Rank Order the Best 3-5 DC Public Charters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I have no dog in this fight so to speak, but as a parent of a Montessori educated child (not Spanish immersion Montessori like LAMB) I have to note that 30 is the target size for a Montessori classroom. It is a mixed age classroom and there are 3 teachers for 30 kids, that is the model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I have no dog in this fight so to speak, but as a parent of a Montessori educated child (not Spanish immersion Montessori like LAMB) I have to note that 30 is the target size for a Montessori classroom. It is a mixed age classroom and there are 3 teachers for 30 kids, that is the model.

LAMB has 2 teachers for 27 students......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I have no dog in this fight so to speak, but as a parent of a Montessori educated child (not Spanish immersion Montessori like LAMB) I have to note that 30 is the target size for a Montessori classroom. It is a mixed age classroom and there are 3 teachers for 30 kids, that is the model.

LAMB has 2 teachers for 27 students......

And that could work for some kids, others not so much.

[Anonymous]

Where are you from OP? In DC, language immersion is the lodestar for parents who want advanced academics, knowing that G&T is out of fashion in the public schools. The immersion schools are all very different. In alphabetical order:

DC Bilingual: Spanish Immersion, offered through Centronia - Hispanic community center

LAMB (Latin American Montessori Bilingual): Spanish Immersion, Montessori

Mundo Verde: Spanish Immersion, "Green School" - smaller classes, enviro focus

Stokes: Spanish Immersion and French Immersion

Yu Ying: Mandarin Immersion, International Baccalaureate Program

All 5 of these schools will feed into a common MS/HS called DCI (DC International) which will open next year in a beautiful campus at the old Walter Reed. It will offer all 3 languages (so far): Spanish, Chinese, French, in a program for the prestigious IB Diploma.

There is a 6th language immersion school that just opened: Sela, which offers Hebrew Immersion. Like Mundo Verde, it has received a lot of start-up assistance from Yu Ying. Some people hope that it will join the DCI consortium, which Yu Ying is responsible for pulling together.

[Anonymous]

Mary McLeod Bethune in the Brookland neighborhood is also Spanish immersion PS3 throught 2nd grade. (After that they have daily Spanish class)

Classes are small for PS-3, PS-4 and K. There are 13 in my child's class, and the teacher is a native speaker. I believe there are 3 PS-3 classes. We are very happy at Bethune!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

Good point. Montessori isn't for everyone (or even immersion). Some people need larger classrooms or strict structure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mary McLeod Bethune in the Brookland neighborhood is also Spanish immersion PS3 throught 2nd grade. (After that they have daily Spanish class)

Classes are small for PS-3, PS-4 and K. There are 13 in my child's class, and the teacher is a native speaker. I believe there are 3 PS-3 classes. We are very happy at Bethune!

Love Bethune!

[Anonymous]

DCPCB ranks the charter schools into tiers: http://www.dcpcsb.org/PerformanceTier.aspx.

You could start your search with tier one schools. However, you will likely find schools that interest you beyond the Tier One's-- especially the AppleTrees.

[Anonymous]

Of the non-immersion schools, the ones that get a lot of love here are:

Bridges: small classes, inclusion school

Capital City: one of the oldest charters in DC, founded by parents, nice new facility with greenspace

Creative Minds: started by Stanley Greenspan's foundation, alternative learning, "International Curriculum"

Haynes: probably the most high-profile charter in DC, and most diverse, offers a year-round curriculum

Inspired Teaching: demonstration school of the Center for Inspired Teaching

Two Rivers: also parent founded by Capitol Hill families, expeditionary learning/project oriented curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPCB ranks the charter schools into tiers: http://www.dcpcsb.org/PerformanceTier.aspx.

You could start your search with tier one schools. However, you will likely find schools that interest you beyond the Tier One's-- especially the AppleTrees.

Agreed, but I would caution people against relying solely on the DCPCB report for their research. The report only reflects what is happening in 3-8, and do not reflect early childhood education PS-3--2nd. Many schools have excellent early education programs that may not be reflected by the rankings. The rankings are a good starting point, but best option is to visit the schools and talk with the faculty and administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of the non-immersion schools, the ones that get a lot of love here are:

Bridges: small classes, inclusion school

Capital City: one of the oldest charters in DC, founded by parents, nice new facility with greenspace

Creative Minds: started by Stanley Greenspan's foundation, alternative learning, "International Curriculum"

Haynes: probably the most high-profile charter in DC, and most diverse, offers a year-round curriculum

Inspired Teaching: demonstration school of the Center for Inspired Teaching

Two Rivers: also parent founded by Capitol Hill families, expeditionary learning/project oriented curriculum

Incorrect about Haynes, it's #8 http://greatergreatereducation.org/post/19691/dcs-most-diverse-charter-schools/ also, why is "international curriculum" for CM in quotes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of the non-immersion schools, the ones that get a lot of love here are:

Bridges: small classes, inclusion school

Capital City: one of the oldest charters in DC, founded by parents, nice new facility with greenspace

Creative Minds: started by Stanley Greenspan's foundation, alternative learning, "International Curriculum"

Haynes: probably the most high-profile charter in DC, and most diverse, offers a year-round curriculum

Inspired Teaching: demonstration school of the Center for Inspired Teaching

Two Rivers: also parent founded by Capitol Hill families, expeditionary learning/project oriented curriculum

Incorrect about Haynes, it's #8 http://greatergreatereducation.org/post/19691/dcs-most-diverse-charter-schools/ also, why is "international curriculum" for CM in quotes?

My mistake. No harm intended - I honestly thought Haynes was the most diverse, but if it's only number 8 out of 90-something then so be it.

And "International Curriculum" is in quotes because it's not widely known or well understood. Google it and aside from a link to IPC itself, the next links are all for the very well known International Baccalaureate organization, which has nothing to do with IPC, though it sounds suspiciously and confusingly similar. It seems to be as much an accreditation (like North Central or Middle States) than an organization like IBO. Other than a fancy-sounding name, what proven benefits does it offer? If you can educate us, please do. I'd be interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I wonder, are you somehow related to the crazy Sela booster that Jeff already outed as a sock puppet and active manipulator of DCUM threads:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/120/327724.page

Because it is quite clear that the problem here wasn't some "haters," but a Sela booster gone wild in her attempts to hide the fact that the principal resigned the first week of school.

In any case, why are we even talking about Sela, a promising but literally new school, when OP is asking about "best 3-5 DC public charters"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I wonder, are you somehow related to the crazy Sela booster that Jeff already outed as a sock puppet and active manipulator of DCUM threads:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/120/327724.page

Because it is quite clear that the problem here wasn't some "haters," but a Sela booster gone wild in her attempts to hide the fact that the principal resigned the first week of school.

In any case, why are we even talking about Sela, a promising but literally new school, when OP is asking about "best 3-5 DC public charters"?

True, OP didn't ask what we're the up and coming/nice alternative if you don't get off the wait list. She asked what were the top 3-5. Let her do the research as far as class size, challenging schools etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today: "Honey, on an annonymous listserv that is frequented by people with ample time on their hands and varied motives, LAMB came in with 12% of the vote! Guess we know where we're sending our darling!"

18 months from now: "well dear, we only got in to Sela. Guess we better jump on DCUM and talk it up :/"

People leave all of these schools in droves for "less" hot (in the subjective, striving, and/or myopic minds of the DCUM mob) charters, DCPS, and privates all of the time. LAMB packs up to 30 kids in a classroom - some thrive in this child-driven environment, others fail. Same at all of the mentioned schools. What of Bridges? What of Shining Stars? Appletree? Bethune is changing things up and Sela is doing well (put down the guns, haters). The assumption is that Stokes is a good school for everyone (it isn't) or that IT is challenging enough for all students (also nope). "Ranking" schools is BS. Everybody's snowflake is unique, folks!

I wonder, are you somehow related to the crazy Sela booster that Jeff already outed as a sock puppet and active manipulator of DCUM threads:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/120/327724.page

Because it is quite clear that the problem here wasn't some "haters," but a Sela booster gone wild in her attempts to hide the fact that the principal resigned the first week of school.

In any case, why are we even talking about Sela, a promising but literally new school, when OP is asking about "best 3-5 DC public charters"?

Why are you being a trouble-maker...? This poster was singling Sela out...and people have been bashing Bethune all week, too. Grow up.