Local school Janney and I REALLY want to support and send the kids, BUT...

[Anonymous]

...I am having trouble getting past the facilities. It is a cheerful happy place and I know that is all that matters, but when I close my eyes and see my son there, I just see that school needing a obvious overhaul. I KNOW it will be years before they make some decisions about the building (public/private mess), so, for parents who send their kids there, how did you get over it? Did you even NEED to get over it? I know that most kids, if they are happy, do not see old bathrooms and peeling paint, it is about ME. But how did you/do you manage this? I would love to save THOUSANDS of dollars for years to come...

TIA!!!!

[Anonymous]

Former DCPS parent here (but not at Janney). I also had to get past my dismay at the condition of Hardy (before it was renovated) as in -- I'm stressing as to whether I can afford to buy a house in the District so I can send my child to this rundown school after she graduates from her DCPS elementary. But I did and I'm glad I did.

But, OP, maybe you shouldn't send your kid to Janney. Usually I try to convince people that they won't ruin their children's lives by sending them to a well-regarded DCPS elementary school but I'm wondering whether that makes sense. DCPS may not be for you if you can't get past the condition of the school and, if you don't go, that may leave some open spots for people who do want to go. A lot of people want to go there so it's not like the school's future rests on your decision. Maybe you should leave space for someone else.

I'm not trying to be negative but I'm wondering if your heart is really in this.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Ouch PP. Have you been in Janney? It is pretty run-down (high up on the list of schools to fix, but low in priority due to this crazy city). Again, I find it to be HAPPY place, but after visiting so many well-appointed beautiful schools, it is reasonable that I may feel this way. I guess to me, it is. I don't think the school's future rests in my decision, I was just interested in how others felt about it. But thank you for your "not trying to negative" response.
{sigh}

[Anonymous]

You really can relax and float. We have been there 4 years and been absolutely fine with it. Dh is an Exeter grad. I did private as well. I don't even notice peeling paint. However, and I don't mean to sound bitchy, but here it is: parents who are really wishing they could do private and feel like they are doing everyone a great civic favor by sending their kids to Janney? Don't. The place is lousy with over achiever parents with too much time on their hands--who want to make school's soccer field into "the next big development activity" on their resume--and approach every school activity like it is a contact sport. Janney is still a happy place--but the dark side is a looming shadow. Of course, private school is full of over achiever parents but usually tuition payments keep them working and less petty, perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Ouch PP. Have you been in Janney? It is pretty run-down (high up on the list of schools to fix, but low in priority due to this crazy city). Again, I find it to be HAPPY place, but after visiting so many well-appointed beautiful schools, it is reasonable that I may feel this way. I guess to me, it is. I don't think the school's future rests in my decision, I was just interested in how others felt about it. But thank you for your "not trying to negative" response.
{sigh}

My kids go there. Please. don't come to Janney. Really. You sound like a nightmare. Yes, that's directly negative because you sound truly snotty and awful.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Hmmmmm. I am not sure what to think now. I have been told that if I send son there, be ready to get involved 100%. I am...I am a SAHM and can reasonably do what needs to get done. But I am certainly no over-achiever ready to overhaul anything. I am more, give me a list kinda gal. Is it a civic favor to send son? I am really just interested in saving money and good academia. When I say support the school, I mean as a neighbor and taxpayer. It is good for community, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really can relax and float. We have been there 4 years and been absolutely fine with it. Dh is an Exeter grad. I did private as well. I don't even notice peeling paint. However, and I don't mean to sound bitchy, but here it is: parents who are really wishing they could do private and feel like they are doing everyone a great civic favor by sending their kids to Janney? Don't. The place is lousy with over achiever parents with too much time on their hands--who want to make school's soccer field into "the next big development activity" on their resume--and approach every school activity like it is a contact sport. Janney is still a happy place--but the dark side is a looming shadow. Of course, private school is full of over achiever parents but usually tuition payments keep them working and less petty, perhaps?

Look over at the private schools board and you have a pretty good argument for Janney/DCPS. Apparently the overachiever parents have plenty to occupy them in the adminissions process alone!

I think that Janney is a great school. They just came back first in the % of advanced students, and good for them. I can see why it would seem inferior to private schools but if it really feels "happy," then my unsolicited thought is to save your $24,000/year for camps in wonderful facilities, vacations to gorgeous places, enrichment activities in great facilities, and college. Kids don't tend to notice fancy vs. not fancy, and most time spent in school is time in a classroom with a teacher. If s/he's a good teacher, and it's a comfortable classroom, the school can be great for your child.

At the end of the day, though, you need to follow your gut. If you don't like the place, your child could pick up on that, and you're the one who has to persuade your child to get out of bed and go take a math quiz when it's 33 degrees and rainy out. If you aren't enthusiastic, then it's tough to expect the student to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: When I say support the school, I mean as a neighbor and taxpayer. It is good for community, no?

You can do that while sending your son to private school. It is not either/or.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks PP, I needed your response! I agree, kids KNOW when parents are not feeling it. It can pervade everything, and that is what I am trying to flesh out right now. I want to be behind the decision...and just wanted to see what parents thought about it. I have heard so many things, my head is spinning. The standards are not high enough, they are fine. The classes are too crowded, but the teachers are great. The kids are not prepared for private school after, they are more than prepared.

I know there are no guarantees, with any school, anywhere. I just want to do the best by my son and are financial future. My DH and I both attended private Cath. schools growing up, so there is also that sense of just not-knowing.

Thanks though PP.

[Anonymous]

I also live in AU Park and am concerned about sending my son to Janney. I went to the last open house and thought that the school itself was charming. However, I saw one teacher yell at a little boy (2nd or 3rd grade) in a pretty nasty manner. She did this in front of the parents on the tour. Now I'm really having second thoughts and am looking at private schools, though I'm not sure we could afford it for two children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Ouch PP. Have you been in Janney? It is pretty run-down (high up on the list of schools to fix, but low in priority due to this crazy city). Again, I find it to be HAPPY place, but after visiting so many well-appointed beautiful schools, it is reasonable that I may feel this way. I guess to me, it is. I don't think the school's future rests in my decision, I was just interested in how others felt about it. But thank you for your "not trying to negative" response.
{sigh}

13:18 here: My dd did a summer program at Janney so I know what it's like. I don't think it is unreasonable for you to feel this way. I'm just pointing out that maybe you should accept your feelings and not send your kids there if you think you can't get past it.

And then I admit I was throwing in a little of my DCPS parent weariness at feeling like I should encourage reluctant parents to try DCPS. Lately there have been a few posts where people have been agonizing about how much they want to live in the District but how scary the schools are and I feel like I end up working way too hard to try to convince people they'll be okay -- and I should stop doing that. Some of those people would really be better off going elsewhere.

OP, if I misinterpreted your post, I do apologize!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you PP. I appreciate your candor. I know how you feel...I really do. Trying to get people to do ANYTHING is exhausting, isn't bad enough with our kids. MY DH and I are pretty attached to this neighborhood and ALWAYS said we would send kids to Janney, but now that the time is here, we are having cold feet. That being said, I have worked in the DC private school system for years and I KNOW how flawed it is. It is not the end-all be-all by any stretch of the imagination...in fact, many parents can tend to become pretty detached b/c they have written their checks and done their homework, now it is the schools job!

It is time to pull the trigger...I just wish I knew what felt right. But that doesn't make Janney right. It is just in the mix of many right choices.

[Anonymous]

Is there any update as to when Janney will be renovated?

The plan that will be put in place when it is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you PP. I appreciate your candor. I know how you feel...I really do. Trying to get people to do ANYTHING is exhausting, isn't bad enough with our kids. MY DH and I are pretty attached to this neighborhood and ALWAYS said we would send kids to Janney, but now that the time is here, we are having cold feet. That being said, I have worked in the DC private school system for years and I KNOW how flawed it is. It is not the end-all be-all by any stretch of the imagination...in fact, many parents can tend to become pretty detached b/c they have written their checks and done their homework, now it is the schools job!

It is time to pull the trigger...I just wish I knew what felt right. But that doesn't make Janney right. It is just in the mix of many right choices.

13:18 again -- I hear ya, OP. I just hope that if you decide to go to Janney, you go because there are advantages to being at the neighborhood school and that your family will get some benefit out of it and not just because the negatives aren't big enough to rule it out. But I know your biggest concern is doing what is right for your family. Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

This is what I like about private and charter school families: everyone's affirmatively OPTING in, instead of DEFAULTING in.