Ranking my PK4 list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thank you! this is why I love this board. great insight.

Middle feeder will not matter. At least we don't think it will matter. Spouse works at a good charter school we can lottery in.

However, I guess it would be good to have a safety if that charter gets worse or he wants to switch schools..

IB is Brightwood.

If IB is Brightwood I'd go Whittier. It's the better middle feeder between Whittier and JL and lots of Whittier families live that way. Fort Slocum last week had tons of Whittier families sledding. Takoma doesn't get you anything in location so it'd probably be my last after Shepherd and Lafayette.

I'd also say the PP is historically correct about kids in upper elementary leaving places like Whittier, Takoma, JL but I do think things are changing a bit. And frankly it takes community buy in to change it.

JL feeds into MacFarland not Wells. MacFarland, particularly the English-only track, has less momentum behind it than Wells. And it is known that the bilingual MacFarland track functions as a school within a school, which means the higher performing kids cluster in that track and the school wide test scores do not reflect either track accurately. Reading between the lines, OP is not a DCPS pioneer (or she'd be at Brightwood already, not a decent charter) and would be more comfortable longer term in a school where her peer's kids aren't leaving year over year. No judgment, we weren't either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

[Anonymous]

When kids start to leave schools like we are chatting about here- and some friends get left behind - do the parents keep in touch and the kids still get together?

Learning more and more that DC is nothing like the suburbs in the south I grew up in with a school cluster. Elementary, middle, then HS. And even a good chunk going to college together (pubic state school)..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When kids start to leave schools like we are chatting about here- and some friends get left behind - do the parents keep in touch and the kids still get together?

Learning more and more that DC is nothing like the suburbs in the south I grew up in with a school cluster. Elementary, middle, then HS. And even a good chunk going to college together (pubic state school)..

No it's not, but it's a dense city, so even when kids move schools, it's not that hard to keep up with friends.

My middle schooler went to a neighborhood DCPS and is now at a city-wide charter. Sees neighborhood friends on weekends, but also makes an effort to see middle school friends, who are farther flung.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

Our experience is that the EOTP schools tend to be more welcoming of new families & the kids are the same way, likely because the school populations are more transient. Even with similar demographics, my first & second hand experience is that it was much easier for new kids to start mid-ES at Brent (and Ludlow, though obviously the demographics are more mixed there) than at Lafayette and Mann.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When kids start to leave schools like we are chatting about here- and some friends get left behind - do the parents keep in touch and the kids still get together?

Learning more and more that DC is nothing like the suburbs in the south I grew up in with a school cluster. Elementary, middle, then HS. And even a good chunk going to college together (pubic state school)..

My experience is yes if they live in the same neighborhood, but no if they never did/one moves away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

[Anonymous]

Since OP seems to have buried the lede that middle school onward doesnt matter..

I would rank Takoma or Whittier #1 or #2 if those are closest to your house. Takoma has a great facility. Whittier does not.. or not as much. We have friends who go to both. Have not heard a bad thing about either.

Why go to Lewis if it is furthest away? Then again, I hear great things about this school..

I am also assuming Shepherd and Lafayette are not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

This isn't a judgement, it's really not, parents want to do best by their kids and make choices that will do that but that seems like so much for what? Obviously JR is the highest ranked neighborhood HS but what are the activities, offerings, etc... that make it so much better? Is it purely reputation? I know test scores get thrown out a lot but there are kids with remarkably different circumstances at these schools regardless of teachers.

Sorry to hijack this thread I'm just curious what makes people so anxious about non-JR HSs that they drive around all weekend while living in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

This isn't a judgement, it's really not, parents want to do best by their kids and make choices that will do that but that seems like so much for what? Obviously JR is the highest ranked neighborhood HS but what are the activities, offerings, etc... that make it so much better? Is it purely reputation? I know test scores get thrown out a lot but there are kids with remarkably different circumstances at these schools regardless of teachers.

Sorry to hijack this thread I'm just curious what makes people so anxious about non-JR HSs that they drive around all weekend while living in the city.

We switched from a Ward 4 DCPS to a Ward 3 DCPS and, yes, the difference is bigger than you can imagine from an EOTP school. It's incredibly inequitable and terrible that DCPS allows such resource differences to exist, but it's just easier for them than trying to change policies that will redistribute resources away from the Ward 3 communities. The teachers are not better and my bright mid-elementary child was not behind academically, but for both kids, it has been a much better environment. At a basic level, the facilities and outdoor space are much nicer and better maintained. But specifically, we made the switch because I was not confident in the IB middle school and my younger child was struggling with certain behaviors from other kids. My younger is an anxious type and the difference in the social dynamics and classroom management between our Title 1 and a school with practically zero at-risk kids has made them MUCH calmer and emotionally stable. For my older, the curriculum is more well rounded and the breadth of after school activity options is seemingly endless. And then there's the difference at the middle school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

This isn't a judgement, it's really not, parents want to do best by their kids and make choices that will do that but that seems like so much for what? Obviously JR is the highest ranked neighborhood HS but what are the activities, offerings, etc... that make it so much better? Is it purely reputation? I know test scores get thrown out a lot but there are kids with remarkably different circumstances at these schools regardless of teachers.

Sorry to hijack this thread I'm just curious what makes people so anxious about non-JR HSs that they drive around all weekend while living in the city.

We switched from a Ward 4 DCPS to a Ward 3 DCPS and, yes, the difference is bigger than you can imagine from an EOTP school. It's incredibly inequitable and terrible that DCPS allows such resource differences to exist, but it's just easier for them than trying to change policies that will redistribute resources away from the Ward 3 communities. The teachers are not better and my bright mid-elementary child was not behind academically, but for both kids, it has been a much better environment. At a basic level, the facilities and outdoor space are much nicer and better maintained. But specifically, we made the switch because I was not confident in the IB middle school and my younger child was struggling with certain behaviors from other kids. My younger is an anxious type and the difference in the social dynamics and classroom management between our Title 1 and a school with practically zero at-risk kids has made them MUCH calmer and emotionally stable. For my older, the curriculum is more well rounded and the breadth of after school activity options is seemingly endless. And then there's the difference at the middle school level.

I really appreciate the honest feedback. I would note it's not easier for DCPS, they very much just don't care about the inequities. And sometimes it feels like DC residents WOTP prefer those inequities because it keeps them in demand.

Thus far we haven't had similar issues with our Title 1 school. That obviously could change, but so far the school has been tremendous in terms of the actual learning environment. But it is elementary and I don't know much about that changes in MS and HS. I remember in my own MS there was some incredibly lewd and advanced behavior, bullying, cruel things said about girls and it was a very wealthy suburban school.

Our IB elementary offers a pretty good array of enrichment experiences but will have to dig in more about the HS and MS differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

This isn't a judgement, it's really not, parents want to do best by their kids and make choices that will do that but that seems like so much for what? Obviously JR is the highest ranked neighborhood HS but what are the activities, offerings, etc... that make it so much better? Is it purely reputation? I know test scores get thrown out a lot but there are kids with remarkably different circumstances at these schools regardless of teachers.

Sorry to hijack this thread I'm just curious what makes people so anxious about non-JR HSs that they drive around all weekend while living in the city.

You’re really asking if parents think it’s worth a couple car trips for weekend play dates if that’s part of the deal for a completely different education? Your normal weekend must be full of magic if you don’t want to pull your kids away from that a few times to see their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should rank them in your order of preference. If middle school matters, probably Lafayette and Shepherd first. But if you plan to move anyway or commutes matter a ton, that could be different.

Would you consider trekking south? I have friends whose kids go to Dorothy Height and Barnard and have been happy there.

+1. True preference always. But if you wanted a middle/high school pathway, your true preference could be different than if you're just looking for a strong, convenient elementary school. The problem with Whittier, Lewis, and Takoma is that other families WILL start leaving in middle elementary for a different feeder pattern. Not everyone and not all in the same year, but you just can't know ahead of time if it will be your DC's primary friend cohort and how much it will bother your DC.

As someone in the same general neighborhood and a few years ahead of you, here's what I'd recommend. Decide both: (1) if you want to prioritize staying in your current house and if that means securing an OOB/charter feeder pathway; (2) and also if you feel confident in your current charter through third grade or so. If both are a yes, then I wouldn't move your DC from your decent charter until you get an offer that gives you a long term pathway. If you want to stay in your current house, but don't feel confident in your charter for another 5 years, then I'd rank true preference, accounting for feeder patter, and see where you get in. If another school can give you a solid, stable 5+ years, it's not ideal, but not the end of the world to move DC in middle elementary. They may moan and groan, but it is so common in DC that it's not the end of the world. Also consider whether you would be interested in DCI for middle and high school. Many, many families in the area choose DC because of academic standards and proximity, not language. If you'd consider DCI, then I'd lottery for any of those feeders you want, plus Powell and Bruce Monroe (which are easy to get into at K and build language skills until you can lottery into a DCI feeder in upper elementary).

This is an underrated post. Even if you OP want to stay at a school your kids friends may begin to leave for schools with different feeders. Or move out of DC in general..

This is true at all schools unless you live WOTP and go to your IB school, and even then kids start to splinter to charters, Walls, private, the suburbs. DC is probably not a place where your kid is going to matriculate with their 20 best friends for their entire school lives.

But OP is already planning on her DH's charter for middle school, so that's not an issue for her. The question is whether her kid will be the last one from the K/1st grade friend group left by 4th grade. Even in WOTP schools it's rare to finish elementary school with all 20 best friends, but socially it's different whether there are a critical core left vs. having to make new friends for the last year or two of elementary. And to put a finer point on it, it's year to year at any EOTP schools. Within the same school and same family, one kid may keep their friend group through elementary and another may be feel left behind and lonely in fourth or fifth. I've seen all of these scenarios play out at all of the EOTP schools in the OP.

I actually have a question about this because the EOTP people we know who go to WOTP early elementary seem to struggle a bit more to find footing. How easy is it to build a community WOTP if you live EOTP? I'm genuinely curious about this from people with experience. Are you constantly shuttling WOTP. Do you tend to see neighborhood kids on weekends?

I think it depends on the particular WOTP school, the kid, and the family. Some schools are much more neighborhood schools than others. And if you have a social butterfly who arranges their own play dates and joins every after school club, then they'll probably find their footing easily, but yes the parents will be shuttling WOTP on weekends and holidays.

This isn't a judgement, it's really not, parents want to do best by their kids and make choices that will do that but that seems like so much for what? Obviously JR is the highest ranked neighborhood HS but what are the activities, offerings, etc... that make it so much better? Is it purely reputation? I know test scores get thrown out a lot but there are kids with remarkably different circumstances at these schools regardless of teachers.

Sorry to hijack this thread I'm just curious what makes people so anxious about non-JR HSs that they drive around all weekend while living in the city.

It's because there is a much bigger population of academically advanced kids. So the course offerings are different especially in math. Talking about things relative to demographics is important, but we also need to select a school where our children can take the classes appropriate for them.

Also it's just a larger size school by enrollment numbers so more options, more teams, more activities. If you compare school websites you'll see what I mean.