Creative Minds International Charter School
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Anonymous
If it wasn't before, it clearly is now. |
Anonymous
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My kids are going into 2nd grade and have been at CMI since PK3. I can't speak to the upper elementary grades yet, but I can give you some firsthand experience of the lower grades and the school as a whole.
I have been extremely impressed by the direction of the school under the new Executive Director, who started 2 years ago as acting ED and became permanent about a year ago. Before he started, teacher turnover was very high and it was alarming. Under his leadership, teacher turnover has dropped significantly and almost all of the teachers invited back have stayed on for the upcoming school year and last school year. Virtual school was run well last year and my kids had a good experience (plus some in-person time, which was also great), and they're planning for full-time in person this fall. I agree with the PP that pre-k was incredibly good and the teachers are amazing. The first grade teachers were all strong and engaging and kind (even over Zoom). All of the teachers even showed up to the first graders' soccer games on the weekend a couple of times. We have friends with kids in the upper elementary grades and they have been happy. I think Lower School goes through 4th grade, and 5th-8th are considered Middle School. The relatively new Middle School Director also seems strong and the middle school seems to be improving. Middle school has an active student council that provides opportunities for leadership, like working with the PTA on priorities for using a portion of funding. The school community is very warm and welcoming - across teachers/admin, parents, and students. We love how social justice and diversity of all kinds are integrated throughout the curriculum. I think a lot of the feedback on DCUM predates the new administration, which I think has changed the trajectory of the school. Good luck with your choice! |
Anonymous
| Everyone I know who was at CMI left by 3rd grade. Some for private school, others for other public or public charter schools - and not just language immersion, as might be implied. ECE is pretty good everywhere so that is just not compelling. You really have to look beyond that. But CMI continues to have a higher than average percentage of white families and because of that one fact, the myth is perpetuated that it is a great school. That is what racism is all about. |
Anonymous
Give the racism card a break. You obviously have no kids at the school and are a troll who have no idea what ECE is like at CMI or what the upper grades are like. Not all ECE are equal and good everywhere. That’s a false narrative put out by families who have kids at predominantly poor performing and low SES schools. I know because I’m the poster that said we did ECE at CMI and then left for language immersion. ECE at my IB school consists of pushing academic with worksheets and worksheet homework instead of majority play base. Their field trips are non-existent and classrooms don’t even have enough supplies. There is a bare bones PTA who can’t get more parents to join and can’t even raise a few thousand dollars to support the school. Parents are not active or involved in their child’s education. Their teachers don’t have master degrees in ECE. Also our ECE classrooms at CMI was very diverse with white, Latino, Asians, and blacks. We are a minority BTW. To the PP above who is at CMI. I’m glad it’s working for your child. To the PP at CMI above, |
Anonymous
| I agree 100% with the poster above who said they have faith in the new administration. That is our family’s experience too. There were some bumps and problems before we started (that this board discussed at length) but we have been really happy with the community. There is true warmth and joy. It’s on a good path. Good luck to anyone making a choice! We’d love to see you there. |
Anonymous
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We left after 3rd grade for an out-of-state move. The final few months of 3rd grade were in 2020, so we were virtual from mid-March through May that year. We were unhappy with the virtual experience at CMI, but had experienced good teaching up through then.
We moved to a good suburban school district - well funded, strong test scores, etc. Our 4th-grade experience in a new school was that our child was definitely on level with his peers - test scores, teacher feedback, grades, etc bears this out. He was at grade level and well prepared, and tested into advanced math for the next school year. We are not a family that supplements with tutors, specialized camps, or lots of parental involvement with assignments. |
Anonymous
| we were at cmi for prek-3 given it was all virtual, but we weren't impressed with the school or most of the staff. i'm not sure about the campus bc we actually never set foot on it and it always made me uneasy that it's shared with other organizations. i don't know, ultimately it wasn't the right academic environment for my child and i really just don't want my kid at a failing charter. we're attending another petworth dcps this year, not in bound for us but we lotto'd in any we're thrilled! |
Anonymous
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"uneasy because it's shared with other organizations".
LOL. It's like a idyllic fortress and the location and playground is major plus. |
Anonymous
Not really. |
Anonymous
sure appears so from the POV of Petworth families who can only gaze longingly at it through the high metal fence and guarded entrance. |
Anonymous
This has been hashed out ad nauseum here, but in case you are new to this topic, CMI is a tenant on the property. You understand that the entrance is guarded because it is a restricted-access federal facility, right? And has always been so, right? CMI families don't use the main entrance on Rock Creek Church except for walking or biking in, and must show a pass when doing so on school days. We can't use that same pass on weekends or over school holidays to access the grounds. CMI cannot make the Armed Forces Retirement Home open the gates on weekends so anyone can use the playground. Believe me, plenty of CMI families live near the campus and would love to use the playground on weekends too. |
Anonymous
wow. I don't think I implied I wanted CMI to change this. I was agreeing with the PP that it looks idyllic and that the playground is a major plus, as opposed to the other PP's remark. I'm not new to this but I would still love to be able to enjoy it because it looks great. One can understand the situation while still wishing it was different. |
Anonymous
Hi - I'm the PP who jumped down your throat and assumed the worst. I'm sorry. I feel the school gets attacked on this board all the time and thought this was rehashing an issue that was out of the school's hands. I apologize for jumping to conclusions. It is a great playground and I wish it were accessible to the public. Again, my apologies. |