For those who might be considering one of the top schools in the District (Lowell)

[Anonymous]

Why is bashing the school with personal opinion fine, but defending in with personal opinion so terrible?

[Anonymous]

If the community is so loving and nice then why all the vitriolic rhetoric from current parents? Lowell has its issues--the mold is a real problem and the math and science curriculum are not as strong as other schools. However it is creative and if you have a child who is spirited, then it might be a right fit. The school does have its fair share of special needs kids. These are facts--not bashing. But then every school has it's issues.

[Anonymous]

PP. Do you have a child there? It seems that you do not based on the "facts" you are posting.

That the math and science are not as strong as other schools is a statement that has been bandied about for years, but is actually not true. The science department in particular is excellent.

Fair share of special needs kids? Good place for spirited kids? Not sure I would actually agree with these statements. In the years we have been at the school (which is many) that statement has varied in substance. Also, I would not characterize that population as one with "issues."

What I would say to prospective parents is that if you want a very accessible school, and by that I mean you will have access to administration at all levels and have a nice amount of input into your child's experience, and if you want a down to earth group of families Lowell is for you. Academics are very good IMO.

I think the "vitriolic rehetoric" is frustration that people who do not attend the school (or sent kids years ago and do not know the state of the school now) feel the need to bash and then the current parents feel defensive of a community they are a part of.

The mold thing? I have no idea what you are referring to!

[Anonymous]

Exactly, PP. See below from another thread where someone felt qualified to say the school was "not worth it" without a scrap of personal experience:

"It's just silly that school boards of second or third tier schools think that if they raise tuition to match the big-3 schools then we will think it is an excellent school and worth it"

[Anonymous]

8:40 OP is playing into the whole best school drama. She claims to be joking. Well, as I taught my son when he was a toddler, it's not a joke if the other person doesn't know you are joking. Again, I would think the board would blush at this miscalculated step. It makes Lowell look bad, petty and small-minded.

[Anonymous]

I agree that OP might not have made her intended message clear and can understand some of the snarky comments in response.

The PPs who are making negative statements on the substance against Lowell continue to say things that are absolutely factually inaccurate. My DD has been at Lowell since Pre-K had stellar math (and other subjects too) SSAT scores and is now headed to NCS from Lowell. My DD went to GDS to visit and they were doing less advanced work in the 6th grade class than she was doing (in the advanced math class) at Lowell.

I have rebutted the "special needs" argument for years on this board and it is simply not so. Indeed, the exmissions demonstrate the fallacy of this statement by PP.

I do not understand people who feel the need to "bash" other schools as not good when the reality is that there are many great schools in DC that educate children very well. I feel the same way about the people who bash other great schools in town for ridiculous reasons. All of them are good and each school is potentially the best school for a family depending on individual factors that apply only to that family and child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP and I think my point was mostly that Lowell treasures respectful communication which is something this board would benefit from greatly. My point about FSIQs was tongue in cheeck, folks, seriously -- y'all took it all so seriously -- I was amazed that folks were posting admission numbers with their children's IQ scores ... I think many of the other schools are wonderful too and many children from Lowell will attend those same schools. Many of them have wonderful history and traditions as well -- GDS as the leader for racial integrity in the city, Sidwell with its philosophy, Sheridan, Green Acres -- but for the right families looking to raise their children in an excellent combination of community and academics, the fit may be right -- also if you are starting out it is hard for you to know yet how and where your child will thrive really -- but so sad to feel you must attack ... and I would not want those making the choice to come to Lowell to feel saddened ...

How odd.

[Anonymous]

I am declining Lowell primarily because of the vibe I get from parents such as the OP. Why the hard sell? And why the hard sell on an anonymous message board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am declining Lowell primarily because of the vibe I get from parents such as the OP. Why the hard sell? And why the hard sell on an anonymous message board?

You base important decisions such as you kid's schooling on the bases of the the vibe you get on anonymous message boards? Hummm! What does that say about you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am declining Lowell primarily because of the vibe I get from parents such as the OP. Why the hard sell? And why the hard sell on an anonymous message board?

You base important decisions such as you kid's schooling on the vibe you get on anonymous message boards? Hummm! What does that say about you?

[Anonymous]

I have to wonder if the person who posted the original message gave any thought to the potential negative backlash to a really nice school. It wasn't worth it when so many good things (and true things) have been posted about Lowell in the recent past. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am declining Lowell primarily because of the vibe I get from parents such as the OP. Why the hard sell? And why the hard sell on an anonymous message board?

You base important decisions such as you kid's schooling on the vibe you get on anonymous message boards? Hummm! What does that say about you?

Read more closely. I said it was because of parents such as the OP -- not just the OP. And what does it say about me? I'm a good parent who follows her instincts because they've gotten me this far.

[Anonymous]

you bitches really need to get a life...or at least get laid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am declining Lowell primarily because of the vibe I get from parents such as I'm a good parent who follows her instincts because they've gotten me this far.

Yeah, you came a long way, baby! So now it's your instinct that guides you, not your ex-ray mold-detecting vision. Please, keep going farther and farther!

[Anonymous]

Former employee... cannot support OP's assessment. Enrollment has declined severely and with good reason. To combat this, school has lowered admissions standards, accepting far too many kids with far too many needs that the school is not designed to support. Teachers are overextended and ultimately no one's needs are met. The administration is dishonest and disingenuous and focus more on covering their own asses than actually advocating for children. Mass flight of best teachers in recent years.