Middle schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the skepticism about Wells is so tiring and cynical. Why is it hard to believe that it might be on a good footing and be prepared to serve its community well? There is such skepticism that a school that isn't in the Wilson feeder can serve students well. I wish people who post these skeptical comments would instead put their attention toward supporting these schools -- give to an amazon wishlist, donate to the PTA, whatever. it helps all of us if this new school succeeds.

Is the same narrative folks had about Brookland MS. Look at it now....

Wells’ feeders are considerably better than Brookland’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the skepticism about Wells is so tiring and cynical. Why is it hard to believe that it might be on a good footing and be prepared to serve its community well? There is such skepticism that a school that isn't in the Wilson feeder can serve students well. I wish people who post these skeptical comments would instead put their attention toward supporting these schools -- give to an amazon wishlist, donate to the PTA, whatever. it helps all of us if this new school succeeds.

Is the same narrative folks had about Brookland MS. Look at it now....

Wells’ feeders are considerably better than Brookland’s.

And Brookland now has two consecutive years of PARCC gains. Still has a ways to go, but it's okay to be optimistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference between options for elementary and middle is really stark. What are you looking for in a middle school that you wish existed? Genuinely curious.[/quote

I am looking to continue dual language. Oyster is far from guaranteed. Plus, I'm not sure that I even like it or that my child will. MacFarland does not seem like it is a great school yet. I am not sure how Montessouri would work for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The difference between options for elementary and middle is really stark. What are you looking for in a middle school that you wish existed? Genuinely curious.[/quote

I am looking to continue dual language. Oyster is far from guaranteed. Plus, I'm not sure that I even like it or that my child will. MacFarland does not seem like it is a great school yet. I am not sure how Montessouri would work for middle school.

Then your option is DCI. Whether MacFarland is great or not, that's your only option for DCPS AND if you're not in DCPS now I don't think you can get into it (perhaps that's changed at this point). Oyster is a long shot but could happen. Truth isn't going to be strictly Montessori because there aren't likely to be that many kids who have spent elementary in a Montessori school. I think it's going to be more like Two Rivers/Cap City's expeditionary learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you aren't happy with your options. Please try not to pass that along to your kid, who has no preconceived notions of what middle school is like and might be happy at places you aren't sure of.

Or maybe your kid won't like middle school, but there are unhappy kids at every middle school in the world. It's a tough age--kids are mean, hormonal, immature, smelly...and still expected to learn and take more responsibility. It's three years and your kid will make it through with support from you and people and activities outside of school. High school is often better.

Great advice. I will keep that in mind to show my child optimism about the options that we have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you aren't happy with your options. Please try not to pass that along to your kid, who has no preconceived notions of what middle school is like and might be happy at places you aren't sure of.

Or maybe your kid won't like middle school, but there are unhappy kids at every middle school in the world. It's a tough age--kids are mean, hormonal, immature, smelly...and still expected to learn and take more responsibility. It's three years and your kid will make it through with support from you and people and activities outside of school. High school is often better.

Great advice. I will keep that in mind to show my child optimism about the options that we have.

LOL probably not the best pep talk for your kid! I meant it for you. For your kid, maybe play up the increased opportunities to learn about more subjects in school, have multiple teachers each day, more extracurricular activities, more freedom and responsibility, etc.

Also, several suburban districts have dual language programs. So you might want to read up on the PG, Maryland, and Virginia forums about what it takes to get into them. You may be able to find housing you can afford in districts you prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The difference between options for elementary and middle is really stark. What are you looking for in a middle school that you wish existed? Genuinely curious.[/quote

I am looking to continue dual language. Oyster is far from guaranteed. Plus, I'm not sure that I even like it or that my child will. MacFarland does not seem like it is a great school yet. I am not sure how Montessouri would work for middle school.

Then your option is DCI. Whether MacFarland is great or not, that's your only option for DCPS AND if you're not in DCPS now I don't think you can get into it (perhaps that's changed at this point). Oyster is a long shot but could happen. Truth isn't going to be strictly Montessori because there aren't likely to be that many kids who have spent elementary in a Montessori school. I think it's going to be more like Two Rivers/Cap City's expeditionary learning.

Yep. I know that those are my options. We come from a DCPS school. DCI with the chromebooks-I can't. That's why I say that I will reluctantly put down schools on the application. There are none that I am excited about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your only real choices are:

Deal
Hardy
DCI
Latin (long shot)
Basis (long shot)
Stuart Hobson
DC Prep

Maybe
KIPPs
Paul PCS?
Center City
Friendship

That’s it! So sorry.....

Wait, people now consider Hardy good? But I thought they had uniforms and that uniforms were bad???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The difference between options for elementary and middle is really stark. What are you looking for in a middle school that you wish existed? Genuinely curious.[/quote

I am looking to continue dual language. Oyster is far from guaranteed. Plus, I'm not sure that I even like it or that my child will. MacFarland does not seem like it is a great school yet. I am not sure how Montessouri would work for middle school.

Then your option is DCI. Whether MacFarland is great or not, that's your only option for DCPS AND if you're not in DCPS now I don't think you can get into it (perhaps that's changed at this point). Oyster is a long shot but could happen. Truth isn't going to be strictly Montessori because there aren't likely to be that many kids who have spent elementary in a Montessori school. I think it's going to be more like Two Rivers/Cap City's expeditionary learning.

Yep. I know that those are my options. We come from a DCPS school. DCI with the chromebooks-I can't. That's why I say that I will reluctantly put down schools on the application. There are none that I am excited about.

Gotta reframe. Excitement for a MS isn’t a thing- it is literally 3 years your kid will mostly just endure. Go to suburbs and you will find Chromebooks too, and precious few dual language seats. I’d list Oyster or MaxFwrland in your shoes. What’s your issue with Adams?

[Only people I know who are happy with their MS options are in private schools].