Tyler Spanish Immersion vs. Brent

[Anonymous]

First, my disclaimer: This is quite possibly my first post in over four years on DCUMs because I'm terrified of being ripped to shreds by inadvertently offending someone. I'm writing this now with hopes of getting some additional insight or another perspective I haven't previously considered.

As a bit of background, DD is currently in the PS Tyler Traditional (Arts Integration) Program which we got into last year OOB with the hopes of making the transition to SI. Mid-year we moved and are now with proximity to Tyler and in-bounds for Brent. We had always planned to rank SI as our #1 lottery pick for our DD as well as DS (rising PS-3er) thinking we had a pretty good chance of getting in based on proximity preference looking at last year's stats. But, we've heard such great things about Brent that we're starting to second guess that decision. So, I'm looking for feedback or comparisons between Tyler SI and Brent (besides the obvious of language immersion). We've noticed that our daughter currently has the tendency to get bored easily in class and we strongly desire a school that will challenge her. We'll also do the charter school lotteries this year and even trying a few private schools, but want to make sure our local public schools get strong consideration.

So, any recent thoughts (I checked the archives but posts seem to be several years old) comparing Brent to Tyler SI?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

That's tough. My kids attend Brent and we are happy, but I know people that like Tyler. I would avoid transitioning kids into new schools on a whim, but you don't seem happy with Tyler, so it makes sense to consider Brent. Especially as they are so close and you are unlikely to lose touch with those Tyler families that you made connections with. Perhaps you could ask Brent to show the kind of work your children would get at Brent and compare to Tyler would provide? Since you are in-boundry I think you certainly have the right to seek such info from Brent. On the other hand, as a current family at Tyler, you also have the right to point out that your child is currently insufficiently challenged and ask what they can do to remedy the situation. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I know of at least one family who was in-bound for Brent last year and wait listed at the start of the 2011-12 SY. After attending Tyler SI for several months, they transferred to Brent and have been very happy. I would start by speaking with the director of admissions at Brent, who likely could put you in touch with this family.

[Anonymous]

Brent. Not getting into a Tyler SI bashing type of thing, but the program sounds better than it is. Brent.

[Anonymous]

Just because you are inbounds for Brent, your child is not guarranteed a pk4 slot. I would hedge my bets and stay at SI, try lottery for Brent and wait out pk4 at SI if you don't make it in until K. Brent will be better at the later grades (above 2nd) faster than SI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brent. Not getting into a Tyler SI bashing type of thing, but the program sounds better than it is. Brent.

I don't know the Tyler SI program, so this comment is more general to immersion schools, than specific to either Tyler or Brent. Personally, I would choose the SI program. G & T programs are not an option in DC, so if you have a child who needs an additional academic challenge, language schools seem to be the best alternative. Even if your child is racing past the class in English, there's still a 2nd language for her to sink her teeth into.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you very much all and especially to the previous poster! That is the situation we are facing completely and why we were drawn to Tyler. We'll give Brent a strong consideration and appreciate all the recommendations. For what it is worth, we've enjoyed the Tyler Traditional program and love her teacher. We are just looking for more of a challenge. She's already being given extra work and helping out here peers, but at some point will likely become bored which leads to trouble....

If others have additional thoughts, I will gladly take them into consideration.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: She's already being given extra work and helping out here peers, but at some point will likely become bored which leads to trouble....

I'm curious, what grade is your child in at Tyler? I was thinking she was in Pre-S or Pre-K and if that's the case, I'm wondering about the kind of "extra work" is she getting? I strongly believe (and, as evidenced by another thread on this board most other parents agree) that early education programs for children should be play-based and not overly academic. My four year old is in Pre-K at a highly regarded school that is play-based, and I just can't see his teacher telling me that my son was given extra work or asked to help his peers in order to not be bored. Rather, when I visit the classroom, I see the wide breadth of work that the children are encouraged to do. Some children may spend less time and give less attention to their drawings and creations than other "more advanced" children do. Rather then have a child bored because they are given a finite task that they find easy to complete, all children in my son's class have lots of materials to create with and are always encouraged to make more observations and add more detail to whatever is is they are doing -- playing with blocks, drawing in their journals, working with math manipulatives, etc.