Confused about MV

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV was my second-to-last choice. Love that MV families assume it is everyone's first choice!

I think you what love more is to assume that MV families think that way, which is definitely not true.

Quoting PP:
"Most likely everyone that got called off of the first round of the WL probably ranked MV pretty high on their lottery list"

I would have assumed that too just based on how the lottery works. If you had a good enough lottery number to get off the WL at MV, I would have assumed that if you ranked it low you would already be in a school that you ranked higher than MV and therefore not on the WL anymore. For example, I ranked Seaton below MV and hit into Seaton initially, had I done the opposite, I would not have been wait listed at MV in the first place. Although I do realize that some people fill their WL with schools they are unlikely to get into because they have a good fall back (either in bounds school or private).

[Anonymous]

14:41 If you are "not built for start up" then stay away. Mundo Verde is only in its fourth year so technically we are all founding families. If you are not willing to start with an open heart and love this place unconditionally like you love your child (all while helping it become a better place and navigating challenges and issues) then this is not a place for you. Go somewhere well established. There are several other options where you don't have to put in the "effort and commitment" I bet you can find easier options where all has been done and smoothed out for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another founding family here, and I agree with 21:36 100%. I think one issue is that prospective parents may not realize how many of these info sessions and tours have to happen and the logistics behind them each. If you have further questions, ask to talk directly to other parents. There are many of us who spend dozens of hours a year, year after year, giving tours, answering questions, hosting and attending new parent play dates etc. Plus, as it is a growing school in a new location, a ton of time and attention is paid by the administration and others to trying to incorporate new parents. It isn't easy, and there are some things that work better than ever, and it is a learning process. But it is the furthest from the truth that we don't try. If Kristin and Dahlia didn't delegate though, we would be at a standstill and the kids would not be educated, which is the actual point of the school.

I have personally heard the very knowledgeable woman giving the tour answer hundreds of questions about the school over the past four years. But she may not know everything, especially because some things aren't yet known. It is not the first year, but it is still growing, and there are still going to be changes when they are seen as helpful. This flexibility is one of the best things about the school and its administration. They are constantly reviewing policies and seeking input from the community to see if changes should be made. I know the guide to be an incredibly honest person who would never want to claim to know something that shs doesn't, and some decisions just haven't been made yet. Anyway, cut her some slack and ask for the name of another parent if you aren't gelling with her (which would surely be a temporary thing as I honestly can't think of a single person in the school that doesn't get along with her and value her presence and support). Or if you just have more questions. There are a lot of people at the school who love talking about it because it is such a unique and dynamic community.

Going to risk the ire of hundreds and respectfully suggest that founding families don't have the best perspective on a school or its standing or reputation and aren't best positioned to figure out how to improve anything. The effort and commitment it takes to found get in on the ground floor is astounding; I know I'm not built that way. It is like giving birth or starting a company; once you go through that experience and get it up and running you probably lack perspective to know when your kid isn't perfect or when the company moves past the start-up stage into the next stage. It would be like someone taking issue with your daughter's work and you chiming in to say that you are her mother and you raised her and taught her how to perform and you are positive her work product is excellent. Are you the most credible source? Would you be better served getting an opinion from someone less emotionally connected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV was my second-to-last choice. Love that MV families assume it is everyone's first choice!

I think you what love more is to assume that MV families think that way, which is definitely not true.

Quoting PP:
"Most likely everyone that got called off of the first round of the WL probably ranked MV pretty high on their lottery list"

I would have assumed that too just based on how the lottery works. If you had a good enough lottery number to get off the WL at MV, I would have assumed that if you ranked it low you would already be in a school that you ranked higher than MV and therefore not on the WL anymore. For example, I ranked Seaton below MV and hit into Seaton initially, had I done the opposite, I would not have been wait listed at MV in the first place. Although I do realize that some people fill their WL with schools they are unlikely to get into because they have a good fall back (either in bounds school or private).

I think MV families tend to think their school is more popular/harder to get into than other schools. I listed a bunch of schools ahead of MV that are much harder to get into (all DCPS where I had no preference). If MV had a better location, then I would have ranked it higher.

[Anonymous]

We were matched last year and got called off the wait list this year and turned it down both times.

We discussed how we could make the commute work, moving and all, but it just wasn't worth it in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were matched last year and got called off the wait list this year and turned it down both times.

We discussed how we could make the commute work, moving and all, but it just wasn't worth it in the end.

MV does have one of the longest wait lists so among charters it is one of the hardest to get into. Of course getting Into Janney, Ross or Brent OOBs is harder, but most people don't put those are their lists in lower grades thinking that they have a chance to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were matched last year and got called off the wait list this year and turned it down both times.

We discussed how we could make the commute work, moving and all, but it just wasn't worth it in the end.

MV does have one of the longest wait lists so among charters it is one of the hardest to get into. Of course getting Into Janney, Ross or Brent OOBs is harder, but most people don't put those are their lists in lower grades thinking that they have a chance to get in.

Just because people have it on their list does not mean it's their top choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were matched last year and got called off the wait list this year and turned it down both times.

We discussed how we could make the commute work, moving and all, but it just wasn't worth it in the end.

MV does have one of the longest wait lists so among charters it is one of the hardest to get into. Of course getting Into Janney, Ross or Brent OOBs is harder, but most people don't put those are their lists in lower grades thinking that they have a chance to get in.

People think charters offer "school choice", in actuality it's really "school chance".

[Anonymous]

Agreed.

FWIW, we are in at Brent, but choosing MV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:41 If you are "not built for start up" then stay away. Mundo Verde is only in its fourth year so technically we are all founding families. If you are not willing to start with an open heart and love this place unconditionally like you love your child (all while helping it become a better place and navigating challenges and issues) then this is not a place for you. Go somewhere well established. There are several other options where you don't have to put in the "effort and commitment" I bet you can find easier options where all has been done and smoothed out for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another founding family here, and I agree with 21:36 100%. I think one issue is that prospective parents may not realize how many of these info sessions and tours have to happen and the logistics behind them each. If you have further questions, ask to talk directly to other parents. There are many of us who spend dozens of hours a year, year after year, giving tours, answering questions, hosting and attending new parent play dates etc. Plus, as it is a growing school in a new location, a ton of time and attention is paid by the administration and others to trying to incorporate new parents. It isn't easy, and there are some things that work better than ever, and it is a learning process. But it is the furthest from the truth that we don't try. If Kristin and Dahlia didn't delegate though, we would be at a standstill and the kids would not be educated, which is the actual point of the school.

I have personally heard the very knowledgeable woman giving the tour answer hundreds of questions about the school over the past four years. But she may not know everything, especially because some things aren't yet known. It is not the first year, but it is still growing, and there are still going to be changes when they are seen as helpful. This flexibility is one of the best things about the school and its administration. They are constantly reviewing policies and seeking input from the community to see if changes should be made. I know the guide to be an incredibly honest person who would never want to claim to know something that shs doesn't, and some decisions just haven't been made yet. Anyway, cut her some slack and ask for the name of another parent if you aren't gelling with her (which would surely be a temporary thing as I honestly can't think of a single person in the school that doesn't get along with her and value her presence and support). Or if you just have more questions. There are a lot of people at the school who love talking about it because it is such a unique and dynamic community.

Going to risk the ire of hundreds and respectfully suggest that founding families don't have the best perspective on a school or its standing or reputation and aren't best positioned to figure out how to improve anything. The effort and commitment it takes to found get in on the ground floor is astounding; I know I'm not built that way. It is like giving birth or starting a company; once you go through that experience and get it up and running you probably lack perspective to know when your kid isn't perfect or when the company moves past the start-up stage into the next stage. It would be like someone taking issue with your daughter's work and you chiming in to say that you are her mother and you raised her and taught her how to perform and you are positive her work product is excellent. Are you the most credible source? Would you be better served getting an opinion from someone less emotionally connected?

There it is. That's the disconnect. "Unconditional love" as a requirement to attendance. MV can't succeed if the only people who are welcome wear rose colored glasses at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV was my second-to-last choice. Love that MV families assume it is everyone's first choice!

I think you what love more is to assume that MV families think that way, which is definitely not true.

Quoting PP:
"Most likely everyone that got called off of the first round of the WL probably ranked MV pretty high on their lottery list"

This is a realistic assumption not because everyone must love MV and rank it high on their lists but because of the way the lottery algorithm works. Those who ranked it at the bottom and still got called probably had killer lottery numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14:41 If you are "not built for start up" then stay away. Mundo Verde is only in its fourth year so technically we are all founding families. If you are not willing to start with an open heart and love this place unconditionally like you love your child (all while helping it become a better place and navigating challenges and issues) then this is not a place for you. Go somewhere well established. There are several other options where you don't have to put in the "effort and commitment" I bet you can find easier options where all has been done and smoothed out for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another founding family here, and I agree with 21:36 100%. I think one issue is that prospective parents may not realize how many of these info sessions and tours have to happen and the logistics behind them each. If you have further questions, ask to talk directly to other parents. There are many of us who spend dozens of hours a year, year after year, giving tours, answering questions, hosting and attending new parent play dates etc. Plus, as it is a growing school in a new location, a ton of time and attention is paid by the administration and others to trying to incorporate new parents. It isn't easy, and there are some things that work better than ever, and it is a learning process. But it is the furthest from the truth that we don't try. If Kristin and Dahlia didn't delegate though, we would be at a standstill and the kids would not be educated, which is the actual point of the school.

I have personally heard the very knowledgeable woman giving the tour answer hundreds of questions about the school over the past four years. But she may not know everything, especially because some things aren't yet known. It is not the first year, but it is still growing, and there are still going to be changes when they are seen as helpful. This flexibility is one of the best things about the school and its administration. They are constantly reviewing policies and seeking input from the community to see if changes should be made. I know the guide to be an incredibly honest person who would never want to claim to know something that shs doesn't, and some decisions just haven't been made yet. Anyway, cut her some slack and ask for the name of another parent if you aren't gelling with her (which would surely be a temporary thing as I honestly can't think of a single person in the school that doesn't get along with her and value her presence and support). Or if you just have more questions. There are a lot of people at the school who love talking about it because it is such a unique and dynamic community.

Going to risk the ire of hundreds and respectfully suggest that founding families don't have the best perspective on a school or its standing or reputation and aren't best positioned to figure out how to improve anything. The effort and commitment it takes to found get in on the ground floor is astounding; I know I'm not built that way. It is like giving birth or starting a company; once you go through that experience and get it up and running you probably lack perspective to know when your kid isn't perfect or when the company moves past the start-up stage into the next stage. It would be like someone taking issue with your daughter's work and you chiming in to say that you are her mother and you raised her and taught her how to perform and you are positive her work product is excellent. Are you the most credible source? Would you be better served getting an opinion from someone less emotionally connected?

There it is. That's the disconnect. "Unconditional love" as a requirement to attendance. MV can't succeed if the only people who are welcome wear rose colored glasses at all times.

+1000

[Anonymous]

This makes me think of this story someone shared once:

A man who was traveling came upon a farmer working in his field and asked him what the people in the next village were like. The farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The man responded "They were kind, friendly, generous, great people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

Another man who was traveling to the same village came up to the same farmer somewhat later and asked him what the people in the next village were like. Again the farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The second man responded, "They were rude, unfriendly, dishonest people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This makes me think of this story someone shared once:

A man who was traveling came upon a farmer working in his field and asked him what the people in the next village were like. The farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The man responded "They were kind, friendly, generous, great people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

Another man who was traveling to the same village came up to the same farmer somewhat later and asked him what the people in the next village were like. Again the farmer asked "What were the people like in the last village you visited?" The second man responded, "They were rude, unfriendly, dishonest people." "You'll find the people in the next village are the same," said the farmer.

LOVE THIS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14:41 If you are "not built for start up" then stay away. Mundo Verde is only in its fourth year so technically we are all founding families. If you are not willing to start with an open heart and love this place unconditionally like you love your child (all while helping it become a better place and navigating challenges and issues) then this is not a place for you. Go somewhere well established. There are several other options where you don't have to put in the "effort and commitment" I bet you can find easier options where all has been done and smoothed out for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another founding family here, and I agree with 21:36 100%. I think one issue is that prospective parents may not realize how many of these info sessions and tours have to happen and the logistics behind them each. If you have further questions, ask to talk directly to other parents. There are many of us who spend dozens of hours a year, year after year, giving tours, answering questions, hosting and attending new parent play dates etc. Plus, as it is a growing school in a new location, a ton of time and attention is paid by the administration and others to trying to incorporate new parents. It isn't easy, and there are some things that work better than ever, and it is a learning process. But it is the furthest from the truth that we don't try. If Kristin and Dahlia didn't delegate though, we would be at a standstill and the kids would not be educated, which is the actual point of the school.

I have personally heard the very knowledgeable woman giving the tour answer hundreds of questions about the school over the past four years. But she may not know everything, especially because some things aren't yet known. It is not the first year, but it is still growing, and there are still going to be changes when they are seen as helpful. This flexibility is one of the best things about the school and its administration. They are constantly reviewing policies and seeking input from the community to see if changes should be made. I know the guide to be an incredibly honest person who would never want to claim to know something that shs doesn't, and some decisions just haven't been made yet. Anyway, cut her some slack and ask for the name of another parent if you aren't gelling with her (which would surely be a temporary thing as I honestly can't think of a single person in the school that doesn't get along with her and value her presence and support). Or if you just have more questions. There are a lot of people at the school who love talking about it because it is such a unique and dynamic community.

Going to risk the ire of hundreds and respectfully suggest that founding families don't have the best perspective on a school or its standing or reputation and aren't best positioned to figure out how to improve anything. The effort and commitment it takes to found get in on the ground floor is astounding; I know I'm not built that way. It is like giving birth or starting a company; once you go through that experience and get it up and running you probably lack perspective to know when your kid isn't perfect or when the company moves past the start-up stage into the next stage. It would be like someone taking issue with your daughter's work and you chiming in to say that you are her mother and you raised her and taught her how to perform and you are positive her work product is excellent. Are you the most credible source? Would you be better served getting an opinion from someone less emotionally connected?

There it is. That's the disconnect. "Unconditional love" as a requirement to attendance. MV can't succeed if the only people who are welcome wear rose colored glasses at all times.

+1000

Are you living in a different world than the DC that I live in? Any half-way decent charter with well-intentioned staff and students has a good chance of success. Because most of the schools in this city are terrible. If you are in district for a decent school, you will see this system one way. If you are in district for a terrible school you will see it another. That is the divide. Extreme Wealth or luck in the real estate market or a sibling who got in during an easier time OR stuck in a crappy district without awesome other options. It's amazing how much better charter schools look when they are your only option other than moving out of the region. Mundo Verde included but not exclusively.