Any thoughts on which schools are newly popular?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at the performance scores for these schools? Have you looked at the % of students who are FARMS or ESL?

Sorry, but the single most important factor for a school is demographics, and if they swing negatively greater than 40%? It just can't be a high-performing school.

You can decide that you'll settle for low-performing when it comes to PreK, but by 1st grade you'll want something better. And by 3rd? You'll be downright scared in any of those low-performing leftovers.

Sure. Take Seaton as an example. Very high FARMS. Significant numbers of ELL. Pretty damn good performance scores, and also great scores on other metrics in student surveys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at the performance scores for these schools? Have you looked at the % of students who are FARMS or ESL?

Sorry, but the single most important factor for a school is demographics, and if they swing negatively greater than 40%? It just can't be a high-performing school.

You can decide that you'll settle for low-performing when it comes to PreK, but by 1st grade you'll want something better. And by 3rd? You'll be downright scared in any of those low-performing leftovers.

Yeah because all those Kipp, DC Prep, McKinley, Ellington, Paul, and Banneker kids are so bad and poor at performing. Idiots like you make me sick to my stomach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ludlow-Taylor

We are IB and waitlisted! So guess it is getting popular.

[Anonymous]

Depends on how many Ward 9 residency cheaters are claiming sibling preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ludlow-Taylor

We are IB and waitlisted! So guess it is getting popular.

For pk3 or pk4?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My chid is not a FARMS student and she is wreaking havoc in PK3 right now!

Ditto.

Me, too. When I called to explain why we weren't going to let ours go on a field trip recently (neither of us could go, and we thought she'd wreak havoc), they sounded relieved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at the performance scores for these schools? Have you looked at the % of students who are FARMS or ESL?

Sorry, but the single most important factor for a school is demographics, and if they swing negatively greater than 40%? It just can't be a high-performing school.

You can decide that you'll settle for low-performing when it comes to PreK, but by 1st grade you'll want something better. And by 3rd? You'll be downright scared in any of those low-performing leftovers.

Effective teachers and a good principal mean a lot.

I would think long and hard about sending my DD to a school with so many FARMS students. The one she attends now is less than 20% FARMS and I'm still surprised by the things she learns outside of class, such as bad language. Even one child with bad habits can have an effect on the whole class. It's scary to think what a classroom half full of bad behavior can do to everyone else.

DC goes to a mixed SES school, the 2 biggest "problem children" are not farm students

Last year the biggest behavior problem at my kid's school (PK4) was the only white boy in the class, not FARMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My chid is not a FARMS student and she is wreaking havoc in PK3 right now!

Ditto.

Me, too. When I called to explain why we weren't going to let ours go on a field trip recently (neither of us could go, and we thought she'd wreak havoc), they sounded relieved.

this made me lol! my 3 y/o at daycare almost didn't make the circus trip because we had other plans and the director was like noooo, let him go. this was not the case on field trips over the summer.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting topic. I would say with the amount of buzz being generated about Sela on this forum, maybe it's rising in popularity? I'm hearing good things about them; however, they are really still new (>3 years). They have a dynamic head of school leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at the performance scores for these schools? Have you looked at the % of students who are FARMS or ESL?

Sorry, but the single most important factor for a school is demographics, and if they swing negatively greater than 40%? It just can't be a high-performing school.

You can decide that you'll settle for low-performing when it comes to PreK, but by 1st grade you'll want something better. And by 3rd? You'll be downright scared in any of those low-performing leftovers.

BASIS DC was a Title I school for its first two years - meaning over 40% FARMS, and both years it was in the top 3 MS on the DC CAS. Last year it was #2, behind Deal MS, so if the FARMS population is self selecting, that is not fair. I understand we are the total exception to the rule, but I am trying to make a point that it is not impossible, especially in charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Everyone I know in Petworth had Creative Minds on their PK lists (including me). Don't know anyone who got in, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ludlow-Taylor

We are IB and waitlisted! So guess it is getting popular.

For pk3 or pk4?

PK-4.

[Anonymous]

Don't get it confused with the aspect of supply and demand. Less elementary schools to select from so the frenzy is not due to popluarity at all. But it is such a great marketing tool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't get it confused with the aspect of supply and demand. Less elementary schools to select from so the frenzy is not due to popluarity at all. But it is such a great marketing tool.

How are there fewer (that's the word you're looking for) elementary schools than there were last year?

Re: the OP: I would absolutely say that Van Ness wins the "hyped school of the year" award this year. Last year, I would give that award to either Lee Montessori or Seaton. The year before that, it was Powell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People tell me Burroughs, but I got in and am having a hard time getting too psyched! I wish I had listed BMPV above it, frankly.

I was going to say Burroughs in answer to op's question. I think it's worth getting psyched about. I'll be applying for my kid next year and know people on the wait list now with fingers crossed. Try to visit if you haven't already.