DCI current views

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like it’s a fine place for a high achiever that can tune out the noise. That doesn’t seem great for most kids.

Cannot speak for all kids obviously but there are multiple levels in foreign language and mathematics. For foreign language you can basically start from scratch. If you’re especially advanced you can take other subjects in that language such as individuals and societies and electives like music, art, and conversation. They offer great support classes for those needing extra help, including in math, self advocacy, executive skills, and writing. For math you can get extra support, get into advanced math or do double advanced math if you’re especially gifted.

It’s middle school and there will be behavioral issues. That said I have not heard anything much from my kids. I think restorative justice is nonsense but the vice principals and middle school principal (who is leaving bc of Trump) are excellent.

I think it’s truly a great school for a motivated high flier but it’s also a great school for everyone else.

The key here why it’s a good school overall for all kids is because of the official tracking (math and languages) and unofficial tracking (electives, AP classes, remedial classes, support classes, pull outs, etc..)

For the high achieving kid, it’s basically a school within a school.

My high achieving kid has really blossomed. He loves his advanced classes and has not noted much bad student behavior. But, you know, middle school kids will act out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they better at monitoring screen usage? My neighbors kids go to DCI (now in high school) and they say some kids will binge watch seasons of shows while at school.

Is it in their target language?

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader isn't doing much work on screens these days. He's high achieving, fwiw, and has had a great experience throughout his experience at the middle school and thus far in the high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they better at monitoring screen usage? My neighbors kids go to DCI (now in high school) and they say some kids will binge watch seasons of shows while at school.

Is it in their target language?

No. They finished their work in google classroom and would watch whatever they wanted. They are a good student but say that the teachers don’t go out of their way to give extra work for those that finish assignments. Maybe that’s why so many kids aren’t proficient at reading and math at DCI.

[Anonymous]

What is the deal with kids being on computers all day? Who thought that was a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with kids being on computers all day? Who thought that was a good idea?

You obviously don’t have a kid at the school. They are not on computers all day at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with kids being on computers all day? Who thought that was a good idea?

You obviously don’t have a kid at the school. They are not on computers all day at all.

Not true. Pick a better school that balances screen time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with kids being on computers all day? Who thought that was a good idea?

You obviously don’t have a kid at the school. They are not on computers all day at all.

Not true. Pick a better school that balances screen time.

+1. 1:1 computers are not a thing at every school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is the middle school lately? I haven't seen any vibrant recent threads on DCI whether MS or HS. More interested in the MS - how is the learning environment? Are there outstanding issues? Is there tracking for certain subjects? What are the extracurriculars like? Have things stabilized since a few years ago (covid-times)?

Middle School Learning Environment: We've had a great experience in middle school! Students gain A LOT of agency in their first year. They have a moderate homework load in 6th grade. There are lots of lunchtime and after school activities to meet students' interests. I've really liked all of my kid's teachers. Next year, the middle school will start using the Eureka math curriculum, which will provide more off-the-shelf materials than teachers previously had access to. Unfortunately, the middle school principal will be departing, but for reasons that have nothing to do with DCI.

Outstanding Issues: Not sure what you had in mind here. All schools have outstanding issues. One at DCI is the lack of gym space for boys' and girls' middle school and high school sports teams to practice. But, they make it work. The school is keen to offer non-gym sports, and have recently added rowing.

Tracking: Yes, there is tracking for:
1. Languages: 6th grade students are tracked into a Phase 1, Phase 2/3, or Phase 3/4 language class, based on ability
2. Math: 6th grade students are tracked into 6th grade math (with extra support class), 6th grade math, or accelerated 6th/7th grade math, in which both 6th and 7th grade standards are covered in one year.
3. Individuals and Societies (I&S) (ie. social studies): Students are tracked based on language ability. Those in a Phase 3/4 language class are tracked into an I&S class in their target language. Students in Phase 1 and Phase 2/3 language classes are tracked into I&S class taught in English.

Extracurriculars: There are lunchtime extracurriculars and after school extra-curriculars. Lots of options including baking, robotics, middle school musical, all the sports, Girls in the Run, anime, etc. etc.

Stabilized? Not sure what you mean by this.

[Anonymous]

middle school principal is leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is the middle school lately? I haven't seen any vibrant recent threads on DCI whether MS or HS. More interested in the MS - how is the learning environment? Are there outstanding issues? Is there tracking for certain subjects? What are the extracurriculars like? Have things stabilized since a few years ago (covid-times)?

Middle School Learning Environment: We've had a great experience in middle school! Students gain A LOT of agency in their first year. They have a moderate homework load in 6th grade. There are lots of lunchtime and after school activities to meet students' interests. I've really liked all of my kid's teachers. Next year, the middle school will start using the Eureka math curriculum, which will provide more off-the-shelf materials than teachers previously had access to. Unfortunately, the middle school principal will be departing, but for reasons that have nothing to do with DCI.

Outstanding Issues: Not sure what you had in mind here. All schools have outstanding issues. One at DCI is the lack of gym space for boys' and girls' middle school and high school sports teams to practice. But, they make it work. The school is keen to offer non-gym sports, and have recently added rowing.

Tracking: Yes, there is tracking for:
1. Languages: 6th grade students are tracked into a Phase 1, Phase 2/3, or Phase 3/4 language class, based on ability
2. Math: 6th grade students are tracked into 6th grade math (with extra support class), 6th grade math, or accelerated 6th/7th grade math, in which both 6th and 7th grade standards are covered in one year.
3. Individuals and Societies (I&S) (ie. social studies): Students are tracked based on language ability. Those in a Phase 3/4 language class are tracked into an I&S class in their target language. Students in Phase 1 and Phase 2/3 language classes are tracked into I&S class taught in English.

Extracurriculars: There are lunchtime extracurriculars and after school extra-curriculars. Lots of options including baking, robotics, middle school musical, all the sports, Girls in the Run, anime, etc. etc.

Stabilized? Not sure what you mean by this.

Huh. I wonder why they are going back to Eureka math. That was the curriculum they used in the first few years, and then they changed to Illustrative Math. I’ve never heard of a school switching back to Eureka after having ditched it.

[Anonymous]

I know of one really sweet, well behaved kid who had gone through the middle school and then exited within weeks of entering the high school. She's a low drama kid so that made me take the school off the list for my daughter with a similar profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know of one really sweet, well behaved kid who had gone through the middle school and then exited within weeks of entering the high school. She's a low drama kid so that made me take the school off the list for my daughter with a similar profile.

Your one case is anecdotal, and I will say so is mine but we know family with a kid who had a great middle school experience, got into Walls for the fall and ultimately declined the offer to continue into the high school.

This kid also miss sports and has knows kids and has friends in the high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of one really sweet, well behaved kid who had gone through the middle school and then exited within weeks of entering the high school. She's a low drama kid so that made me take the school off the list for my daughter with a similar profile.

Your one case is anecdotal, and I will say so is mine but we know family with a kid who had a great middle school experience, got into Walls for the fall and ultimately declined the offer to continue into the high school.

This kid also miss sports and has knows kids and has friends in the high school.

Typo plays not miss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with kids being on computers all day? Who thought that was a good idea?

You obviously don’t have a kid at the school. They are not on computers all day at all.

I know a family that left and one complaint was the amount of instruction that occurs on Chromebooks and the lack of monitoring by teachers. I think DCI parents want to think their kids don’t spend that much time on screens but I think it’s too much. We are at a feeder and are not sending our child there.