Placeholder Middle Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Inspired for 5th (2020) and 6th grade (2021), both times off the WL in August.

I went for a public school in VA (where my ex lives) instead of taking the spots, but would probably have taken the 6th grade spot if I didn't have VA public options. School seems pleasant enough, should work just for 6th grade if you get in.

I'd also try for BASIS, 2 Rivers and DCI (beginning Chinese track is the easiest to crack). It isn't as easy to get into SH as these charters. Good luck.

I thought BASIS and DCI only took kids entering 5th and OP's kid is already in 5th.

There are a small number of 6th grade spots at BASIS DC (last year for entry). DCI doesn't start until 6th. It's true that Chinese is the easiest track to get on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in 5th grade and we want to lottery for a MS that is smaller than our IB (Elliot-Hine) while his sister also finishes 5th grade at our ES.
We plan to move to NW for HS and her MS years. Any recs of fairly easy to get into charter MS? Was thinking Cap Hill Montessori, Stuart Hobson (I know it's not charter), Two Rivers, Inspired Teaching.
Any others I should think about? Or any horror stories to stay away from any of those?

Stuart-Hobson has taken zero kids through the lottery for 3 years in a row. Not sure how it could possibly qualify as not hard to get into? Even Hardy takes a few kids… I think CHML, 2R and ITDS fit what you’re looking for with the best (ITDS) being the least convenient. I’d definitely try Latins second campus too if you can swing the commute.

This is untrue. We were offered a spot a S-H for this school year (but didn't take it). We also got into IT and 2R. I think the only schools we didn't get into for 6th grade were Basis and Latin, and that was no surprise. Our lottery number was roughly in the top 25-30%, so decent but not spectacular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in 5th grade and we want to lottery for a MS that is smaller than our IB (Elliot-Hine) while his sister also finishes 5th grade at our ES.
We plan to move to NW for HS and her MS years. Any recs of fairly easy to get into charter MS? Was thinking Cap Hill Montessori, Stuart Hobson (I know it's not charter), Two Rivers, Inspired Teaching.
Any others I should think about? Or any horror stories to stay away from any of those?

Stuart-Hobson has taken zero kids through the lottery for 3 years in a row. Not sure how it could possibly qualify as not hard to get into? Even Hardy takes a few kids… I think CHML, 2R and ITDS fit what you’re looking for with the best (ITDS) being the least convenient. I’d definitely try Latins second campus too if you can swing the commute.

This is untrue. We were offered a spot a S-H for this school year (but didn't take it). We also got into IT and 2R. I think the only schools we didn't get into for 6th grade were Basis and Latin, and that was no surprise. Our lottery number was roughly in the top 25-30%, so decent but not spectacular.

Where did you choose to go, if you are ok sharing?

[Anonymous]

How do kids get to these schools? Do you drive them? Do they take public transportation on their own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in 5th grade and we want to lottery for a MS that is smaller than our IB (Elliot-Hine) while his sister also finishes 5th grade at our ES.
We plan to move to NW for HS and her MS years. Any recs of fairly easy to get into charter MS? Was thinking Cap Hill Montessori, Stuart Hobson (I know it's not charter), Two Rivers, Inspired Teaching.
Any others I should think about? Or any horror stories to stay away from any of those?

Stuart-Hobson has taken zero kids through the lottery for 3 years in a row. Not sure how it could possibly qualify as not hard to get into? Even Hardy takes a few kids… I think CHML, 2R and ITDS fit what you’re looking for with the best (ITDS) being the least convenient. I’d definitely try Latins second campus too if you can swing the commute.

This is untrue. We were offered a spot a S-H for this school year (but didn't take it). We also got into IT and 2R. I think the only schools we didn't get into for 6th grade were Basis and Latin, and that was no surprise. Our lottery number was roughly in the top 25-30%, so decent but not spectacular.

Correct. S-H took a few students off the waitlist/lottery in July and August 2021 due to COVID shifts, moving out of the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do kids get to these schools? Do you drive them? Do they take public transportation on their own?

We drive, but we live on the Senate side. If we lived on the House side, ITS would have been much harder to get to. In a pinch, DC could take the 90-series bus up 8th and along Florida, then walk a mile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do kids get to these schools? Do you drive them? Do they take public transportation on their own?

On days we don't drive her, my kid takes the metro to Fort Totten and then the bus to Truth (I think it's the E2? Or one of the Es). Some kids walk there from Brookland. Easy residential mile walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

I wouldn't head to a CH DCPS MS wearing rose-colored class, OP, no matter how many 6th grade spots may or may not be available in a lottery. Kids in school uniforms have the odd rumble fist fight outside these schools. In-boundary high SES parents shrug off the ill-discipline as "typical of the age group." Not the story at the charters mentioned on this thread.

[Anonymous]

If you're willing to commute to Cap City (I wouldn't be from where you are, but maybe?), I'd also include Wells. It won't have any test scores to report because it's only in its 3rd year, but they're doing some impressive work across both academics and extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

. Oh yes it can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Sorry for trying to make Eliot-Hine better, I guess? Maybe someday it will be a good school for all. I know it isn't right now. But what's to resent?