Powell vs. Stokes

[Anonymous]

Which do folks think is best? Stokes has far better scores but Powell seems to have a lot of families who are invested and a great principal and the scores are on the rise. We have a shot at both with our waitlist numbers. Powell would be much better commute. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

How do you feel about jr high/high school? Stokes is part of the DCI consortium, so your child would be in good hands through 12th grade. I'm not sure where Powell feeds to right now, and I think it won't be settled until the DME/redistricting is done.

But if you're not sure you'll be in DC seven years from now, I'd go for Powell. There's a lot to be said for an easy commute at that age, and in my experience a neighborhood school is a great way for kids and parents to make friends nearby.

[Anonymous]

We're slated for PK next year, so I'm only speaking from having gone to open houses at Powell and meeting some folks from their parent organization. There's a great community school that's being built there and the idea that it's becoming "the Oyster of the East" seems believable to me.

Right now it feeds to Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC) but there's momentum building for re-opening MacFarland Middle School just a few blocks away, and re-vamping the adjacent Roosevelt High School. Roosevelt is currently undergoing a huge renovation and there's a hearty discussion here on DCUM about how to make it an EOTP alternative to Wilson: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/376902.page

A new high school with quality programming and extras EOTP is something that will benefit parents in all areas of the city, but has to be driven by the surrounding neighborhoods; so investment in Powell is really worthwhile.

That said, it's hard to get into charters and DCI looks exciting, so no one could blame you for at least giving Stokes a try. There's not a lot of comment from Stokes families on this forum so it's hard to know what it's like without visiting.

[Anonymous]

I think Powell has a lot gong for it and if I had the choice I might pick Powell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which do folks think is best? Stokes has far better scores but Powell seems to have a lot of families who are invested and a great principal and the scores are on the rise. We have a shot at both with our waitlist numbers. Powell would be much better commute. Thanks!

Is Powell your neighborhood school? If so, you can check out Stokes and if that doesn't work out for you then you've got Powell as a fall-back.

What are Powell parents doing when they play the lottery and get the opportunity to leave? It's really easy to say to your neighbors "we're all in this together" but when people can, they bail out of Cooke as soon as they can get in to CM or Hearst or wherever they can get lucky. It's no small thing to know you're with a cohort of families that is in it all the way for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which do folks think is best? Stokes has far better scores but Powell seems to have a lot of families who are invested and a great principal and the scores are on the rise. We have a shot at both with our waitlist numbers. Powell would be much better commute. Thanks!

Is Powell your neighborhood school? If so, you can check out Stokes and if that doesn't work out for you then you've got Powell as a fall-back.

[b]What are Powell parents doing when they play the lottery and get the opportunity to leave? It's really easy to say to your neighbors "we're all in this together" but when people can, they bail out of Cooke as soon as they can get in to CM or Hearst or wherever they can get lucky. It's no small thing to know you're with a cohort of families that is in it all the way for HS.

We played the lottery and got into MV. We are OOB for Powell and decided to stay. Not sure if other families played and are leaving. I'm hoping "they are all in this together". I really like the direction Powell is going and hoping for a great future.

[Anonymous]

Are there IB kids waitlisted at Powell for Ps/pk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which do folks think is best? Stokes has far better scores but Powell seems to have a lot of families who are invested and a great principal and the scores are on the rise. We have a shot at both with our waitlist numbers. Powell would be much better commute. Thanks!

Is Powell your neighborhood school? If so, you can check out Stokes and if that doesn't work out for you then you've got Powell as a fall-back.

What are Powell parents doing when they play the lottery and get the opportunity to leave? It's really easy to say to your neighbors "we're all in this together" but when people can, they bail out of Cooke as soon as they can get in to CM or Hearst or wherever they can get lucky. It's no small thing to know you're with a cohort of families that is in it all the way for HS.

[b]We played the lottery and got into MV. We are OOB for Powell and decided to stay. Not sure if other families played and are leaving. I'm hoping "they are all in this together". I really like the direction Powell is going and hoping for a great future.

Wow - seriously?? Good for you I guess, but is it too late to back out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which do folks think is best? Stokes has far better scores but Powell seems to have a lot of families who are invested and a great principal and the scores are on the rise. We have a shot at both with our waitlist numbers. Powell would be much better commute. Thanks!

Is Powell your neighborhood school? If so, you can check out Stokes and if that doesn't work out for you then you've got Powell as a fall-back.

What are Powell parents doing when they play the lottery and get the opportunity to leave? It's really easy to say to your neighbors "we're all in this together" but when people can, they bail out of Cooke as soon as they can get in to CM or Hearst or wherever they can get lucky. It's no small thing to know you're with a cohort of families that is in it all the way for HS.

[b]We played the lottery and got into MV. We are OOB for Powell and decided to stay. Not sure if other families played and are leaving. I'm hoping "they are all in this together". I really like the direction Powell is going and hoping for a great future.

Wow - seriously?? Good for you I guess, but is it too late to back out?

Back out of what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there IB kids waitlisted at Powell for Ps/pk?

40 for pk3....don't know about pk4

[Anonymous]

Did they give up their MV spot yet?

[Anonymous]

Wow! Wonder how many of the IB families will stick it out for K in the neighborhood. That is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there IB kids waitlisted at Powell for Ps/pk?

40 for pk3....don't know about pk4

At PK4 - 24 seats, all 16 inbound applicants all admitted. 3 OOB with no preference admitted. 56 others on waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they give up their MV spot yet?

Yes we did two Fridays ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there IB kids waitlisted at Powell for Ps/pk?

Yes, absolutely.