Finding Middle Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

Why is having an optional IB diploma bad? My friend's kid graduated from a HS with an optional IB diploma. Probably 1/3 or so of the kids went that route. The kid started out on IB track but couldn't keep up & dropped to the normal diploma. What happens to a kid at an IB only school when that happens? They get counseled out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

Why is having an optional IB diploma bad? My friend's kid graduated from a HS with an optional IB diploma. Probably 1/3 or so of the kids went that route. The kid started out on IB track but couldn't keep up & dropped to the normal diploma. What happens to a kid at an IB only school when that happens? They get counseled out?

There are plenty of other schools offering non-IB diplomas so why should a school be the be all and end all for everyone? That is the beauty of school choice in that there are plenty of different choices.

Not a DCI parent for the record...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

Why is having an optional IB diploma bad? My friend's kid graduated from a HS with an optional IB diploma. Probably 1/3 or so of the kids went that route. The kid started out on IB track but couldn't keep up & dropped to the normal diploma. What happens to a kid at an IB only school when that happens? They get counseled out?

There are plenty of other schools offering non-IB diplomas so why should a school be the be all and end all for everyone? That is the beauty of school choice in that there are plenty of different choices.

Not a DCI parent for the record...

So, in other words yes, that kid who wanted IB but can't keep up would be counseled out or fail out.

So DCI is set up like another BASIS for kids to sink or swim. Hmm.

[Anonymous]

DCI does not have yearly rigorous exams, it will be no BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCI does not have yearly rigorous exams, it will be no BASIS.

BASIS is a for profit organization where administrators are heavily involved in fundraising for the big bosses in Arizona
DCI is none of the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI does not have yearly rigorous exams, it will be no BASIS.

BASIS is a for profit organization where administrators are heavily involved in fundraising for the big bosses in Arizona
DCI is none of the above.

Every public school and charter school in DC does fundraising if I am not mistaken. BASIS DC itself is a non-profit and any money they raise goes towards the teachers' fund and as a result benefits the school directly. Any donations to this fund are also tax deductible.

As for the so-called "big bosses in Arizona" I am glad that the school here has the benefit of the knowledge and success of the folks in Arizona. I do not want to see the school re-invent the wheel when they already have a well thought out program for success to give us. It is also very obvious to me that the school here is spending a lot of money on the students and is not scrimping in any way. We are very happy with all of the programming and supports.

[Anonymous]

Pp, how is it very obvious to you that the school-not the parents-are spending a lot of money on the students? It is a STem school without a computer lab, library, study hall or field, there are 25-plus kids in each classroom at a time, charter school texahers receive a smaller salary, and any bonuses are donated or raised by the parents, NOt the school.
My kid is thriving at BASIS, but it is despite the amount the school is spending on its DC students!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp, how is it very obvious to you that the school-not the parents-are spending a lot of money on the students? It is a STem school without a computer lab, library, study hall or field, there are 25-plus kids in each classroom at a time, charter school texahers receive a smaller salary, and any bonuses are donated or raised by the parents, NOt the school.
My kid is thriving at BASIS, but it is despite the amount the school is spending on its DC students!

The school is in prime real estate location in an easily accessible location and as a result has space constraints. I would rather the current location than a larger space. The school does have a roving computer lab for class use. As for not having specific rooms designated for library, study hall, computer lab, or field that would be due to space constraints. The english teachers have established libraries of books for students in their rooms. The national mall is 2 blocks away. Afterschool care does provide for study hall time as well as a multitude of extra-curricular activities. As for 25 students per class that is pretty typical and I do not see much value in smaller classes when school is done right.

As for what I see they are spending money on, I see that they have a lot of support staff and a lot of course offerings. They also have before care and afterschool care as well as a ton of extra-curriculars. Plus, each teacher has student hours for support at least once a week and often more often. For example, the math department has student hours about 8 hours a week both before and after school. This and other examples shows me that they are spending a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp, how is it very obvious to you that the school-not the parents-are spending a lot of money on the students? It is a STem school without a computer lab, library, study hall or field, there are 25-plus kids in each classroom at a time, charter school texahers receive a smaller salary, and any bonuses are donated or raised by the parents, NOt the school.
My kid is thriving at BASIS, but it is despite the amount the school is spending on its DC students!

The school is in prime real estate location in an easily accessible location and as a result has space constraints. I would rather the current location than a larger space. The school does have a roving computer lab for class use. As for not having specific rooms designated for library, study hall, computer lab, or field that would be due to space constraints. The english teachers have established libraries of books for students in their rooms. The national mall is 2 blocks away. Afterschool care does provide for study hall time as well as a multitude of extra-curricular activities. As for 25 students per class that is pretty typical and I do not see much value in smaller classes when school is done right.

As for what I see they are spending money on, I see that they have a lot of support staff and a lot of course offerings. They also have before care and afterschool care as well as a ton of extra-curriculars. Plus, each teacher has student hours for support at least once a week and often more often. For example, the math department has student hours about 8 hours a week both before and after school. This and other examples shows me that they are spending a lot of money.

Extracurriculars, clubs, etc are one thing. But do middle & high schoolers go to before & aftercare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp, how is it very obvious to you that the school-not the parents-are spending a lot of money on the students? It is a STem school without a computer lab, library, study hall or field, there are 25-plus kids in each classroom at a time, charter school texahers receive a smaller salary, and any bonuses are donated or raised by the parents, NOt the school.
My kid is thriving at BASIS, but it is despite the amount the school is spending on its DC students!

The school is in prime real estate location in an easily accessible location and as a result has space constraints. I would rather the current location than a larger space. The school does have a roving computer lab for class use. As for not having specific rooms designated for library, study hall, computer lab, or field that would be due to space constraints. The english teachers have established libraries of books for students in their rooms. The national mall is 2 blocks away. Afterschool care does provide for study hall time as well as a multitude of extra-curricular activities. As for 25 students per class that is pretty typical and I do not see much value in smaller classes when school is done right.

As for what I see they are spending money on, I see that they have a lot of support staff and a lot of course offerings. They also have before care and afterschool care as well as a ton of extra-curriculars. Plus, each teacher has student hours for support at least once a week and often more often. For example, the math department has student hours about 8 hours a week both before and after school. This and other examples shows me that they are spending a lot of money.

Extracurriculars, clubs, etc are one thing. But do middle & high schoolers go to before & aftercare?

The school starts at 5th grade so yes a lot of students do go to before and aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

I recently spoke with a current DCI student (who is also a former Oyster student). She told me that DCI has about 8 students from Oyster--hardly "a lot." Her parents told me that she left Oyster (she's an OOB student) because her parents were looking for a free/public option to continue language immersion into high school. She and her parents loved Oyster...they just can't afford WIS (or any other private high school without significant FA). The student said that one of her teachers told her that current DCI students from Oyster are her strongest students. She also said that the work they she's doing at DCI this year is a repeat of what she did in Oyster last year. I have no interest in DCI--I'm just the messenger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

I recently spoke with a current DCI student (who is also a former Oyster student). She told me that DCI has about 8 students from Oyster--hardly "a lot." Her parents told me that she left Oyster (she's an OOB student) because her parents were looking for a free/public option to continue language immersion into high school. She and her parents loved Oyster...they just can't afford WIS (or any other private high school without significant FA). The student said that one of her teachers told her that current DCI students from Oyster are her strongest students. She also said that the work they she's doing at DCI this year is a repeat of what she did in Oyster last year. I have no interest in DCI--I'm just the messenger.

I have no idea how many kids are at DCI this year, but 8 kids is probably a lot, percentage wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

I recently spoke with a current DCI student (who is also a former Oyster student). She told me that DCI has about 8 students from Oyster--hardly "a lot." Her parents told me that she left Oyster (she's an OOB student) because her parents were looking for a free/public option to continue language immersion into high school. She and her parents loved Oyster...they just can't afford WIS (or any other private high school without significant FA). The student said that one of her teachers told her that current DCI students from Oyster are her strongest students. She also said that the work they she's doing at DCI this year is a repeat of what she did in Oyster last year. I have no interest in DCI--I'm just the messenger.

I have no idea how many kids are at DCI this year, but 8 kids is probably a lot, percentage wise.

Really? Then you must be very bad at math. Eight kids over three grades (6th through 8th) is less than 2 kids per grade, on average. That's not a lot numerically or by percentage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

I recently spoke with a current DCI student (who is also a former Oyster student). She told me that DCI has about 8 students from Oyster--hardly "a lot." Her parents told me that she left Oyster (she's an OOB student) because her parents were looking for a free/public option to continue language immersion into high school. She and her parents loved Oyster...they just can't afford WIS (or any other private high school without significant FA). The student said that one of her teachers told her that current DCI students from Oyster are her strongest students. She also said that the work they she's doing at DCI this year is a repeat of what she did in Oyster last year. I have no interest in DCI--I'm just the messenger.

I have no idea how many kids are at DCI this year, but 8 kids is probably a lot, percentage wise.

Really? Then you must be very bad at math. Eight kids over three grades (6th through 8th) is less than 2 kids per grade, on average. That's not a lot numerically or by percentage.

*less than 3 kids per grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was writing as a parent of a student who is THERE. Clearly you have misinformation. DCI is IB for ALL. IB is not optional at DCI. Why don't you shut your pie-hole and move to MCPS? BTW, DCI has a lot of kids from Oyster there in its opening year.....that should tell you something.....

I recently spoke with a current DCI student (who is also a former Oyster student). She told me that DCI has about 8 students from Oyster--hardly "a lot." Her parents told me that she left Oyster (she's an OOB student) because her parents were looking for a free/public option to continue language immersion into high school. She and her parents loved Oyster...they just can't afford WIS (or any other private high school without significant FA). The student said that one of her teachers told her that current DCI students from Oyster are her strongest students. She also said that the work they she's doing at DCI this year is a repeat of what she did in Oyster last year. I have no interest in DCI--I'm just the messenger.

So how many kids stayed at oyster? Curious if DCI will take away many of the oyster kids.