Creative Minds Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

agree. non cmi parent here but I'd consider cmi for middle. I could care less about competitive sports (and my 5 year old son can't tell the difference between baseball and basketball and football)

[Anonymous]

NP here. The nonsense about competitive sports in MS is just that. Nonsense. Kids who are athletically gifted no longer bother with school sports these days. They do travel sports. There will be sports teams at CMI, just as there are now. I attended PK-8 Catholic school here in DC with just two classes of 15 kids. We are all quite successful in our careers and still keep in touch. CMI MS will be just fine. The school does a fabulous job with differentiating. It is one of the many strengths of the school. There is individual work and small group work for all grades. This will continue at the MS level.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but your child is only 5. Once they are older their interests will likely change.

[Anonymous]

No, my child is not 5. My child is in one of the upper grades and has been at the school since its inception. Nice try...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

agree. non cmi parent here but I'd consider cmi for middle. I could care less about competitive sports (and my 5 year old son can't tell the difference between baseball and basketball and football)

It's "couldn't" care less. Wonder why so many educated folk on DCUM always get this wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is not 5. My child is in one of the upper grades and has been at the school since its inception. Nice try...

So you won't be playing the lottery for fifth grade, then?

[Anonymous]

These threads about ms at IT and CMI and Lee make me so hopeful. Not everyone wants a deal or a DCI. I think middle school is such a vulnerable age that I want a place where my kids are known and cared for as individuals (small school) and where learning can continue to be individuated and active and inquiry based (progressive). If any of these schools creates a solid (low tech) curriculum and has great teachers and a safe, respectful social environment, we will lottery for it in a heartbeat And there are many others like me. People who happily stayed at their EPTP neighborhood school but don't like their MS option; people who are in immersion schools but don't want DCI's focus on technology; people at CMI and ITS and Lee who aren't interested in Basis or Latin; people in good wotp schools who know their kids will be eaten alive at Deal and want a smaller school for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is not 5. My child is in one of the upper grades and has been at the school since its inception. Nice try...

So you won't be playing the lottery for fifth grade, then?

No, we will not play the lottery. Our options include Deal and private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is not 5. My child is in one of the upper grades and has been at the school since its inception. Nice try...

So you won't be playing the lottery for fifth grade, then?

No, we will not play the lottery. Our options include Deal and private.

I think what the PPP was asking was whether you are committed to your child staying at CMI for middle. Sounds like you wouldn't leave for another charter but you are keeping your options open?

[Anonymous]

We will most likely stay for MS, but would be foolish not to keep our options open. The plans sound really promising, though. Our DC is not in the lead class, so we'll be observing and checking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These threads about ms at IT and CMI and Lee make me so hopeful. Not everyone wants a deal or a DCI. I think middle school is such a vulnerable age that I want a place where my kids are known and cared for as individuals (small school) and where learning can continue to be individuated and active and inquiry based (progressive). If any of these schools creates a solid (low tech) curriculum and has great teachers and a safe, respectful social environment, we will lottery for it in a heartbeat And there are many others like me. People who happily stayed at their EPTP neighborhood school but don't like their MS option; people who are in immersion schools but don't want DCI's focus on technology; people at CMI and ITS and Lee who aren't interested in Basis or Latin; people in good wotp schools who know their kids will be eaten alive at Deal and want a smaller school for them.

As a parent at one of above named schools, agree. Of course things may change, but right now, I look forward to a smaller school. We are in an external sports league - so I think covered there.

Now: what about CMI, ITS and Lee joining for a high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These threads about ms at IT and CMI and Lee make me so hopeful. Not everyone wants a deal or a DCI. I think middle school is such a vulnerable age that I want a place where my kids are known and cared for as individuals (small school) and where learning can continue to be individuated and active and inquiry based (progressive). If any of these schools creates a solid (low tech) curriculum and has great teachers and a safe, respectful social environment, we will lottery for it in a heartbeat And there are many others like me. People who happily stayed at their EPTP neighborhood school but don't like their MS option; people who are in immersion schools but don't want DCI's focus on technology; people at CMI and ITS and Lee who aren't interested in Basis or Latin; people in good wotp schools who know their kids will be eaten alive at Deal and want a smaller school for them.

Deal gets a bad rap about its size. From every family I know at Deal, they actually don't get eaten alive. They separate the kids in such a good way it feels like a small school within a school. My DC goes to one of the above schools and we are also IB at Deal. I am happy to have the choice but wanted to chime in about Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These threads about ms at IT and CMI and Lee make me so hopeful. Not everyone wants a deal or a DCI. I think middle school is such a vulnerable age that I want a place where my kids are known and cared for as individuals (small school) and where learning can continue to be individuated and active and inquiry based (progressive). If any of these schools creates a solid (low tech) curriculum and has great teachers and a safe, respectful social environment, we will lottery for it in a heartbeat And there are many others like me. People who happily stayed at their EPTP neighborhood school but don't like their MS option; people who are in immersion schools but don't want DCI's focus on technology; people at CMI and ITS and Lee who aren't interested in Basis or Latin; people in good wotp schools who know their kids will be eaten alive at Deal and want a smaller school for them.

Deal gets a bad rap about its size. From every family I know at Deal, they actually don't get eaten alive. They separate the kids in such a good way it feels like a small school within a school. My DC goes to one of the above schools and we are also IB at Deal. I am happy to have the choice but wanted to chime in about Deal.

Honest question, why don't you go to Deal?

[Anonymous]

NP...because their DC is probably still in ES.

[Anonymous]

Why isn't shining stars mentioned when you're mentioning Lee? You do know that Lee only has a second grade now, and shining stars has a fourth?

I would love a progressive crunchy middle school option for my (potentially) ellington-bound DC... But our options are all kind of complicated. I feel like I'm forced to lottery every year possible, even if my DC is happy where they are, just to have a shot at getting a spot that will go through middle school. I am also increasingly convinced that Deal will not work for my DC, even with its separating into smaller cohorts.

I don't know what to do.