Oyster vs. Ross

[Anonymous]

We are moving in the spring and will likely choose a place in one of these school zones. We'll have a 3 and 5 year old next year, so the oldest will get a Kindergarten spot and the youngest would get sibling priority. They both seem like great programs, each with their own pros:

Oyster: Bilingual, school goes through 8th grade, feeds to Wilson, more established program

Ross: Starts at PS-3 (vs PK-4 at Oyster), smaller school, slightly prefer the Logan/Dupont vibe over Woodley Park

On paper, it seems Oyster is the definite better choice. My main hesitancy is that my 3-year-old would not be able to attend and we'd have two pick-up/drop-off locations each day to deal with, and possibly have to pay for another year of private childcare for the 3-year-old (both of which we've been doing for the last two years and are not ideal). I should probably just suck it up for one more year, right? Any really strong Ross supporters out there??

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of rumor that Oyster will not feed into Wilson in the future so I'm not sure I'd make that a decision point.

I know people who love both schools. To me, it would depend on how important Spanish is to you.

[Anonymous]

Ross hands down. Read the reviews on GreatSchools. Oyster's principal is very weak. Most leave Oyster before completing G8 and there are active parents at Ross who, by the time your child is moving on, will have likely ensured an excellent feeder option.

[Anonymous]

Lots of families seem to get into Marie Reed in Adams Morgan for PS-3, then move on to Oyster...

[Anonymous]

Ross already has more IB-with-sibling apps for its PS3 than it can accept. So it's not a guarantee your younger one will get in even with both preferences.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do you are going to have to deal with a degree of uncertainty with the boundary revision going on. Shouldn't impact your 5 y.o. as wont come into effect until 2015/16, but might impact your 3 y.o. if he/she doesn't start at the same school next year. Feed patterns also up in the air. IB kids at Ross currently have the choice of Frances Stevens (IB MS) or Cardozo (Ross feed), and Wilson (IB HS) or Cardozo (Ross/Frances Stevens feed). Ross parents campaigning for a Hardy / Wilson feed, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ross already has more IB-with-sibling apps for its PS3 than it can accept. So it's not a guarantee your younger one will get in even with both preferences.

OP here - that's what I was afraid of as well, but the results from last year suggest that all IB-with-sibs got accepted. It's definitely not a given in you are just IB without a sib, but I think you're safe if you have a sib. I realize things may change with the new lottery rules this year, but I would find it really hard to believe that the PS-3 class is ENTIRELY siblings of older students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ross already has more IB-with-sibling apps for its PS3 than it can accept. So it's not a guarantee your younger one will get in even with both preferences.

Not sure this is true. Last year 5 IB with sibling were addmitted to PS3. 9 places went to IB no sibling. http://dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/Learn-About-Schools/OOB%20-%20Schools%20That%20Have%20Seats/2013%20Lottery%20Results%20for%20Web%20Post.pdf

[Anonymous]

I would choose Ross over Oyster. It is a great little school. If your 3 year old doesn't get in the first year, you could put her in Garrison, which isn't too far away and is getting stronger every year.

[Anonymous]

Ross. Unless you are a bilingual family and have a high tolerance for confusion and would be willing and able to stick around if or when the school moves to one location. Or becomes a magnet or charter with no boundaries and some type of language screen. Which is what the teachers and principal wants. There is no consensus among families and no space to move into for a school of 650 kids on pk to 8. It would take at least three years to even find a place they said last year.

Don't buy anything in DC just for a school.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting. There was a time, just a few years ago, that Oyster was among the most coveted schools-I'd say top 3 in DCPS. People could only dream of getting a spot if they were not in boundary.
Great for Ross-only hear great things about that school and Garrison too.
We never know what is around the corner in DCPS.
Stay involved, parents!

[Anonymous]

I'm zoned for Oyster and this thread is kind of depressing me. I've heard it all before and my gut just says it is not the right fit for us. Ugh, I feel so helpless since I am the most unlucky person on the planet so would never dream we get a lottery slot next year. Sigh. Anyway, sounds like Ross is a gem OP!

[Anonymous]

Oyster is the best school you will find. It might not be the traditional "best"-very basic curriculum-but the community is out of this world. You and your children would be welcomed like family. Oyster is, by all accounts, a home, and no other school can give you that feeling.
"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ross already has more IB-with-sibling apps for its PS3 than it can accept. So it's not a guarantee your younger one will get in even with both preferences.

Not sure this is true. Last year 5 IB with sibling were addmitted to PS3. 9 places went to IB no sibling. http://dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/Learn-About-Schools/OOB%20-%20Schools%20That%20Have%20Seats/2013%20Lottery%20Results%20for%20Web%20Post.pdf

I doubt they have 15ib with sib. for ps3. wouldn't worry about that. my concern is that ross is getting so full that they will drop the ps3 class altogether...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oyster is the best school you will find. It might not be the traditional "best"-very basic curriculum-but the community is out of this world. You and your children would be welcomed like family. Oyster is, by all accounts, a home, and no other school can give you that feeling.
"

Oh please. LOTS of schools have a very close knit parent community and feel like "family," especially a small school like Ross.