What about Eaton & Hearst?

[Anonymous]

I'm the mom who also posted asking about Stoddert....

Since I'm limited to 3 apps, how are Eaton & Hearst in comparison to Murch, Mann, Oyster, Hyde, Janney, & Key?

I'm trying to avoid going to ALL of the open houses, if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the mom who also posted asking about Stoddert....

Since I'm limited to 3 apps, how are Eaton & Hearst in comparison to Murch, Mann, Oyster, Hyde, Janney, & Key?

I'm trying to avoid going to ALL of the open houses, if possible.

OP again. I meant to say, I'm trying to avoid the open houses if the schools aren't close in comparison...

[Anonymous]

They get mixed reviews. Both are certainly in the top 20% of DC schools in terms of student performance, but they have some shortcomings too. The neighborhoods where they are have many families who choose private school, and as a result I've heard criticisms that there isn't as cohesive and engaged a parent core as in Oyster, Lafayette, Murch, Mann, or Janney. Also while Oyster, Mann, Janney have "superstar" principals, I haven't heard the same things about Eaton and Hurst. Still, if you're doing the out of bounds lottery, you might have a look. I know that some parents love Eaton.

[Anonymous]

Many parents love the Eaton principal. And I may be wrong, but wasn't Janney's superstar principal transferred to another school this summer?

[Anonymous]

Is it correct that the Eaton PTA asks each family for a $2,000 contribution per child? Surely that's option in a public school, right?

[Anonymous]

I am not an Eaton parent, but the minutes of the Eaton HSA (available online) indicate that the requested contribution last year was $450/child. As of May, 130 families had contributed some amount in 2007-08. Most of those who contributed gave the requested amount. Contribution is strictly voluntary and goes to fund supplementary teaching positions at the school.

Eaton is not alone in this regard; I believe many PTAs in NWDC and MoCO make similar requests of families.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, such a contribution would qualify as a charitable donation and the donor could write it off for tax purposes.

[Anonymous]

I think your chances of getting an OOB spot are much stronger at Eaton than at some/most of the other schools you mentioned--when I visited last year I was told something like 50% of kids are OOB, although the figure may be lower in the lower grades and higher in the upper ones.

[Anonymous]

P.S. OP, if you haven't already, check the archives. There have been many posts about Eaton, its principal, test scores, etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at Eaton and Hearst too. (I am inbounds at Hearst, walking distance to both). The open houses are next week. The 18th at 9:00 for Eaton, and the 19th at 9:00 for Hearst. I'm still in the fact gathering stage, and will be following this thread.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Another thing to think about and possibly plan for:
As it gets closer to the start of the school year, spaces open up. I know that in mid August they worked through a lot of the waitlist at Eaton. I assume this occurred at other schools as well. So - if you are OK with a little uncertainty, an approach may be to be uncommitted to a school until August.

[Anonymous]

Eaton and Hearst aren't as strong as Murch and Lafayette, but Eaton is on the upswing. They have a dynamic new principal and the parents I know there are really happy about the school these days. It's easier to get an out of boundary spot there, so it's worth a try.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what metrics you consider. Another poster indicated (on a different thread) that for white students, test scores are higher at Eaton than Janney. (I haven't verified this information.)

[Anonymous]

That post is here: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/26518.page#193208

[Anonymous]

Here's another prior pro-Eaton post: (The school is clearly on the upswing).

My daugher loves Eaton (and so do we). These descriptions of Hannah Montana etc. have not come up at all in her pre-K class where all the children seem well-grounded and the teacher promotes an inclusive, community-oriented setting. Unlike her preschool, there is no cliquiness either amongst the children or parents. Perhaps the Eaton issues the poster is describing existed under the old principal. But the school has been transformed by Ms. Gartrell, the new principal. The teachers enjoy high morale, the parents are energized, and the kids all seem to be learning and happy. It truly is amazing the impact a principal can have on a school. I know several parents who pulled their kids out of private school and enrolled them at Eaton and are thrilled with the change.