Lee or Breakthrough

[Anonymous]

PP directly above - there are also quite a few staff at Lee who also have their kids at the school, which I have always taken to be a good sign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Call Lee and see if they could give you some information about the waiting list. I'd add it ASAP just to get an idea of which number you got. I was #30s just recently (we removed it).

I think you have a chance, so add it post lottery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what will happen if you don’t get your PK into Lee? your chances may be better at breakthrough which is a very good school. no drama and one campus starting this year with a true outdoor space. I would not drop your PK spot at breakthrough unless Lee can get your younger child in.

Where will the outdoor space be at Takoma?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Yes, concur with the advice above about post lottery application. I would think it's early enough in the summer you have a pretty good chance of getting your PK kid in if you enroll your older kid. Lee definitely wants to try to get siblings in together (have heard it multiple times from the head of school).

We know people at Breakthrough that seem to like it a lot (though none of our close friends, so can't give super detailed advice). We just finished our second year at Lee (kid in primary and kid in lower el) and have been really happy with the school, even through the pandemic. There is transience as there is everywhere in DC, but there are also a lot of long term families that have been there since the founding. I know a few kids that finished 5th grade this year decided to go to Truth for 6th instead of staying at Lee, and some others are staying for 6th. But pretty much everyone we're friends with is continuing in upper el.

As to the test scores, I don't have a kid in a testing grade yet, so admittedly haven't done a lot of due diligence. Although Lee is the more established school between the two, it is still relatively young in terms of testing grades. So when you're working with a smallish sample size, take it for what it's worth. For us, the socialization, classroom consistency, etc was a driving factor in our decision.

The question about progression is an interesting one. Again I don't have upper el experience, but I have witnessed the differentiation in primary and lower el classrooms. My son has a kid in his class who is extremely bright in many ways (math, writing, drawing, music, etc) and is probably functioning at least 2 grades above his age. And I have seen how the teachers are able to challenge him using the materials available because they are able to progress the lessons and individualize.

That's good to hear how they differentiate with the younger kids. Does anyone have experience with the quality of the elementary Lee teachers and how effectively they challenge the older kids? Do most older kids stay at Lee or leave for other schools?

[Anonymous]

Many have stayed through 5th. Most have left before 6th when most middle schools start. Upper El population is growing, though, so probably more 6th graders will be staying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Yes, concur with the advice above about post lottery application. I would think it's early enough in the summer you have a pretty good chance of getting your PK kid in if you enroll your older kid. Lee definitely wants to try to get siblings in together (have heard it multiple times from the head of school).

We know people at Breakthrough that seem to like it a lot (though none of our close friends, so can't give super detailed advice). We just finished our second year at Lee (kid in primary and kid in lower el) and have been really happy with the school, even through the pandemic. There is transience as there is everywhere in DC, but there are also a lot of long term families that have been there since the founding. I know a few kids that finished 5th grade this year decided to go to Truth for 6th instead of staying at Lee, and some others are staying for 6th. But pretty much everyone we're friends with is continuing in upper el.

As to the test scores, I don't have a kid in a testing grade yet, so admittedly haven't done a lot of due diligence. Although Lee is the more established school between the two, it is still relatively young in terms of testing grades. So when you're working with a smallish sample size, take it for what it's worth. For us, the socialization, classroom consistency, etc was a driving factor in our decision.

The question about progression is an interesting one. Again I don't have upper el experience, but I have witnessed the differentiation in primary and lower el classrooms. My son has a kid in his class who is extremely bright in many ways (math, writing, drawing, music, etc) and is probably functioning at least 2 grades above his age. And I have seen how the teachers are able to challenge him using the materials available because they are able to progress the lessons and individualize.

That's good to hear how they differentiate with the younger kids. Does anyone have experience with the quality of the elementary Lee teachers and how effectively they challenge the older kids? Do most older kids stay at Lee or leave for other schools?

We haven't experienced Upper El yet, but we know people in all four classrooms of Lower El and generally hear really good things about the teachers. I mean, the last year has been super weird, so I'm sure not everyone feels the same way about all teachers, but for the most part our friends have been satisfied.

[Anonymous]

Re: Breakthrough turnover

We’re a breakthrough family whose two teachers (one lower el one primary) are leaving. To be very, very clear, they are leaving to start a micro school in wards 7 or 8. They are both founding members of Breakthrough and love it, but want to take advantage of this new opportunity in an area they’re very passionate about (and, like me, some people prefer the start up phase and want to move on when something is established). One of the primary admin- also a founding member- is leaving and going to work for the Bezos nonprofit that’s investing in Montessori. In other words, taking their departure as some bigger sign of issues at the school is not warranted.

As for Lee or Breakthrough, they’re both great schools and honestly for me it would come down to commute. I know that there is slightly more (or allowed) parent involvement directly in the classroom at Breakthrough as compared to Lee, if that matters to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: Breakthrough turnover

We’re a breakthrough family whose two teachers (one lower el one primary) are leaving. To be very, very clear, they are leaving to start a micro school in wards 7 or 8. They are both founding members of Breakthrough and love it, but want to take advantage of this new opportunity in an area they’re very passionate about (and, like me, some people prefer the start up phase and want to move on when something is established). One of the primary admin- also a founding member- is leaving and going to work for the Bezos nonprofit that’s investing in Montessori. In other words, taking their departure as some bigger sign of issues at the school is not warranted.

As for Lee or Breakthrough, they’re both great schools and honestly for me it would come down to commute. I know that there is slightly more (or allowed) parent involvement directly in the classroom at Breakthrough as compared to Lee, if that matters to you.

Our lower EL guide flat out told us she was leaving because of the admin. I’ve also heard the admin that is leaving is because of big disagreements with the other two.

So in all…who knows.

[Anonymous]

Another long-term Breakthrough family here. I want to echo the point made below.

The two guides who are leaving to start micro-schools were founding faculty with Breakthrough. They have been with the school for five years. That is not an unusually short or concerning period of time, nor should it be interpreted to indicate a "problem."

My family may have quibbles with Breakthrough, but it's categorically false to suggest that there is a larger problem with guide longevity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: Breakthrough turnover

We’re a breakthrough family whose two teachers (one lower el one primary) are leaving. To be very, very clear, they are leaving to start a micro school in wards 7 or 8. They are both founding members of Breakthrough and love it, but want to take advantage of this new opportunity in an area they’re very passionate about (and, like me, some people prefer the start up phase and want to move on when something is established). One of the primary admin- also a founding member- is leaving and going to work for the Bezos nonprofit that’s investing in Montessori. In other words, taking their departure as some bigger sign of issues at the school is not warranted.

As for Lee or Breakthrough, they’re both great schools and honestly for me it would come down to commute. I know that there is slightly more (or allowed) parent involvement directly in the classroom at Breakthrough as compared to Lee, if that matters to you.

Our lower EL guide flat out told us she was leaving because of the admin. I’ve also heard the admin that is leaving is because of big disagreements with the other two.

So in all…who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Yes, concur with the advice above about post lottery application. I would think it's early enough in the summer you have a pretty good chance of getting your PK kid in if you enroll your older kid. Lee definitely wants to try to get siblings in together (have heard it multiple times from the head of school).

We know people at Breakthrough that seem to like it a lot (though none of our close friends, so can't give super detailed advice). We just finished our second year at Lee (kid in primary and kid in lower el) and have been really happy with the school, even through the pandemic. There is transience as there is everywhere in DC, but there are also a lot of long term families that have been there since the founding. I know a few kids that finished 5th grade this year decided to go to Truth for 6th instead of staying at Lee, and some others are staying for 6th. But pretty much everyone we're friends with is continuing in upper el.

As to the test scores, I don't have a kid in a testing grade yet, so admittedly haven't done a lot of due diligence. Although Lee is the more established school between the two, it is still relatively young in terms of testing grades. So when you're working with a smallish sample size, take it for what it's worth. For us, the socialization, classroom consistency, etc was a driving factor in our decision.

The question about progression is an interesting one. Again I don't have upper el experience, but I have witnessed the differentiation in primary and lower el classrooms. My son has a kid in his class who is extremely bright in many ways (math, writing, drawing, music, etc) and is probably functioning at least 2 grades above his age. And I have seen how the teachers are able to challenge him using the materials available because they are able to progress the lessons and individualize.

That's good to hear how they differentiate with the younger kids. Does anyone have experience with the quality of the elementary Lee teachers and how effectively they challenge the older kids? Do most older kids stay at Lee or leave for other schools?

I have a kid in Elementary at Lee and we are concerned about academic progress. I think some of the Elementary teachers are good and some not as good or at least not as experienced. Our kid was flailing for years and it was brushed off as “one day it will just click.” While that may be true for some kids, when our 9 year old wasn’t reading at grade level and didn’t have basic math understanding, we got concerned. A year ago we proactively had him evaluated and he was found to have several learning disabilities. We haven’t given up on the school, but are keeping a close eye on what happens academically. We think it’s overall a good place and hope things can turn around for our kid.

Another side consideration is that there has been a lot of community disagreement this year about including gender identity and anti-racism lessons. I understand that this issue inspires passion on all sides. For us, our primary concern is whether our kid is learning anything at all.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. It seems like Breakthrough families are not as happy as they seem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. It seems like Breakthrough families are not as happy as they seem.

I don’t think that’s true at all. there was one lost but many stay. i’m not sure how you read that. I think what concerning to me is the PP poster who spoke about special ed or the lack of intervention at Lee. I think both schools have pluses and minuses. the question I still have as another PP is: will Lee guarantee a spot for a sibling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. It seems like Breakthrough families are not as happy as they seem.

I don’t think that’s true at all. there was one lost but many stay. i’m not sure how you read that. I think what concerning to me is the PP poster who spoke about special ed or the lack of intervention at Lee. I think both schools have pluses and minuses. the question I still have as another PP is: will Lee guarantee a spot for a sibling?

I’m the PP who talked about Special Ed. I need to clarify that there is a large percentage of students who have IEPs at Lee and the Special Ed coordinator is is good. For some reason my kid wasn’t identified as having a problem until we brought up concerns. He has interventions now and an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Yes, concur with the advice above about post lottery application. I would think it's early enough in the summer you have a pretty good chance of getting your PK kid in if you enroll your older kid. Lee definitely wants to try to get siblings in together (have heard it multiple times from the head of school).

We know people at Breakthrough that seem to like it a lot (though none of our close friends, so can't give super detailed advice). We just finished our second year at Lee (kid in primary and kid in lower el) and have been really happy with the school, even through the pandemic. There is transience as there is everywhere in DC, but there are also a lot of long term families that have been there since the founding. I know a few kids that finished 5th grade this year decided to go to Truth for 6th instead of staying at Lee, and some others are staying for 6th. But pretty much everyone we're friends with is continuing in upper el.

As to the test scores, I don't have a kid in a testing grade yet, so admittedly haven't done a lot of due diligence. Although Lee is the more established school between the two, it is still relatively young in terms of testing grades. So when you're working with a smallish sample size, take it for what it's worth. For us, the socialization, classroom consistency, etc was a driving factor in our decision.

The question about progression is an interesting one. Again I don't have upper el experience, but I have witnessed the differentiation in primary and lower el classrooms. My son has a kid in his class who is extremely bright in many ways (math, writing, drawing, music, etc) and is probably functioning at least 2 grades above his age. And I have seen how the teachers are able to challenge him using the materials available because they are able to progress the lessons and individualize.

That's good to hear how they differentiate with the younger kids. Does anyone have experience with the quality of the elementary Lee teachers and how effectively they challenge the older kids? Do most older kids stay at Lee or leave for other schools?

I have a kid in Elementary at Lee and we are concerned about academic progress. I think some of the Elementary teachers are good and some not as good or at least not as experienced. Our kid was flailing for years and it was brushed off as “one day it will just click.” While that may be true for some kids, when our 9 year old wasn’t reading at grade level and didn’t have basic math understanding, we got concerned. A year ago we proactively had him evaluated and he was found to have several learning disabilities. We haven’t given up on the school, but are keeping a close eye on what happens academically. We think it’s overall a good place and hope things can turn around for our kid.

Another side consideration is that there has been a lot of community disagreement this year about including gender identity and anti-racism lessons. I understand that this issue inspires passion on all sides. For us, our primary concern is whether our kid is learning anything at all.

I’m a Lee parent opposed to the ABAR curriculum solely because of the bandwidth it has required. I would prefer the administration and teachers focus on the basics like reading and writing. Montessori didn’t translate well virtually and I predict lots of learning loss next year that will continue to widen their achievement gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. It seems like Breakthrough families are not as happy as they seem.

Happy Breakthrough family here. Admittedly, virtual wasn’t great for our social kids but I doubt it would have been better elsewhere and we love the school and Montessori in general.

If I were choosing between these two schools I would choose the one closer to my house. We live within walking distance to Breakthrough and it’s better than I imagined to be able to walk to and from school.