Walker Jones Preschool

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have their kid(s) here, or know someone who does? If so, how do you/they like it there?

We are IB for Walker Jones and reluctantly but realistically added it as the safety choice on the DCPS PS3 lottery, and (not surprisingly) it turned out to be our only "yes" with not great wait list numbers. There have been so many changes in this neighborhood in the last few years and they've made a lot of changes at the Walker Jones campus - it's not a program that's in demand in an otherwise competitive system and I'm wondering whether it's because of inconvenient location, poor experiences, reputation, etc. Their PS3 uses the Reggio Emilia format, they are a stone's throw from where we live, they have a garden for the kids to work in and use to feed themselves and contribute to the community, and the teacher seems to post a lot of pics (available to student parents only), so I'm tentatively curious and hopeful about it.

I've looked around for information about it, but so far have really only been able to uncover general information, not any particular family's experience there. We're torn between having gotten this opportunity and not really knowing if it's going to be a good place for our kiddo to be: we don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth just because it doesn't happen to be popular, but also don't want to settle just because it's our only yes (especially knowing what a long shot the charter school lottery is too, it could very well remain our only yes). We will be arranging a tour to get an in-person look, but would also appreciate any insights from people with more experience in this program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have their kid(s) here, or know someone who does? If so, how do you/they like it there?

We are IB for Walker Jones and reluctantly but realistically added it as the safety choice on the DCPS PS3 lottery, and (not surprisingly) it turned out to be our only "yes" with not great wait list numbers. There have been so many changes in this neighborhood in the last few years and they've made a lot of changes at the Walker Jones campus - it's not a program that's in demand in an otherwise competitive system and I'm wondering whether it's because of inconvenient location, poor experiences, reputation, etc. Their PS3 uses the Reggio Emilia format, they are a stone's throw from where we live, they have a garden for the kids to work in and use to feed themselves and contribute to the community, and the teacher seems to post a lot of pics (available to student parents only), so I'm tentatively curious and hopeful about it.

I've looked around for information about it, but so far have really only been able to uncover general information, not any particular family's experience there. We're torn between having gotten this opportunity and not really knowing if it's going to be a good place for our kiddo to be: we don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth just because it doesn't happen to be popular, but also don't want to settle just because it's our only yes (especially knowing what a long shot the charter school lottery is too, it could very well remain our only yes). We will be arranging a tour to get an in-person look, but would also appreciate any insights from people with more experience in this program.

Do you belong to a neighborhood listserv? Walker Jones doesn't really get discussed here, but since it's in your neighborhood you may get better information that way.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Unfortunately, there's nothing useful about it there either. (Only threads about it as a polling place or political discussions with ANC elections regarding the garden they put in a couple of years ago.) It's weird - I know they put millions of dollars into renovations and training and the new facility actually looks decent, but the most I've been able to dig up are a couple of generic pics on FB and some outdated (but good) newsletters. I think it was such a sudden transition for this neighborhood that we haven't caught up to ourselves yet. We're in a big building with lots of little kids (and it seems like a new one born at least every month) but not many elementary or older kids. My DD is the 1st kid born in the building and will just be entering PS3 in September, so we as a newly formed segment of the community haven't had a chance to really try it out there yet.

I suspect that, especially with how hard the most desirable schools are to get into, that it will get more attention in years to come if it isn't a total disaster there, especially considering its proximity to Metro, Circulator, and federal office buildings. I'll keep my fingers crossed in the meantime for more info.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps try the PQ Parents google group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Unfortunately, there's nothing useful about it there either. (Only threads about it as a polling place or political discussions with ANC elections regarding the garden they put in a couple of years ago.) It's weird - I know they put millions of dollars into renovations and training and the new facility actually looks decent, but the most I've been able to dig up are a couple of generic pics on FB and some outdated (but good) newsletters. I think it was such a sudden transition for this neighborhood that we haven't caught up to ourselves yet. We're in a big building with lots of little kids (and it seems like a new one born at least every month) but not many elementary or older kids. My DD is the 1st kid born in the building and will just be entering PS3 in September, so we as a newly formed segment of the community haven't had a chance to really try it out there yet.

I suspect that, especially with how hard the most desirable schools are to get into, that it will get more attention in years to come if it isn't a total disaster there, especially considering its proximity to Metro, Circulator, and federal office buildings. I'll keep my fingers crossed in the meantime for more info.

I don't know the school, the only thing I've heard about it is that they have a nice garden. I think there was an article about it in a paper. My guess would be, just looking strictly at the location, that many people see the Sursum Corda housing project and make assumptions about safety and academic performance.

[Anonymous]

We're IB for Walker Jones and would not consider it. I'll be honest; it's not Sursum Corda that worries me - we've used the public library that's part of the Walker Jones campus and walked around there and never had issues. Walker Jones is 100% AA except for the kids in the self contained autism program who are bussed in. I simply don't want my kid to be the ONLY non-AA kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're IB for Walker Jones and would not consider it. I'll be honest; it's not Sursum Corda that worries me - we've used the public library that's part of the Walker Jones campus and walked around there and never had issues. Walker Jones is 100% AA except for the kids in the self contained autism program who are bussed in. I simply don't want my kid to be the ONLY non-AA kid.

Whenever anyone wants to claim that dcum isn't racist I'll refer back to this post.

[Anonymous]

Walker Jones scores on the DCCAS was 12% proficient/advanced, grade level, in math and 15% grade level in reading for 3rd graders in 2012. It probably would be more acceptable to say someone would not consider a school even for preschool due to those scores. But we all know that's code for not wanting to send your upper middle class child (of any race) with a bunch of poor AA kids.

I wouldn't and if that makes me racist, well, guess I am.

[Anonymous]

I hope Big Bear is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're IB for Walker Jones and would not consider it. I'll be honest; it's not Sursum Corda that worries me - we've used the public library that's part of the Walker Jones campus and walked around there and never had issues. Walker Jones is 100% AA except for the kids in the self contained autism program who are bussed in. I simply don't want my kid to be the ONLY non-AA kid.

Whenever anyone wants to claim that dcum isn't racist I'll refer back to this post.

I'm not the PP, but this is a dumb response. Do you think AA parents want their child to be the ONLY child of color in an all white school? Of course not. It's not "racist", it is a completely legitimate concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're IB for Walker Jones and would not consider it. I'll be honest; it's not Sursum Corda that worries me - we've used the public library that's part of the Walker Jones campus and walked around there and never had issues. Walker Jones is 100% AA except for the kids in the self contained autism program who are bussed in. I simply don't want my kid to be the ONLY non-AA kid.

Whenever anyone wants to claim that dcum isn't racist I'll refer back to this post.

I'm not the PP, but this is a dumb response. Do you think AA parents want their child to be the ONLY child of color in an all white school? Of course not. It's not "racist", it is a completely legitimate concern.

I agree that you're entitled to want what you want, but in my and many others' opinion it sounds off-putting. To define this "problem" as being an "only" in terms of race is ignorant and offensive. If PP's were to think through the issue and assert that it's really an issue about class or SE status, which manifests itself as race due to your experience/assumptions/ignorance/whatever it is, then that would be marginally better. But the fact that you and so many others make it about race exclusively leads me to believe that it's about race to you.

Respectfully,
Parent of an "only" white kid who finds this discussion a bit offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're IB for Walker Jones and would not consider it. I'll be honest; it's not Sursum Corda that worries me - we've used the public library that's part of the Walker Jones campus and walked around there and never had issues. Walker Jones is 100% AA except for the kids in the self contained autism program who are bussed in. I simply don't want my kid to be the ONLY non-AA kid.

Whenever anyone wants to claim that dcum isn't racist I'll refer back to this post.

I'm not the PP, but this is a dumb response. Do you think AA parents want their child to be the ONLY child of color in an all white school? Of course not. It's not "racist", it is a completely legitimate concern.

I agree that you're entitled to want what you want, but in my and many others' opinion it sounds off-putting. To define this "problem" as being an "only" in terms of race is ignorant and offensive. If PP's were to think through the issue and assert that it's really an issue about class or SE status, which manifests itself as race due to your experience/assumptions/ignorance/whatever it is, then that would be marginally better. But the fact that you and so many others make it about race exclusively leads me to believe that it's about race to you.

Respectfully,
Parent of an "only" white kid who finds this discussion a bit offensive.

I don't know. I'm the white parent of a black child, and I would never send her to an all-white school. I'd also never send her to an all AA one. And both of those statements are as true to me whether we're talking about a fancy private or an impoverished public.

[Anonymous]

It makes me sad to hear people say "I'd never send DC to a school where s/he is the only (color/race)." Though I do understand the adoptive parent's reasoning because there are complicated family/identity issues that go along with it.
But for the rest of us: how do you know the backgrounds of these children? In many areas of NE or Capitol Hill or other parts of the city, there are handfuls of schools with middle class families who are dying to send their kids to the neighborhood elementary. Some already are making the leap. But you'd never know it unless you seriously considered them, met some folks, and looked beyond their skin color, and learned that - GASP!: all the black children in my class are not poor! In fact, a solid third are middle class! Would that change any of your minds?

This thread just really disappoints me.

[Anonymous]

What makes you assume that it has anything to do with "poor"? Why is it such a taboo subject to raise the issue of race? It can be a isolating experience to be in an environment where no one else looks like you. That can be a concern for parents. Really no need to read more into it then that. Racism exists in our society, no question. However, crying "racism" or patronizing others for a legitimate concern really doesn't make you morally superior.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely send my kid there for preschool
And take it year by year. The building is nice. I know two families who had their kids in the autism classroom. One was extremely happy, and the other was not. Which actually seemed more about the kids/families than the school.