Takoma v Whittier v Lewis v Height

[Anonymous]

NP. Can you say more about the education at Whittier? Would love to know what makes it stellar (and glad you are having a good experience!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Can you say more about the education at Whittier? Would love to know what makes it stellar (and glad you are having a good experience!)

The teachers and staff are very dedicated. It's a STEM school so that is a focus and a special even for the youngest grades, but they really are holistic about their approach. There's a huge emphasis on reading with now a reading acceleration and a separate intervention teacher so that kids who need extra help aren't left behind and kids who might be able to push forward can. The school is currently doing a book drive to ensure every kid is able to have a book to take home and there was so much interest in a kindergarten book club they had to expand it to after school reading club on multiple days. I believe there's also a math intervention and acceleration teacher (same person) who mostly works with the older grades. There's also a great arts program with a musical every year plus two more school wide performance opportunities. They have Food Prints which is focused on food and the food systems with Fresh Farm (there's also a tiny farmers market in season at the school). For after school above kindergarten there is a newspaper, a morning update program, a makers program, a big DC Scores team, more I can't currently think of, and they have really invested in chess recently bringing in an outside coach.

The principal knows every kid and parent by face and name and that level of commitment really shows in how the school builds a culture focused on learning and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Can you say more about the education at Whittier? Would love to know what makes it stellar (and glad you are having a good experience!)

The teachers and staff are very dedicated. It's a STEM school so that is a focus and a special even for the youngest grades, but they really are holistic about their approach. There's a huge emphasis on reading with now a reading acceleration and a separate intervention teacher so that kids who need extra help aren't left behind and kids who might be able to push forward can. The school is currently doing a book drive to ensure every kid is able to have a book to take home and there was so much interest in a kindergarten book club they had to expand it to after school reading club on multiple days. I believe there's also a math intervention and acceleration teacher (same person) who mostly works with the older grades. There's also a great arts program with a musical every year plus two more school wide performance opportunities. They have Food Prints which is focused on food and the food systems with Fresh Farm (there's also a tiny farmers market in season at the school). For after school above kindergarten there is a newspaper, a morning update program, a makers program, a big DC Scores team, more I can't currently think of, and they have really invested in chess recently bringing in an outside coach.

The principal knows every kid and parent by face and name and that level of commitment really shows in how the school builds a culture focused on learning and community.

As the PP currently at Wells, I'll add a bit from our experience in upper grades at Whittier. The classes are departmentalized very early--I think we had ELA/SS and Math/Science split starting in 2nd grade, and by 4th grade there is also a standalone science class. This helps keep class sizes small and allows for...I won't say tracking, but we definitely observed a consistency in the cohort year over year. Kids who mesh well and learn in similar styles/paces in class together.

The stability of the staff is also really helpful. As the kids move up in each grade, often their new teachers already know them and have the data and observations from the past year. There's a lot of teamwork among the staff to support kids through the years. (I had my kid's former PK4 teacher over for dinner last year, and staff all still say hi to me and ask about my kid when we see each other in the neighborhood.)

As far as Principal Johnson goes, she is remarkable. A couple of years ago, a young child (SN, nonverbal) was out walking alone in my neighborhood in the evening. I happened upon FEMS and MPD going door to door with no luck. I called Principal Johnson to let her know what was going on and sent a photo of the kid from behind.

She had an idea who the child was and asked me to call her on FaceTime and ask the police to help. She had correctly identified the kid *from behind* and sent the home address. MPD reunited the child with their family. I know some amazing DCPS principals but she's a level above.

[Anonymous]

We’re an IB family at Whittier and we love it. Cannot say enough great things about the teachers, staff, admin, and community feel. The building is terrible but the school experience is worth the sacrifice imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re an IB family at Whittier and we love it. Cannot say enough great things about the teachers, staff, admin, and community feel. The building is terrible but the school experience is worth the sacrifice imo.

+1

Lots of families turn down other schools to stay at Whittier- LAMB, Murch, Stoddert. At least those are ones I know of.

[Anonymous]

Takoma family here. We really like the school. We also have friends at Lewis and Whittier. They love their schools as well.

What a great problem to have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma family here. We really like the school. We also have friends at Lewis and Whittier. They love their schools as well.

What a great problem to have.

Agreed. Whittier family here with friends at Takoma. Both wonderful schools and communities. I think just go with your in-bound option, which you're most likely to get anyway.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Update to the thread. Takoma it is!

[Anonymous]

We got into Takoma for PK3 (we are in boundary) excited to see a thread that had good things to say about it. Moved to Takoma from an apartment recently.

Anything else to know about Takoma?

[Anonymous]

We have a PK3 student at Takoma and have really really loved it. Amazing, loving teachers. Very much a sense of community. Now that its getting warmer, kids like to play at the playground with their friends after afterschool and because so many people live nearby, parents are not in a rush to hurry home.