DD next year; what do you mean that the principal has sucked the life out of the school?

Not PP, but principal just announced she will not be returning to Hearst next school year fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst better feeders, but also a principal that has sucked the life out of the school.
Key, drugs and stuff

Considering Hearst for DD next year; what do you mean that the principal has sucked the life out of the school?

Not PP, but principal just announced she will not be returning to Hearst next school year fwiw.

Where is she going?

[Transplant_1]

I think it's way over the top to say she sucked the life out. I do think she got burnt out after COVID, but she did one of the best jobs I saw around in getting kids engaged and into the classroom. She hired an Assitant principal that has been there 1 - 2 years now (can't remember, my memory is fuzzy), so has built someone to take her place. So, that says a lot to me.

[Anonymous]

Transplant_1 wrote:I think it's way over the top to say she sucked the life out. I do think she got burnt out after COVID, but she did one of the best jobs I saw around in getting kids engaged and into the classroom. She hired an Assitant principal that has been there 1 - 2 years now (can't remember, my memory is fuzzy), so has built someone to take her place. So, that says a lot to me.

My kid says she never smiled once. Her AP is also leaving

[Anonymous]

A fresh new admin team is exactly what the school needs. As a Hearst parent I have hope for the next school year! The teachers, facilities, PTA, diversity, close knit community….all those things are in place! The school can now hopefully get a strong leadership team to take the school to the next level.

[Transplant_1]

Anonymous wrote:

Transplant_1 wrote:I think it's way over the top to say she sucked the life out. I do think she got burnt out after COVID, but she did one of the best jobs I saw around in getting kids engaged and into the classroom. She hired an Assitant principal that has been there 1 - 2 years now (can't remember, my memory is fuzzy), so has built someone to take her place. So, that says a lot to me.

My kid says she never smiled once. Her AP is also leaving

I didn't know the AP is also leaving. Has that been formally announced? She's told a few people?

[Anonymous]

Transplant_1 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Transplant_1 wrote:I think it's way over the top to say she sucked the life out. I do think she got burnt out after COVID, but she did one of the best jobs I saw around in getting kids engaged and into the classroom. She hired an Assitant principal that has been there 1 - 2 years now (can't remember, my memory is fuzzy), so has built someone to take her place. So, that says a lot to me.

My kid says she never smiled once. Her AP is also leaving

I didn't know the AP is also leaving. Has that been formally announced? She's told a few people?

Hearst parent here and I haven’t heard anything about the asst principal leaving. That would be too bad because she is very nice and responsive. All the kids really like her.

[Anonymous]

Is DCPS cleaning house or are they both leaving on their own? Interesting. From what I’ve heard neither will be a loss.

[Transplant_1]

You're just trolling and have no idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Transplant_1 wrote:You're just trolling and have no idea what you're talking about.

What is this in response to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst better feeders, but also a principal that has sucked the life out of the school.
Key, drugs and stuff

Considering Hearst for DD next year; what do you mean that the principal has sucked the life out of the school?

PP, I would take the information you get from DCUM with a grain of salt and try to speak to parents at the school. I'm a parent at the school and I don't think it is accurate that the AP is also leaving.

[Anonymous]

I have one kid going into 2nd at Hearst (plus one who is still too young). I don't agree at all about the principal. She's not super effusive or anything, but she did as much as she possibly could to work through Covid and she's super knowledgeable about DCPS. She's also been in this job for a decade, so I'd want a break too. We really like the AP too, so I hope she stays.

As to Key v. Hearst, I'd pick based on proximity, personally. Hearst in particular has a very small boundary and my older kid spends 90% of her time with friends who live within a few blocks. It's awesome, but might be tough if you're OOB.

[Anonymous]

Parent of two kids at Hearst. I am not a fan of either the principal or the AP but both of them seem competent.