What do you know about DC Prep PCS – Edgewood Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who has a child there and has no complaints so far. The structure at a school like that is not the most developmentally appropriate but may yield good test scores because that is the main focus, not educating the whole child.

I have heard some first hand horror stories from current and former teachers about things that go on and are swept under the rug/ kept from the public to preserve reputation.

A few have said "I know someone" or "I have a friend"....are there any parents that actually have sent their child there?

Clearly you don't understand that the "no excuses" approach was designed for low-income children of color. DC Prep parents are not likely to be on DCUM.

What does DCUM stand for?

Ohh!!! Haaaa.... very interesting. Wonder why?

DC Urban Moms and Dads - the forum you are currently using.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who has a child there and has no complaints so far. The structure at a school like that is not the most developmentally appropriate but may yield good test scores because that is the main focus, not educating the whole child.

I have heard some first hand horror stories from current and former teachers about things that go on and are swept under the rug/ kept from the public to preserve reputation.

A few have said "I know someone" or "I have a friend"....are there any parents that actually have sent their child there?

Clearly you don't understand that the "no excuses" approach was designed for low-income children of color. DC Prep parents are not likely to be on DCUM.

What does DCUM stand for?

Ohh!!! Haaaa.... very interesting. Wonder why?

DC Urban Moms and Dads - the forum you are currently using.

DCUMers tend to be middle and upper middle class; their kids are not impacted by the achievement gap that "no-excuses" charter schools like DC Prep are working to close. If their kids are struggling or have low test scores, they have the means to pay for tutors or other supplementation, and they live in neighborhoods that have good public schools or they go private.

[Anonymous]

I have two children that attend the school. My kids love going to school and the teachers are warm and attentive. They also did a great job with distance learning. The families come from a range of socioeconomic statuses, but all parents want the best for their children and want them to succeed academically. People claim that they sweat the small stuff, but if you sign your child up for a school that has a published uniform policy, then you are of course expected to adhere to the uniform. If you are not afraid of or uncomfortable around black people, primarily DC natives, then give it a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two children that attend the school. My kids love going to school and the teachers are warm and attentive. They also did a great job with distance learning. The families come from a range of socioeconomic statuses, but all parents want the best for their children and want them to succeed academically. People claim that they sweat the small stuff, but if you sign your child up for a school that has a published uniform policy, then you are of course expected to adhere to the uniform. If you are not afraid of or uncomfortable around black people, primarily DC natives, then give it a try.

Thank you for clarifying and providing your prospective as a parent! I am in fact Black, and live in NE (close to the MD state line) and was considering sending our son to that school. However, the school is a bit far (20 mins w/out traffic) and we drove by the other day and parking seems horrible! But if we're distance learning, I guess we don't have to worry about that for short term. We just want a school that not only focuses on academics, but helps educate the whole child. Arts, Music, etc....Reading different comments, it's making us second guessing on enrolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two children that attend the school. My kids love going to school and the teachers are warm and attentive. They also did a great job with distance learning. The families come from a range of socioeconomic statuses, but all parents want the best for their children and want them to succeed academically. People claim that they sweat the small stuff, but if you sign your child up for a school that has a published uniform policy, then you are of course expected to adhere to the uniform. If you are not afraid of or uncomfortable around black people, primarily DC natives, then give it a try.

Thank you for clarifying and providing your prospective as a parent! I am in fact Black, and live in NE (close to the MD state line) and was considering sending our son to that school. However, the school is a bit far (20 mins w/out traffic) and we drove by the other day and parking seems horrible! But if we're distance learning, I guess we don't have to worry about that for short term. We just want a school that not only focuses on academics, but helps educate the whole child. Arts, Music, etc....Reading different comments, it's making us second guessing on enrolling.

DC prep does provide arts, music and PE! The kids have plenty of recess time and went on several field trips pre-covid. The teachers also coach the children on age appropriate ways to manage and express tough emotions and encourage the children to take breaks when needed. The daily homework is required and some people don’t like that but my children did not mind because it simply became part of our after school routine and allowed me as parent to be super tapped into what material was being covered. I would call the school and ask questions because there are a lot of myths floating around. Parking is not ideal but you can find parking in the neighborhood and walk your child in. Once you get comfortable, you can do the kiss and ride drop off line. There is also a short cut to walk over from the Rhode Island metro station. If you notice due to the demographics of this forum, most of the people commenting do not have any or recent firsthand experience with the school. Many of the highly sought-after charters according to DCUM have a huge achievement gap between white and black children, which was particularly concerning to me as a black parent and should be concerning for all but the issue is often dismissed under the guise that a school’s overall test scores are “meaningless” “pointless“ (sssshhh which in my opinion is code for “as long as white children are performing well“ based on the continued ignored disparity)

[Anonymous]

Agreed! Thank you for the detailed comment. My son goes to DC Prep. This school out performs the so-called "good neighborhood schools."

[Anonymous]

Personally I'd take feedback from teachers or people who worked there over parents. Reason being that educational experts and folks that are in the building all day will see more and have more to tell you. Of course parents will see a different side.

I'm a teacher, also Black, and have done educational walk throughs at the school when I was a graduate student. I find the militant and rigid way that students are taught and expected to behave to be both highly offensive and harmful to children of color. Such extreme behavioral norms would never fly at a predominantly white school. As others have mentioned test scores are high because that is the sole objective and mission of the school. Teachers follow scripted lesson plans and students are taught to a test.

Every colleague that I have had that worked there quit as soon as they could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I'd take feedback from teachers or people who worked there over parents. Reason being that educational experts and folks that are in the building all day will see more and have more to tell you. Of course parents will see a different side.

I'm a teacher, also Black, and have done educational walk throughs at the school when I was a graduate student. I find the militant and rigid way that students are taught and expected to behave to be both highly offensive and harmful to children of color. Such extreme behavioral norms would never fly at a predominantly white school. As others have mentioned test scores are high because that is the sole objective and mission of the school. Teachers follow scripted lesson plans and students are taught to a test.

Every colleague that I have had that worked there quit as soon as they could.

I'm curious to hear as an educational professional who has seen tons of schools in DC, which schools would you recommend? I often feel that the "highly regarded schools" on here are often so because of a large white population. I often wonder if they are truly great schools. For example SWS is a much beloved school on here. While test scores aren't everything, from what I recall a few years ago they weren't too impressive. Yet that didn't seem to matter and from the outside to me it seems that's the case because it is predominantly white. I'd love to hear from an educator like yourself who has seen many schools first hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I'd take feedback from teachers or people who worked there over parents. Reason being that educational experts and folks that are in the building all day will see more and have more to tell you. Of course parents will see a different side.

I'm a teacher, also Black, and have done educational walk throughs at the school when I was a graduate student. I find the militant and rigid way that students are taught and expected to behave to be both highly offensive and harmful to children of color. Such extreme behavioral norms would never fly at a predominantly white school. As others have mentioned test scores are high because that is the sole objective and mission of the school. Teachers follow scripted lesson plans and students are taught to a test.

Every colleague that I have had that worked there quit as soon as they could.

I'm curious to hear as an educational professional who has seen tons of schools in DC, which schools would you recommend? I often feel that the "highly regarded schools" on here are often so because of a large white population. I often wonder if they are truly great schools. For example SWS is a much beloved school on here. While test scores aren't everything, from what I recall a few years ago they weren't too impressive. Yet that didn't seem to matter and from the outside to me it seems that's the case because it is predominantly white. I'd love to hear from an educator like yourself who has seen many schools first hand.

Not the PP, but I am an educator with experience in several types of schools, and have friends and former colleagues in all types of schools. Here is my general take on the landscape:

1. Some families (mostly families of color in various parts of the city or White families in Ward 3) are fine with their neighborhood schools, and stick with those. It's hard to generalize DCPS schools since each one can be quite different.

2. Some families of color choose "no-excuses" type schools (KIPP, DC Prep, etc). These schools tend to be regimented, non-chaotic, and spend lots of time on test prep. The strict style of discipline is also comfortable for many of these families since it's similar to the schools they went to and possibly how they raise their children.

3. Most white families in DC are not comfortable with strict styles of discipline. If they don't like their neighborhood school, they tend to go for the "HRCS" schools that place an emphasis on social-emotional learning. They also like the diversity of the schools (including significant numbers of white students). So, it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation. White families pick these schools because they feel comfortable with the style, and the increasing numbers of white families make other white families feel comfortable there.

4. Other families of color are NOT comfortable with strict discipline and a heavy focus on test prep, so they will often choose HRCS schools as well. Many of these families of color also highly prize diversity. HRCS schools also tend to attract some students in upper grades who didn't do very well in, or enjoy, more regimented environments.

While I have my opinions, that's my non-judgmental take. Educators at all of these schools are mostly doing what they think is best for kids, and most families at each school have valid reasons for attending the school they choose to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I'd take feedback from teachers or people who worked there over parents. Reason being that educational experts and folks that are in the building all day will see more and have more to tell you. Of course parents will see a different side.

I'm a teacher, also Black, and have done educational walk throughs at the school when I was a graduate student. I find the militant and rigid way that students are taught and expected to behave to be both highly offensive and harmful to children of color. Such extreme behavioral norms would never fly at a predominantly white school. As others have mentioned test scores are high because that is the sole objective and mission of the school. Teachers follow scripted lesson plans and students are taught to a test.

Every colleague that I have had that worked there quit as soon as they could.

I'm curious to hear as an educational professional who has seen tons of schools in DC, which schools would you recommend? I often feel that the "highly regarded schools" on here are often so because of a large white population. I often wonder if they are truly great schools. For example SWS is a much beloved school on here. While test scores aren't everything, from what I recall a few years ago they weren't too impressive. Yet that didn't seem to matter and from the outside to me it seems that's the case because it is predominantly white. I'd love to hear from an educator like yourself who has seen many schools first hand.

Not the PP, but I am an educator with experience in several types of schools, and have friends and former colleagues in all types of schools. Here is my general take on the landscape:

1. Some families (mostly families of color in various parts of the city or White families in Ward 3) are fine with their neighborhood schools, and stick with those. It's hard to generalize DCPS schools since each one can be quite different.

2. Some families of color choose "no-excuses" type schools (KIPP, DC Prep, etc). These schools tend to be regimented, non-chaotic, and spend lots of time on test prep. The strict style of discipline is also comfortable for many of these families since it's similar to the schools they went to and possibly how they raise their children.

3. Most white families in DC are not comfortable with strict styles of discipline. If they don't like their neighborhood school, they tend to go for the "HRCS" schools that place an emphasis on social-emotional learning. They also like the diversity of the schools (including significant numbers of white students). So, it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation. White families pick these schools because they feel comfortable with the style, and the increasing numbers of white families make other white families feel comfortable there.

4. Other families of color are NOT comfortable with strict discipline and a heavy focus on test prep, so they will often choose HRCS schools as well. Many of these families of color also highly prize diversity. HRCS schools also tend to attract some students in upper grades who didn't do very well in, or enjoy, more regimented environments.

While I have my opinions, that's my non-judgmental take. Educators at all of these schools are mostly doing what they think is best for kids, and most families at each school have valid reasons for attending the school they choose to attend.

Good summary but.... what's your actual opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I'd take feedback from teachers or people who worked there over parents. Reason being that educational experts and folks that are in the building all day will see more and have more to tell you. Of course parents will see a different side.

I'm a teacher, also Black, and have done educational walk throughs at the school when I was a graduate student. I find the militant and rigid way that students are taught and expected to behave to be both highly offensive and harmful to children of color. Such extreme behavioral norms would never fly at a predominantly white school. As others have mentioned test scores are high because that is the sole objective and mission of the school. Teachers follow scripted lesson plans and students are taught to a test.

Every colleague that I have had that worked there quit as soon as they could.

I'm curious to hear as an educational professional who has seen tons of schools in DC, which schools would you recommend? I often feel that the "highly regarded schools" on here are often so because of a large white population. I often wonder if they are truly great schools. For example SWS is a much beloved school on here. While test scores aren't everything, from what I recall a few years ago they weren't too impressive. Yet that didn't seem to matter and from the outside to me it seems that's the case because it is predominantly white. I'd love to hear from an educator like yourself who has seen many schools first hand.

Not the PP, but I am an educator with experience in several types of schools, and have friends and former colleagues in all types of schools. Here is my general take on the landscape:

1. Some families (mostly families of color in various parts of the city or White families in Ward 3) are fine with their neighborhood schools, and stick with those. It's hard to generalize DCPS schools since each one can be quite different.

2. Some families of color choose "no-excuses" type schools (KIPP, DC Prep, etc). These schools tend to be regimented, non-chaotic, and spend lots of time on test prep. The strict style of discipline is also comfortable for many of these families since it's similar to the schools they went to and possibly how they raise their children.

3. Most white families in DC are not comfortable with strict styles of discipline. If they don't like their neighborhood school, they tend to go for the "HRCS" schools that place an emphasis on social-emotional learning. They also like the diversity of the schools (including significant numbers of white students). So, it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation. White families pick these schools because they feel comfortable with the style, and the increasing numbers of white families make other white families feel comfortable there.

4. Other families of color are NOT comfortable with strict discipline and a heavy focus on test prep, so they will often choose HRCS schools as well. Many of these families of color also highly prize diversity. HRCS schools also tend to attract some students in upper grades who didn't do very well in, or enjoy, more regimented environments.

While I have my opinions, that's my non-judgmental take. Educators at all of these schools are mostly doing what they think is best for kids, and most families at each school have valid reasons for attending the school they choose to attend.

Good summary but.... what's your actual opinion?

Agree. I was actually looking for real thought provoking analysis from an educator along the lines that the educator who had experience with DC Prep provided.

[Anonymous]

One thing I always find intriguing is the comment or negative connotation that seems to be levied at certain schools re. Teaching to the test. The upper NW schools seem to have high test scores but are never accused of teaching to the test. I went to an extremely strong school abroad that had the International Baccalaureate degree program. We did practice exams all the time in all subjects. Writing essays from past years exams all the time. Our school was not unique and was a historically very strong IB program. Somehow I doubt such schools would ever be accused of teaching to the test. So what gives? Truly what gives?

[Anonymous]

I taught at the middle school campus a while ago. It was a hard place to work. Very long hours. Administration sweated the small stuff with teachers and students alike. From what I've heard, they have relaxed some of the more draconian policies but still have very strict policies and procedures. No one that I taught there with is still there. Most went to public schools and had great careers. I will say that I learned a lot about lesson planning and routines and procedures that I still use now. In thinking about sending my own children there or a school like it, I would not make the choice because of my experiences. It is a long school day for kids. It worked for some families (I'm still in touch with a few former students) and it did not for others. I would encourage folks to visit when possible and see if it is a good fit for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I always find intriguing is the comment or negative connotation that seems to be levied at certain schools re. Teaching to the test. The upper NW schools seem to have high test scores but are never accused of teaching to the test. I went to an extremely strong school abroad that had the International Baccalaureate degree program. We did practice exams all the time in all subjects. Writing essays from past years exams all the time. Our school was not unique and was a historically very strong IB program. Somehow I doubt such schools would ever be accused of teaching to the test. So what gives? Truly what gives?

I imagine you can see that there's a difference between working on thought provoking essays for an IB exam for a high schooler and holding multiple practice sessions and a pep rally for a multiple choice PARC test for a fourth grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I always find intriguing is the comment or negative connotation that seems to be levied at certain schools re. Teaching to the test. The upper NW schools seem to have high test scores but are never accused of teaching to the test. I went to an extremely strong school abroad that had the International Baccalaureate degree program. We did practice exams all the time in all subjects. Writing essays from past years exams all the time. Our school was not unique and was a historically very strong IB program. Somehow I doubt such schools would ever be accused of teaching to the test. So what gives? Truly what gives?

I imagine you can see that there's a difference between working on thought provoking essays for an IB exam for a high schooler and holding multiple practice sessions and a pep rally for a multiple choice PARC test for a fourth grader.

Yes, please, don’t compare the IB diploma test to PARCC! Please. Try taking both from an online sample.

Teaching to a multiple choice exam that is questionable and questioned throughout the country? NW schools do not have to teach to it, kids score fine anyway.