Latin PCS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lack of math acceleration is really the only thing that gives me pause about Latin. If your kid is math focused, I wouldn't do it; otherwise, I absolutely would.

Can you explain more? Not familiar with middle school math tracks yet (still in denial I’m about to have a middle schooler). What’s the difference between latin and DCPS for math for example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We picked BASIS DC over Latin 2nd St.

Latin's academics are weak but the school remains popular given the school grounds and sports. BASIS offers a much more accelerated curriculum.

Compare CAPE scores for Latin and BASIS DC after kids have been there for several years:

10th grade scores at 4 or 5:

Latin

Math <10%
ELA 65.9%

BASIS DC

Math 89.2%
ELA >95%

Happy BASIS parent here but JFC, how is this response remotely helpful to someone asking about Latin???!!! OP asked about Latin because their kid got into Latin. It's ok to just sit one out.

Congrats OP. We have several friends with kids at Latin and they are very happy with the culture and friend groups.

[Anonymous]

What's your other option, op? For most in bounds middle schools in DC, Latin is a huge step up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lack of math acceleration is really the only thing that gives me pause about Latin. If your kid is math focused, I wouldn't do it; otherwise, I absolutely would.

Can you explain more? Not familiar with middle school math tracks yet (still in denial I’m about to have a middle schooler). What’s the difference between latin and DCPS for math for example?

There is an advanced math track starting in 7th grade, I believe. There are honors classes. Kids can take honors geometry in 8th grade if they meet requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lack of math acceleration is really the only thing that gives me pause about Latin. If your kid is math focused, I wouldn't do it; otherwise, I absolutely would.

Can you explain more? Not familiar with middle school math tracks yet (still in denial I’m about to have a middle schooler). What’s the difference between latin and DCPS for math for example?

There is an advanced math track starting in 7th grade, I believe. There are honors classes. Kids can take honors geometry in 8th grade if they meet requirements.

Yeah my kid took Accelerated 6 (Illustrative Math) in 6th grade and is in Algebra 1 in 7th. Honors Geometry in 8th.

[Anonymous]

We have a kid in 5th grade at 2nd Street and have really loved the community and the friends that he has made.

Confirming that if you have a kid that is strong in math, they have multiple ways to accelerate in 7th and 8th grade. Even though the 5th grade math seems easy, my son’s MAP score increased substantially from fall to winter which makes me think he’s learning a lot.

[Anonymous]

The DC Cape score comparison for math is bogus because all the Basis students take the grade level math exam whereas most other schools have students take the test for the class they are actually taking. So the advanced math students at other schools take more challenging tests and are then out of the testing pool entirely by 9th grade. Basis kind of rigs its numbers.

That being said, Basis also pushes out a large portion of the kids who start in 5th, so the kids who are left are very strong students. Latin has a very different philosophy and believes it should serve all students in the school. There is very little turnover except a moderate amount (20 percent?) from 8th to 9th.

And that being said, Latin doesn’t do a whole lot for advanced math students in 5th or 6th, but things get better after that when kids can start Algebra I in 7th if their MAP scores are high enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC Cape score comparison for math is bogus because all the Basis students take the grade level math exam whereas most other schools have students take the test for the class they are actually taking. So the advanced math students at other schools take more challenging tests and are then out of the testing pool entirely by 9th grade. Basis kind of rigs its numbers.

That being said, Basis also pushes out a large portion of the kids who start in 5th, so the kids who are left are very strong students. Latin has a very different philosophy and believes it should serve all students in the school. There is very little turnover except a moderate amount (20 percent?) from 8th to 9th.

And that being said, Latin doesn’t do a whole lot for advanced math students in 5th or 6th, but things get better after that when kids can start Algebra I in 7th if their MAP scores are high enough.

There are also opportunities for enrichment beyond the classroom through MathCounts (which allows kids as young as 5th grade to practice and 6th to compete).

They are very invested in the kids they teach, know them well and keep them engaged and enriched. It’s also a very holistic, balanced education and a really positive school culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We picked BASIS DC over Latin 2nd St.

Latin's academics are weak but the school remains popular given the school grounds and sports. BASIS offers a much more accelerated curriculum.

Compare CAPE scores for Latin and BASIS DC after kids have been there for several years:

10th grade scores at 4 or 5:

Latin

Math <10%
ELA 65.9%

BASIS DC

Math 89.2%
ELA >95%

Happy BASIS parent here but JFC, how is this response remotely helpful to someone asking about Latin???!!! OP asked about Latin because their kid got into Latin. It's ok to just sit one out.

Congrats OP. We have several friends with kids at Latin and they are very happy with the culture and friend groups.

Thank you so much, Happy Basis parent, for this post.

These schools are both good for different reasons. They'll attract some of the same kids/families but other parents/kids will be drawn to one and not the other. And that's okay.

[Anonymous]

My kid is now in 10th grade, not at Latin, but lotteried into Latin.

We liked it a lot, though have a "math kid" and ultimately we were all (parents and kid) frustrated by the middle school progression. Latin felt like a lot of "the world will open up to kid...next year." IE, it really builds, and our kid was impatient at pace (in terms of EC, activities, and academics). It's also a small, intimate setting, and honestly if you love it, you love it. My kid simply....did not. We pushed for kid to stay for high school but kid strongly advocated for a change.

My kid is in 10th grade, so obviously their middle school years were impacted by covid, so I don't often post. That could have played a part, for sure, in wanting something different.

But my general experience is that a large majority of students and families accepted into Latin really, really love it. And a very small number just don't. And that's kinda how the world works, right, everything isn't for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is now in 10th grade, not at Latin, but lotteried into Latin for 5th grade. (sorry edited to make this clear - entered in middle school)

We liked it a lot, though have a "math kid" and ultimately we were all (parents and kid) frustrated by the middle school progression. Latin felt like a lot of "the world will open up to kid...next year." IE, it really builds, and our kid was impatient at pace (in terms of EC, activities, and academics). It's also a small, intimate setting, and honestly if you love it, you love it. My kid simply....did not. We pushed for kid to stay for high school but kid strongly advocated for a change.

My kid is in 10th grade, so obviously their middle school years were impacted by covid, so I don't often post. That could have played a part, for sure, in wanting something different.

But my general experience is that a large majority of students and families accepted into Latin really, really love it. And a very small number just don't. And that's kinda how the world works, right, everything isn't for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Latin. The teachers are mostly exceptional, kind and tight-knit group of students, not overly stressful but the kids are really held accountable. The only behavioral issues Ive heard of are some messy bathrooms.

I love the tutorial option after school for extra help, the classical education model, the small classes, the great teacher retention, the focus on academic skills, geography and theatre. Most importantly, my kid LOVES Latin.

+1000

+1000. My kids are now in high school which has an amazing community and top-notch teachers. My kids love it. And the college outcomes are impressive! MIT this year!

[Anonymous]

Impressive? Looks like they are only sending about 5 of 160 to Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We picked BASIS DC over Latin 2nd St.

Latin's academics are weak but the school remains popular given the school grounds and sports. BASIS offers a much more accelerated curriculum.

Compare CAPE scores for Latin and BASIS DC after kids have been there for several years:

10th grade scores at 4 or 5:

Latin

Math <10%
ELA 65.9%

BASIS DC

Math 89.2%
ELA >95%

Happy BASIS parent here but JFC, how is this response remotely helpful to someone asking about Latin???!!! OP asked about Latin because their kid got into Latin. It's ok to just sit one out.

Congrats OP. We have several friends with kids at Latin and they are very happy with the culture and friend groups.

DP. Sounds like PP picked another school over Latin. What's your problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Impressive? Looks like they are only sending about 5 of 160 to Ivies.

Class size is 90-95 per grade

Love it when a statistics warrior comes on here with no real facts!!