Starting to freak about sending dd to DCPS

[Anonymous]

DD is slated to start Oyster in the fall for kindergarten. I'm starting to really second guess this. Who are the good teachers? Do the kids get what they need, especially considering Rhee's kids attend? Will my dd be behind? I'm all for public education and want so badly to stay in the city (metro-accessible city, not Lafayette or Key areas), but I'm a little nervous.

Experiences?

[Anonymous]

I am reading "Woman on Fire" by Sandra Tsing Loh - you might enjoy her take on public vs. private. It's pretty funny.

[Anonymous]

Oyster is awesome! Many people would be absolutely thrilled for a chance to go there. Why not stop in for a visit and see it?

[Anonymous]

My kid has been at Oyster for a few years. Everything's relative, but I expect the experience at Oyster is generally comparable to the other Ward 3 schools you mentioned. I don't know who's slated to teach K next year. Re. students' needs, I've had a hard time getting more than occasional enrichment for my child who is ready to do more. This is a DCPS-wide problem. Thank goodness the level of instruction is generally pretty good, though Oyster teachers usually aim for on-level and haven't been prodded much from above to raise the bar for students who are ready.

So, the bilingual approach is nice, the schooling is competent, and you can stay near Metro in a neighborhood with sidewalks.

[Anonymous]

Hang in there, OP. Tell yourself you're going to give it a year before you decide whether to keep her there. If it turns out it is not the place for her, you've only lost a year. If it turns out to work for her, then you'll be pleased you didn't pull her out. At any rate, you need to develop some kind of mantra to give yourself permission not to worry. Because you really don't have enough information yet and you're worrying about something rather far off into the future. Take care of yourself.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to understand your hysterics. Do you have some sort of 19th-century "nervous constitution"? Oyster is widely regarded to be an exceptional education opportunity. Not just for DCPS mind you, nor just for elementary schools. It really is a star in its own right. Is your problem that you are "surrendering" your child to influences outside the home?

[Anonymous]

Relax. I think Michelle Rhee has pretty high standards and she sends her kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the kids get what they need, especially considering Rhee's kids attend?

I'm confused by this concern. Wouldn't one assume the school would be on its "best behavior" because of this? Of course all schools should aim for excellence of course. We're starting in 2010 and are confident based on what most, not all, long-term parents have told us.

As to being behind (relative to English speakers?), my understanding after tons of research is that does not generally happen around the K age in the dual-immersion model of Oyster. Also sounds like they are (were) pretty quick to counsel out kids that don't seem right for the program.

Exhale OP. It'll work out.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to understand your hysterics. Do you have some sort of 19th-century "nervous constitution"?

When DCPS is consistently portrayed in the media as a dangerous and filthy morass, how can you blame her for having second thoughts. Even my mother, who lives far from this area, has heard about how terrible and dangerous DCPS can be, and was very concerned about my decision to send DD to public pre-K.

Oyster is a good school, and there are many good public elementary schools in the city. Your DD will be fine, and you are very lucky to have this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

I'm the Oyster parent who posted before-- let's tackle the "behind" concern. Are you worried the English-language instruction will be insufficient? That hasn't been a problem for us at all. Now, I have talked to some parents over the years who did have that concern and took their children out. Their kids were much weaker students to begin with, though, and for two out of the three families, their kids were learning English as a second language and Spanish as a third.

[Anonymous]

Janey and Murch are metro accessible and good.

[Anonymous]

But the feeder neighborhoods are much less walkable and urban in character than Adams Morgan and Woodley Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Janey and Murch are metro accessible and good.

They are very good schools, Oyster is really great and there really isn't anything to worry about. The neighborhood is lovely, you have the zoo, Adams Morgan, very close to everything, and you have a unique opportunity.

Also, if Oyster isn't your cup of tea after three years or so, you can do Janney or Murch without a problem. But kids can only go into Oyster OOB until about 2d grade, and if you move in bounds, the child gets remedial Spanish.

[Anonymous]

I heard that Oyster is not what it used to be. Yes? No?

[Anonymous]

It used to be mismanaged by a scary principal. No, in that sense, it isn't what it used to be!

I'm a parent at one frequently discussed school and used to teach at another. Let me tell you, rumors and boosters are unreliable sources of information. When I was teaching, I was very surprised by how little parents seemed to know, even the ones who loudly declared one thing or another about the school.