what to do after public elementary ?

[Anonymous]

What are the options for middle schools and high schools in DC? Are the public ones as bad as we hear? We cannot afford 25K private schools, and we'd rather not move.

[Anonymous]

My kids will go to Deal and Wilson, unless a charter school like Latin or a magnet like Ellington or Banneker makes sense in terms of their interests.

[Anonymous]

PP, Thank you for your response. I would really appreciate input from parents whose kids are going to Deal and Wilson, and their experience and insights as to how to make the experience a positive one.

So are Washington Latin, Banneker and Ellington the only charter options?

[Anonymous]

My dd attended Hardy Middle School in Georgetown. If you do a search on the name, you can see other more specific comments I made about it elsewhere. Overall she had good teachers (and even a few fantastic ones) but there were some duds and one or two train wrecks. I think it's worth checking into. Hardy was smaller than Deal but now that Deal has lost its 9th grade, I don't know if that's still the case. School was just renovated so it should be a nice building now! I would say Hardy and Deal are probably the top middle schools in DCPS.

On the high school level, Washington Latin is a charter school. Ellington, Banneker, School without Walls, McKinley Tech are magnet schools. Wilson also has magnet programs within the school.

The schools have very different personalities. Banneker is hard, traditional, has an IB program, seems the most organized and straight-laced of all the magnet schools I looked into. Very structured. Very good school.

Walls is much looser, less well organized -- associated with GW. Seems good for a self-motivated kid who wants a challenge. Has good students.

Ellington has a great writing program (Literary Media) but other academics are not as strong. Of course, other good arts programs. Draws kids who are more concerned about the arts than academics.

My impression of Wilson is that a kid who is easily influenced by peers could slide by easily (at least I'm glad my kid didn't go there -- she probably would be a slacker) but there are also lots of strong academics there for kids who want them.

I don't know as much about McKinley, which is oriented towards various technical programs.

It's good that you're doing research, OP. Attend open houses, talk to parents, talk to teachers and principals. DCPS is not for everyone but lots of kids have done fine there. But don't make up your mind on hearsay. It might not be for you but only decide that after you've really looked at the individual schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd attended Hardy Middle School in Georgetown. If you do a search on the name, you can see other more specific comments I made about it elsewhere. Overall she had good teachers (and even a few fantastic ones) but there were some duds and one or two train wrecks. I think it's worth checking into. Hardy was smaller than Deal but now that Deal has lost its 9th grade, I don't know if that's still the case. School was just renovated so it should be a nice building now! I would say Hardy and Deal are probably the top middle schools in DCPS.

On the high school level, Washington Latin is a charter school. Ellington, Banneker, School without Walls, McKinley Tech are magnet schools. Wilson also has magnet programs within the school.

The schools have very different personalities. Banneker is hard, traditional, has an IB program, seems the most organized and straight-laced of all the magnet schools I looked into. Very structured. Very good school.

Walls is much looser, less well organized -- associated with GW. Seems good for a self-motivated kid who wants a challenge. Has good students.

Ellington has a great writing program (Literary Media) but other academics are not as strong. Of course, other good arts programs. Draws kids who are more concerned about the arts than academics.

My impression of Wilson is that a kid who is easily influenced by peers could slide by easily (at least I'm glad my kid didn't go there -- she probably would be a slacker) but there are also lots of strong academics there for kids who want them.

I don't know as much about McKinley, which is oriented towards various technical programs.

It's good that you're doing research, OP. Attend open houses, talk to parents, talk to teachers and principals. DCPS is not for everyone but lots of kids have done fine there. But don't make up your mind on hearsay. It might not be for you but only decide that after you've really looked at the individual schools.

Thank you so much PP ! if I may ask, which high school is your DD attending now ?
My kid is not due for high school or middle school yet, but anytime I pass by deal or wilson, I get scared by the rowdy kids there and wondering how my quiet shy DS would do.

[Anonymous]

She went to Ellington for the Literary Media program in 9th grade and actually now will be going to private school this fall. She wanted to make the change and we agreed reluctantly to investigate it but decided she was right and to go for it. I hated taking her out of the writing program (which is excellent) but it is true that the other academics were not as good and she is easily influenced by other kids who tended not to take academics very seriously. (Although I will say Ellington has a warm community atmosphere to it. Overall it's a good place.) I wish she was the kind of kid who would thrive at Banneker but no such luck! Then again at her age I would have hated Banneker too so I don't know why I was hoping for something different! (except that it would have been cheaper!)

I understand your fears about Deal but do try to attend an open house and see if you get a different perspective once you're in the classes. And by the time your dc is ready for middle school, who knows what will be out there on the charter front? Good luck!

[Anonymous]

To OP, whatever smaller Catholic schools? Even if you are not Catholic (and a lot of the kids are not) they are a cheaper option and a good education.

[Anonymous]

I'm upset by the rowdy kids outside of Deal and Wilson, too. I have to remind myself that teenagers are objectionable by nature and hope they're a little more serious in class.

[Anonymous]

Search the archives on Wilson; there's a list posted of some of the schools '08 grads were admitted to, and it's very impressive. Wilson has a very solid core of high-achieving students, and in general students with supportive families that emphasize education do well wherever they are.

It's also worth noting that Rhee is transitioning some schools to K-8; it's only a few schools initially, but clearly the idea is to do it more broadly if the first few schools are successful. So the middle school question may be moot by the time many of our kids would be leaving ES.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for all the encouraging responses ! Crossing my fingers that Rhee will be successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Search the archives on Wilson; there's a list posted of some of the schools '08 grads were admitted to, and it's very impressive. Wilson has a very solid core of high-achieving students, and in general students with supportive families that emphasize education do well wherever they are.

I buy the "your kid will get into as good a college (or better) going to Wilson as any private school" argument. I just don't want her / him miserable and intimidated while going to school every day. Frankly I have same feelings when I look at Whitman (if we moved to Maryland). Just curious if anyone who has a comparison on their child's happiness in public v private high school. And also relative to catholic high schools as well which could be an option for us.

[Anonymous]

PP, Curious to know why you have doubts about Whitman High in Maryland ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Search the archives on Wilson; there's a list posted of some of the schools '08 grads were admitted to, and it's very impressive. Wilson has a very solid core of high-achieving students, and in general students with supportive families that emphasize education do well wherever they are.

I buy the "your kid will get into as good a college (or better) going to Wilson as any private school" argument. I just don't want her / him miserable and intimidated while going to school every day. Frankly I have same feelings when I look at Whitman (if we moved to Maryland). Just curious if anyone who has a comparison on their child's happiness in public v private high school. And also relative to catholic high schools as well which could be an option for us.

As always, you should try to match the kid to the school. Some kids will thrive at Wilson. Others won't. Same with various private schools.

[Anonymous]

Washington Latin may not yet be a high school; it starts at 5th grade, and I believe the plan is to keep increasing a grade a year or something like that. The kids I know who go there are happy, but the workload is very high.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to Hardy, one has graduated from Wilson and I have 2 at Ellington. We just attended the open house at Hardy since the renovation is complete. It looks amazing. We were happy with Hardy and my kids at Ellington are happy. I agree with other posts about some schools not being a good match for your kid, which is why it's great to have choices like Walls, Banneker, Wilson, etc. We left private schools years ago and never looked back.