Local school Janney and I REALLY want to support and send the kids, BUT...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what I like about private and charter school families: everyone's affirmatively OPTING in, instead of DEFAULTING in.

Well, except for the families that don't get into their first, second, third, etc. choice private and/or charter schools and end up going to the fifth or eighth choice on their list because it's the only one that accepts their child. And many DCPS parents apply out of boundary to schools that appeal to them for various reasons but then send their kids to the neighborhood school (or to a private or parochial school) when their choice schools don't have room. Everyone has a default option. Don't kid yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any update as to when Janney will be renovated?

The plan that will be put in place when it is?

It had been higher on the list because developers were going to renovate the entire corner with the Library, but since the anti-development factions have essentially killed that prospect, the school will probably move back to 2017 or whatever it was supposed to be.

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

My children attend a fantastic school which is held in an extremely old, run down, barely functioning building. It has never even crossed my mind that we wouldn't send our children there strictly because of the building. It is really a wonderful, small, attentive school. We absolutely love it. Not Janney though...we are a little bit in the suburbs. I dont' know anything about Janney. But I do know if the school is good, it is easy to see past facilities.

[Anonymous]

True. The best preschool DCs attended was in a hellhole of a dimly-lit basement. But the faculty and curriculum and involved parents more than made up for the facility.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My original post was asking if this is something I need to get over, and it obviously is. (The facilities not being so shiny and new). We would not be defaulting in, we are considering the school as strongly (if not more) than every other school we are looking at. Moreso b/c of the major money differential. But thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond. It means a lot to get some feedback, even when it is humbling to me.

Be well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Ouch PP. Have you been in Janney? It is pretty run-down (high up on the list of schools to fix, but low in priority due to this crazy city). Again, I find it to be HAPPY place, but after visiting so many well-appointed beautiful schools, it is reasonable that I may feel this way. I guess to me, it is. I don't think the school's future rests in my decision, I was just interested in how others felt about it. But thank you for your "not trying to negative" response.
{sigh}

My kids go there. Please. don't come to Janney. Really. You sound like a nightmare. Yes, that's directly negative because you sound truly snotty and awful.

I am not the original poster, but I have thought about moving to AU Park to go to Janney. I did not think OP's original post was snotty at all, and I was surprised at how everyone jumped on her and encouraged her not to come to the school. The response seemed unusually harsh to me. Is the community really so unwelcoming??

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, I do not think everyone is as, ummmm, rough as this crowd was. I live in the neighborhood (obvs) and I found my neighbors to be AMAZING (and most of them send their kids to Janney). They are friendly and helpful and easy-going. I have many friends who send their kids to private/parochial schools are equally lovely.

I DO NOT think the community is unwelcoming at all! Don't let this one thread inform your decision!

[Anonymous]

We're thinking of buying in Janney. Our DC did not like private school with friends all over the place and wants public in order to have friends in the neighborhood. How many of the Janney kids are actually from the neighborhood? How many are out of boundary?

OP: Our older DC goes to a wonderful school in an old, run-down facility. I was turned off by the building at first. But kids, faculty, parents are happy. If you like the school, the facility does not matter, you will see.

[Anonymous]

Was anyone else at the open house tour where the teacher harshly scolded the little boy in her class? I'm having a hard time getting past that. Also, if you have a child at Janney, have you ever had a problem with a particular teacher?

[Anonymous]

The vast majority of Janney kids are in-boundary.

[Anonymous]

I went to a beautiful prestigious private school, DH went to a beautiful New England boarding school...but we will send our kids to our run-down DCPS until 7th grade or maybe until 9th. Kids don't need a beautiful place to thrive, they need a warm, happy, energetic environment. Besides, this type of environment can be character-building. I grew up with mom who insisted everything be beautiful, the best, hyper-clean...and it's taken me a long time to loosen up (I had a very hard time my freshman year in a dorm because, frankly, it wasn't "gorgeous"....but lucky for me, I got over it). Kids need to be able to deal with run-down stuff...not everything in life needs or has to beautiful. Rest easy, OP, they will do well especially since you seem to be a concerned and attentive parent.