Moving to DC with a 6th grader

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.

How did you not know this before entering the lottery? It's been around for 5 years and they run tours every other week for prospective parents and are very transparent about the schedule during Open Houses.

Really??? Are they saying that they give a ton of paperwork for homework? Besides parents are not allowed inside the classroom and their website is not accessible unless you go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.

What will be the target size for each team and for each class?

I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.

Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.

Where did you hear that, heard 8th was expanding because the current students moving up. Agree where are they going to go?

Current 6th grade Deal parent - there are already 5, 6th grade teams. I believe there are only 4, 7th grade teams, so maybe the expansion you are referring to would be 5, 8th grade teams next year?

There are four 8th grade teams, five each of 6th and 7th. http://alicedeal.org/2017-2018-staff-directory/

The rising class of 6th graders is another bubble class, so will need at least five teams, which means they will need one more 8th grade team next year -- four more core teachers and perhaps another language teacher and possibly another art teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.

What will be the target size for each team and for each class?

I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.

Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.

Where did you hear that, heard 8th was expanding because the current students moving up. Agree where are they going to go?

Current 6th grade Deal parent - there are already 5, 6th grade teams. I believe there are only 4, 7th grade teams, so maybe the expansion you are referring to would be 5, 8th grade teams next year?

There are four 8th grade teams, five each of 6th and 7th. http://alicedeal.org/2017-2018-staff-directory/

The rising class of 6th graders is another bubble class, so will need at least five teams, which means they will need one more 8th grade team next year -- four more core teachers and perhaps another language teacher and possibly another art teacher.

What about music and PE?

[Anonymous]

From the POV of NW DC.......

If I was coming to DC from out of the area, I would rent for 6 months In bounds (the established school zone) for either Hardy or Deal. Go visit both and see which is a better fit for your child.

After you are enrolled, you can move anywhere in the city and still be able to stay at the school (although you may have a longer commute).

For Charters:
Many families like Latin. Probably the most sought after Middle School / High School Charter. Will be next to impossible to get into for 6th grade
BASIS has a reputation for rigor (may be defined as a lot of homework). I know kids who said it was no big deal - others who had a lot of challenges. 6th grade is hard. The school does a lot of work with 5th graders getting them ready for 6th grade. And the work load is really challenging. Will be hard to get into for 6th grade
Inspired Teaching - has a nice reputation. People are happy there. Once again - 6th grade is not an entry year
Creative Minds- newer middle school. Not as much information to go with. In general people like for elementary
EL Haynes and Cap City - 2 of the oldest charters for middle school / high school. Schools have a project learning approach. 6th grade is not an entry year - so hard to get in.

I am not sure what the requirements are for DCI. I am sure someone can share.

There are a lot other schools. I am sure someone has a POV on McFarland which recently re-opened. As well as School Without Walls Middle School.

From the POV of NE DC ....
They tried to turn Brookland Middle School around a few years ago with a "Great" Principal from a "top" elementary. She failed and they replaced her. Brookland has not gotten the traction the DCPS hoped. Other NE Middle Schools you do not hear about.

From the POV of SW DC ....
very few people live there - there is nothing to talk about

From the POV of SE DC ....
There has been a lot of progress with Stuart-Hobson Middle School. (But if you live there you are praying your kid gets into Latin of BASIS)

[Anonymous]

For DCI —

Children coming from one of their feeder schools have preference but they admit new students where there is space available.

You do not need to have studied a foreign language before to enroll. They run 3 separate lotteries - one for Chinese, Spanish and French tracks. So if you really wanted it you can use 3 lottery spaces, one for each language. To date, Spanish has had the fewest slots at 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.

What will be the target size for each team and for each class?

I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.

Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.

Where did you hear that, heard 8th was expanding because the current students moving up. Agree where are they going to go?

Current 6th grade Deal parent - there are already 5, 6th grade teams. I believe there are only 4, 7th grade teams, so maybe the expansion you are referring to would be 5, 8th grade teams next year?

There are four 8th grade teams, five each of 6th and 7th. http://alicedeal.org/2017-2018-staff-directory/

The rising class of 6th graders is another bubble class, so will need at least five teams, which means they will need one more 8th grade team next year -- four more core teachers and perhaps another language teacher and possibly another art teacher.

What about music and PE?

8th doesn't have music as a class (just orchestra, band, jazz band, two choirs, and musical theatre as elective clubs), so no issue with music staff by adding an 8th grade section, and they have plenty PE teachers already. One more team shouldn't make a difference there.

[Anonymous]

Just rent in boundary for Hardy for at least 6 months just like formerly stated. You will be happy and not worry about all the drama which comes with the lottery.

You will most likely get into any charter except for Latin, but Hardy is a solid middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Just rent in boundary for Hardy for at least 6 months just like formerly stated. You will be happy and not worry about all the drama which comes with the lottery.

You will most likely get into any charter except for Latin, but Hardy is a solid middle school.

The bolded is not ture. 6th grade is not an entry year for many charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the POV of NW DC.......

If I was coming to DC from out of the area, I would rent for 6 months In bounds (the established school zone) for either Hardy or Deal. Go visit both and see which is a better fit for your child.

After you are enrolled, you can move anywhere in the city and still be able to stay at the school (although you may have a longer commute).

For Charters:
Many families like Latin. Probably the most sought after Middle School / High School Charter. Will be next to impossible to get into for 6th grade
BASIS has a reputation for rigor (may be defined as a lot of homework). I know kids who said it was no big deal - others who had a lot of challenges. 6th grade is hard. The school does a lot of work with 5th graders getting them ready for 6th grade. And the work load is really challenging. Will be hard to get into for 6th grade
Inspired Teaching - has a nice reputation. People are happy there. Once again - 6th grade is not an entry year
Creative Minds- newer middle school. Not as much information to go with. In general people like for elementary
EL Haynes and Cap City - 2 of the oldest charters for middle school / high school. Schools have a project learning approach. 6th grade is not an entry year - so hard to get in.

I am not sure what the requirements are for DCI. I am sure someone can share.

There are a lot other schools. I am sure someone has a POV on McFarland which recently re-opened. As well as School Without Walls Middle School.

From the POV of NE DC ....
They tried to turn Brookland Middle School around a few years ago with a "Great" Principal from a "top" elementary. She failed and they replaced her. Brookland has not gotten the traction the DCPS hoped. Other NE Middle Schools you do not hear about.

From the POV of SW DC ....
very few people live there - there is nothing to talk about

From the POV of SE DC ....
There has been a lot of progress with Stuart-Hobson Middle School. (But if you live there you are praying your kid gets into Latin of BASIS)

From the point of view if Stuart-Hobson for an out of tower, it is not in SE. it is located on Capitol Hill and some of the students live in SE, but the school itself is in NE near Union Station. The rest of the comments I agree with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the POV of NW DC.......

If I was coming to DC from out of the area, I would rent for 6 months In bounds (the established school zone) for either Hardy or Deal. Go visit both and see which is a better fit for your child.

After you are enrolled, you can move anywhere in the city and still be able to stay at the school (although you may have a longer commute).

For Charters:
Many families like Latin. Probably the most sought after Middle School / High School Charter. Will be next to impossible to get into for 6th grade
BASIS has a reputation for rigor (may be defined as a lot of homework). I know kids who said it was no big deal - others who had a lot of challenges. 6th grade is hard. The school does a lot of work with 5th graders getting them ready for 6th grade. And the work load is really challenging. Will be hard to get into for 6th grade
Inspired Teaching - has a nice reputation. People are happy there. Once again - 6th grade is not an entry year
Creative Minds- newer middle school. Not as much information to go with. In general people like for elementary
EL Haynes and Cap City - 2 of the oldest charters for middle school / high school. Schools have a project learning approach. 6th grade is not an entry year - so hard to get in.

I am not sure what the requirements are for DCI. I am sure someone can share.

There are a lot other schools. I am sure someone has a POV on McFarland which recently re-opened. As well as School Without Walls Middle School.

From the POV of NE DC ....
They tried to turn Brookland Middle School around a few years ago with a "Great" Principal from a "top" elementary. She failed and they replaced her. Brookland has not gotten the traction the DCPS hoped. Other NE Middle Schools you do not hear about.

From the POV of SW DC ....
very few people live there - there is nothing to talk about

From the POV of SE DC ....
There has been a lot of progress with Stuart-Hobson Middle School. (But if you live there you are praying your kid gets into Latin of BASIS)

From the point of view if Stuart-Hobson for an out of tower, it is not in SE. it is located on Capitol Hill and some of the students live in SE, but the school itself is in NE near Union Station. The rest of the comments I agree with.

Somebody need to do a spoof on this. one of those funny joke maps about education in each sector. (like the recent trump one https://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/daily-cartoon/friday-january-12th-trumpworld-map)

"EOTR (east of the river): empty junk wasteland, don't move there. The people are invisible."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.

How did you not know this before entering the lottery? It's been around for 5 years and they run tours every other week for prospective parents and are very transparent about the schedule during Open Houses.

Really??? Are they saying that they give a ton of paperwork for homework? Besides parents are not allowed inside the classroom and their website is not accessible unless you go there.

yes. BASIS isn't known for experiential, project learning...big gymnasiums and award-winning art. Those kids learn a lot and have seemingly high college matriculation, by way of a very rigorous, kill and drill process. It works many families. You don't need to go into a classroom to get this, nor will they post on their website "this process is not for everyone".

[Anonymous]

If you are moving to DC with a child to start 6th grade and have options on location, then focusing on DCPS middle schools (or K-8 schools) is your best strategy. You can meanwhile also enter the lottery for charter schools that start at 6th grade such as DCI or Capital City. Among catchment areas for DCPS middle schools, I concur with prior posts that Deal and Hardy may not be your best bet, though they both have some more or less affordable apartment housing in its catchment zones. Outside of those two, look at the catchment areas of Stuart-Hobson MS and Jefferson Academy, possibly Eliot-Hine MS. These are all DCPS middle schools. While they feed into Eastern HS, which may or may not be acceptable to you, especially the first two have an excellent track record getting advanced students who want to into test-in high schools.

Our 6th grader is at Jefferson Academy and all around happy and challenged there. A very solid option you don't see discussed much on these boards. That school has a huge and, in some places, very affordable catchment area, with different housing options, ranging from single family homes to affordable apartments. Not to mention, its location is about as central as it gets.

[Anonymous]

OP asked this question over a year ago, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP asked this question over a year ago, folks.

Ha, would be nice to know what happened, what worked out or not.