Ranking - Immersion Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV8
MV Cook
DCB because it's farther but a good school
Stokes Brookland if you don't mind the poor math stats
LAMB because parents honestly aren't that happy with it, but stay for the DCI feed
Chisholm because closer to you
Global Citizens but mind the new location
Stokes EE because it's far and has low stats

You could look into Houston DCPS

+1. Agree with MV8 as #1.

BTW, the area where DCB is located is a nightmare with the drop off and pick up. Total disaster FWIW.

+2 I have friends at DCB and they either bike or take the bus. Driving isn’t an option due to the school location.

Hmm, I’m a DCB parent and IME driving is the most common way to get to school, although many families walk, bike, or take public transportation. I’m not going to lie, that intersection is terrible, but you learn a lot of tricks about which streets to avoid. Many families park a block or two away on the street or in DCB lots, then walk their kids in. There’s also a kiss and ride option behind the school.

Me again. FWIW I personally know zero DCB families who live on the Hill, and if I wanted immersion coming from the Hill I would rank MV or Stokes above DCB because they are much closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live on the Hill and want to start our Pre-K4 in Spanish immersion this year, with the intention of staying at the school until grade 5. How would you rank the following schools:

- Chisholm
- MV Cook
- MV 8
- DCB
- LAMB
- Stokes Brookland
- Stokes East End
- Global Citizens

Also please let me know if I missed any immersion charters. I’m not interested in other DCPS neighborhood Spanish immersion schools both because of the commute, and because I don’t want my kid to be one of the only OOB students. At least with immersion charters kids come from all over the city.

Global Citizens is moving to CH. If you’re looking for convenience, that could be an option. Over all, I haven’t heard any negative reviews about them. This is the year they start testing, so there isn’t much data on them.

Global Citizens is moving to SW in the old Eagle Academy space, as far as i know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a link to that map that shows school enrollment by neighborhood? I just can’t imagine traveling 30+ minutes away from downtown for drop off, and then presumably back downtown for work, and then doing it all again six hours later. I wonder how many Hill families really make that daily commute.

Families from the Hill mainly go to MV P St If you are in NE CH it is not far to get to P St. You could also find other hill families to carpool.

[Anonymous]

Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

At LAMB, you have classes were some kids are working two grade levels ahead and others in the same class are below grade level, and it's totally fine. No one thinks much about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

At LAMB, you have classes were some kids are working two grade levels ahead and others in the same class are below grade level, and it's totally fine. No one thinks much about it.

Yes, what is great about Montessori (when done well) is that it can support a very wide range of abilities within a single classroom effectively without putting undue burden on the teachers. T

his is one of the features of the multi-age classrooms -- kids can be grouped together by ability not simply age. And kids who are advanced can progress without holding others back, and also help bring the younger kids along (which helps reinforce learning and also teaches social skills).

If you end up going to LAMB, it is worth spending time really understanding what the Montessori pedagogy entails for first grade and above (the prek3-K is pretty magical but not that hard to grasp). It is an extremely intentional learning methodology but is VERY different from a traditional classroom. I spent a lot of time learning about the model when my oldest was in first and have become really impressed with over the years.

A friend of mine teaches middle school at a public school that has a lot of kids coming from a Montessori elementary school. In her words: "Montessori kids can consistently problem solve and think critically in a way that I don't see as consistently with kids from a traditional classroom. When I get Montessori kids in 6th grade there is usually a brief catch up period on some content because they haven't been taught to simply memorize facts. But they catch up quickly and often surpass others. The cursive kills me though."

[Anonymous]

You can go sit in on a class at LAMB. The first time you see it, it's kinda hard to believe. The classrooms are silent. You have 30 little kids working and the classroom is so quiet it's hard to believe it's real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

At LAMB, you have classes were some kids are working two grade levels ahead and others in the same class are below grade level, and it's totally fine. No one thinks much about it.

Yes, what is great about Montessori (when done well) is that it can support a very wide range of abilities within a single classroom effectively without putting undue burden on the teachers. T

his is one of the features of the multi-age classrooms -- kids can be grouped together by ability not simply age. And kids who are advanced can progress without holding others back, and also help bring the younger kids along (which helps reinforce learning and also teaches social skills).

If you end up going to LAMB, it is worth spending time really understanding what the Montessori pedagogy entails for first grade and above (the prek3-K is pretty magical but not that hard to grasp). It is an extremely intentional learning methodology but is VERY different from a traditional classroom. I spent a lot of time learning about the model when my oldest was in first and have become really impressed with over the years.

A friend of mine teaches middle school at a public school that has a lot of kids coming from a Montessori elementary school. In her words: "Montessori kids can consistently problem solve and think critically in a way that I don't see as consistently with kids from a traditional classroom. When I get Montessori kids in 6th grade there is usually a brief catch up period on some content because they haven't been taught to simply memorize facts. But they catch up quickly and often surpass others. The cursive kills me though."

This is all lovely but I still wouldn’t suggest OP commutes from CH to Lamb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

At LAMB, you have classes were some kids are working two grade levels ahead and others in the same class are below grade level, and it's totally fine. No one thinks much about it.

Yes, what is great about Montessori (when done well) is that it can support a very wide range of abilities within a single classroom effectively without putting undue burden on the teachers. T

his is one of the features of the multi-age classrooms -- kids can be grouped together by ability not simply age. And kids who are advanced can progress without holding others back, and also help bring the younger kids along (which helps reinforce learning and also teaches social skills).

If you end up going to LAMB, it is worth spending time really understanding what the Montessori pedagogy entails for first grade and above (the prek3-K is pretty magical but not that hard to grasp). It is an extremely intentional learning methodology but is VERY different from a traditional classroom. I spent a lot of time learning about the model when my oldest was in first and have become really impressed with over the years.

A friend of mine teaches middle school at a public school that has a lot of kids coming from a Montessori elementary school. In her words: "Montessori kids can consistently problem solve and think critically in a way that I don't see as consistently with kids from a traditional classroom. When I get Montessori kids in 6th grade there is usually a brief catch up period on some content because they haven't been taught to simply memorize facts. But they catch up quickly and often surpass others. The cursive kills me though."

This is all lovely but I still wouldn’t suggest OP commutes from CH to Lamb.

To be fair, if you live on the Hill, every school is inconvenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi! LAMB family here, 2nd and 4th grader! Have been very happy and are now Montessori converts -- I have one kid that finds academics very easy and another one who needs more support and have been so impressed with how the Montessori model allows both to thrive -- really a unique, special way of education.

At LAMB, you have classes were some kids are working two grade levels ahead and others in the same class are below grade level, and it's totally fine. No one thinks much about it.

Yes, what is great about Montessori (when done well) is that it can support a very wide range of abilities within a single classroom effectively without putting undue burden on the teachers. T

his is one of the features of the multi-age classrooms -- kids can be grouped together by ability not simply age. And kids who are advanced can progress without holding others back, and also help bring the younger kids along (which helps reinforce learning and also teaches social skills).

If you end up going to LAMB, it is worth spending time really understanding what the Montessori pedagogy entails for first grade and above (the prek3-K is pretty magical but not that hard to grasp). It is an extremely intentional learning methodology but is VERY different from a traditional classroom. I spent a lot of time learning about the model when my oldest was in first and have become really impressed with over the years.

A friend of mine teaches middle school at a public school that has a lot of kids coming from a Montessori elementary school. In her words: "Montessori kids can consistently problem solve and think critically in a way that I don't see as consistently with kids from a traditional classroom. When I get Montessori kids in 6th grade there is usually a brief catch up period on some content because they haven't been taught to simply memorize facts. But they catch up quickly and often surpass others. The cursive kills me though."

This is all lovely but I still wouldn’t suggest OP commutes from CH to Lamb.

Montessori is great for some, horrible for some, and it's hard to know what kind of student you will have when you're applying for PK3. I have a very bright kid who did not thrive there, so we left. YMMV.

I also don't really trust Montessori for upper elementary; that's when it seems to fall apart more and you see more unhappy families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV8
MV Cook
DCB because it's farther but a good school
Stokes Brookland if you don't mind the poor math stats
LAMB because parents honestly aren't that happy with it, but stay for the DCI feed
Chisholm because closer to you
Global Citizens but mind the new location
Stokes EE because it's far and has low stats

You could look into Houston DCPS

LAMB parent here. Never heard this before. You are obviously talking our of your butt. And a lot of families don't even end up going to DCI. Many go to Latin, Deal, BASIS, et al.

Former Lamb parent here. Lots of parents were very unhappy when we were there. Many left and many stayed for the DCI feed. The vast majority were happy to go to DCI with a handful ending up at Latin and maybe one at Basis. Lamb is incredible until about 2nd grade. It’s really poor for upper elementary and everyone I knew had or was looking for a tutor/enrichment program. That said it’s a guaranteed spot at DCI which is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can go sit in on a class at LAMB. The first time you see it, it's kinda hard to believe. The classrooms are silent. You have 30 little kids working and the classroom is so quiet it's hard to believe it's real.

It’s fantastic for early elementary. Really lovely.

Go to any party for a lamb student in upper elementary. Everyone is talking about Mathnesium, or the latest Bs drama from the administration.

I was a huge lamb booster until my kids got older and I got tired of the nonstop drama and poor academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can go sit in on a class at LAMB. The first time you see it, it's kinda hard to believe. The classrooms are silent. You have 30 little kids working and the classroom is so quiet it's hard to believe it's real.

This is eerie. I'm not sure I'd want this.

[Anonymous]

As mentioned above, Global Citizens is moving into a renovated space at 1900 Half Street SW next year. I have a kid in the Chinese program, so I can't speak for Spanish specifically, but parents overwhelmingly have been happy with the school. The new location (near Audi Field) will be an added bonus for CH families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can go sit in on a class at LAMB. The first time you see it, it's kinda hard to believe. The classrooms are silent. You have 30 little kids working and the classroom is so quiet it's hard to believe it's real.

This is eerie. I'm not sure I'd want this.

I’m not a big fan of lamb but I did think it was impressive when I observed a class. That said I think it’s easy for a quiet well behaved kid to slip through the cracks and spend their time reading and coloring all day. That was my experience with my child. I was told by our teachers that their poor performance on the dc parcc and NWEA were “not a big deal” and due to not “teaching to the test”. That was complete nonsense. I wish I had listened to my gut and moved them earlier.