Looking for feedback on 4th and 5th grade a Jamestown

[Anonymous]

We are about to move into the Jamestown district and considering options for DC - to enroll at Jamestown or private school. Would appreciate any feedback from parents of 4th or 5th graders about class sizes, quality of teachers (if there are any specific ones to ask for or to avoid), how your kid(s) have done developing emotionally and getting ready for MS, etc.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are about to move into the Jamestown district and considering options for DC - to enroll at Jamestown or private school. Would appreciate any feedback from parents of 4th or 5th graders about class sizes, quality of teachers (if there are any specific ones to ask for or to avoid), how your kid(s) have done developing emotionally and getting ready for MS, etc.

TIA!

I have a 4th grader at Jamestown and a 6th grader who attended there in fourth, so I have a lot of experience.

First, the faculty is just great. I'm familiar with the male teachers in fourth grade -- Mr. Scarano and Mr. Donovan. They are phenomenal. Both are very into teaching their subjects -- Mr. Scarano was the type to come to every after school activity (plays, etc). I'm less familiar with the female teachers, but generally hear great things. The fifth grade team is all young, dedicated, motivating women. They are simply awesome.

Fourth grade is a huge step up academically from third. That's true across-the-board for ES, I think, but we definitely noticed it at Jamestown. Tests are harder and more about applying knowledge rather than reciting it. There is more reading, more projects, more homework. Math is done by clusters.

Fifth grade actually becomes easier on the homework front. The kids are in the trailers, but they're actually pretty nice. Roomier than the classrooms in the main building, a nicer bathroom. They can control temperature in the rooms.

Fourth and fifth graders at Jamestown have a lot of opportunities to do things: The school play is being cast right now (they're doing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). They can join chorus or band (strings or horns); both of those culminate in a trip to Hershey Park in May, when the school always wins top honors. There are enrichment courses, Girls on the Run, all sorts of other PTA activities.

It is crowded -- my dd's class now has 27 students, where in the past it was more like 21 or 22 (my older dd). So, part of me wishes you would stay away (hahahahaha). That makes for weird lunch times, etc.

Curriculum wise, fourth graders take a trip to Jamestown settlement and take swimming.

Hope this answers a few questions.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and regarding adjustment to middle school, my child has had a very smooth transition. I hear others have struggled. I think that's kid-specific and has nothing to do with 5th grade. That said, the "clap out" for the fifth graders on the last day of school moved me to tears, and I don't cry at anything.

[Anonymous]

DC was in Jamestown all through elementary. I have nothing but positive things to say about the school. Amazing community, fantastic teachers, responsive administration. I went to private schools my whole life and feel like I missed out on the neighborhood school experience that my kid had. APS tries really hard to get kids ready for Williamsburg Middle. 5th grade visits the school and then there are multiple opportunities to tour and visit over the course of the summer and leading up to the first week.

[Anonymous]

I would have paid private school tuition for the experience we had at Jamestown. So, I would strongly suggest that you save your money.

[Anonymous]

OP, welcome to DC and DCUM. Just FYI, it is generally frowned upon to discuss individual teachers on this board. THe previous post was generally positive about everyone, but you are asking for who to avoid also. Teachers are private citizens, not celebrities or political figures, and it is really inappropriate to solicit gossip (b/c that is essentially what you are doing) here. Keep in mind DCUM is a public forum that anyone, anywhere can read, but there is no way to check the validity of what is posted here. In any event, you can't handpick your kid's teacher. You are coming in in the middle of the school year so you're not going to have much say at all. It's going to be whichever class has the lowest numbers right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have paid private school tuition for the experience we had at Jamestown. So, I would strongly suggest that you save your money.

PP, I couldn't have said it better. My child was a 5th grader with the current group of teachers and had the best year - you're not going to find better teachers in a private school. I am noticing some strain in middle school (Williamsburg) due to the overcrowding so maybe look into private school then?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks very much for all the posts. I had heard and read many good things about Jamestown and quite frankly, doubted we could go wrong - you just confirmed it and put my anxiety at ease! thanks again!!