DC middle school list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several of them (the ones offering PK-5 and 7&8) are phasing out middle school and kids will go to MacFarland. New North will also consolidate more middle schools.

I would like to see the following middle schools close as well:
* Adams (send kids to MacFarland, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for bilingual elementary school at Oyster-Adams)
* Francis-Stevens (send kids to Cardozo, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for elementary students)
* CHM@L (just stop at 5th grade so the school can accommodate more little kids....the school doesn't provide middle school the way Maria Montessori envisioned it at all, and since they insist on prior Montessori experience it's doomed to be a tiny middle school going forward).

The idea that you can "send" kids to X or Y middle school is delusional ... families with choices will bleed to upper NW, charters, privates and the burbs unless the destination MS is attractive which Cardozo and MacFarland are not for the moment.

The tipping point for where moderately risk-averse families (mostly white, mostly rich) are willing to try a school comes pretty quickly though. We're seeing it at Stuart-Hobson, Inspired Teaching and Creative Minds Middle Schools. Two Rivers, etc. If there's a year where half a dozen rich white families go to a school, then 10 more show up the next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP said schools families WANT their kids to attend- there are plenty of families who send their kids to certain schools that they absolutely dislike and are stuck and feel that they have no choice. I think the statement that there is a small handful of middle schools and high schools that all the families in the city would want their kids to attend is absolutely correct.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you don't talk to many families outside of your bubble. Remember, DCUM is pretty extreme bubble.

+1. This spring, I had a lot of conversations with 8th graders at a school that almost certainly none of the people on DCUM would send their kids to, and the things that they were worried about for middle and high school were things that wouldn't even occur to most of the people on this board. For example, they did not care AT ALL if there were no white kids at the school.

That wouldn't surprise me one bit but I'm curious about your framing in those discussions. I'd be very interested to know how students at struggling schools view systemic inequity like lack of top performing teachers, or insufficient funding to address high at-risk populations, etc.

These students would be 100% correct be skeptical of white students' presence as any sort of benefit or panacea, but I suspect they'd be far more interested in school resources being equitably expended for everyone regardless of address.

The context of the conversations was working at one of the schools on the list in a mental health capacity and talking to the students and their parents about high school choices and their satisfaction level with the school itself.

The students have been expressing all year concern about other students not focusing on their work, behaving in ways that prevent learning from happening, etc. They have concerns about specific teachers, but honestly, a 7th grader doesn't care if his 6th grade teacher doesn't come back after he finishes 6th grade. He also doesn't necessarily know what his teacher's professional history is like, whether the teacher is a "top performer" or anything else like that. They don't know anything about at-risk funding, and frankly, it's not always obvious within the school specifically what those funds are being used for.

Things the students cared about as communicated to me: presence of gangs in area high schools (e.g., boys very worried about MS-13 at Roosevelt), specific academic focus (e.g., can I take French instead of Spanish? Can I take a media production class instead of music?), how difficult it was to get to the school from their current address, whether or not the school has a uniform. Obviously kids were also interested in going to schools where their friends go/were planning to go, so that was also part of what they were interested in and (in a couple cases) an example of something their parents wanted to avoid.

So they're not at all interested in why Deal provides these options but not their school?

They don't know what they're missing in terms of teacher quality and maybe more experienced/qualified teachers could better handle disruptive peers. They don't know anything about at-risk funding because the schools are forced to absorb the funding into admin budget rather than providing the specific intended supports.

I'm not convinced Deal has better quality teachers than other schools. It has more compliant students who are more likely to come in at or above grade level. If you switched the teaching staff at Deal with, let's say, Eliot-Hine, I doubt the PARCC scores would change much at all. In fact, the skills and attitudes you need to teach rich kids and handle rich parents might be quite different for what you need to be good at a Title I school. Just look at the former Janney principal, who didn't do much for Brookland Middle and asked to be transferred to Brent.

I agree 100%. Switch WOTP teachers with SE teachers and even double their salaries- I bet they wouldn’t make it to Christmas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several of them (the ones offering PK-5 and 7&8) are phasing out middle school and kids will go to MacFarland. New North will also consolidate more middle schools.

I would like to see the following middle schools close as well:
* Adams (send kids to MacFarland, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for bilingual elementary school at Oyster-Adams)
* Francis-Stevens (send kids to Cardozo, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for elementary students)
* CHM@L (just stop at 5th grade so the school can accommodate more little kids....the school doesn't provide middle school the way Maria Montessori envisioned it at all, and since they insist on prior Montessori experience it's doomed to be a tiny middle school going forward).

The idea that you can "send" kids to X or Y middle school is delusional ... families with choices will bleed to upper NW, charters, privates and the burbs unless the destination MS is attractive which Cardozo and MacFarland are not for the moment.

The tipping point for where moderately risk-averse families (mostly white, mostly rich) are willing to try a school comes pretty quickly though. We're seeing it at Stuart-Hobson, Inspired Teaching and Creative Minds Middle Schools. Two Rivers, etc. If there's a year where half a dozen rich white families go to a school, then 10 more show up the next year.

You must be a relative newcomer to Cap Hill. I've lived across the street from Stuart Hobson for over 20 years. No, the tipping point doesn't come fast, not when most of the kids in the feeders are poor, and will be for a good 15 years. It's taken SH a decade just to recover from losing 5th grade in terms of its in-boundary percentage (a little over 20%). The catchment area is over 2/3 white while the percentage of white kids at SH is still in the teens, and has been since the 90s. Wishful thinking is fun, but divorced from reality.

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

What do you care about? A path to high school? Commute? Test scores? Facilities? Extracurriculars? Length of school day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

Go to next year's Ed Fest and figure out what open houses to attend. You will also have the data on how this year's lottery shook out.

I'd focus on those charter schools that expand at 5th -- Latin, BASIS, Cap City, EL Haynes and probably a few others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

What do you care about? A path to high school? Commute? Test scores? Facilities? Extracurriculars? Length of school day?

Definitely path to high school and current test scores of course. Commute isn't a big deal (thankfully). The others aren't necessarily a priority for us since our girls are heavily involved in activities outside of school. I saw other comments about Ed Fest and we've attended previously. Definitely interested in the lottery results for a few school we've considered to see if it's even possible to gain admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

Go to next year's Ed Fest and figure out what open houses to attend. You will also have the data on how this year's lottery shook out.

I'd focus on those charter schools that expand at 5th -- Latin, BASIS, Cap City, EL Haynes and probably a few others.

Thanks for your feedback! Considering our girls do not attend those elementary schools already that might pose a double uphill battle - hoping to gain admission into those schools first then plans after fifth grade if they get in. I know those schools are already extremely tough to lottery in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

Go to next year's Ed Fest and figure out what open houses to attend. You will also have the data on how this year's lottery shook out.

I'd focus on those charter schools that expand at 5th -- Latin, BASIS, Cap City, EL Haynes and probably a few others.

Thanks for your feedback! Considering our girls do not attend those elementary schools already that might pose a double uphill battle - hoping to gain admission into those schools first then plans after fifth grade if they get in. I know those schools are already extremely tough to lottery in.

Both Cap City and EL Haynes add new students at 5th, although not as many seats in total as Latin or BASIS which begin at 5th.

It all comes down to your master number of course. If you have a good one, you will get into your top choice.

[Anonymous]

Latin and BASIS don't take anyone before 5th grade so your kids have the same chance as anyone else (other than siblings of current students). And all the schools listed here go through 12th grade so if you like them, you're all set! If you wind up wanting something different for high school and your kids score well enough on the PARCC, DC's magnet high schools (Banneker, School Without Walls, McKinley Tech, etc.) all take lots of kids and other than Walls they don't seem to have long wait lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Several of them (the ones offering PK-5 and 7&8) are phasing out middle school and kids will go to MacFarland. New North will also consolidate more middle schools.

I would like to see the following middle schools close as well:
* Adams (send kids to MacFarland, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for bilingual elementary school at Oyster-Adams)
* Francis-Stevens (send kids to Cardozo, raising the school size and test scores there and allowing more space for elementary students)
* CHM@L (just stop at 5th grade so the school can accommodate more little kids....the school doesn't provide middle school the way Maria Montessori envisioned it at all, and since they insist on prior Montessori experience it's doomed to be a tiny middle school going forward).

The idea that you can "send" kids to X or Y middle school is delusional ... families with choices will bleed to upper NW, charters, privates and the burbs unless the destination MS is attractive which Cardozo and MacFarland are not for the moment.

The tipping point for where moderately risk-averse families (mostly white, mostly rich) are willing to try a school comes pretty quickly though. We're seeing it at Stuart-Hobson, Inspired Teaching and Creative Minds Middle Schools. Two Rivers, etc. If there's a year where half a dozen rich white families go to a school, then 10 more show up the next year.

You must be a relative newcomer to Cap Hill. I've lived across the street from Stuart Hobson for over 20 years. No, the tipping point doesn't come fast, not when most of the kids in the feeders are poor, and will be for a good 15 years. It's taken SH a decade just to recover from losing 5th grade in terms of its in-boundary percentage (a little over 20%). The catchment area is over 2/3 white while the percentage of white kids at SH is still in the teens, and has been since the 90s. Wishful thinking is fun, but divorced from reality.

ok -- we've heard from old Hill crank and we get it - we'll stay off your lawn. I think PP is right about shift based on changing demographics but the next wave is a few years off.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard a couple dozen Maury students heading to Eliot-Hine next year and a dozen Brent kids heading to Jefferson...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Latin and BASIS don't take anyone before 5th grade so your kids have the same chance as anyone else (other than siblings of current students). And all the schools listed here go through 12th grade so if you like them, you're all set! If you wind up wanting something different for high school and your kids score well enough on the PARCC, DC's magnet high schools (Banneker, School Without Walls, McKinley Tech, etc.) all take lots of kids and other than Walls they don't seem to have long wait lists.

Thank you so so much for this information!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone,

Just joining this thread as we have rising 3rd and 4th graders and should start considering middle school plans. Our current school does not have a feeder middle school in place so seems like my option is to bank on the lottery and go private if things don't pan out. While I'm not comfortable with the "one shot" opportunity as we approach 5th grade, I'd like to know what other parents here are doing as it relates to selecting middle school options? I've heard over and over that Deal and Hardy are the "best" schools but surely those can't be the only options. Any other schools that you guys can direct us to research a bit more? I'm not sure where to start with a list of 72 schools!

Go to next year's Ed Fest and figure out what open houses to attend. You will also have the data on how this year's lottery shook out.

I'd focus on those charter schools that expand at 5th -- Latin, BASIS, Cap City, EL Haynes and probably a few others.

Thanks for your feedback! Considering our girls do not attend those elementary schools already that might pose a double uphill battle - hoping to gain admission into those schools first then plans after fifth grade if they get in. I know those schools are already extremely tough to lottery in.

Both Cap City and EL Haynes add new students at 5th, although not as many seats in total as Latin or BASIS which begin at 5th.

Thank you!!

It all comes down to your master number of course. If you have a good one, you will get into your top choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin and BASIS don't take anyone before 5th grade so your kids have the same chance as anyone else (other than siblings of current students). And all the schools listed here go through 12th grade so if you like them, you're all set! If you wind up wanting something different for high school and your kids score well enough on the PARCC, DC's magnet high schools (Banneker, School Without Walls, McKinley Tech, etc.) all take lots of kids and other than Walls they don't seem to have long wait lists.

Thank you so so much for this information!

Two Rivers and Inspired Teaching are both small schools (50 kids per grade) and don't have a path to high school, but could likely accommodate both of your kids in the same year (ie, if you get a spot for your 5th grader, your 4th grader might be admitted through sibling preference). I know they both have pretty extensive outplacement processes to help kids with high school selection.

Also, maybe DCI?