New interim principal at Burroughs?

[Anonymous]

What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

It isn't because of the charters. If they didn't exist people would just go WOTP or to a better EOTP school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

It isn't because of the charters. If they didn't exist people would just go WOTP or to a better EOTP school.

It's because people want a feeder path to a good middle school. Until that happens, people may stay through 2nd or even 3rd but will peel off after that. The school will not be appealing unless it can offer a middle school feeder like so many charters do. Or offer MontessorI.

If you are talking with parents of older kids, yes the charters are a big factor, but charters in the area used to be much easier to get into. These days it's tougher, hence the increase in interest at Seaton, Langley, Burroughs, Miner, etc. You will be fine at Burroughs for preschool, PP. But you have to think of the long term.

[Anonymous]

Which EOTP DCPS schools are considered better that are easy to get into OOB for Brookland families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which EOTP DCPS schools are considered better that are easy to get into OOB for Brookland families?

Not sure that 'easy' exists. But it depends on the grade - lots of people take PK3/4 wherever they get it (hard everywhere) and keep trying until they get in elsewhere.

Shepherd, Hearst, Eaton come to mind as possibilities (still a relative long shot) if you're willing to move in K, 1 or above. You really need to spend some time researching this and consider how far you are willing to commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

It isn't because of the charters. If they didn't exist people would just go WOTP or to a better EOTP school.

It is because of the charters. Groups of middle class Ward 5 families agree to try their IB DCPS, all enroll their child and start preschool but then abandon mission 1 month later because the phone rings with offers from charter schools. Without that possibility those sold HHI 2-parent MC families would stay in the school, ready to roll up their sleeves, do the work and through their actions signal to similar families to come join them. Instead on my block alone the 10 families with Pre K and ES children attend 7 different schools all located within a 2 mile radius from our home. Lost potential to build a community school worthy of DCUM boasts. Oh well every family for themselves I suppose. To hell with community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

It isn't because of the charters. If they didn't exist people would just go WOTP or to a better EOTP school.

It is because of the charters. Groups of middle class Ward 5 families agree to try their IB DCPS, all enroll their child and start preschool but then abandon mission 1 month later because the phone rings with offers from charter schools. Without that possibility those sold HHI 2-parent MC families would stay in the school, ready to roll up their sleeves, do the work and through their actions signal to similar families to come join them. Instead on my block alone the 10 families with Pre K and ES children attend 7 different schools all located within a 2 mile radius from our home. Lost potential to build a community school worthy of DCUM boasts. Oh well every family for themselves I suppose. To hell with community.

It is because of the charters, but it's also because of the suckage of DCPS, especially for middle school. They try to blame everything on charters or lack of involved parents, but as an involved parents at a very Title I EOTP neighborhood school, let me tell you, DCPS is responsible for a lot of the problem. They point the finger at parents for not solving problems that shouldn't even exist in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What can Burroughs do to keep kids past PreK? I've heard great things but why aren't kids staying? It seems like no one in Brookland goes to Ward 5 public schools. Is it because there are too many charters? What could the school do to keep kids? I have a 2 year old and a newborn. I'm definitely going to their next open house but the neighborhood chatter around certain charters is everywhere. Is it even worth trying?

It isn't because of the charters. If they didn't exist people would just go WOTP or to a better EOTP school.

It is because of the charters. Groups of middle class Ward 5 families agree to try their IB DCPS, all enroll their child and start preschool but then abandon mission 1 month later because the phone rings with offers from charter schools. Without that possibility those sold HHI 2-parent MC families would stay in the school, ready to roll up their sleeves, do the work and through their actions signal to similar families to come join them. Instead on my block alone the 10 families with Pre K and ES children attend 7 different schools all located within a 2 mile radius from our home. Lost potential to build a community school worthy of DCUM boasts. Oh well every family for themselves I suppose. To hell with community.

It is because of the charters, but it's also because of the suckage of DCPS, especially for middle school. They try to blame everything on charters or lack of involved parents, but as an involved parents at a very Title I EOTP neighborhood school, let me tell you, DCPS is responsible for a lot of the problem. They point the finger at parents for not solving problems that shouldn't even exist in the first place.

+1. Tried to work with DCPS and it was exhausting. Parents had to micromanage everything. It was a huge battle just to get outdoor playtime to happen. Charter-blamers need to get real about how badly DCPS treats low income kids, and how incompetent it is. Stop sucking so much and then maybe people will be more interested.

[Anonymous]

Are dual language and Montessori the only options that families leave for? How do Inspired, Mundo, Two Rivers and others keep students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are dual language and Montessori the only options that families leave for? How do Inspired, Mundo, Two Rivers and others keep students?

Mundo is in Spanish and the others have middle school and some sort of special curriculum or method. Not familiar with it myself but some people are really into it.