Do high SES kids stay in Shepherd through 4th and 5th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can anyone be anti a school? Just say it wasn't a good fit for you, why actively be against a school? So weird.

NP. it is hard when you have a terrible experience with a school. until you have seen your child suffer from direct administrative mismanagement, you have NO idea how you are going to feel about the school. in our case, at a different school, there were so many systemic problems within the administration that trickled down to the classrooms that we pulled our child out mid-year with lasting negative feelings about the school as a whole. i was reluctant to get on DCUM threads about the school because, even though i really became anti-this-particular-school after watching my young child really, really suffer psychologically, i assumed it was only my experience. low and behold, a lot more people have come out of the woodwork lately to discuss similar situations with the same school, after years of this school getting a ton of only positive praise on DCUM. a lot of us have very negative feelings about the school. its not pretty, but it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not anti the school. I've been so blunt with my issues that I'm pretty sure everyone knows us. I have stopped minding this. And, indeed, Shepherd has many positive qualities, which I have tried to also emphasize. But every time I say anything, the anti-shepherd-poster people chime in. Pretty sure I know who they are too. It's all fine. As you say, different things for different people.

I am, however, slightly annoyed that now any criticism of the school gets thrown at my feet.

Fwiw I called you the anti Shepherd poster. I've done it before a few months ago. I'm sure you don't know me. I've never been to the school but I do admire it. I've always found it fascinating that you come on very Shepherd thread to knock it. I'm not saying you haven't mentioned positives but at some point it gets a little old. Like we get it, you didn't have a good relationship with your ex boyfriend, do you really have to go on every thread on his Facebook to tell people you're anti-your ex and how you're not a fan? Can't you settle with giving your opinion on the school after 10+ times? Eventually, your constant posts says more about you than your ex. I'm trying to say this in the nicest way possible. Not trying to be snarky or bitchy, I promise. Anyway, like I said, I promise you don't know me so don't assume I'm a neighbor.

Wait, what? You defend a school you have absolutely no experience with? I am not the OP but AM pulling my child after a horrible experience at the school. But that is the key here - we've experienced it! Please don't offer an opinion or criticism if you have not a clue what you are talking about. Hearing it second hand is not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not anti the school. I've been so blunt with my issues that I'm pretty sure everyone knows us. I have stopped minding this. And, indeed, Shepherd has many positive qualities, which I have tried to also emphasize. But every time I say anything, the anti-shepherd-poster people chime in. Pretty sure I know who they are too. It's all fine. As you say, different things for different people.

I am, however, slightly annoyed that now any criticism of the school gets thrown at my feet.

Fwiw I called you the anti Shepherd poster. I've done it before a few months ago. I'm sure you don't know me. I've never been to the school but I do admire it. I've always found it fascinating that you come on very Shepherd thread to knock it. I'm not saying you haven't mentioned positives but at some point it gets a little old. Like we get it, you didn't have a good relationship with your ex boyfriend, do you really have to go on every thread on his Facebook to tell people you're anti-your ex and how you're not a fan? Can't you settle with giving your opinion on the school after 10+ times? Eventually, your constant posts says more about you than your ex. I'm trying to say this in the nicest way possible. Not trying to be snarky or bitchy, I promise. Anyway, like I said, I promise you don't know me so don't assume I'm a neighbor.

Wait, what? You defend a school you have absolutely no experience with? I am not the OP but AM pulling my child after a horrible experience at the school. But that is the key here - we've experienced it! Please don't offer an opinion or criticism if you have not a clue what you are talking about. Hearing it second hand is not the same.

Um I didn't give an opinion of the school. Was simply talking to the admitted anti-Shepherd poster. I can spot many in these threads despite not going to schools. The anti MV poster, Montessori light poster, YY is not real English poster, and the why does Hardy still have uniform poster. All I'm saying is that particular poster sounds like a bitter ex girlfriend and her anti rhetoric was getting played out. I think everyone should be entitled to give experiences but time after time to give unsolicited, unrelated info gets old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not anti the school. I've been so blunt with my issues that I'm pretty sure everyone knows us. I have stopped minding this. And, indeed, Shepherd has many positive qualities, which I have tried to also emphasize. But every time I say anything, the anti-shepherd-poster people chime in. Pretty sure I know who they are too. It's all fine. As you say, different things for different people.

I am, however, slightly annoyed that now any criticism of the school gets thrown at my feet.

Fwiw I called you the anti Shepherd poster. I've done it before a few months ago. I'm sure you don't know me. I've never been to the school but I do admire it. I've always found it fascinating that you come on very Shepherd thread to knock it. I'm not saying you haven't mentioned positives but at some point it gets a little old. Like we get it, you didn't have a good relationship with your ex boyfriend, do you really have to go on every thread on his Facebook to tell people you're anti-your ex and how you're not a fan? Can't you settle with giving your opinion on the school after 10+ times? Eventually, your constant posts says more about you than your ex. I'm trying to say this in the nicest way possible. Not trying to be snarky or bitchy, I promise. Anyway, like I said, I promise you don't know me so don't assume I'm a neighbor.

Wait, what? You defend a school you have absolutely no experience with? I am not the OP but AM pulling my child after a horrible experience at the school. But that is the key here - we've experienced it! Please don't offer an opinion or criticism if you have not a clue what you are talking about. Hearing it second hand is not the same.

Um I didn't give an opinion of the school. Was simply talking to the admitted anti-Shepherd poster. I can spot many in these threads despite not going to schools. The anti MV poster, Montessori light poster, YY is not real English poster, and the why does Hardy still have uniform poster. All I'm saying is that particular poster sounds like a bitter ex girlfriend and her anti rhetoric was getting played out. I think everyone should be entitled to give experiences but time after time to give unsolicited, unrelated info gets old.

PP, thanks for sticking up for Shepherd and other schools--some PPs really have an axe to grind. You're right, it does get old--especially when they don't give specific reasons for "not liking" a school.

[Anonymous]

So basically the gist is, don't ever give any actual experiences of any school, ever. If you praise it, you're a booster. If you don't like it, you are a hater, it's your fault, your child sucks, etc.

This not a forum for facts or experience. It a forum to talk about when dc schools will be gentrified enough that the right sorts will attend them. Any actual information about classes, academics, extracurriculars is irrelevant.

And don't forget, just to prove you're a real DC urban mom, you need to make sure you put everyone else down while expressing your opinion. Remember! They are quite obviously. It as smart, wealthy, or well-mannered as your labradoodle, let alone you and your beloved family.

[Anonymous]

Not as smart.

I only come here to remind myself that I hate this place and its people. Speaking of ex boyfriends: DC culture is like your ex boyfriend who worked for Goldman, used more hair products than Patrick Bateman, and also, like him, has a few dead hookers in its closet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically the gist is, don't ever give any actual experiences of any school, ever. If you praise it, you're a booster. If you don't like it, you are a hater, it's your fault, your child sucks, etc.

This not a forum for facts or experience. It a forum to talk about when dc schools will be gentrified enough that the right sorts will attend them. Any actual information about classes, academics, extracurriculars is irrelevant.

And don't forget, just to prove you're a real DC urban mom, you need to make sure you put everyone else down while expressing your opinion. Remember! They are quite obviously. It as smart, wealthy, or well-mannered as your labradoodle, let alone you and your beloved family.

Not at all.

This is example of the anti-shepherd mom (ASM):

New thread: Can anyone tell me what the uniform is for Shepherd?
ASM: I can't tell you since I haven't been there in a few years and I'm no fan of Shepherd.

New thread: How was the Shepherd gala?
ASM: I hate that school. Went there, had bad experience, but wish you the best.

New thread: wow, shepherd's farm rate is reducing and more IB folks are going!
ASM: I hate that school

New thread: If I buy in Shepherd, do you think I will lose access to Deal?
ASM: who knows, but I am NO fan of the school anyway

New thread: Shepherd lost promised renovation funds in budget.
ASM: that project was done wrong, f-ING atrium and kilns!?, I'm not fan of the school anyway.

New thread: Shepherd is opening another PK3 class and it's all IB.
ASM: I don't know why, we hated it there.

Now to be fair she did post a pretty lengthy experience in one of the threads and her reason for leaving, but how does one really say these examples above are all "giving experiences"? What about these posts are productive and helpful?

[Anonymous]

That's not at all true, but you are definitely Patrick Bateman material!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's not at all true, but you are definitely Patrick Bateman material!

It is very true. If you don't read all threads then maybe you don't see it. ASM is the crazy one.

[Anonymous]

As to OP's question, fwiw, my family plans to stay all the way through. We are in-bounds and relatively high SES, I suppose. This will be our third year at the school. While it hasn't been perfect (e.g., communication could be improved), I like the school. My child has thrived there, both academically and socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As to OP's question, fwiw, my family plans to stay all the way through. We are in-bounds and relatively high SES, I suppose. This will be our third year at the school. While it hasn't been perfect (e.g., communication could be improved), I like the school. My child has thrived there, both academically and socially.

+1. I could've written this. Excited for school to start next week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can anyone be anti a school? Just say it wasn't a good fit for you, why actively be against a school? So weird.

NP. it is hard when you have a terrible experience with a school. until you have seen your child suffer from direct administrative mismanagement, you have NO idea how you are going to feel about the school. in our case, at a different school, there were so many systemic problems within the administration that trickled down to the classrooms that we pulled our child out mid-year with lasting negative feelings about the school as a whole. i was reluctant to get on DCUM threads about the school because, even though i really became anti-this-particular-school after watching my young child really, really suffer psychologically, i assumed it was only my experience. low and behold, a lot more people have come out of the woodwork lately to discuss similar situations with the same school, after years of this school getting a ton of only positive praise on DCUM. a lot of us have very negative feelings about the school. its not pretty, but it happens.

Bridges?

[Anonymous]

NP. We are also in-boundary, higher SES, in our third year and plan to stay all the way. Is it perfect? Is any school perfect? I've found that being an active and engaged parent has helped with our bumps. It's much harder to miss or overlook things, or realize she/he didn't tell me XXX, when you talk to the teacher like every day, even for a few minutes.

Overall our child has *loved* it and can't wait to head back to school. And given that they have enough kids to fill three first grade and K classes, it could be that in a few years the upper grade classes are a bit bigger. I've personally volunteered with the fourth and fifth grade classes over the past two years, and I have no complaints. They're all bright and curious. And the teachers I've met for those levels seem great as well. We're looking forward to upper grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not as smart.

I only come here to remind myself that I hate this place and its people. Speaking of ex boyfriends: DC culture is like your ex boyfriend who worked for Goldman, used more hair products than Patrick Bateman, and also, like him, has a few dead hookers in its closet.

You must have had one hell of a break up. I have an ex-husband (so, more important than your "ex boyfriend" assertion, yet not pathological) and I would never ascribe such psychosis to him. You should probably move if DC makes you this crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can anyone be anti a school? Just say it wasn't a good fit for you, why actively be against a school? So weird.

NP. it is hard when you have a terrible experience with a school. until you have seen your child suffer from direct administrative mismanagement, you have NO idea how you are going to feel about the school. in our case, at a different school, there were so many systemic problems within the administration that trickled down to the classrooms that we pulled our child out mid-year with lasting negative feelings about the school as a whole. i was reluctant to get on DCUM threads about the school because, even though i really became anti-this-particular-school after watching my young child really, really suffer psychologically, i assumed it was only my experience. low and behold, a lot more people have come out of the woodwork lately to discuss similar situations with the same school, after years of this school getting a ton of only positive praise on DCUM. a lot of us have very negative feelings about the school. its not pretty, but it happens.

Bridges?

Doubt it. Between my 2 children and our extended network of friends we know about 4 years worth of Bridges families and nobody every has anything bad to say. In fact it's fondly known at our HRC language charter as everyone's favorite pre-school.

I've heard a lot of bad things about Shepherd, though. And Bancroft. And *definitely HD Cooke and Marie Reed* (!!!) - DCPS has a lot of lousy pre-school programs that need some explaining.