Ross?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived on that block for years and moved for work reasons before our oldest entered K. It’s clearly a tight knit parent community and a sweet school. We have friends who are waitlisted now and live very close. One thing I never understood was how, for such a small school, so many MD families get away with enrolling their kids? Our parking was behind the house on that block, same side of the street, and multiple times per week we were blocked in by MD cars waiting for drop off or pick up. I tried to mind my own business, but if I ever asked them to move so I could get my car out, I was often sworn at. We are thinking of moving back to the neighborhood, and my youngest would still get 3 years there (beginning in ‘27). Is there still a large contingent of MD residents cheating the system?

I don't know a single family living in maryland (and it's a really small community, I know every single family in our grade). Still some OOB kids who came in through lottery spots, but no MD.

Ross used to have very little buy in from IB parents -- that's really changed in the last decade.

It’s on my walk to work, and MD plates are definitely a thing (though not to the high degree described and seemingly less than at other DCPS I’ve seen) but could very well be attributable to nanny drop offs, split families, car registration not switched over, etc.

[Anonymous]

If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone tangental, but it's crazy how much the Ross waitlist is moving for K and 1st. Our first grader has moved up 10 slots and our K has moved up 9.

Meanwhile, for Garrison (right next door!) neither grade has moved an inch.

Can confirm! But I’m sure Garrison will move eventually too. I wish Eaton or Hearst would budge a bit too but less optimistic on those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would welcome any specifics for folks joining the school at K/1. I know the demographics bolster test scores but curious to learn what special sauce there is beyond just plugged-in families. (MS/HS not a consideration since we will be moving after 5th).

I think the Ross special sauce relates to the ambitious principal, who has been there for maybe 15 years and turned the school into what it is now.

Some info:
https://thedcline.org/2019/10/17/ross-principal-credits-years-of-our-community-working-together-for-inclusion-as-one-of-dcs-five-national-blue-ribbon-schools/

The school also has an extra writing curriculum, so the kids learn how to write (persuasive essays, narratives) really properly. And I find it pretty low tech, compared to other DCPS schools.

The demographic influence may be because if you have a room full of kids with really involved parents, you can ask more of all the students.

Op here- this is very helpful. Thx for sharing!
I’m kind of puzzled about the lack of gym and cafeteria as mentioned by others below. Planning to call the school to learn more. I’m familiar with the outdoor facilities but didn’t realize how limited the building is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone tangental, but it's crazy how much the Ross waitlist is moving for K and 1st. Our first grader has moved up 10 slots and our K has moved up 9.

Meanwhile, for Garrison (right next door!) neither grade has moved an inch.

Can confirm! But I’m sure Garrison will move eventually too. I wish Eaton or Hearst would budge a bit too but less optimistic on those.

I think the comment above about the size of classes was in reference to Garrison. This may explain their waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would welcome any specifics for folks joining the school at K/1. I know the demographics bolster test scores but curious to learn what special sauce there is beyond just plugged-in families. (MS/HS not a consideration since we will be moving after 5th).

I think the Ross special sauce relates to the ambitious principal, who has been there for maybe 15 years and turned the school into what it is now.

Some info:
https://thedcline.org/2019/10/17/ross-principal-credits-years-of-our-community-working-together-for-inclusion-as-one-of-dcs-five-national-blue-ribbon-schools/

The school also has an extra writing curriculum, so the kids learn how to write (persuasive essays, narratives) really properly. And I find it pretty low tech, compared to other DCPS schools.

The demographic influence may be because if you have a room full of kids with really involved parents, you can ask more of all the students.

Op here- this is very helpful. Thx for sharing!
I’m kind of puzzled about the lack of gym and cafeteria as mentioned by others below. Planning to call the school to learn more. I’m familiar with the outdoor facilities but didn’t realize how limited the building is.

Yeah, it's tight! The good thing is that they go outside for PE whenever possible and the PE teacher is wonderful. And sometimes each lunch outside. And they use Stead for big school picnics etc.

[Anonymous]

Also, my son just came home yesterday from a bag full of notes from every single classmate with a nice compliment written on it. So i guess they all sat down and wrote something nice about every single kid in their grade.

It's a really sweet little place. The other additional curriculum they have is called "Peace of Mind" and they teach them how to calm themselves down, resolve differences, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

Cultural diversity? Many families at Ross are just White Americans. Sure there are some in touch with their European heritage but I don’t see them ganging up on a Black American child.

That’d be pretty nasty but then again it’s clear that even white democrats hate black people sometimes.

I personally have not seen any bullying though.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t had a child at Ross, but I know the principal, Holly Hurst. She’s a career educator who has worked in public and private schools. She also once ran a teacher education program. I’ve seen her navigate incredibly tricky situations with warmth and professionalism. While changing demographics certainly help Ross’s testing statistics, it is also true that the school has fantastic leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t had a child at Ross, but I know the principal, Holly Hurst. She’s a career educator who has worked in public and private schools. She also once ran a teacher education program. I’ve seen her navigate incredibly tricky situations with warmth and professionalism. While changing demographics certainly help Ross’s testing statistics, it is also true that the school has fantastic leadership.

Holly Searl! She has very high standards for the students and the teachers, and everyone rises to meet them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone tangental, but it's crazy how much the Ross waitlist is moving for K and 1st. Our first grader has moved up 10 slots and our K has moved up 9.

Meanwhile, for Garrison (right next door!) neither grade has moved an inch.

Our Garrison number started to move today, fyi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

Calling bullsh*t on this.

Ross/Dupont is one of the most progressive areas in the city.

I walk by the school everyday and see kids of all races playing together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

Calling bullsh*t on this.

Ross/Dupont is one of the most progressive areas in the city.

I walk by the school everyday and see kids of all races playing together.

Yeah I'm a non-white person and I've only felt accepted.

The school does have a notably low at-risk population, like around 5 percent.

But the other families fall in a range, it's a dense neighborhood with lots of condo/apartment dwellers in addition to huge townhouse dwellers, so feels relatively down to earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

Calling bullsh*t on this.

Ross/Dupont is one of the most progressive areas in the city.

I walk by the school everyday and see kids of all races playing together.

Yeah I'm a non-white person and I've only felt accepted.

The school does have a notably low at-risk population, like around 5 percent.

But the other families fall in a range, it's a dense neighborhood with lots of condo/apartment dwellers in addition to huge townhouse dwellers, so feels relatively down to earth.

I didn’t say POC, I said black. Black and POC are not the same thing and should never be grouped together. Black people and POC have vastly different experiences in this city and the country. The interests and experiences of POC are more aligned and synced with those white people than Foundational Black Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re white, Ross is a good school. There is very little cultural diversity and the majority of the white families are racist and have anti-black sentiments. A friend of mine sent his kid to Ross and the white parents refused to let their kids play with that little boy because he is black.

Calling bullsh*t on this.

Ross/Dupont is one of the most progressive areas in the city.

I walk by the school everyday and see kids of all races playing together.

Yeah I'm a non-white person and I've only felt accepted.

The school does have a notably low at-risk population, like around 5 percent.

But the other families fall in a range, it's a dense neighborhood with lots of condo/apartment dwellers in addition to huge townhouse dwellers, so feels relatively down to earth.

And not to be dismissive at all of PP’s friend’s experience, but this is largely our experience with the Ross community. I will say if a kid enters at a middle/upper elementary level, it absolutely seems bit tougher to crack socially given how tight knit it is. Regardless of the child. I think Ross parents would agree with that. But if it’s a birthday party and the class is invited, no one is being excluded, whether you’ve been there since PK or joined in 3rd.