Inspired Teaching vs DC Bilingual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an ITS founding family, I say go somewhere else. They haven't worked the curriculum out, and there are too few Master or skilled teachers. The problems were not just isolated with a bad hire in 4th grade. The problems are too many and the admin is not taking the issues parents bring to them with enough urgency. Great concept, poor execution.

As a founding family here I say the exact opposite of this poster. I do know a handful of families not happy for various reasons. Some I consider friends. Some are extremely hard to please. Sure there are still kinks after 4 years but they do so much right. I haven't played he lottery since year 1.

+1.

ITS is supposed to hire a curriculum specialist next year. They're also supposed to get more residents. Hopefully they will announce the new hires sooner than later... but I've been around long enough to know that chances are good we'll hear nothing until mid-August

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an ITS founding family, I say go somewhere else. They haven't worked the curriculum out, and there are too few Master or skilled teachers. The problems were not just isolated with a bad hire in 4th grade. The problems are too many and the admin is not taking the issues parents bring to them with enough urgency. Great concept, poor execution.

Another ITS founding family here and while there have been issues for some families, we haven't had anything major pop up. We are happy with our children's experiences at the school. Just like with anything in this schooling world, YMMV and what is troubling for you may not be for other families. We also recognize it's a public school and they're doing the best they can. I don't think any school is perfect, even a private or a WOTP or a parochial or a DCI-feeder. If it gets it right 90% of the time, I'm okay with that and can deal with the other 10%.

[Anonymous]

You are assuming it's 90% right. Our experience is different. It's absolutely true that no place is perfect, but I do think this is riding on image less than on substance. Why do you think they need a curriculum specialist in year 4? It's because there is a need. To this point kids have been delivered a very inconsistent education.

[Anonymous]

PP-

I think there is both a need- as well as enough size- to warrant the curriculum specialist. Just today MV also put out a message about their curriculum specialist.

[Anonymous]

What does a curriculum specialist do? What did MV say about theirs?

[Anonymous]

Here's the blurb from MV:

DID YOU KNOW? Our Curriculum Designer & Instructional Coach, Erica Van Autreve is a National Board Certified Teacher. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is the most respected professional certification available in education and guarantees advanced knowledge, skills and practices required of an outstanding educator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child is thriving at DCB. We love it and have no complaints. . . except for the commute. There lies your decision.

Isn't DCB the one school that DCI didn't really want but somehow had to take in their coalition? I thought I'd heard from the parent of a 3rd grader at DCB that math isn't taught well there. I can understand wanting a 2nd language, but DCB's reputation would give me cause for concern. Plus, a manageable commute in ES is no small matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is thriving at DCB. We love it and have no complaints. . . except for the commute. There lies your decision.

Isn't DCB the one school that DCI didn't really want but somehow had to take in their coalition? I thought I'd heard from the parent of a 3rd grader at DCB that math isn't taught well there. I can understand wanting a 2nd language, but DCB's reputation would give me cause for concern. Plus, a manageable commute in ES is no small matter.

I've heard the exact opposite--Math is very strong at DCB, much more so than some of the other language immersion schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is thriving at DCB. We love it and have no complaints. . . except for the commute. There lies your decision.

Isn't DCB the one school that DCI didn't really want but somehow had to take in their coalition? I thought I'd heard from the parent of a 3rd grader at DCB that math isn't taught well there. I can understand wanting a 2nd language, but DCB's reputation would give me cause for concern. Plus, a manageable commute in ES is no small matter.

I've heard from multiple sources that dc bilingual is the weak link in dci feeder schools. Not sure why people say that since Stokes is also a tier 2 charter school and MV has no test scores yet. I think it's a great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is thriving at DCB. We love it and have no complaints. . . except for the commute. There lies your decision.

Isn't DCB the one school that DCI didn't really want but somehow had to take in their coalition? I thought I'd heard from the parent of a 3rd grader at DCB that math isn't taught well there. I can understand wanting a 2nd language, but DCB's reputation would give me cause for concern. Plus, a manageable commute in ES is no small matter.

I've heard from multiple sources that dc bilingual is the weak link in dci feeder schools. Not sure why people say that since Stokes is also a tier 2 charter school and MV has no test scores yet. I think it's a great school!

DCB is the only DCI feeder where the majority of the student body is classified as English Language Learner by the DC School Equity Report. I think it is one of the schools strengths, but it could be scaring off people who don't know the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is thriving at DCB. We love it and have no complaints. . . except for the commute. There lies your decision.

Isn't DCB the one school that DCI didn't really want but somehow had to take in their coalition? I thought I'd heard from the parent of a 3rd grader at DCB that math isn't taught well there. I can understand wanting a 2nd language, but DCB's reputation would give me cause for concern. Plus, a manageable commute in ES is no small matter.

I've heard from multiple sources that dc bilingual is the weak link in dci feeder schools. Not sure why people say that since Stokes is also a tier 2 charter school and MV has no test scores yet. I think it's a great school!

DCB is the only DCI feeder where the majority of the student body is classified as English Language Learner by the DC School Equity Report. I think it is one of the schools strengths, but it could be scaring off people who don't know the school.

Agreed. I think it's the high % of FARMS kids that make people jump to that conclusion. But actually I've heard from DCB staff that DCB's non-Spanish dominant students are among those with the best Spanish at DCI, and also DCB's 5th grade science scores were excellent - 80% proficient and advanced...and they learn science in spanish and test in english!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DCB parent and the school has been great. The teachers are amazingly dedicated, take real time to work with us to solve issues our child is facing, and as the OP pointed out, the classrooms are very diverse. I like the fact that my child is learning Spanish surrounded by native speakers, both faculty and students. The arts and music instruction is extraordinary, which is also important to me (together with immersion).

My reservations are around the pedagogical model, which is where I might sway toward ITS (what little I know). DCB is very structured, and the long school day is geared toward students who may not get the support they need at home. It may be too structured for my child, which is why he has some difficulties with self control during the school day. If he could just run around all day maybe it would be easier for him? But then again, you won't get running around all day at any DCPS or PCS.

That said, not only are the teachers dedicated, hardworking, loving and talented, they have told me on multiple occasions that the DCB community is special, that there is great morale among teachers, and that feeling is translated into the classroom. It is worth a lot.

I'm another DCB parent with a child in the early grades and feel the school is a hidden gem. I want to amplify what the other parent said: " my child is learning Spanish surrounded by native speakers, both faculty and students" and is growing up not only bilingual but also bicultural. When I've had a chance to be in class or join a field trip I have found that only are the classrooms are very diverse, but the children have an easy time playing together across family backgrounds. In terms of my child's emotional development, our child finds the school a warm, safe, fun place; they do a great job at school engagement. However, I would also agree that DCB is very structured and may not be the best school for every child . While we are delighted with our child's reading progress, the current location's play facilities leave much to be desired. We're actually looking forward to the new location and the increased possibility of play space, both indoors and outdoors. Finally I want to add that I've also heard great things about ITS, so it sounds like the OP had a win-win situation.

We ranked DCB highly on our lists this year for this reason, but weren't lucky.