Current Stokes Parents

[Anonymous]

We have a good number on the wait list for K. I'm interested in hearing what folks whose kids are currently there think about it. I'd also like to hear from people who have left and why. Also given that we would be starting at K, I'd love a sense of how hard it will be for DD to catch up with the second language. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Also interested in retention rates through the grades, NP here.

[Anonymous]

http://www.greatschools.org/washington-dc/washington/256-Elsie-Whitlow-Stokes-Community-Freedom-PCS/

[Anonymous]

My dc started at Stokes in K. Doing really well, one of the top in target language and now in 1st. Children catch on pretty quickly in the many ways that they introduce and incorporate the language. By end of K, I could not tell the difference between first year scholars and 2nd/3rd year.

[Anonymous]

To PP, how do you like it overall?

[Anonymous]

Overall great! Definitely an extension of home for us. They really do embody the child centered approach to teachng and running a school. My dc never wants to leave and even begs to go to Saturday Academy. Other parents are welcoming and energized about improving the school. The aftercare is great too...karate, art, chess, so many options.

[Anonymous]

Did any current Stokes parents participate in the lottery? Or were most happy enough not to bother?

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Maybe Stokes Parents are like YY parents and don't post on here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Stokes Parents are like YY parents and don't post on here

probably a good thing

[Anonymous]

I'm a current Stokes parent. My eldest has been at the school for almost 4 years now. We are very happy.
For me there are many positives:
engaged parent community, great teachers, aftercare is awesome and full of options; food is amazing and I do not have to pack lunches, my kids love school and never want to leave, DC is in 2nd grade and is reading, writing and speaking in target language on grade level (Spanish); DC is also reading and writing above grade level in native language (English); physical activity everyday for at least 45 minutes; art or music everyday;


Is the school perfect? no, but I think it is hard to find a perfect school anywhere. I've heard before and tend to agree that the administration is not as communicative as they could be, and I kind of agree. But through the PTA, these issues are being worked on and I am very confident will improve.

School choice is such a personal choice, but I am a very proud and happy Stokes parent- to each his/her own.

[Anonymous]

I recently had the opportunity to work with an early grade from Stokes. In my line of work -- let's say I'm a puppeteer at Glen Echo -- I work constantly with this same age group from many, many different schools.

Here are some cool things that about the Stokes group, RELATIVE to other same-age groups of kids from other schools:

it was pretty diverse, in terms of skin color, national origin, religion, SNs, and (suspected) SES.

the many parents in attendance seem engaged and on the ball.

the parents seemed like kind people.

Most of the kids seemed like they'd grow up to be kind people.

HERE's what wasn't so great, RELATIVE to all the other same-age groups of kids I regularly deal with from other schools:

- the kids were, as a group, hyper, inattentive and generally not well behaved. I had to repeat myself constantly and could tell, based on experience, that not much was sinking in.

- The range of apparent ability within the same class was much wider than many (not all) other classes of kids I deal with. I could see where this would be a potential problem in the hands of a less-experienced or less-skilled teacher. (Or not -- do they track in math and separate by ability? IDK. It would be hard to craft 18 different science plans each week to "meet these kids where they are," that is for sure.

- the teachers struck me as being really, really young. Again, relative to most (not all) of the other teachers I meet accompanying groups of same-aged kids.

OK. There are my observations. Read what you will into them or nothing at all. But do believe that I deal with many kids that age from many schools all over the metro area. (though, less so Virginia).

[Anonymous]

recently had the opportunity to work with an early grade from Stokes. In my line of work -- let's say I'm a puppeteer at Glen Echo -- I work constantly with this same age group from many, many different schools.

Here are some cool things that about the Stokes group, RELATIVE to other same-age groups of kids from other schools:

it was pretty diverse, in terms of skin color, national origin, religion, SNs, and (suspected) SES.

the many parents in attendance seem engaged and on the ball.

the parents seemed like kind people.

Most of the kids seemed like they'd grow up to be kind people.

HERE's what wasn't so great, RELATIVE to all the other same-age groups of kids I regularly deal with from other schools:

- the kids were, as a group, hyper, inattentive and generally not well behaved. I had to repeat myself constantly and could tell, based on experience, that not much was sinking in.

- The range of apparent ability within the same class was much wider than many (not all) other classes of kids I deal with. I could see where this would be a potential problem in the hands of a less-experienced or less-skilled teacher. (Or not -- do they track in math and separate by ability? IDK. It would be hard to craft 18 different science plans each week to "meet these kids where they are," that is for sure.

- the teachers struck me as being really, really young. Again, relative to most (not all) of the other teachers I meet accompanying groups of same-aged kids.

OK. There are my observations. Read what you will into them or nothing at all. But do believe that I deal with many kids that age from many schools all over the metro area. (though, less so Virginia).

So, you say you worked with an earlier grade, was it Pre-K? If so, it's mixed age and would certainly explain some of your observations, especially the range in ability within the same class.

[Anonymous]

So, unrelated to the puppeteer post, how does Stokes handle differentiation? What math is available at fifth grade?

[Anonymous]

Puppeteer, have you been to and could you make a similar evaluation with respect to Creative Minds. Accepted to CM for PK3, high wishlist Stokes, and appreciate your thoughts.