Brent and SWS
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
? |
Anonymous
| I didn't even know that SWS had a middle school feeder since it isn't a neighborhood school. Doesn't everyone who goes there already have a guaranteed IB middle school feeder based on their address? It seems redundant. |
Anonymous
I think that's why one PP thought it fed to Stuart Hobson. Many/most SWS families are in bounds for Stuart Hobson, which means that the fact that SWS feeds to Eliot Hine probably doesn't mean much for Eliot Hine. |
Anonymous
New poster here. I'm intrigued by this SWS comment, "so long as they're 100% typical." Could the poster elaborate? Specifically, I've been thinking of enrolling my child with high-functioning autism into SWS' program for HFA, beginning in 1st grade (ie, one year from now). My child has already been evaluated for it. Would you NOT recommend SWS for my "non-typical" child? |
Anonymous
|
SWS parent of an "atypical" child here. No idea what PP is talking about. Pretty sure it's the best DCPS offering for atypical kids? I would think the Ivymount partnership would make parents of children on the spectrum that much more attractive. The support teachers are great and every challenge we've faced has been a team effort to overcome. From my perspective, every voice has a place in this school, and there is so much focus on community and how to treat others I feel confident that my kid isn't going to be marginalized.
And just a note to OP: you're going to get lovers and haters here - this forum tends to encourage people to dig in to a viewpoint. If you really want an honest answer ask the Principal to put you in touch with some current parents. |
Anonymous
| I'd probably pick Brent. My three kids were at Brent, and the two younger ones are still there. There are so many great teachers, who are flexible and creative. The school is good at identifying kids who need extra help in reading early. My oldest child is at a competitive middle school now and doing well. He was well prepared by Brent. |
Anonymous
|
SWS has much better leadership than Brent, and parents who don't fight like cats and dogs. The SWS principal is a really good guy who's willing to stick his neck our for his kids and families. He's been around forever and you hear few complaints. Principal Young is a smiling conservative (with a small c) wimp you can't trust. You hear many complaints.
We're IB for Brent and I'd switch in a minute if I could lottery into SWS in the lower grades as long as Young stays at the helm. |
Anonymous
I'm actually talking more about kids who aren't on the bell curve but who also DON'T have an IEP. I actually think the SpEd team there is excellent. I think the regular teachers aren't quite capable of dealing with kids who need something different than most kids (but not so different that they qualify for SpEd) |
Anonymous
I agree with this. Kids that are slightly off or behind tend to get lost in the shuffle or not prioritized. I get that kids with an IEP need more; I'm just not sure that the supports given to them also allow teachers to focus on non-IEP kids who in the words of a PP are not 100% typical. I think it's hard when you've got a class that's 1/2 IEP kids - whether it's high-functioning autism or something else. Something has gotta give and it's usually the kids who are slightly off/behind who are the pressure valve. SWS doesn't have an aide per classroom after K; there are something like three aides that float around the 1st - 3rd grades as needed. It's only going to get worse as the school adds two grades but doesn't increase it's fundraising in order to be able to afford more aides. |
Anonymous
| I think SWS specializes inquirky kids, many who don't chase ieps. But I agree that there is a need for more elementary aids. Don't know that it is a problem limited to SWS give that DCPS doesn't provide elementary aids. |
Anonymous
Which class is 50% IEP? |
Anonymous
Absolutely no class there has that many children with IEPs in it. |
Anonymous
the school has 18% special ed, and that includes medically fragile classrooms, so no -- there is no 50% IEP classroom. Not even close |
Anonymous
| Both great options but both with middle school problems. Brent is more traditional and may appeal to families that have kids who need to loop up for math, a bit more challenging. I think there is, IMHO, a bit more status-consciousness at Brent than SWS, but that may have changed since we were in SWS at Peabody. SWS may be a bit more heavy for required parent involvement. SWS is very much about the whole child. My one criticism of SWS culture is that they like children who are different, but kind of expect all the kids to be "different" in the same, quirky way. |
Anonymous
| ^ no idea what that means. Pretty sure all 1st graders are quirky in one way or another? |