Dual language middle school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools will have feeder rights to Jefferson?

Brent, Chisholm, Van Ness, Amidon-Bowen.

But Chisholm is the DL school. So would the DL program only serve those students?

Primarily for now. I don’t know if there will be plans to give other schools a preference for lottery. But the strand program will be two classes, and maybe eventually 3 or more, so the DL kids will also be in classes with the other kids (the schedule is 8 total classes currently). Van Ness has Spanish as a special from pk3-5th, so while not DL, maybe it would provide those students with a more advanced option at some point during MS. I believe that all 6th graders currently take Spanish at Jefferson currently (with the Chisholm kids taking a more advanced option), which is different than the other Hill MSs.

Sorry but no, having spanish as a special is a joke. The kids might learn the alphabet and basic phrases but will not be at any level but beginner by the time they get to middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has been in a Spanish dual language program since pre k but now as we prepare for middle school it doesn’t seem like that many options. The only school I really hear given as best choice is DCI however it is so far. Is there any talks of them getting a bus from eastern market like other schools? What is everyone take on the few other dual language middle schools? I would hate to abandon language immersion.

Good news-DCPS just announced last week that they will be adding a new dual language Spanish strand program at Jefferson. Next school year will be a dedicated planning year. Jefferson already offers a Spanish humanities class to 6th graders coming in from dual language programs (because Chisholm is a feeder). Phase 1 of the program will be SY27-28, where there will be an additional core class taught in Spanish, and then there are plans for a Phase 2 and 3.

Honestly, what's the big deal when Jefferson isn't attracting a good cohort of UMC in-boundary families, no matter what goes on there. Same story for the last 6 or 7 years. Jefferson was drawing in more high SES families pre-Covid than now, double in fact. We know Brent families who sent older sibs to Jefferson while their younger sibs go to Stuart Hobson. The reality is that the new language Spanish strand program at Jefferson is really unlikely to appeal to very many UMC families. A few people will go for it, mostly Chisholm grads, that's it. Once Phase 2&3 materialize, in-boundary UMC Brent, Van Ness and Amidon and Chisholm families will still mob BASIS, the Latins, DCI, privates and suburban middle schools. We should only get so excited about this, um, marvelous new option.

If DCPS was remotely serious about serving UMC immersion families, they'd set up the kind of arrangement you see in MoCo with middle school programs feeding Richard Montgomery's competitive IB Diploma program (application high school). They're not and they won't.

This.Many will boost, few will jump. Business as usual under Bowser.

[Anonymous]

i think it will be somewhat successful in attracting a cohort of spanish speaking students on the east side. siblings some years apart going to different middle schools isnt all that meaningful of an indicator of anything — especially on the hill where the middle school boundaries are pretty arbitrary. the family may live closer to SH and the older child may have also tried for but not gotten a 6th grade lottery spot at SH. either child could have also been influenced by elementary school friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has been in a Spanish dual language program since pre k but now as we prepare for middle school it doesn’t seem like that many options. The only school I really hear given as best choice is DCI however it is so far. Is there any talks of them getting a bus from eastern market like other schools? What is everyone take on the few other dual language middle schools? I would hate to abandon language immersion.

Good news-DCPS just announced last week that they will be adding a new dual language Spanish strand program at Jefferson. Next school year will be a dedicated planning year. Jefferson already offers a Spanish humanities class to 6th graders coming in from dual language programs (because Chisholm is a feeder). Phase 1 of the program will be SY27-28, where there will be an additional core class taught in Spanish, and then there are plans for a Phase 2 and 3.

And then what? Eastern? No one with any other options will choose Jefferson for this language program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has been in a Spanish dual language program since pre k but now as we prepare for middle school it doesn’t seem like that many options. The only school I really hear given as best choice is DCI however it is so far. Is there any talks of them getting a bus from eastern market like other schools? What is everyone take on the few other dual language middle schools? I would hate to abandon language immersion.

DCI is the only charter/public school in the city with serious language programming and an IB diploma in high school.

But you won’t get in the Spanish track since you are not in a feeder.

The only other serious option is private which is WIS.

Oyster is a much better middle school language option. DCI middle is language light in comparison. If you are in 3rd-4th you can probably get a spot at a DCI feeder since most people don’t want to start DL in upper elementary. You can also try for Oyster if your kid can pass the proficiency test. The Jefferson program seems promising and if you live on the hill I would consider it. I don’t think DCI is worth the commute (I have kids there).

I have a kid at DCI middle. No the language model is not light. I am assuming your kid is in the lower language level tracks then. If so, then yes limited course options. They are not going to put a kid in many classes in the language if they are not even proficient yet.

My kid is in the highest track and so has lots of classes in the language. DCI has 6, yes six, levels of language classes and they test the kids every year with STAMP to know where they are and to place them. Kids in the highest track not only has language classes but also other subject like social studies actually taught in the language. Electives can also be in the language if you are in the higher track. Also exchange programs late middle are optiins if you are in the higher track. Lots of kids with native speaking families in this track also. Also if you are in the highest track, you can take a 2nd language starting as early as 7th and work towards an IB bilingual diploma.

I can’t comment on Oyster since I don’t have a kid there, but since you seem to know, you can let us know how extensive is the offerings in languages.and courses are there.

Also I agree with another poster that doubtful the Jefferson program will be successful when you have so little students coming in with proficiency in the language. Also majority of kids are not even on grade level in ELA, so I don’t see how they will be able to master a 2nd language.

DP, parent of an Adams grad.

I think the post above is full of good information about DCI, which I’ve heard good things about.

In case it helps OP - when my kid was at Adams, 1/2 of subjects for all kids were in Spanish and 1/2 were English. So math might be in English and science in Spanish. IIRC, at least one year one of my kid’s teachers in an English subject was completely bilingual (like no accent in either) and taught a bit in both.

Our kid started Oyster in 2nd and went through 8th at Adams. He then did AP Spanish Lang and Lit 2 years at JR. we spoke very little Spanish at home, but travelled regularly to Latin America and socialized in Spanish regularly. In college, DS took content classes in Spanish and had a prof ask what country he was from. Prof was surprised he grew up in DC and didn’t speak Spanish at home. DC’s job in college was also all in Spanish. So, we thought OA was very effective at teaching Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools will have feeder rights to Jefferson?

Brent, Chisholm, Van Ness, Amidon-Bowen.

Reality will be the language program is just going to be an afterthought if less than 25% of the kids coming in have absolutely no immersion experience at all.

Honestly, these kids should have more support classes in math and English than take a language. The scores for Jefferson is abysmal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools will have feeder rights to Jefferson?

Brent, Chisholm, Van Ness, Amidon-Bowen.

Reality will be the language program is just going to be an afterthought if less than 25% of the kids coming in have absolutely no immersion experience at all.

Honestly, these kids should have more support classes in math and English than take a language. The scores for Jefferson is abysmal.

typo 75% with no immersion experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools will have feeder rights to Jefferson?

Brent, Chisholm, Van Ness, Amidon-Bowen.

Reality will be the language program is just going to be an afterthought if less than 25% of the kids coming in have absolutely no immersion experience at all.

Honestly, these kids should have more support classes in math and English than take a language. The scores for Jefferson is abysmal.

+1 Just look at MacFarland. Go on their website or school profile and try to find reference to their dual language program.

[Anonymous]

Are you at a DCI feeder? If not, DCI is very unlikely to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has been in a Spanish dual language program since pre k but now as we prepare for middle school it doesn’t seem like that many options. The only school I really hear given as best choice is DCI however it is so far. Is there any talks of them getting a bus from eastern market like other schools? What is everyone take on the few other dual language middle schools? I would hate to abandon language immersion.

DCI is the only charter/public school in the city with serious language programming and an IB diploma in high school.

But you won’t get in the Spanish track since you are not in a feeder.

The only other serious option is private which is WIS.

Oyster is a much better middle school language option. DCI middle is language light in comparison. If you are in 3rd-4th you can probably get a spot at a DCI feeder since most people don’t want to start DL in upper elementary. You can also try for Oyster if your kid can pass the proficiency test. The Jefferson program seems promising and if you live on the hill I would consider it. I don’t think DCI is worth the commute (I have kids there).

I have a kid at DCI middle. No the language model is not light. I am assuming your kid is in the lower language level tracks then. If so, then yes limited course options. They are not going to put a kid in many classes in the language if they are not even proficient yet.

My kid is in the highest track and so has lots of classes in the language. DCI has 6, yes six, levels of language classes and they test the kids every year with STAMP to know where they are and to place them. Kids in the highest track not only has language classes but also other subject like social studies actually taught in the language. Electives can also be in the language if you are in the higher track. Also exchange programs late middle are optiins if you are in the higher track. Lots of kids with native speaking families in this track also. Also if you are in the highest track, you can take a 2nd language starting as early as 7th and work towards an IB bilingual diploma.

I can’t comment on Oyster since I don’t have a kid there, but since you seem to know, you can let us know how extensive is the offerings in languages.and courses are there.

Also I agree with another poster that doubtful the Jefferson program will be successful when you have so little students coming in with proficiency in the language. Also majority of kids are not even on grade level in ELA, so I don’t see how they will be able to master a 2nd language.

DP, parent of an Adams grad.

I think the post above is full of good information about DCI, which I’ve heard good things about.

In case it helps OP - when my kid was at Adams, 1/2 of subjects for all kids were in Spanish and 1/2 were English. So math might be in English and science in Spanish. IIRC, at least one year one of my kid’s teachers in an English subject was completely bilingual (like no accent in either) and taught a bit in both.

Our kid started Oyster in 2nd and went through 8th at Adams. He then did AP Spanish Lang and Lit 2 years at JR. we spoke very little Spanish at home, but travelled regularly to Latin America and socialized in Spanish regularly. In college, DS took content classes in Spanish and had a prof ask what country he was from. Prof was surprised he grew up in DC and didn’t speak Spanish at home. DC’s job in college was also all in Spanish. So, we thought OA was very effective at teaching Spanish.

Glad your kid had a good experience at Adams.

We did not look at Adams at all because it is so small. About 70-75 kids a grade. Above sounds like a repeat of elementary to us with the 50/50 classroom model.

We wanted a more traditional middle school experience with periods and where you could track for each individual subjects, a very robust curriculum of core subjects, lots of electives, in addition to full array of clubs and sports.

The extensive language level tracking works really well to meet each kid where they are and allows the higher performing kids to advance much more quickly.

DCI is very data driven and uses standardized testing as a hard measure of where the kids are in addition to grades and teachers recommendations. They are very transparent about it too in communications to families.

The middle school kids just all finished their standardized testing in language, math, ELA, and science. Some kid’s schedules will change due to their scores with moving up or down levels. It will also dictate which kids need more support classes. It’s a lot of work to evaluate and do this for over 600 kids in the middle school, but ensures that the kids are met where they are. They will retest in winter and repeat above. So there is a lot of fluidity in the class levels. This IMO is what I think is good practice and equity. It is not lowering standards. It is upholding standards and expectations and supporting the low performers to bring them up .

[Anonymous]

Heard there is a private bus service for families from Capitol Hill to DCI

[Anonymous]

Heard there is a private bus service for families from Capitol Hill to DCI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heard there is a private bus service for families from Capitol Hill to DCI

Yes there is from Capitol Hill to Brookland, and maybe 3rd stop I think then to school.

[Anonymous]

If you are close to union station or can handle dropping kid there, tons of DCI kids take the red line to Takoma and bus or walk from there. It’s very easy and direct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are close to union station or can handle dropping kid there, tons of DCI kids take the red line to Takoma and bus or walk from there. It’s very easy and direct.

40 minutes from Union Station...if you are on the Hill, it can easily be 1 to 1.5 hours...and that is one way

Hard pass.