Hardy vs. Deal

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Hardy over 10 years ago so I can't tell you what it's like now but I will tell you that if you're the kind of person who feels uncomfortable with your child attending school with lots of African-American children from out of boundaries, then Hardy is not for you.

We liked Hardy. It wasn't perfect but it worked for our OOB child. But there are other folks who really can't cope with the idea of their child attending such an economically and racially diverse school. If that's you, that's cool. Know yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Hardy over 10 years ago so I can't tell you what it's like now but I will tell you that if you're the kind of person who feels uncomfortable with your child attending school with lots of African-American children from out of boundaries, then Hardy is not for you.

We liked Hardy. It wasn't perfect but it worked for our OOB child. But there are other folks who really can't cope with the idea of their child attending such an economically and racially diverse school. If that's you, that's cool. Know yourself.

Well, that is true of all DCPS middle and high schools, so the fact that OP is looking at DCPS at all suggests that is not an issue.

[Anonymous]

I would only listen to parents of students that actually go to Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardy is fantastic as all but one of regular posters on here who've actually sent their kids to will attest - the rest of the posters are insecure parents who are too terrified to send their precious children to a school that is slightly more diverse than the neighborhood though I actually think some of the anti-Hardy posters don't even live in the neighborhood.

It's all about perceptions which is more relevant in Real Estate than education.

That's not the reason, and you know it.

Get the academics up and the in-bound neighbors will follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardy is fantastic as all but one of regular posters on here who've actually sent their kids to will attest - the rest of the posters are insecure parents who are too terrified to send their precious children to a school that is slightly more diverse than the neighborhood though I actually think some of the anti-Hardy posters don't even live in the neighborhood.

It's all about perceptions which is more relevant in Real Estate than education.

That's not the reason, and you know it.

Get the academics up and the in-bound neighbors will follow.

If you do not have children at Hardy, please find another thread. This is so tiresome.

[Anonymous]

We’re at Hardy (after 7 years at a feeder elementary). 6th grade. Having a very good year. love our new principal who is engaged and energetic and responsive. The academics are quite good. My child had honors ELA and math which are good and those classes are comprised mainly of feeder school friends. All the teachers know my child. I’m sure Deal is very good but the thought of 1600 kids is overwhelm to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the math proficiency numbers for both are pretty poor and that Deal has reading proficiency > 50%. Does either school offer ability tracking?

For those with kids at either school, can you tell me what they like/dislike about it?

My kid at Deal likes the teachers, the administration (the principal, Ms. Neal, is fantastic), and the diversity of the student body. I’m not sure there’s anything he really dislikes, although the specials seem weak compared to the main subjects, and the way they schedule them is a little strange (e.g., music for one quarter, art for one quarter, gym for the second semester).

It’s also a really, really big school. Despite a renovation and expansion less than ten years ago, there are already temporaries (which they call “cottages”). But Ms. Neal manages the huge student body really well, and the team structure creates smaller environments for the kids.

Hope that’s helpful!

[Anonymous]

Most parents are very happy with Hardy. Now that Eaton will feed there it will draw in more Key and Mann families and the school will soon flip to majority IB. In three years they won’t be able to take any OOB kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Hardy over 10 years ago so I can't tell you what it's like now but I will tell you that if you're the kind of person who feels uncomfortable with your child attending school with lots of African-American children from out of boundaries, then Hardy is not for you.

We liked Hardy. It wasn't perfect but it worked for our OOB child. But there are other folks who really can't cope with the idea of their child attending such an economically and racially diverse school. If that's you, that's cool. Know yourself.

I'm all for economic and racial diversity. Not so much a fan of second-tier quality, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardy is fantastic as all but one of regular posters on here who've actually sent their kids to will attest - the rest of the posters are insecure parents who are too terrified to send their precious children to a school that is slightly more diverse than the neighborhood though I actually think some of the anti-Hardy posters don't even live in the neighborhood.

It's all about perceptions which is more relevant in Real Estate than education.

That's not the reason, and you know it.

Get the academics up and the in-bound neighbors will follow.

If you do not have children at Hardy, please find another thread. This is so tiresome.

Sorry, but I’m an in bound parent who should have two kids at Hardy. We’re shelling out for private schools because current situation with academics at Hardy are not up to par. This is very much my business

[Anonymous]

I have two kids at Deal and the extracurricular activities are mostly just meh. They sound a lot better than they are except for a few good ones. Also, the overcrowding is a real issue. You should ask for a shadow day at both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most parents are very happy with Hardy. Now that Eaton will feed there it will draw in more Key and Mann families and the school will soon flip to majority IB. In three years they won’t be able to take any OOB kids.

That's what you think. DCPS will just let enrollment increase without ratcheting back OOB slots much, the same as they've done with other schools WOTP. The alternative is politically unpalatable for the DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would only listen to parents of students that actually go to Hardy.

Hardy's improved a bit in the last 5 years. That said, I don't know any parent, given the choice of Deal or Hardy for his/her kid, who would voluntarily choose Hardy. That may seem harsh, but it's reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would only listen to parents of students that actually go to Hardy.

Hardy's improved a bit in the last 5 years. That said, I don't know any parent, given the choice of Deal or Hardy for his/her kid, who would voluntarily choose Hardy. That may seem harsh, but it's reality.

That is a fictional choice so in fact you don't know any parent who has made that choice.

And there is this question - are you a Hardy parent or not? It's an important question because when you actually talk to a Hardy parent most of them are enthusiastic about the school while the haters are too insecure about their own parenting to try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hardy is fantastic as all but one of regular posters on here who've actually sent their kids to will attest - the rest of the posters are insecure parents who are too terrified to send their precious children to a school that is slightly more diverse than the neighborhood though I actually think some of the anti-Hardy posters don't even live in the neighborhood.

It's all about perceptions which is more relevant in Real Estate than education.

That's not the reason, and you know it.

Get the academics up and the in-bound neighbors will follow.

If you do not have children at Hardy, please find another thread. This is so tiresome.

Sorry, but I’m an in bound parent who should have two kids at Hardy. We’re shelling out for private schools because current situation with academics at Hardy are not up to par. This is very much my business

So like the other haters you are not a Hardy parent and have no idea what is actually going on in the school and the extent of your knowledge of the school and its academics is probably limited to examining the test scores.