Shepherd vs Eaton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both do well on test scores but I would not call Shepherd particularly progressive on certain issues--gender roles, outdoor time in marginal weather, junk food as rewards, non-Christian religions, same-sex families, etc. I can't comment on how Eaton compares.

That's what I am afraid of. We are coming from a very progressive school and home environment. Junk food and gender roles might send me over the edge, but we'll see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

I have friends at both who are very happy..

I have friends at Deal and Hardy who think their kids had solid Middle School experiences.

I do not think the incremental point on a test makes a school.
Both have solid programs.

I would make a decision based on ease of commute as that will impact you every single day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both do well on test scores but I would not call Shepherd particularly progressive on certain issues--gender roles, outdoor time in marginal weather, junk food as rewards, non-Christian religions, same-sex families, etc. I can't comment on how Eaton compares.

That's what I am afraid of. We are coming from a very progressive school and home environment. Junk food and gender roles might send me over the edge, but we'll see how it goes.

I am serious - you might want to stay where you are. The amount of junk food I have seen across DCPS as rewards - or just because is astonishing.
PARCC time - give them a treat
Preparing for PARCC - give them a treat
Every event - that you can think about - as well as ones you did not know existed.
100 day of school - treat
Dr. Seuss day - treat

the list goes on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends at both who are very happy..

I have friends at Deal and Hardy who think their kids had solid Middle School experiences.

I do not think the incremental point on a test makes a school.
Both have solid programs.

I would make a decision based on ease of commute as that will impact you every single day.

Thanks, that's good to hear. We know they are both great options. And it's a good problem to have that we finally have these options. Just trying to seek the best transition, so we're not here again in a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both do well on test scores but I would not call Shepherd particularly progressive on certain issues--gender roles, outdoor time in marginal weather, junk food as rewards, non-Christian religions, same-sex families, etc. I can't comment on how Eaton compares.

That's what I am afraid of. We are coming from a very progressive school and home environment. Junk food and gender roles might send me over the edge, but we'll see how it goes.

I am serious - you might want to stay where you are. The amount of junk food I have seen across DCPS as rewards - or just because is astonishing.
PARCC time - give them a treat
Preparing for PARCC - give them a treat
Every event - that you can think about - as well as ones you did not know existed.
100 day of school - treat
Dr. Seuss day - treat

the list goes on

To be fair, I only know of a couple of staff who give out candy on occasion at Shepherd. I also know a few two-mom/dad families who have been at Shepherd for years. However, if OP is coming from a progressive school like Lowell and really wants a similar experience, there are a few charters I can think of that might be a better fit than Eaton or Shepherd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both do well on test scores but I would not call Shepherd particularly progressive on certain issues--gender roles, outdoor time in marginal weather, junk food as rewards, non-Christian religions, same-sex families, etc. I can't comment on how Eaton compares.

That's what I am afraid of. We are coming from a very progressive school and home environment. Junk food and gender roles might send me over the edge, but we'll see how it goes.

I am serious - you might want to stay where you are. The amount of junk food I have seen across DCPS as rewards - or just because is astonishing.
PARCC time - give them a treat
Preparing for PARCC - give them a treat
Every event - that you can think about - as well as ones you did not know existed.
100 day of school - treat
Dr. Seuss day - treat

the list goes on

How dreadful. Thanks for the tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both do well on test scores but I would not call Shepherd particularly progressive on certain issues--gender roles, outdoor time in marginal weather, junk food as rewards, non-Christian religions, same-sex families, etc. I can't comment on how Eaton compares.

That's what I am afraid of. We are coming from a very progressive school and home environment. Junk food and gender roles might send me over the edge, but we'll see how it goes.

I am serious - you might want to stay where you are. The amount of junk food I have seen across DCPS as rewards - or just because is astonishing.
PARCC time - give them a treat
Preparing for PARCC - give them a treat
Every event - that you can think about - as well as ones you did not know existed.
100 day of school - treat
Dr. Seuss day - treat

the list goes on

To be fair, I only know of a couple of staff who give out candy on occasion at Shepherd. I also know a few two-mom/dad families who have been at Shepherd for years. However, if OP is coming from a progressive school like Lowell and really wants a similar experience, there are a few charters I can think of that might be a better fit than Eaton or Shepherd.

OP is coming from a school like Lowell. I know it's not going to be a similar experience, and our expectations are well managed. But if there are bright spots b/t our options in this area, we would give a second look/ consideration.

[Anonymous]

I agree it would depend on commute but if that is a wash, I would go to Eaton/Hardy. Deal is so crowded, every person in that building is stressed every day just managing the size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it would depend on commute but if that is a wash, I would go to Eaton/Hardy. Deal is so crowded, every person in that building is stressed every day just managing the size.

(OP) Commute is not a big deal either way. Both are convenient. Makes sense about the size. I'm leaning toward Eaton in my gut, but we'll probably do Shepherd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it would depend on commute but if that is a wash, I would go to Eaton/Hardy. Deal is so crowded, every person in that building is stressed every day just managing the size.

(OP) Commute is not a big deal either way. Both are convenient. Makes sense about the size. I'm leaning toward Eaton in my gut, but we'll probably do Shepherd.

Also, we got called off waitlist for Shepherd already. We're #4 for Eaton, and while the odds seem very much in our favor for getting called at Eaton, my parent and spouse separately quoted something about a hand and a bush and a bird. It would be nice to stay EOTP (as you say on this forum).

[Anonymous]

If you want to stay EOTP, you should get out of the Deal/Wilson pattern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to stay EOTP, you should get out of the Deal/Wilson pattern.

Well that's true. East only lasts through elementary. Good point. It's not a major consideration or data point. I'm trying to psych myself up for Shepherd. lol

[Anonymous]

I prefer Shepherd for second grade, given that it's still pretty diverse at that level--kids of all different backgrounds. For Eaton, someone please correct me but I think it's not as diverse among the lower grades.

Both are great schools and I think either would be a good choice.

[Anonymous]

I have a rising 2nd grader at Eaton and we’ve been very happy there. There’s lots of diversity and a really strong, inclusive community feel. They definitely improved at distance learning as it went on and I’m optimistic they’ll be ready for the whatever the fall brings. We’re in the swing space for one more year and then the building modernization will be finished for 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d stick with the Deal/Wilson feed. Even if boundaries change, you should be good with grandfathering.

Yeah, Deal middle seems to be better performing than Hardy middle. But Eaton seems to be better than Shepherd, and Deal seems to have higher parent satisfaction. But I hear you. It will be my kids first time in DCPS.

Where do you get that Eaton seems better than Shepherd?

Eaton scores 72% on DC school report card
Shepherd scores 76%

Eaton black kids on report card: 65%
Shepherd:74%

Eaton white kids on report card: 71%
Shepherd: 96%

Eaton at risk: 73%
Shepherd: 83%

Eaton kids with disabilities: 50%
Shepherd: 62%

Eaton ELL: 72%
Shepherd: 70%

Shepherd also scores higher in ECE.

Why do people on this forum always assume more white kids = better performing?

I don't assume anything.
-According to DCPS data, Shepherd and Eaton have a similar percentage of students exceeding expectations in both Math and ELA.

-Eaton has more students meeting expectations than Shepherd in Math and ELA (E: 56% & 54% vs S: 39% & 44%) because it has significantly less students who are NOT meeting expectations.

-Eaton lists a far more robust set of offerings for programs compared to Shepherd.

-Eaton is clear with a statement (albeit short) on the school's values regarding inclusion and diversity.

-Eaton reports more than double the minutes per week children spend outdoors.

Of course, it's been hard to ascertain either school's culture amid COVID quarantine. So, some of this is gleaned through reading, talking, and through their websites. Oh, one more:
-Eaton's website is superior and way more transparent than Shepherd's.

Thanks!

Sounds like you’re measuring raw data instead of comparing peer groups. The DC School Report Cards already do the work for you (as posted above). When it comes to academics, Shepherd is clearly ahead (and in many instances, not just a little). If you have to psych yourself up to attend Shepherd, I think you should go with your other choice.

What do people/PP mean about gender roles? Would be nice to hear some specific examples of either school.