Washington Latin PCS?

[Anonymous]

I am very interested in sending my rising 5th grader to Washington Latin next year. I have visited the school twice and have been impressed with what I have seen in the classrooms. I am a bit concerned about the facility and also that the kids do not have recess. I was wondering if someone who has a child there could comment on whether his/her child feels that there are not enough breaks in the day. How often do the children have PE? Is there enough down time at lunch? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Washington Latin has some fantastic teachers, and a curriculum that is different from anywhere else in the city. If your kid is liberal artsy, the school has a lot to offer. Math and Science are also great too, with advanced math offered for those who are ready for it. Science suffers somewhat from the lack of labs -- the upper school currently has a lab, but the lower school doesn't have any labs. However many of the science teachers are really inspiring and loved by the kids. Overall, the teachers are great -- most have a Latin background and they are committed to the classics curriculum and bringing it to DC.

The facilities are a problem, no doubt about that. There is no gym and, as I mentioned, a lab for the upper school, but not enough labs for every class to use in a given trimester. Instead of gym, the school requires kids to do an after school sport at least one trimester per year. There are competitive sports like track but also gym options for the not-so-athletic.

I don't think anybody involved with the school thinks this ideal, and currently they are looking for additional space for next year, as part of a medium-term strategy. I know of one place being eyed for next year, but I have no idea about whether it has gyms or a lab. The long-term goal is a permanent, larger facility with, obviously, labs and a gym, and also hopefully near a metro. But in DC that's really tough, so who knows when they'll get there.

[Anonymous]

Any options for afterschool arts? Is the school day still running until 5? If so, can children be excused for private music lessons, etc?

[Anonymous]

I could be wrong about this, but I don't think the lower school day runs until 5 unless your kid is doing after-school activities there, or maybe their one-trimester-per-school-year mandatory phys ed thing.

After school options depend on the teachers and what they are prepared to offer. There is definitely a theater group in the upper school. There was a knitting class last year with high participation from both boys and girls.

[Anonymous]

Hi, my son attends Washington Latin and we are quite happy. It is a school on the rise with a great vision coming from top down. We compared to other schools. Although, like all charters, it is somewhat underfunded, the facilites have improved quite a bit with the addition of the old British school 16th street campus. Latin also is free from the lockstep curriculum of publics. You end up with a cool, quirky, inspired classics feel. I would send your child if he/she would thrive with that. The after school sports are NOT mandatory until the higher grades-- but there are many optional after school activites that could keep your child until 5 (the green club, debate, magazine). These activities are 'for real'--not babysitting, and the children really seem to enjoy them. I have an active little boy who entered in fifth, and he honestly did not seem to miss recess (I asked). The children eat lunch and talk, and then they have organized PE almost every day. Though they have no gym--they get out to nearby fields and parks. The upper school athletics are very organized, and the upper school children compete all over the city. The Latin community reminds me of some strong, vibrant public schools like Hyde, Stoddert, Deal, Walls.... etc., but with a classics twist. Latin welcomes families who are collaborative, kind and ready to pitch in.