s/o is Bethune moving?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recap! So no indication that they're vacating the Brookland campus to make room for Lee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recap! So no indication that they're vacating the Brookland campus to make room for Lee?

Nope, not happening at all. They are expanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP that attended the open house, and I have to say that I was thrilled. The administration seemed wonderful. The teachers are all Masters prepared in education and early childhood development. This definitely wasn't the case at our "well respected" private. Two of the Spanish teachers are starting there after leaving Mundo Verde. I tried to get them to spill why they left, but it was understood that they weren't happy at MV. I grilled them one-on-one about the curriculum that they use and they both felt strongly that it was the best that they've ever taught. Because they just opened the 16th st campus, they still have plenty of spaces. So the class size in our PreK 4 is only 10 students with 2 real teachers. (Not a teacher plus assistant). Volunteering is something that is really important to me after leaving a co-op preschool and they were so excited about the opportunity of regular parent involvement in the classroom.

I know the upper grades may not have the best scores, but we are dealing with our immediate needs. And they really seem to have it together in the early childhood program. I'm not posting this to debate the merits of the school but really as a PSA to those that are still looking and are willing to stray away from the "hot" school of the moment.

And to be fair, we haven't started yet and my impression could change. However, we did talk to several parents at the open house who are entering another year and they were very pleased with their experience. I have the feeling that the administration is really trying. And seeing as how they were approved for a second campus, there seems to be reason to believe that they are doing better and will begin to exceed expectations.

Actually, the elementary school scores are
Math: 37.9% proficient / 0% advanced
Reading: 29.4% proficient / 2.7% advanced

Not sure why that is even considered tier 2, or a success that warrants expansion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP that attended the open house, and I have to say that I was thrilled. The administration seemed wonderful. The teachers are all Masters prepared in education and early childhood development. This definitely wasn't the case at our "well respected" private. Two of the Spanish teachers are starting there after leaving Mundo Verde. I tried to get them to spill why they left, but it was understood that they weren't happy at MV. I grilled them one-on-one about the curriculum that they use and they both felt strongly that it was the best that they've ever taught. Because they just opened the 16th st campus, they still have plenty of spaces. So the class size in our PreK 4 is only 10 students with 2 real teachers. (Not a teacher plus assistant). Volunteering is something that is really important to me after leaving a co-op preschool and they were so excited about the opportunity of regular parent involvement in the classroom.

I know the upper grades may not have the best scores, but we are dealing with our immediate needs. And they really seem to have it together in the early childhood program. I'm not posting this to debate the merits of the school but really as a PSA to those that are still looking and are willing to stray away from the "hot" school of the moment.

And to be fair, we haven't started yet and my impression could change. However, we did talk to several parents at the open house who are entering another year and they were very pleased with their experience. I have the feeling that the administration is really trying. And seeing as how they were approved for a second campus, there seems to be reason to believe that they are doing better and will begin to exceed expectations.

Actually, the elementary school scores are
Math: 37.9% proficient / 0% advanced
Reading: 29.4% proficient / 2.7% advanced

Not sure why that is even considered tier 2, or a success that warrants expansion.

From the Charter Board's perspective it isn't an expansion because total number of students hasn't changed from their initial charter. Just an additional building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recap! So no indication that they're vacating the Brookland campus to make room for Lee?

Nope, not happening at all. They are expanding.

They are not expanding. Watch this space.

[Anonymous]

What do you know PP? Come on.

[Anonymous]

They are making room for another charter.

[Anonymous]

Which charter?

[Anonymous]

Shining Stars? That would be interesting and a good move for both schools.

[Anonymous]

What charters don't have "permanent" locations?

Lee
Shining stars

Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

I think it SS .

[Anonymous]

I think it SS.

Hope not . Was setting my hopes on the Taylor street possibility.

[Anonymous]

I think anything that requires hundreds of thousands in renovation costs, will be difficult to swallow for small schools like Lee and SS. Do either of them have deep pocket supporters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think anything that requires hundreds of thousands in renovation costs, will be difficult to swallow for small schools like Lee and SS. Do either of them have deep pocket supporters?

Most of the time DC charter schools get 20-25 year financing to pay for building renovations/acquisitions. Really really to do any sort of school renovation for less than 7 figures.

There was a recent study released that said that 3 DC charters received more half of all private donations -- EL Haynes, KIPP and Maya Angelou. Most of the rest of them raise from their parent communities, get some small grants here and there, and take out loans with very long payback windows.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad that Bethune is working out for some families, but I am really bothered that we were never give a call that said we got off the wait list. We had a under 10 wait list number and I find it difficult to believe that we never got a spot. Obviously we found another spot elsewhere that we love, but the way they are running their wait list is giving me doubt about the opacity of the process.