DCI Middle School- Please nothing about Technology

[Anonymous]

I hate to write because I'm so sick of the haters.....but it's a wonderful school. IB (and real IB at that). Approaches to Learning class every day, Design and Arts are mandatory classes, 2 electives per semester with lots to choose from. Happy kids, happy teachers, Rich english and math classes. It's the most diverse school (truly) in DC.

[Anonymous]

Some elective include public speaking, journalism, money and finance, social justice, computer programming, design, etc...

[Anonymous]

How are the language classes, particularly the advanced ones for kids coming from feeder schools. I've heard the Spanish program is pretty weak.

[Anonymous]

Really. Not my experience at all. my kid is in the highest language track for spanish and is very challenged. Getting far more grammar and writing experience than in our feeder as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are the language classes, particularly the advanced ones for kids coming from feeder schools. I've heard the Spanish program is pretty weak.

I looked at it. Nothing is haphazard. It is a very well thought of balancing literacy with grammar with vocabulary building.
I wish our HRCS had a program like that

[Anonymous]

When I went to an an info session for DCI, they had current DCI students speaking. Two of the three were in above grade level math. I know one of the families. They say they are happy.

design class and the after school program sounds cool. The school day is long though. I liked the sound of the various lunch activity options.

[Anonymous]

NP: curious. did you ask why they left Oyster? would they go back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: curious. did you ask why they left Oyster? would they go back?

isn't the Adams school supposed to be building their math program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP: curious. did you ask why they left Oyster? would they go back?

Her decision to leave was largely her parents. They wanted a (free) immersion school through high school. She preferred to stay at Oyster, but she also likes DCI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate to write because I'm so sick of the haters.....but it's a wonderful school. IB (and real IB at that). Approaches to Learning class every day, Design and Arts are mandatory classes, 2 electives per semester with lots to choose from. Happy kids, happy teachers, Rich english and math classes. It's the most diverse school (truly) in DC.

what do you mean "Real IB"?

[Anonymous]

Oyster feeds into Wilson, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oyster feeds into Wilson, right?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Which DCI feeders have sent Spanish track kids yet? Stokes? DC Bilingual? I don't think MV has any kids at DCI yet?

[Anonymous]

and obviously Oyster/LAMB students would be very strong - they have/had a separate lottery for native speakers! i think it's great for the whole program to have strong students there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and obviously Oyster/LAMB students would be very strong - they have/had a separate lottery for native speakers! i think it's great for the whole program to have strong students there.

As a parent at YY, my fear is that the 40-45 kids from YY would get lost from the Spanish immersion influx of kids. I think the school is great for the Spanish immersion kids, I am not so convinced about the Mandarin and French immersion kids.