Lee Montessori open slots for 1st and 2nd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are current Lee elementary families generally happy there this year and are students thriving? Are there still ongoing issues?

We are a Brookland family and have been for quite some time. We love it here and can not imagine being anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

Teachers leaving, running short of kids, but no crisis? Okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

Teachers leaving, running short of kids, but no crisis? Okay.

NP, I have never seen ANY school in crisis IRL as described in DCUM. Here everything is exaggerated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

This. Total school district enrollment is up. Lots of other schools have enough students. I'm seeing signs of distress from Lee, Mundo, SSMA, and a few non-HRCS such as Hope Tolson and Harmony. Everyone knew Mundo and SSMA have issues, but Lee has had a good reputation in its short life. What's up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

This. Total school district enrollment is up. Lots of other schools have enough students. I'm seeing signs of distress from Lee, Mundo, SSMA, and a few non-HRCS such as Hope Tolson and Harmony. Everyone knew Mundo and SSMA have issues, but Lee has had a good reputation in its short life. What's up?

This. And my interest is genuine. We did not get into Lee for PK and were disappointed, but if we stand a good shot at getting into the school next year for K, we'll add it to our lottery. However, I don't want to switch schools only to find out there is something fundamentally askew, which is driving other families out, and we don't learn about it until we get there. Our previous tours were great -- we really like the school and the philosophy, space seems great, etc. So I'm confused as to what is causing attrition.

Just as a point of comparison, we also liked CHML (and also didn't get a spot there and would be interested in it for next year) but it seems to have fewer spots available in the lower grades than Lee AND we've also gotten mixed reviews from both current and former families there regarding teacher turnover and the parent culture (apparently a little bit intense). Like I have a good sense of what the drawbacks are to CHML, especially past ECE, that might cause attrition, even though they seem to have less attrition than Lee. Same think with other charters -- I've gotten some unvarnished opinions on Two Rivers, ITS, and Mundo from current families who like them well enough to stay but are also willing to say "these area the drawbacks, you can evaluate if that's a bad fit for you."

But with Lee it's like "No it's perfect, what are you talking about?" I don't get it and it makes me wary.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, and not having dug into the data on this, I have also wondered if there was some weird dynamics going on with enrollment/private school flight in the wake of Covid this year. My kid got off the waitlists for Eaton, Shepherd, and Lafayette for K this. year, something I think would have been unheard of in past years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

People want language immersion and have moved to MV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

This. Total school district enrollment is up. Lots of other schools have enough students. I'm seeing signs of distress from Lee, Mundo, SSMA, and a few non-HRCS such as Hope Tolson and Harmony. Everyone knew Mundo and SSMA have issues, but Lee has had a good reputation in its short life. What's up?

Can you show me the data where it shows that district enrollment went up? Last I saw it was down compare to 2020, but I don’t remember where I saw it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, and not having dug into the data on this, I have also wondered if there was some weird dynamics going on with enrollment/private school flight in the wake of Covid this year. My kid got off the waitlists for Eaton, Shepherd, and Lafayette for K this. year, something I think would have been unheard of in past years?

+1 my friend’s kids got into Oyster and she said that it was only possible, because IB people move to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

This. Total school district enrollment is up. Lots of other schools have enough students. I'm seeing signs of distress from Lee, Mundo, SSMA, and a few non-HRCS such as Hope Tolson and Harmony. Everyone knew Mundo and SSMA have issues, but Lee has had a good reputation in its short life. What's up?

Can you show me the data where it shows that district enrollment went up? Last I saw it was down compare to 2020, but I don’t remember where I saw it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/14/dc-schools-public-charter-enrollment/

I think a lot of the increase was in preschool. But still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

This. Total school district enrollment is up. Lots of other schools have enough students. I'm seeing signs of distress from Lee, Mundo, SSMA, and a few non-HRCS such as Hope Tolson and Harmony. Everyone knew Mundo and SSMA have issues, but Lee has had a good reputation in its short life. What's up?

Can you show me the data where it shows that district enrollment went up? Last I saw it was down compare to 2020, but I don’t remember where I saw it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/14/dc-schools-public-charter-enrollment/

I think a lot of the increase was in preschool. But still.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the families who are happy there, can you share why you think the school has had issues filling classes or retaining ECE families?

It’s not really for us to speculate on. Go ahead and read the various arguments people have already made in this thread, but I would say that you shouldn’t make too much of these couple of data points. The school has pluses and minuses, but there’s no big looming crisis you need to worry about. It’s an incredible school for the families that like it, and not such a good school for the ones who don’t. But that’s probably true of any school.

But these things don't happen to "any school". You don't see so many spots available in other charters, including other Montessori charters, charters in the same neighborhood, etc. Lee seems like an outlier and I don't get it, if current families are so happy.

People want language immersion and have moved to MV.

I honestly think less people are moving to MV than before-- that's why MV is exhausting its waitlists. MV is troubled right now.

People leave Montessori schools because they're fine with it for preschool but don't actually want it for elementary. And that's fine. But Lee was never running out of students on the waitlist in prior years. That's what's weird here.