| No experience with EH. However, if your daughter is interested at all in theater and/or debate, the SH drama players and debate club are both terrific! |
Our child is starting 8th grade at EH this year and we have been happy with the experience. Don't think you can go wrong either way. EH facilities/outdoor space is a bit bigger, but otherwise they offer similar courses, clubs, sports, etc. |
SH and EH do not offer equivalent theater or debate experiences. EH is starting to get those things off the ground, but particular with respect to drama (also also marching band) there is truly no comparison. |
| SH is arguably the best middle school in the city for theater and advanced band. The sports and clubs offerings are similar but not entirely identical at these schools. That said, if your school doesnt offer a particular sport, you are allowed to join the team at another school. |
|
This. I am usually a go to the closer one/your IB for these two schools, but if your kid is specific into theater or marching band, do whatever you can to get into SH. |
We’re #1 on the list now so I’m calling first thing tomorrow |
This is helpful! My daughter has been in dance since 4. She was on the majorette dance team in NC |
Are there moves at Eliot Hine to develop an equivalently awesome theatre program? I am so impressed with the SH program but am unfortunately not in boundary. |
They do have a theater program like most DCPS middle schools. I saw a show they did and it was fun and fine, but unless they decided to specifically focus on drama, luck into a great teacher and other specials teachers interested in supporting it, it’s not going to be the same as SH’s. Also, literally anyone could get their kid into SH recently by lotterying for JOW or Watkins in 5th (or earlier). Only LT isn’t functionally open enrollment in upper ES, though that may eventually change post JOW reno. |
For the past few years at EH there have been two theater productions, and there is a chorus and multiple levels of concert band. There is also a partnership with the Eastern band, I am not sure how it works but I know some of the older kids play with Eastern in some capacity as well. I imagine most people on here do not have experience at both schools, so it is hard to compare. SH's program may be more established, but it seems like there are good opportunities at both. Also for kids who are new to the arts or unsure of interest, I think I heard that SH drama needs to audition in the summer, and it is more of a commitment, so that may be harder for kids just trying things out. |
This is true. Drama is an actual class at SH. |
I take it that means there isn't a drama class at EH? What electives are available at EH? |
Thus far, drama has been an after school activity, similar to sports, debate, and other clubs. The enrollment at EH has grown significantly - these numbers may not be 100% accurate but a quick search says it has gone from 262 in 2020 to 375 last year, and this year is projected to hit 500. In the past few years each incoming class has been larger than the last, so that trend checks out. I mention that to say that due to the increasing size, the number of courses offered is growing/changing. Not sure about the options this year since it is the first week, but in general they have band, art, design and modeling (STEM), chorus, PE, language (spanish and french), broadcasting/video production. I think this year they may have a drama class as well but not sure. |
It's actually been pretty tough to lottery into SH feeders in 5th over the last two years. 2024 lottery: JO Wilson - 5 lottery seats, 3 on waitlist on results day, 1 waitlist offer Ludlow-Taylor - 6 lottery seats, 18 on waitlist on results day, 4 waitlist offers Watkins - 0 lottery seats, 18 on waitlist on results day, 2 waitlist offers 2025 lottery: JO Wilson - 5 lottery seats, 7 on waitlist on results day, 3 waitlist offers Ludlow-Taylor - 6 lottery seats, 22 on waitlist on results day, 0 waitlist offers Watkins - 0 lottery seats, 21 on waitlist on results day, 4 waitlist offers |