How long are you planning on staying in DCPS or charter?

[Anonymous]

14:35, because we've seen what happens when things are slapped together by this school and it doesn't work so well.

The stakes are higher by middle school because the content isn't as easy to wing with an inexperienced group of teachers.

I think I speak for many parents when I say I would love to be pleasantly surprised otherwise, but based on what I've seen so far, I'm skeptical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Yu Ying parent planning to stick through the end of the 8th grade, and don't understand why parents would be more concerned about middle school than they would when they enrolled at the very beginning? Do you think it *counts* more? If anything, the school will have more experience, more knowledge of each child, and smaller class sizes (due to natural attrition since they won't admit past 2nd). Since the planning process hasn't started yet, why the pessimism?

I was concerned about middle school when I enrolled my child.

I think middle school counts more. Classes and grades that appear on high school transcript, such as Algebra 1 and Foreign Language 1 should be offered.

Smaller class size is a problem for middle school, unable to offer Algebra 1, sports, music (YY has no music in lower grades either), drama, debate club, etc.

Brand new teachers have no knowledge of my child. And have no lesson plans.

My biggest concern is that the planning process has NOT started. 25 months until this fall's 4th graders enter 6th grade middle school. The planning horizon is no longer years it is months. With the new building and the super size preK class, I don't anticipate anyone paying attention to middle school for the next 6 months, then the planning horizon is down to ~18 months. That is insufficient.

Content in the unit of inquiry has been very weak, in my opinion. Elementary school, one can get by, probably, if a student is up to speed on reading and math, which my YY student is. The Chinese can substitute in a way for learning social studies and science. At the 3rd or 4th grade level. But not at the 6th , 7th, 8th grade level.

[Anonymous]

15:42, well put and ditto on the content problems thus far.

[Anonymous]

My children are in a private K-8 and we are strongly hoping that Wilson HS will be the choice when the time comes.

Bizarre, I know. Fleeing private for a DCPS high school.

[Anonymous]

It is year by year. We are switching to Eaton this year and if this year is a bust, not sure what we will do.

[Anonymous]

Hoping and planning to stay at our charter though 12th. But keeping options open nevertheless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a language immersion program for now, but will go private around 5th grade.

This. While we love DC acquiring another language, we're afraid of falling behind in other subjects like math, science, etc. in our unproven charter at the higher grades. Also, the private high schools we're considering all have entrance exams which we are not confident about DC being able to do well on if we stay til 8th.

Sort of a waste with the language then, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a language immersion program for now, but will go private around 5th grade.

This. While we love DC acquiring another language, we're afraid of falling behind in other subjects like math, science, etc. in our unproven charter at the higher grades. Also, the private high schools we're considering all have entrance exams which we are not confident about DC being able to do well on if we stay til 8th.

Sort of a waste with the language then, right?

New to this conversation, but in a similar position as PP. I don't think the language is a waste, even if not pursued through middle school &/or high school. Reasons (1) child able to pick up language at any point in his future with early exposure much more likely to have good accent, (2) brain development during elementary exposure is significant (3) cultural exposure to another viewpoint is valuable, teaching diversity & other world view, and (4) immersion charter is the best school the lotteries bestowed on us, much much much better than DCPS in boundary.

[Anonymous]

I'm a YY parent and am optimistic and excited about middle school. I know a LOT of parents who are. Now, we would like to know what it's going to be like and we always want input (!) but I'm optimistic. As long as so many founders and staff members have their children enrolled, I'll expect a quality program.

Having said that, I'll acknowledge that the bleeding edge classes have had a different sort of experience. We're one of the original Pre-K families and have benefited greatly from the trailblazers ahead of us. I think there's a real dividing line between 3rd & 4th as opposed to 2nd on down.

[Anonymous]

We'll probably move to Fairfax or upper MoCo for DC#1 for 5th grade if we can't get into Washington Latin or a middle school we like. I'd prefer something with a strong science program. Don't think we can afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a language immersion program for now, but will go private around 5th grade.

This. While we love DC acquiring another language, we're afraid of falling behind in other subjects like math, science, etc. in our unproven charter at the higher grades. Also, the private high schools we're considering all have entrance exams which we are not confident about DC being able to do well on if we stay til 8th.

Sort of a waste with the language then, right?

Not at all. We want Chinese and plan to support it all throughout his education as in sending DC to China every summer. We want bilingual English/Mandarin. I'm Asian and China is our biggest trading partner - has surpassed the U.S. - and expected to stay that way. Everyone in my country is learning Mandarin as well as English as are many people in Asia and Australia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a language immersion program for now, but will go private around 5th grade.

This. While we love DC acquiring another language, we're afraid of falling behind in other subjects like math, science, etc. in our unproven charter at the higher grades. Also, the private high schools we're considering all have entrance exams which we are not confident about DC being able to do well on if we stay til 8th.

Sort of a waste with the language then, right?

why would you consider acquiring a second language at the primary/lower elementary phase a waste of time. Research shows the best time to learn a second language is before the age of 6. Our children will have had 4 years of language immersion by the age of 6. At that point, we can coast through regular spanish/french classes at upper elementary/middle school level at any school, and have time to switch to a school with a more rigorous science and math curriculum (if need be). I am a previous poster, and I have my sights on Washington Latin, WIS or Maret for middle/upper school (applying around 3rd/4th grade)

[Anonymous]

Hoping to go on to Deal and then Wilson, but of course things could change before we get there.

I agree with PPs that middle school is extremely important in terms of academic offerings. That's why we switched elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

Will stick with Charter as long as it is working. And right now it is working great.

[Anonymous]

Another YY parent here. I may move my child after 4th grade. I feel the school really doesn't care about the leading class.