Noyes, prek3, YES or NO?

Anonymous
Has the scandalous cheating leadership been 100% fired yet?
Anonymous
I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


What about Langdon?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would choose Burroughs over Noyes and Langley. I have heard great things about Burroughs. I live in Brookland and don't know anyone whose kids go there.


DP here. Burroughs' waitlist is ridiculous this year. We started off with a decent number (single digits) and now we're at #11! I don't have any hope of getting in.



You will definitely get into Burroughs, we were number 13 last year and got in for pre-k3. as wait lists move over the summer they do go very deep in their wait list as parents choose charters.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


What about Langdon?


I'm not sure about Langdon. I don't know anyone who has sent kids there. I think it's in a less gentrified area, not sure if that means less impact so far.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


What about Langdon?


I'm not sure about Langdon. I don't know anyone who has sent kids there. I think it's in a less gentrified area, not sure if that means less impact so far.


Langdon having so little interest despite a Montessori program is a red flag to me. I live in Edgewood and don't know anyone who is a parent there .
Anonymous
I have an acquaintance who had her child at noyes for pk3 last year or the year before. She liked the teachers a lot and her kid enjoyed the school. She said there was not an active parent community. She left the school after one year, so I don't have insight into retention, but she did say that leaving the school was harder than she had anticipated, ie, she had grown to like it more than she thought she would based on neighborhood reputation. Could be worth checking out. We are closer to Burroughs/bunker hill, but also consider Langdon, which has some excellent teachers.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


I think a lot of it is that I’ve heard Noyes isn’t good, although I don’t know anyone who has gone there....so take it with a grain of salt. However, one of my primary reasons would be social- it’s not easy to say, but my child would be the only white person in his class, and of only few that are not socio economically disadvantaged. The school my child attends also has a high rate of poverty, but being the only kid is a different story socially. Also, Noyes has done no community outreach (unlike Burroughs), which to me speaks volumes.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


Thanks. There was a test cheating scandal at Bunker Hill? I had not heard of that.

I'm not too fussed about test scores generally, but I do want a positive atmosphere for my kid. How hard would it be to form a parent-teacher organization? Maybe I'm being naive, but there are so many families living IB for these schools, and not everyone will "win" the lottery and get placed into a charter school, so why can't we start putting in the work to improve these schools?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


Thanks. There was a test cheating scandal at Bunker Hill? I had not heard of that.

I'm not too fussed about test scores generally, but I do want a positive atmosphere for my kid. How hard would it be to form a parent-teacher organization? Maybe I'm being naive, but there are so many families living IB for these schools, and not everyone will "win" the lottery and get placed into a charter school, so why can't we start putting in the work to improve these schools?


It is not that hard to form a PTA and the Washington Lawyers Comittee will help you do it. If you want to do it, go for it. I think the hard thing with Noyes is being surrounded by so many schools that are just a tiny bit stronger and very easy to get into. Pretty much everyone can get into Langley or Burroughs by October for PK3, and in easily in the summer for PK4. So it is hard for Noyes to get off the ground. Still, I would encourage you to take up the oar if it would be a meaningful volunteering experience for you.
Anonymous
The scandal was at Noyes back in 2010. Leadership turmoil puts parents off a school and sets back its progress.
Anonymous
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/dc-principal-slammed-for-reporting-cheating/2013/01/10/24e7b47a-5ac7-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_blog.html?utm_term=.764a48a7fc3c

Here. Basically, cheating, principal leaves, new principal leaves after one year. Not sure what happened after that. Maybe it has been long enough that people will give Noyes another try. But that kind of thing is just hard for parents to accept and puts them off DCPS generally.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am IB for Noyes and we wouldn’t consider going there. I understand it may be fine for PK3, but I’d do whatever I could to get out ASAP


Why? Full disclosure, I'm IB for Bunker Hill, which is not too far from Noyes or Burroughs, and I don't understand why everyone is scrambling to get into Burroughs while avoiding Noyes and Bunker Hill. Just trying to get more info.


We are IB for Bunker and didn't even list it. We listed Burroughs, last (matched elsewhere). I spoke to a parent at Bunker (the only one I could find) who told me a terrible story about his child's experience and also that they had no PTO and hadn't for some time. At least Burroughs had one which was doing outreach in the community, and upon a visit I met a nice PK teacher. And, its scores are better. So that's why.

Noyes I didn't look at, but reputation seemed similar to Bunker. The whole cheating scandal with fake scores also wasn't appealing. So, overall, I think Burroughs is doing better than the other 2. Sadly not great though. These three might be the most impacted schools by the charter system since Ward 5 has so many good ones.


Thanks. There was a test cheating scandal at Bunker Hill? I had not heard of that.

I'm not too fussed about test scores generally, but I do want a positive atmosphere for my kid. How hard would it be to form a parent-teacher organization? Maybe I'm being naive, but there are so many families living IB for these schools, and not everyone will "win" the lottery and get placed into a charter school, so why can't we start putting in the work to improve these schools?


It is not that hard to form a PTA and the Washington Lawyers Comittee will help you do it. If you want to do it, go for it. I think the hard thing with Noyes is being surrounded by so many schools that are just a tiny bit stronger and very easy to get into. Pretty much everyone can get into Langley or Burroughs by October for PK3, and in easily in the summer for PK4. So it is hard for Noyes to get off the ground. Still, I would encourage you to take up the oar if it would be a meaningful volunteering experience for you.


A PTA needs to also be supported by and done in partnership with the school leadership. Some leaders are more supportive than others. That's one challenge.

Another is simply getting participants. Current and long-time attendees of Noyes and Bunker are, anecdotally, not as interested in participating in a PTA. Just starting and getting off the ground means finding those parents who are interested, which means having a way of contacting them. We're talking a school with no parent email listserv either. So, that means getting the admin to recruit for you perhaps.

I have no firsthand experience but I do know someone who was at Bunker and was interested in getting this to happen, but didn't find the momentum there on the parent or admin side. So what keeps happening is the parents who are a little more engaged go for Burroughs, and even then they leave asap.
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