Brent parents: Give me the lowdown on the school

[Anonymous]

I'm a Brent parent and we're very happy. Our son loves the art special. Lackluster? What do you expect from an elementary school art class? We're lucky we have one. My child has nice, smart friends who live in the neighborhood, he has had good teachers, and he genuinely likes school. That is better than middling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I am not a Brent parent but the test scores are remarkably good coming from an East of the park school. They have 50% inboundary, which is a pretty good sign - a lot of the schools west of the park with similar or even better performance cannot claim as high a percentage of neighborhood enrollment. That will be good when as another poster said, you want to do afterschool playdates, help at pickup time, birthdays etc. Diversity is skewed really Caucasian for a DC public school, reflecting the Capitol Hill workforce and probably families coming in from out of boundary attracted by the higher scores.

Thanks, Cap'n Obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Brent parent and we're very happy. Our son loves the art special. Lackluster? What do you expect from an elementary school art class? We're lucky we have one. My child has nice, smart friends who live in the neighborhood, he has had good teachers, and he genuinely likes school. That is better than middling.

Not trying to offend, but I am guessing your son hasn't reached 1st Grade. Am i right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Brent parent and we're very happy. Our son loves the art special. Lackluster? What do you expect from an elementary school art class? We're lucky we have one. My child has nice, smart friends who live in the neighborhood, he has had good teachers, and he genuinely likes school. That is better than middling.

Not trying to offend, but I am guessing your son hasn't reached 1st Grade. Am i right?

No, you're not.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to hear that your son enjoys art class. This does not change rhe fact that, as reflected in the PTA survey comducted last Spring, there is room for substantial improvement and better coordination with other curricula. The National Gallery is only a 20 minute walk from Brent and yet our children have yet to take a field trip there in the past three years. Forget about the Corcoran snd Philips, or even the Sackler, Renwick, or Portrait Gallery. Don't forget, art instruction is mandated and funded by DCPS, as opposed to science, which Brent is really fortunate to have due to the gemerosity of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad to hear that your son enjoys art class. This does not change rhe fact that, as reflected in the PTA survey comducted last Spring, there is room for substantial improvement and better coordination with other curricula. The National Gallery is only a 20 minute walk from Brent and yet our children have yet to take a field trip there in the past three years. Forget about the Corcoran snd Philips, or even the Sackler, Renwick, or Portrait Gallery. Don't forget, art instruction is mandated and funded by DCPS, as opposed to science, which Brent is really fortunate to have due to the gemerosity of parents.

I'm not saying there's no room for improvement. I just think that improving art isn't a huge issue and doesn't mean the school isn't good.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think Brent is need of many improvements, but art is hardly a concern.

Can we discuss classroom management or the lack thereof in the school?

[Anonymous]

Where and how would you like to begin the discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I think Brent is need of many improvements, but art is hardly a concern.

Can we discuss classroom management or the lack thereof in the school?

Define "classroom management" please.

[Anonymous]

Not PP, but there is at least one teacher who seems to lack the skillset necessary to instill classroom discipline. This also can be an issue with some substitute teachers. Not sure what else s/he may have had in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not PP, but there is at least one teacher who seems to lack the skillset necessary to instill classroom discipline. This also can be an issue with some substitute teachers. Not sure what else s/he may have had in mind.

So, you're saying discipline is an issue with one teacher. And subs can't control classes, as in, the story that's as old as the bible?

[Anonymous]

As has already been pointed out, discipline becomes more of an issue as kids go up the chain at Brent because the curriculum is geared toward remedial education, vs. the advanced work most of the kids, who are high SES with professional parents, need. Bored kids have a strong tendency to behave badly in class, space out, or both.

The principal shows little interest in taking the problem seriously, or even acknowledging it. IMO, most long-time parents have been passive about pushing back. The PTA and LSAT need to work to keep those who do challenge from being branded as pesky helicopter parents, and from burning out, and pulling out. Also, Brent needs to develop ties to the JKLM schools to learn how to bend the DCPS curriculum and test prep culture to work for advnced kids. Murch seems particularly adept at furnishing upper grades challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As has already been pointed out, discipline becomes more of an issue as kids go up the chain at Brent because the curriculum is geared toward remedial education, vs. the advanced work most of the kids, who are high SES with professional parents, need. Bored kids have a strong tendency to behave badly in class, space out, or both.

The principal shows little interest in taking the problem seriously, or even acknowledging it. IMO, most long-time parents have been passive about pushing back. The PTA and LSAT need to work to keep those who do challenge from being branded as pesky helicopter parents, and from burning out, and pulling out. Also, Brent needs to develop ties to the JKLM schools to learn how to bend the DCPS curriculum and test prep culture to work for advnced kids. Murch seems particularly adept at furnishing upper grades challenge.

I think you need to take your ax to grind to the school and off of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As has already been pointed out, discipline becomes more of an issue as kids go up the chain at Brent because the curriculum is geared toward remedial education, vs. the advanced work most of the kids, who are high SES with professional parents, need. Bored kids have a strong tendency to behave badly in class, space out, or both.

The principal shows little interest in taking the problem seriously, or even acknowledging it. IMO, most long-time parents have been passive about pushing back. The PTA and LSAT need to work to keep those who do challenge from being branded as pesky helicopter parents, and from burning out, and pulling out. Also, Brent needs to develop ties to the JKLM schools to learn how to bend the DCPS curriculum and test prep culture to work for advnced kids. Murch seems particularly adept at furnishing upper grades challenge.

I think you need to take your ax to grind to the school and off of DCUM.

+1. Better yet would be for you to move to NW instead of just wishing you lived there.

[Anonymous]

Better yet, have Brent consult JKLM on how they do things to increase challenge. Refrain from mocking those who want more JKLM-type quality here in SE. You move to NW.