Brookland Middle School

[Anonymous]

McKinley and Brookland both feed into Dunbar HS. Post MS graduation you'd shoot for a DCPS Merit HS slot. In terms of DCI I've heard more negative things about it then positive. Most parents say its meh, but the test scores reflect higher then both McKinley and Brookland. All schools have their challenges. IMO ultimately success comes down to a motivated student, safe learning environment, qualified passionate teachers and administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

Maybe, but doubtful. My DD is in MS and we've been hearing the same old since Brookland MS opened. "Lots of potential"..."maybe it will get better by the time our kids get to MS..." Listen, it probably won't. Even if your kids are in PK, have a plan B (private, move) for later ES, MS years. Your charter or DCPS might be great for your kid(s) in PK, K, even 1st or 2nd, but often the wheels start to come off as kids get older in many of these schools in terms of educational rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

Maybe, but doubtful. My DD is in MS and we've been hearing the same old since Brookland MS opened. "Lots of potential"..."maybe it will get better by the time our kids get to MS..." Listen, it probably won't. Even if your kids are in PK, have a plan B (private, move) for later ES, MS years. Your charter or DCPS might be great for your kid(s) in PK, K, even 1st or 2nd, but often the wheels start to come off as kids get older in many of these schools in terms of educational rigor.

I hear you, but I don't think this is a unique thing to Ward 5 schools, or DC schools in general. If our school stops meeting the needs of our kids, we will address that, of course. That problem can happen anywhere, even in tony neighborhood schools. But, I've been hearing that our IB is good until K, or good until 2nd, or whatever since we enrolled in PK3, but we've had a good experience so far (not perfect, but no big issues). That may change, but I know parents in the upper grades who are also happy, so I'm not going to let the fear of the unknown, or the fear of 2 years' old bad test scores drive my decision over my kids' current experience. It's harder to say that in MS because you are changing schools no matter what, of course. But I think there's a difference between keeping options open keeping plan Bs in mind, on one hand, and assuming that the middle schools will not be an option and making moves now to avoid them, on the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

Maybe, but doubtful. My DD is in MS and we've been hearing the same old since Brookland MS opened. "Lots of potential"..."maybe it will get better by the time our kids get to MS..." Listen, it probably won't. Even if your kids are in PK, have a plan B (private, move) for later ES, MS years. Your charter or DCPS might be great for your kid(s) in PK, K, even 1st or 2nd, but often the wheels start to come off as kids get older in many of these schools in terms of educational rigor.

I hear you, but I don't think this is a unique thing to Ward 5 schools, or DC schools in general. If our school stops meeting the needs of our kids, we will address that, of course. That problem can happen anywhere, even in tony neighborhood schools. But, I've been hearing that our IB is good until K, or good until 2nd, or whatever since we enrolled in PK3, but we've had a good experience so far (not perfect, but no big issues). That may change, but I know parents in the upper grades who are also happy, so I'm not going to let the fear of the unknown, or the fear of 2 years' old bad test scores drive my decision over my kids' current experience. It's harder to say that in MS because you are changing schools no matter what, of course. But I think there's a difference between keeping options open keeping plan Bs in mind, on one hand, and assuming that the middle schools will not be an option and making moves now to avoid them, on the other.

Yes, middle school does take a while to improve. But look at what you see around you. I know it's hard with COVID and the lack of PARCC data and everything. But back in 2013 or 2014, it was very hard to get anyone to attend Langley. They couldn't even fill up two preschool classrooms. Seaton was okay but easy to get into, not high demand-- same for Burroughs. Garrison was being threatened with closure. Noyes was fresh off a test score fixing scandal. BMS didn't exist. Now, so many of those schools are in a better state, and their graduates may attend BMS (whether it's their IB or not). It takes time, yes, but with better feeders and a nice new building, things do slowly improve. Like how Stuart-Hobson very very slowly improved. It can happen and one by one, the components are being moved into place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

Maybe, but doubtful. My DD is in MS and we've been hearing the same old since Brookland MS opened. "Lots of potential"..."maybe it will get better by the time our kids get to MS..." Listen, it probably won't. Even if your kids are in PK, have a plan B (private, move) for later ES, MS years. Your charter or DCPS might be great for your kid(s) in PK, K, even 1st or 2nd, but often the wheels start to come off as kids get older in many of these schools in terms of educational rigor.

I hear you, but I don't think this is a unique thing to Ward 5 schools, or DC schools in general. If our school stops meeting the needs of our kids, we will address that, of course. That problem can happen anywhere, even in tony neighborhood schools. But, I've been hearing that our IB is good until K, or good until 2nd, or whatever since we enrolled in PK3, but we've had a good experience so far (not perfect, but no big issues). That may change, but I know parents in the upper grades who are also happy, so I'm not going to let the fear of the unknown, or the fear of 2 years' old bad test scores drive my decision over my kids' current experience. It's harder to say that in MS because you are changing schools no matter what, of course. But I think there's a difference between keeping options open keeping plan Bs in mind, on one hand, and assuming that the middle schools will not be an option and making moves now to avoid them, on the other.

The test scores are 2 years old but you should realize that the scores will be much worst if the kids took it today. DC suffered huge learning losses with closing schools so long as proven by the data. And those affected the most were the lower performing students. The achievement gap will be the greatest it’s ever been in the past 10-15 years.

The pandemic has made things worst, not better. Many of these kids will never catch up and the city will deal with the ramifications of this for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My children attend a nearby DCPS that feeds to a different middle school and I could not help but notice some of our strongest 5th graders chose Brookland rather than their IB middle school. I think Brookland is on the way up.

I would choose Brookland over our IB middle school (McKinley).

Me too, but I don't think the difference is really that big. I would do McKinley of your kid is really into math and science, because they can take 9th grade classes at Tech.

I feel the same way--I think it comes down to whether your kid wants a bigger school v. smaller, and is more into math/science. But I'm also going to be watching to see how the school does with the interim and then new principal. I think both schools have a lot of potential.

Maybe, but doubtful. My DD is in MS and we've been hearing the same old since Brookland MS opened. "Lots of potential"..."maybe it will get better by the time our kids get to MS..." Listen, it probably won't. Even if your kids are in PK, have a plan B (private, move) for later ES, MS years. Your charter or DCPS might be great for your kid(s) in PK, K, even 1st or 2nd, but often the wheels start to come off as kids get older in many of these schools in terms of educational rigor.

I hear you, but I don't think this is a unique thing to Ward 5 schools, or DC schools in general. If our school stops meeting the needs of our kids, we will address that, of course. That problem can happen anywhere, even in tony neighborhood schools. But, I've been hearing that our IB is good until K, or good until 2nd, or whatever since we enrolled in PK3, but we've had a good experience so far (not perfect, but no big issues). That may change, but I know parents in the upper grades who are also happy, so I'm not going to let the fear of the unknown, or the fear of 2 years' old bad test scores drive my decision over my kids' current experience. It's harder to say that in MS because you are changing schools no matter what, of course. But I think there's a difference between keeping options open keeping plan Bs in mind, on one hand, and assuming that the middle schools will not be an option and making moves now to avoid them, on the other.

The test scores are 2 years old but you should realize that the scores will be much worst if the kids took it today. DC suffered huge learning losses with closing schools so long as proven by the data. And those affected the most were the lower performing students. The achievement gap will be the greatest it’s ever been in the past 10-15 years.

The pandemic has made things worst, not better. Many of these kids will never catch up and the city will deal with the ramifications of this for years to come.

This. Making moves prior to MS is definitely not the worst thing in the world when you confront these bad test scores (new PARCC should shine a bright light on the current state of things in a month or two), as well as increasing behavior problems that start to occur in 3rd/4th grade that create a disruptive environment. And this is based on my child's experience before COVID. The pandemic has only exacerbated social/emotional issues as well as learning loss, and many DC schools are just not equipped to handle them.

[Anonymous]

What is Brookland Middle School like these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is Brookland Middle School like these days?

About the same as far as I can tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Brookland Middle School like these days?

About the same as far as I can tell.

Yup. And only about 53% in boundary versus Wells for instance with 68% in boundary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Brookland Middle School like these days?

About the same as far as I can tell.

Yup. And only about 53% in boundary versus Wells for instance with 68% in boundary.

I don't think 53% is really that bad, and Brookland Middle is near ITDS and Latin, and not that far from BASIS. It also attracts OOB kids who live pretty close by (kids living IB for Langdon and Langley, Wheatley and Browne). If you want to criticize, criticize the math scores-- they're terrible-- but the IB% stats don't trouble me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful building but that’s about it. Most kids in that neighborhood are going to DCI. The school is seriously underenrolled. Very low numbers but perhaps your kid can get a good amount of attention from teachers. But where does BMS feed into HS? I would personally leave it alone but DCI is very crowded. Middle School options are very limited. I would also seriously give Sojourner Truth a try. It seems like it’s becoming an alternative to DCI.

Dunbar I think.

I think in time and with the right leader success is possible, much like for Stuart-Hobson. Will it happen? I dunno.

Until more of the middle feeders are sending high achieving students then Dunbar will continue to fail. A kid got shot in through a window in the middle of the day at Dunbar this year.
Brookland is a beautiful building becuase DCPC thinks they can build their way out of their problems. Parents will not commit to a mediocre school with basic academics. If they created a test in academy, separate from the other classes at Brookland more parents would be interested.
OP I thnk you are crazy to choose Brookland over DCI

[Anonymous]

It’s a little crazy that Dunbar is the inbound HS for Brookland. It’s not exactly “in the neighborhood”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful building but that’s about it. Most kids in that neighborhood are going to DCI. The school is seriously underenrolled. Very low numbers but perhaps your kid can get a good amount of attention from teachers. But where does BMS feed into HS? I would personally leave it alone but DCI is very crowded. Middle School options are very limited. I would also seriously give Sojourner Truth a try. It seems like it’s becoming an alternative to DCI.

Dunbar I think.

I think in time and with the right leader success is possible, much like for Stuart-Hobson. Will it happen? I dunno.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It’s a little crazy that Dunbar is the inbound HS for Brookland. It’s not exactly “in the neighborhood”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful building but that’s about it. Most kids in that neighborhood are going to DCI. The school is seriously underenrolled. Very low numbers but perhaps your kid can get a good amount of attention from teachers. But where does BMS feed into HS? I would personally leave it alone but DCI is very crowded. Middle School options are very limited. I would also seriously give Sojourner Truth a try. It seems like it’s becoming an alternative to DCI.

Dunbar I think.

I think in time and with the right leader success is possible, much like for Stuart-Hobson. Will it happen? I dunno.

Dunbar has a huge zone. There used to be other DCPS high schools in Ward 5 but they closed. McKinley Tech was also once a neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Brookland Middle School like these days?

About the same as far as I can tell.

Yup. And only about 53% in boundary versus Wells for instance with 68% in boundary.

I don't think 53% is really that bad, and Brookland Middle is near ITDS and Latin, and not that far from BASIS. It also attracts OOB kids who live pretty close by (kids living IB for Langdon and Langley, Wheatley and Browne). If you want to criticize, criticize the math scores-- they're terrible-- but the IB% stats don't trouble me.

To counter that Wells is close to Latin too. And some of the boundary for Wells is really close to Latin.