|
What about the ECE program makes it better than the upper grades?
Is it the teachers? The students? The parents? The curriculum? -Confused |
The sad face was that we were not matched at our preferred schools. You may not like it, but we were disappointed to begin the research again..... Many people are disappointed by the lottery. I did not realize how sensitive / how strong the inferiority complex is this group of parents is or I certainly wouldn't have used it. |
How clever...any apology with an insult. I bet you were awesome in high school...unfortunately you are an adult now so it isn't cute just plain mean spirited and rude. |
| an* |
One minor correction: Several Capitol Hill schools have experienced varying degrees of gentrification over the past decade as they have become majority IB. Brent is probably the best example of this, although it has attracted a core group of high-SES families from a wide swath of the Hill/Ward 6 who are otherwise IB for schools like LT, Miner, Payne, Tyler, Watkins, and JO Wilson. The Capitol Hill Cluster, which now includes Peabody and Watkins, now feeds into Stuart-Hobson, as does LT, has a solid program and committed parent group. So does Maury. The issue for many of these schools has been retaining high-SES IB students through Fifth Grade. Some used to peel off after Third or Fourth Grades for privates or Hearst and then Hardy for middle school in NW, although charters like Basis and Latin have become increasingly sought after to the point where there are relatively few spots open to non-siblings (someone posted that there wherein excess of 1100 applications for something like 50 spots). At the same time, Brent, Maury and LT have stepped up their games in terms of academic rigor for upper grades, which is a terrific development as the highly regarded charters are increasingly difficult to get into. SWS, which used to be part of the Cluster, has an excellent Reggio-based program, but not neighborhood proximity preference. The same is true of Capitol Hill Montessori. In short, there are lots of options on the Hill, almost all of which have highly-regarded PK programs, and you are guaranteed a spot at your IB school for K and above. |
All of the above? Parents are more likley to enroll a kid in ECE that they wouldn't enroll them in for K-12 because hey it's free preschool. The differences in socio economics and how they affect academics matter a hell of a lot less in a 3 or 4 year old. The curriculum (LT uses Reggio) is pretty good for kids. There is a low teacher to student ratio because of the teacher's aids so kids get a lot of individual attention and support. |
Yeah, I don't get how a principal who apparently cares so little about parents that she won't give the time of day to a parent she sees in the hallway is supposed to care enough to seek out this thread and read it obsessively. Seriously, people, consider what you're saying. |
As an experienced preschool teacher who has worked in a socio economically diverse public school and is currently conducting related research I must say this is incorrect. |
| I have never taught in DCPS but from my experience I mentioned above, the mix is good for everybody. My DD is not of preschool age but I will strive to find a school that is diverse throughout. |
| OP, there is a spring event on April 26 at LT. Lots of kids activities and a yard sale, etc. It's from 2-5. That would be a great way to meet a lot of current families in all grades. All the events I've gone to at LT have been well attended and supported by current families. |
No skin in this game, I just like watching the back and forth. But we do like trying to hit as many school fund raisers as possible, so I was intrigued by this. However...I can't find ANY information on the Interweb. Can someone post a link to the school's website? I was surprised that Google didn't turn it up. I also checked the LT Facebook page, but it doesn't seem to have been updated in three years. LT boosters you need to get on that. |
Although I think this thread should really die, I'll take a stab at answering this. PP, the upper grades at LT are almost entirely African American kids who qualify for Free and Reduced Meals. I don't know the breakdown, but I'm sure some are coming from the neighborhood while a very healthy percentage of others are coming from other parts of the city, particularly Wards 7 and 8. And rumor has it quite a few come from PG County in MD. The ECE program is (again, I'm guesstimating) at least 2/3 kids from quite high SES families (all races, many not rich but very well educated) mostly mostly but not entirely from the neighborhood/greater Capitol Hill area. OP, I've thought a lot about this. I don't think your family would necessarily be happy at LT long-term. But it's a good option for preschool when it sounds like you don't have a lot of other options. If you go, go with an open mind and helpful hands (they are very much needed!). And while asking questions is good and asking about the validity of things you have heard is also good, please try to avoid extreme negativity about the school until you can say for yourself that it is an awful place. (It isn't so I'm not worried about that.) Neighborhood dislike of the principal/school is a huge problem for the school, and much of that feeling seems to me to be unmerited. |
|
Not 9:37, but I wanted to add to that comment:
In my view, as an LT parent (albeit only in K so far, but we're staying for 1st), the difference in demographics doesn't necessarily make the ECE program *better* than the rest of the school. (From what I've seen, the upper grades are just as strong.) However, the demographic difference does seem to reassure many white and/or high-SES parents and make them more comfortable with the ECE program. I've had people (not LT parents, but other Hill parents when they find out my kid is at LT) pretty much say flat-out that their problem with the upper grades is that they're almost entirely black. |
The number of OOB families in the higher grades makes me think that those parents are engaged enough that they sought better options for their children. Just like everyone on this forum. |
| Please, please, please can LT parents agree to stop posting on this forum? OP is either a troll or in need of psychiatric intervention, and we do not want her at our school. Nothing we say will make any dent in her determination to hate our school. There are plenty of great parents who will happily take her child's place, so leave them to it |