Rave about your DCPS/charter school

[Anonymous]

We have a kindergartner at Eaton and it has been a very good experience. My son is engaged and I wants to share what he is learning. School has a parent and student body that represents a great cross-section of DC and is very involved.

[Anonymous]

Upper grade YY student who has thrived at the school. My child loves the school, Mandarin, the leadership, the teachers, and the community. We've been so happy!

[Anonymous]

Mundo Verde! My kid loves school, and learned so much in PreK. Most families are returning for y2 after such a positive first year. Best of luck, op, there are some great options out there!

[Anonymous]

Another one for Mundo Verde. We love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

We are talking about a small (<10) 3rd grade class in their first year taking the DC-CAS at a first year school. If you compare the proficiency numbers to Two Rivers, Stokes, EL Haynes, etc. for the first time their leading classes took the DC-CAS and you will see approximately the same scores. What's interesting will be to see how these students do next year in 4th and how the rising 3rd does with two years of instruction by the same gifted teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

We are talking about a small (<10) 3rd grade class in their first year taking the DC-CAS at a first year school. If you compare the proficiency numbers to Two Rivers, Stokes, EL Haynes, etc. for the first time their leading classes took the DC-CAS and you will see approximately the same scores. What's interesting will be to see how these students do next year in 4th and how the rising 3rd does with two years of instruction by the same gifted teacher.

That's great, but not like the best private schools.

[Anonymous]

Entering our fourth year at Washington Yu Ying PCS and lovin' it. xD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

We are talking about a small (<10) 3rd grade class in their first year taking the DC-CAS at a first year school. If you compare the proficiency numbers to Two Rivers, Stokes, EL Haynes, etc. for the first time their leading classes took the DC-CAS and you will see approximately the same scores. What's interesting will be to see how these students do next year in 4th and how the rising 3rd does with two years of instruction by the same gifted teacher.

That's great, but not like the best private schools.

You go visit any reputable, progressive DC private school and see the student work. Then come to Inspired Teaching and see the student work. It is based in the same concepts of inquiry, imagination, student constructed and project-based learning, etc. Insert your buzz word here.

Performance on a test is related to instruction, but can also be another thing entirely; IT teachers don't make the DC-CAS tests nor did they teach to the tests. Teachers in private schools don't drill their students to perform well on the ERBs either. How many private school students fall below proficiency on the ERBs? Unfortunately, that data isn't made public. Trust me: plenty of students aren't proficient readers or mathematicians in private schools, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

We are talking about a small (<10) 3rd grade class in their first year taking the DC-CAS at a first year school. If you compare the proficiency numbers to Two Rivers, Stokes, EL Haynes, etc. for the first time their leading classes took the DC-CAS and you will see approximately the same scores. What's interesting will be to see how these students do next year in 4th and how the rising 3rd does with two years of instruction by the same gifted teacher.

That's great, but not like the best private schools.

A third grader after his/her first year in a private school may not perform fantastically on the dcCas either. We'll never know!

I think it's a reasonable comparison, particularly for the younger grades. Not at IT but have often thought our first year charter feels like a private school.

[Anonymous]

Another YY parent here, and we love it. It's not for everyone, but if you've got a bright, inquisitive child who thrives when given new challenges, this might be the school for you.

[Anonymous]

Another IT parent here. Many great things about IT as discussed here and in other threads; we didn't apply to other school lotteries this year.

My spouse and I are much less concerned about testing-a skill that can be learned-and much more so about our child learning as IT (and schools with similar approaches) intends. We confident that IT will improve its test scores and meet the other standards that are less critical to learning and that the children will truly learn.

On another note, its delightful to see how much bragging there is-some amazing schools are here in DC!

[Anonymous]

It's refreshing to have a blog that brags, instead of bashing. Say that three-times fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child in K is also at Inspired Teaching and we think it compares to the best private schools in DC for many reasons. They hire superstar teachers (masters and residents), the energy in classrooms is strong, and the interdisciplinary and engaging learning is on display for parents to see daily and at four special evening events through the year.

Because it's lottery, though, try not to get your heart set on any one school. Not sure how old your child is, but if you're hoping to get into K next year, that cohort this year (PK4) already has 100s on their waiting list for 44 spots, the majority of whom are returning from a strong PS3 year. I'll be surprised if more than 15 spots open up in that class this year. Best of luck.

34.60% proficiency at IT "compares to the best private schools in DC" - hmmm.

We are talking about a small (<10) 3rd grade class in their first year taking the DC-CAS at a first year school. If you compare the proficiency numbers to Two Rivers, Stokes, EL Haynes, etc. for the first time their leading classes took the DC-CAS and you will see approximately the same scores. What's interesting will be to see how these students do next year in 4th and how the rising 3rd does with two years of instruction by the same gifted teacher.

That's great, but not like the best private schools.

You're right, we don't have any data that says how the "best" private schools would do with children coming in far below grade leve. My experience is that they both screen at admissions, and counsel kids out, and yet huge numbers of their hand selected students need outside tutoring. That tells the quality of teaching in those schools isn't that high.

If your goal is to have a lifelong learner who can think creatlively and interact well with a diverse group, then I'd put IT/Two Rivers/Stokes/Haynes/many other schools ahead of most privates in this area.

[Anonymous]

Two dozen schools to love up to 3rd grade (we loved Brent), after which the challenge falls off for the brightest and most discplined kids in almost every case.

Few schools to love for 4th and 5th for advanced learners/GT and nothing but OK compared to privates and suburban options.

Middle-class parents claim they love DCPS and DC Charter middle and high schools because they're attached to their urban lifestyles, not because any DC public school is wonderful for grade 6+ for high-performing kids when compared to the better suburban schools, not by a long shot. Facilities, ability grouping and teaching are uniformly weak by comparison.

Hope you can swing a private after ES. You'll go later if you can afford to. Challenge for the brightest teenagers isn't a priority for DCPS. Preserving AA middle-class jobs (including for lousy teachers), keeping under-enrolled neighborhood schools open, prepping low-SES kids to pass proficiency tests, and shielding low-SES kids from competition by high-SES peers are the priorities. Doubt it at your kid's peril.