Anyone have information on Marie Reed to share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good friend pulled her PK3-er out before the end of the first semester - put her back in a private daycare. Not sure of the specifics but I recall something about the teacher and screaming. I have also heard rumors of fudged test scores.

Ugh. Please tell me they were in the dual language program? At the open house I attended the principal mentioned that he had gotten rid of the PS teacher in dual language classroom - I forget the exact language he used, but it basically left the impression that she got fired for being terrible.

As for the fudged test scores, I have seen that rumor here as well. I know their scores went down significantly last year, but frankly, they're still better than several other schools we're looking at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good friend pulled her PK3-er out before the end of the first semester - put her back in a private daycare. Not sure of the specifics but I recall something about the teacher and screaming. I have also heard rumors of fudged test scores.

Ugh. Please tell me they were in the dual language program? At the open house I attended the principal mentioned that he had gotten rid of the PS teacher in dual language classroom - I forget the exact language he used, but it basically left the impression that she got fired for being terrible.

As for the fudged test scores, I have seen that rumor here as well. I know their scores went down significantly last year, but frankly, they're still better than several other schools we're looking at.

Really? Why??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good friend pulled her PK3-er out before the end of the first semester - put her back in a private daycare. Not sure of the specifics but I recall something about the teacher and screaming. I have also heard rumors of fudged test scores.

Ugh. Please tell me they were in the dual language program? At the open house I attended the principal mentioned that he had gotten rid of the PS teacher in dual language classroom - I forget the exact language he used, but it basically left the impression that she got fired for being terrible.

As for the fudged test scores, I have seen that rumor here as well. I know their scores went down significantly last year, but frankly, they're still better than several other schools we're looking at.

Really? Why??

I'm assuming you mean why consider a school with test scores below 70% proficient? There are very, very few schools in DC that meet that criteria, and I don't think test scores are the only measure of a good school. Especially for early childhood years, I'm not limiting my options based on what 3rd-5th graders do on a test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reasons we're not considering Marie Reed... test scores, as I said. My impression of the teachers I've met. My impression of the Principal. The facilities. Lots of things. I'm comparing these impressions to some of the JKLMM schools, and privates I visited. We are not going private - just don't want to. I would love to hear several years down the line that this school improved. I am honestly heart-broken to be leaving our house. The only thing wrong with it is the school we are zoned to.

Why move before playing the lotteries?

Good question... I guess, mostly because we would be cutting it way too close to the start of the school year, potentially. And my impression was that our odds were next to zero at any of the schools we visited and liked... those were really Mann, Janney, and Murch for us. I'm still so sad about it...

So, I DID play the lotteries, and DS is 10th on waitlist at Janney for 1st grade, but DD is 129th there for K!! We are still looking for homes in JLMM (I am not into K), and I am still so sad to leave our house. But, I'll live... their education is, of course, more important.

BTW: Having toured Marie-Reed since we are in-bounds, I cannot imagine how "fast" people think change can come there. Five years? Ten? A K child starting now will be out of there by then...??

[Anonymous]

You should try Haynes, too. K is an expansion year and if DD gets in, she'll pull DS to the top of the WL for 1st.

[Anonymous]

Marie Reed is excellent for PS and Pre-K. I don't have any personal information about K through 5. However, the school has such a warm environment, great principal, and sweet kids. I can only see it getting better and better. MR is a low income school, but despite the economic disadvantages, the kids are clean, well dressed, and well behaved. The kids all seem very happy. The teachers are enthusiastic, and the staff is willing to go the extra mile. You won't be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marie Reed is excellent for PS and Pre-K. I don't have any personal information about K through 5. However, the school has such a warm environment, great principal, and sweet kids. I can only see it getting better and better. MR is a low income school, but despite the economic disadvantages, the kids are clean, well dressed, and well behaved. The kids all seem very happy. The teachers are enthusiastic, and the staff is willing to go the extra mile. You won't be disappointed.

More higher-income families are now coming in too: we personally know of about half a dozen (including ours) that will be sending children there this fall.