DCI vs Latin Cooper

[Anonymous]

Latin Cooper is very new, so that is a negative. However, DCI still is a work in progress. College results were okay, but nothing stellar. From what I have heard, Most kids score in the 20s on the IB exams and the curriculum doesn't seem that rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child likes language and is dong well. Math has been a challenge and ELA good. Cooper is much closer to us and we are attracted to the small class size at Cooper but since this all came as a big surprise (moving up the WL) so fast we do t know that much about the school. We are a little concerned about the size of DCI and that it would like depending on how to place your child might only have one language class. Of course the guarantee of getting into MS/HS is attractive.

With this update, I’d definitely take Cooper. I wouldn’t risk a bad lottery draw with uncertain preference odds when you have a closer, smaller, and likely to be academically stronger option right now.

This. OP just doesn't seem very enthused about DCI. And, if it isn't Spanish, I wouldn't totally rule out non-feeder DCI for 6th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

I have a kid at Yu Ying and parents seem really nervous about there being enough seats for Chinese. Is that a valid concern? I would dismiss it but it’s a lot of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child likes language and is dong well. Math has been a challenge and ELA good. Cooper is much closer to us and we are attracted to the small class size at Cooper but since this all came as a big surprise (moving up the WL) so fast we do t know that much about the school. We are a little concerned about the size of DCI and that it would like depending on how to place your child might only have one language class. Of course the guarantee of getting into MS/HS is attractive.

With this update, I’d definitely take Cooper. I wouldn’t risk a bad lottery draw with uncertain preference odds when you have a closer, smaller, and likely to be academically stronger option right now.

This. OP just doesn't seem very enthused about DCI. And, if it isn't Spanish, I wouldn't totally rule out non-feeder DCI for 6th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

I have a kid at Yu Ying and parents seem really nervous about there being enough seats for Chinese. Is that a valid concern? I would dismiss it but it’s a lot of parents.

I don't know, but it shouldn't be that hard to figure out. You can pull DCI's charter from the charter board website and it will tell you how many seats are set aside for Yu Ying (70? 75? I'm not sure, but around there). Then take a look at your kids' (kid's) class and figure out how many kids are there (multiplied by classrooms across grades).

My guess - everyone who has spent at least a year at Yu Ying already is fine. From what I've heard - they are planning to expand, but it won't really take off until the Kirov campus is done. But I haven't actually been paying attention to the enrollment numbers, so it's possible that they've already started increasing enrollment in the earlier grades. My guess is that the information is all public, I just haven't spent the time to look. But if you're worried, you definitely could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child likes language and is dong well. Math has been a challenge and ELA good. Cooper is much closer to us and we are attracted to the small class size at Cooper but since this all came as a big surprise (moving up the WL) so fast we do t know that much about the school. We are a little concerned about the size of DCI and that it would like depending on how to place your child might only have one language class. Of course the guarantee of getting into MS/HS is attractive.

With this update, I’d definitely take Cooper. I wouldn’t risk a bad lottery draw with uncertain preference odds when you have a closer, smaller, and likely to be academically stronger option right now.

This. OP just doesn't seem very enthused about DCI. And, if it isn't Spanish, I wouldn't totally rule out non-feeder DCI for 6th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

I have a kid at Yu Ying and parents seem really nervous about there being enough seats for Chinese. Is that a valid concern? I would dismiss it but it’s a lot of parents.

I don't know, but it shouldn't be that hard to figure out. You can pull DCI's charter from the charter board website and it will tell you how many seats are set aside for Yu Ying (70? 75? I'm not sure, but around there). Then take a look at your kids' (kid's) class and figure out how many kids are there (multiplied by classrooms across grades).

My guess - everyone who has spent at least a year at Yu Ying already is fine. From what I've heard - they are planning to expand, but it won't really take off until the Kirov campus is done. But I haven't actually been paying attention to the enrollment numbers, so it's possible that they've already started increasing enrollment in the earlier grades. My guess is that the information is all public, I just haven't spent the time to look. But if you're worried, you definitely could.

DCI charter is a good shout, thanks. From the yearly intake data, to me at least it looks like if you want a seat out of YY you get it (note, I have some assumptions here about overlapping sets and set sizes). They- YY- are expanding quite a bit this year, up to 700. My intuition is that the demand isn’t there and many will drop out or gently be pushed out, which has been pretty standard the years we’ve been there.

[Anonymous]

Regarding people's comments upthread, Cooper did not feel like more elementary school to my kid, but the curriculum is not above grade level, especially for math (neither is it at DCI, except maybe in languages, because there is a lot of differentiation; your kid will get a placement test in French, and there will be MAP testing on language three times a year). Cooper is strongest in social studies, it seems. DCI is obviously strongest in languages. French and Chinese have fewer elective options than Spanish (twice as many kids, roughly).

You could probably lottery to DCI in 6th, and see how your luck holds. Either way, you'd have a path to high school.

It's more convenient to stick with your current cohort, you'll know other parents from your elementary school, there will be more continuity, the social aspect isn't totally useless, though of course friend groups can change radically, and sometimes it's good to have a fresh start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding people's comments upthread, Cooper did not feel like more elementary school to my kid, but the curriculum is not above grade level, especially for math (neither is it at DCI, except maybe in languages, because there is a lot of differentiation; your kid will get a placement test in French, and there will be MAP testing on language three times a year). Cooper is strongest in social studies, it seems. DCI is obviously strongest in languages. French and Chinese have fewer elective options than Spanish (twice as many kids, roughly).

You could probably lottery to DCI in 6th, and see how your luck holds. Either way, you'd have a path to high school.

It's more convenient to stick with your current cohort, you'll know other parents from your elementary school, there will be more continuity, the social aspect isn't totally useless, though of course friend groups can change radically, and sometimes it's good to have a fresh start.

Wrong, math can be an option above grade level at DCI. Highest option now is 2 years ahead.

Languages track and the other courses offered in languages basically track since it’s usually the higher performing kids taking it.

Plus some many different options and tracks for kids at DCI and none at Latin - Computer science, allied health, the many IB tracks, etc…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding people's comments upthread, Cooper did not feel like more elementary school to my kid, but the curriculum is not above grade level, especially for math (neither is it at DCI, except maybe in languages, because there is a lot of differentiation; your kid will get a placement test in French, and there will be MAP testing on language three times a year). Cooper is strongest in social studies, it seems. DCI is obviously strongest in languages. French and Chinese have fewer elective options than Spanish (twice as many kids, roughly).

You could probably lottery to DCI in 6th, and see how your luck holds. Either way, you'd have a path to high school.

It's more convenient to stick with your current cohort, you'll know other parents from your elementary school, there will be more continuity, the social aspect isn't totally useless, though of course friend groups can change radically, and sometimes it's good to have a fresh start.

Wrong, math can be an option above grade level at DCI. Highest option now is 2 years ahead.

Languages track and the other courses offered in languages basically track since it’s usually the higher performing kids taking it.

Plus some many different options and tracks for kids at DCI and none at Latin - Computer science, allied health, the many IB tracks, etc…

If your kid is already really good at math, then yes to the math options at DCI. They can be one year ahead in math starting in 6th. At Cooper, you can be placed one year ahead in math starting in 7th, and there isn't a track for moving up 2 grades above now, but I'll bet it's going to be easier to get a special accommodation there than at DCI. But OP said math wasn't their kid's strong suit. And for remedial math help, I'd vote Cooper.

I'm not trying to say DCI is worse. They are just very different schools and one would be a better fit than another, for any particular kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding people's comments upthread, Cooper did not feel like more elementary school to my kid, but the curriculum is not above grade level, especially for math (neither is it at DCI, except maybe in languages, because there is a lot of differentiation; your kid will get a placement test in French, and there will be MAP testing on language three times a year). Cooper is strongest in social studies, it seems. DCI is obviously strongest in languages. French and Chinese have fewer elective options than Spanish (twice as many kids, roughly).

You could probably lottery to DCI in 6th, and see how your luck holds. Either way, you'd have a path to high school.

It's more convenient to stick with your current cohort, you'll know other parents from your elementary school, there will be more continuity, the social aspect isn't totally useless, though of course friend groups can change radically, and sometimes it's good to have a fresh start.

Wrong, math can be an option above grade level at DCI. Highest option now is 2 years ahead.

Languages track and the other courses offered in languages basically track since it’s usually the higher performing kids taking it.

Plus some many different options and tracks for kids at DCI and none at Latin - Computer science, allied health, the many IB tracks, etc…

If your kid is already really good at math, then yes to the math options at DCI. They can be one year ahead in math starting in 6th. At Cooper, you can be placed one year ahead in math starting in 7th, and there isn't a track for moving up 2 grades above now, but I'll bet it's going to be easier to get a special accommodation there than at DCI. But OP said math wasn't their kid's strong suit. And for remedial math help, I'd vote Cooper.

I'm not trying to say DCI is worse. They are just very different schools and one would be a better fit than another, for any particular kid.

There are at least a handful of DCI middle schoolers taking math two grades above grade level (9th grade math in 7th grade). And at least a couple classes worth of kids are one grade level ahead (8th grade math in 7th grade). Then many kids who are on grade level and some getting extra support.

That's one plus of a larger school, that there are more options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding people's comments upthread, Cooper did not feel like more elementary school to my kid, but the curriculum is not above grade level, especially for math (neither is it at DCI, except maybe in languages, because there is a lot of differentiation; your kid will get a placement test in French, and there will be MAP testing on language three times a year). Cooper is strongest in social studies, it seems. DCI is obviously strongest in languages. French and Chinese have fewer elective options than Spanish (twice as many kids, roughly).

You could probably lottery to DCI in 6th, and see how your luck holds. Either way, you'd have a path to high school.

It's more convenient to stick with your current cohort, you'll know other parents from your elementary school, there will be more continuity, the social aspect isn't totally useless, though of course friend groups can change radically, and sometimes it's good to have a fresh start.

Wrong, math can be an option above grade level at DCI. Highest option now is 2 years ahead.

Languages track and the other courses offered in languages basically track since it’s usually the higher performing kids taking it.

Plus some many different options and tracks for kids at DCI and none at Latin - Computer science, allied health, the many IB tracks, etc…

If your kid is already really good at math, then yes to the math options at DCI. They can be one year ahead in math starting in 6th. At Cooper, you can be placed one year ahead in math starting in 7th, and there isn't a track for moving up 2 grades above now, but I'll bet it's going to be easier to get a special accommodation there than at DCI. But OP said math wasn't their kid's strong suit. And for remedial math help, I'd vote Cooper.

I'm not trying to say DCI is worse. They are just very different schools and one would be a better fit than another, for any particular kid.

There are at least a handful of DCI middle schoolers taking math two grades above grade level (9th grade math in 7th grade). And at least a couple classes worth of kids are one grade level ahead (8th grade math in 7th grade). Then many kids who are on grade level and some getting extra support.

That's one plus of a larger school, that there are more options.

THIS. Much, much larger cohort of higher performing kids and options and the baseline is grade level, not below.

So yes, if your kid is below grade level in math, go to Copper. But if grade level or higher, DCI is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

I personally think the size of DCI is perfect and in the sweet spot. It’s actually a medium size school - not too large and not too small. Go out to the burbs and you will see class years with 300 plus kids and high schools with 1200-2000 kids alone. Now that is large.

Way too small like Copper and very limited in all offerrings and the same kids can be stifling. Way too big and your kid gets lost in the crowd. DCI is medium size and diverse with enough kids for your kid to find their niche of friends with lots of offerings like the bigger schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally think the size of DCI is perfect and in the sweet spot. It’s actually a medium size school - not too large and not too small. Go out to the burbs and you will see class years with 300 plus kids and high schools with 1200-2000 kids alone. Now that is large.

Way too small like Copper and very limited in all offerrings and the same kids can be stifling. Way too big and your kid gets lost in the crowd. DCI is medium size and diverse with enough kids for your kid to find their niche of friends with lots of offerings like the bigger schools.

It's Cooper, not Copper. DCI does have 300-person grade cohorts, doesn't it? Maybe that's changed. You are right that if a kid wants a larger school, DCI is the way to go. Good luck getting into the more popular activities, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child likes language and is dong well. Math has been a challenge and ELA good. Cooper is much closer to us and we are attracted to the small class size at Cooper but since this all came as a big surprise (moving up the WL) so fast we do t know that much about the school. We are a little concerned about the size of DCI and that it would like depending on how to place your child might only have one language class. Of course the guarantee of getting into MS/HS is attractive.

With this update, I’d definitely take Cooper. I wouldn’t risk a bad lottery draw with uncertain preference odds when you have a closer, smaller, and likely to be academically stronger option right now.

This. OP just doesn't seem very enthused about DCI. And, if it isn't Spanish, I wouldn't totally rule out non-feeder DCI for 6th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

I have a kid at Yu Ying and parents seem really nervous about there being enough seats for Chinese. Is that a valid concern? I would dismiss it but it’s a lot of parents.

I think it's fine for everyone older than preschool and K this year, and not enough seats for kids in preschool and K this year.

I will point out that DCI has made a lot of Chinese non-feeder offers for 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child likes language and is dong well. Math has been a challenge and ELA good. Cooper is much closer to us and we are attracted to the small class size at Cooper but since this all came as a big surprise (moving up the WL) so fast we do t know that much about the school. We are a little concerned about the size of DCI and that it would like depending on how to place your child might only have one language class. Of course the guarantee of getting into MS/HS is attractive.

With this update, I’d definitely take Cooper. I wouldn’t risk a bad lottery draw with uncertain preference odds when you have a closer, smaller, and likely to be academically stronger option right now.

This. OP just doesn't seem very enthused about DCI. And, if it isn't Spanish, I wouldn't totally rule out non-feeder DCI for 6th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

I have a kid at Yu Ying and parents seem really nervous about there being enough seats for Chinese. Is that a valid concern? I would dismiss it but it’s a lot of parents.

I think it's fine for everyone older than preschool and K this year, and not enough seats for kids in preschool and K this year.

I will point out that DCI has made a lot of Chinese non-feeder offers for 6th.

I checked and I think DCI’s total number of Chinese offers (70ish across YY- 48 this year, 52 last year- and the lottery- 8 on match day and 31 by June) would cover all of YY’s pre-k 3 offers the last two years (71). The question is if only 17 odd kids are going from YY to DCI, or whatever else is going on with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think the size of DCI is perfect and in the sweet spot. It’s actually a medium size school - not too large and not too small. Go out to the burbs and you will see class years with 300 plus kids and high schools with 1200-2000 kids alone. Now that is large.

Way too small like Copper and very limited in all offerrings and the same kids can be stifling. Way too big and your kid gets lost in the crowd. DCI is medium size and diverse with enough kids for your kid to find their niche of friends with lots of offerings like the bigger schools.

It's Cooper, not Copper. DCI does have 300-person grade cohorts, doesn't it? Maybe that's changed. You are right that if a kid wants a larger school, DCI is the way to go. Good luck getting into the more popular activities, though.

No it’s not big. The average is a little over 200 kids to a grade. It’s a medium size school. I graduated high school with about 350 kids.

Yes, it’s more competitive to get into some of the popular sports but at least they have a ton of sports options which Cooper basically doesn’t and they have fields. Plus they play against other schools in conferences since they can field teams and are competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think the size of DCI is perfect and in the sweet spot. It’s actually a medium size school - not too large and not too small. Go out to the burbs and you will see class years with 300 plus kids and high schools with 1200-2000 kids alone. Now that is large.

Way too small like Copper and very limited in all offerrings and the same kids can be stifling. Way too big and your kid gets lost in the crowd. DCI is medium size and diverse with enough kids for your kid to find their niche of friends with lots of offerings like the bigger schools.

It's Cooper, not Copper. DCI does have 300-person grade cohorts, doesn't it? Maybe that's changed. You are right that if a kid wants a larger school, DCI is the way to go. Good luck getting into the more popular activities, though.

No it’s not big. The average is a little over 200 kids to a grade. It’s a medium size school. I graduated high school with about 350 kids.

Yes, it’s more competitive to get into some of the popular sports but at least they have a ton of sports options which Cooper basically doesn’t and they have fields. Plus they play against other schools in conferences since they can field teams and are competitive.

DCI has somewhere in the 1500’s total kids for 6-12