Right middle school for artsy and sensitive kid

[Anonymous]

4th grade on the Hill is the perfect year to start going to middle school open houses this winter. If it interests your child, maybe go see a nearby middle school musical too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. It takes older kids time to make close friends and to convert sort of friends and acquaintances into closer friends. Lottery for Latin 1 and 2 this spring. But also having your child stay just put with an open mind towards attending the feeder middle school is probably long-term socially going to better than a shy child fully starting over repeatedly at a brand new school. If you rent, you have some flexibility to move as needed for high school and/or even during middle school if and when something is not working.

I don't see how going to E-H is a solution for this as you'd still have to start over in high school. If you feel your kid needs a solid cohort from late elementary/middle through high school, either you luck into a 5-12 or 6-12 charter or you find a way to get into Deal or Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Based on the “fraught” line, OP’s child is maybe at Maury. Maury now consistently sends 25+ 5th graders each year to 6th at EH. People splits different ways with respect to the middle school. OP might very well ultimately decide EH is a no for her child. Going to an Open House there this year alongside the other schools and being unafraid to politely ask people in the school community re middle school (just admit to being undecided) makes a lot of sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on the “fraught” line, OP’s child is maybe at Maury. Maury now consistently sends 25+ 5th graders each year to 6th at EH. People splits different ways with respect to the middle school. OP might very well ultimately decide EH is a no for her child. Going to an Open House there this year alongside the other schools and being unafraid to politely ask people in the school community re middle school (just admit to being undecided) makes a lot of sense.

I agree and would say don't hesitate to bring it up. We just went through this and I think the weird silence surrounding this issue contributes to it being "fraught" and does the kids a disservice. They're old enough to understand some of the dynamics and secrecy just leads to hurt feelings and false impressions. Open discussions and acceptance of different choices is the best way to support these kids who are going through a stressful time.

[Anonymous]

I have known several kids in each grade at Wells MS that sound like your child, OP. (Wells has art, orchestra/band, dance, plus free clusters and clubs on a huge range of topics.) Manor Park and Takoma are also great communities. While it requires an application, Coolidge's Early College is still an accessible DCPS option for kids who don't have JR/MacA rights.

[Anonymous]

Following. Any recent experiences with Truth for MS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following. Any recent experiences with Truth for MS?

I can tell you that despite offering very few 6th grade spots, their waitlist moved a lot. I know two kids who chose ITDS over Truth.

[Anonymous]

I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

[Anonymous]

1. I caution against approaching this with an attitude that “middle school stinks” for everyone. I sent 2 through Deal MS and they absolutely loved it. Tons of great energy and a really positive and inclusive school culture (tone set by school leadership). I heard of very little bullying esp compared to what I’d hear from friends at privates or suburban public’s. Middle School can be awesome socially.

2. I don’t have artsy kids personally but a big school is going to have a little something for everyone. We went to a number of Deal’s theater productions over the years and they were fantastic. The principal is a huge supporter of the arts.

3. If you move IB for deal that gives you the right to attend JR which historically is the best regarded comprehensive by-right school in the city. Also has something for everyone.

4. In either case you need to be ok with big. Personally- I prefer big because it exposes my kids to more stuff. To use them as an example, they are both athletes but I wouldn’t send them to a small school focused on sports at the expense of arts or academics. For similar reasons if I had an artsy kid I wouldn’t send them to Duke Ellington. But you know how your kid will do with big. Many kids love it and thrive in big environments.

5. I assume from your post you are feeling comfortable with the academic experience dcps offers. Ie, no gifted and talented and no “honors” outside of AP in HS and the option to take advanced math and a language starting in MS. No other dcps school feeder path is going to offer more than Deal-JR (and many will offer less).

[Anonymous]

Try DCI. There are those who have gotten off the waitlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

The large number of D&D/RPG lunch-time clubs at Latin, strongly suggest otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

The large number of D&D/RPG lunch-time clubs at Latin, strongly suggest otherwise.

Ha, love it! Totally a tangent, but my 5th grader (not at Latin) loves D&D and we are having trouble finding them a group to play with besides the one neighbor who occasionally hosts. Let me know if you have any tips, and/or if it is an outside group that comes into host at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

The large number of D&D/RPG lunch-time clubs at Latin, strongly suggest otherwise.

Ha, love it! Totally a tangent, but my 5th grader (not at Latin) loves D&D and we are having trouble finding them a group to play with besides the one neighbor who occasionally hosts. Let me know if you have any tips, and/or if it is an outside group that comes into host at the school.

I'm the PP who mentioned the clubs at Latin (which are just student-led lunch clubs). Labyrinth (game store in eastern market) hosts D&D games for this age group. I haven't seen any in other places (my kid primarily just plays with friends) but I would see if your local library branch would set aside a room for an afternoon/advertise to see if others would come to hang out and play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following. Any recent experiences with Truth for MS?

Word on the street is that academic expectations have been increased this year. I think they also had some of the better PARCC/CAPE scores in the city and 8th graders having success getting into application high schools. It's still a fairly young (and small) school, so sometimes hard to judge by waitlist movement.

-Signed, prospective parent keeping an eye and ear on it through kid's older siblings/parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try DCI. There are those who have gotten off the waitlist

My DCI middle schooler has had a great time with art electives and dance clubs. There are a lot of eclectic after school clubs, including gaming and anime, and it’s very international. I haven’t heard much on music and theater because my kid has not been into those.