Special programs in DC elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Which schools of gifted programs? Which offer foreign language or immersion at the elementary level?

[Anonymous]

I don't think any DC elementary school offers a gifted program. (The answer I got from our principal was we consider all our children to be gifted. )
I think Banneker is high acheiving high school.
There are immersion programs. Oyster comes to mind for spanish. Several school have immersion offerings - shepard is one. Also charters offer immersion too. Check out the dc public school site for more info on that.

As far as gifted program coming to DCPS, don't hold your breath. Move to MCPS or Fairfax county if that is extremely important to you.
They are trying to lift the bottom end of the school performance first. Unfortunately i find that short sighted as they lose good families when they don't offer competitive programs. We are constantly looking over the border at the programs offered there.

[Anonymous]

DC schools don't have gifted programs.

k12.dc.us is the website

[Anonymous]

No gifted programs in DC schools!

Future programs have been discussed as a way to bolster schools in SE DC and draw students from other wards.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1171906~Rhee_to_unveil_gifted_program_in_schools.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No gifted programs in DC schools!

Future programs have been discussed as a way to bolster schools in SE DC and draw students from other wards.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1171906~Rhee_to_unveil_gifted_program_in_schools.html

What a great idea! I hope that Rhee is able to do this. And... I hope that if she does the schools are able to manage things well so it doesn't become a tense and divided environment (e.g. neighborhood kids v. G&T program kids).

[Anonymous]

Future programs have been discussed as a way to bolster schools in SE DC and draw students from other wards.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1171906~Rhee_to_unveil_gifted_program_in_schools.html

See, now this is ass backward. Just as I wouldn't drive DCs from the Janney area to attend school in Potomac or Alexandria, neither would I commute to Ward 8 twice a day, no matter how appealing the GT program. Let's sprinkle any new DCPS GT programs throughout the city -- as a retention tool.

[Anonymous]

PP - Totally agree!

[Anonymous]

I know Shepherd elementary is working on receiving accreditation for IB- while not "gifted and talented" definitely focused on critical thinking skills. Shepherd also has French and Spanish immersion...and I think a very strong music program (strings I believe)

[Anonymous]

Chancellor Rhee has proposed gradually adding Gifted programs throughout the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chancellor Rhee has proposed gradually adding Gifted programs throughout the city.

However, my child is not "gradually" growing up. Hope this helps the next generation, perhaps!

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ PP. After 4 years of waiting and working for our generally OK DCPS school in NW to get better and provide any kind of differentiated in class teaching, rigorous academics or gifted program, we finally left DCPS for MoCo. DC (dear child) can't wait. The lack of these kinds of programs/opportunities was beginning to have a major effect on DC's self-esteem and socialization.

I'm a big fan of Rhee, but even she is moving too slowly when it comes to improving the quality of teaching/academics in DCPS.

It's a shame, because but for DCPS, we would have been lifelong, proud, taxpaying DC residents.

[Anonymous]

The Shepherd strings program is taught by the wonderful Mr. Giles, who also teaches violin for the DC Youth Orchestra (a great music program for all Wash. area kids). He recently won an award for a music education program he created for Shepherd in which all kids learned/performed music from a variety of American eras. See http://www.dcyop.org/about-faculty-strings.php

and http://www.k12.dc.us/media/PressReleases/Shepherd_040108.pdf

[Anonymous]

At what age do kids start string classes as Shepherd? I am starting to hear more and more about the school...seems like they have an active parents group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At what age do kids start string classes as Shepherd?

DD#1 started violin in January of her kindergarten year at Shepherd with Mr. Giles. Her weekly violin class was in addition to her weekly music classes (in both English language and Spanish language music classes).

I don't know whether strings are offered at the pre-K level because we weren't at Shepherd for pre-K for DD#1. I believe kids who aren't interested in strings are offered the opportunity to learn the recorder. And IIRC, kids are offered the opportunity to learn guitar once they reach third grade. (The school has the intruments that the kids can use in class, but I don't believe they are "take home" intruments...)