Placeholder Middle Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Sorry for trying to make Eliot-Hine better, I guess? Maybe someday it will be a good school for all. I know it isn't right now. But what's to resent?

I'm not the PP, but I would guess they resent that white kids have better treatment and some measure of protection due to their skin color. Thus her kids are being discriminated against due to their color / race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Protection from bad teachers and admin? Or protection from violent and disruptive behavior by peers?

[Anonymous]

both plus protection from low expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:both plus protection from low expectations.

Yeah - it’s just a tricky dynamic trying to negotiate being a high-SES/ performing black kid outlier in a sea low-SES but same race peers. It’s survivable, but I wouldn’t subject my kid to that if I had better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Moving to where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Moving to where?

Don't know where OP is moving, but others I know in that situation have moved to Silver Spring, Burke/West Springfield, Howard County, and Baltimore County if they're staying in the DMV, and North Carolina, Atlanta, and Montreal if they aren't. I also know one such family who stayed in DC but sends their kid to Ron Brown HS, and others who moved earlier on to PG county with a plan for Eleanor Roosevelt for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inspired isn't too tough to get into for MS and we are very happy there. Test scores are good and if you end up not moving there is a lot of HS application support.

+1

They also currently have a very good SPED team should your daughter apply while your son is still attending. A some amount of kids peal off for privates or sports, around that age. So, the middle cool demographics are more mixed, I find a good thing. The teachers are pretty good about differentiated learning. (Even easier to get a sibling spot at the school because of some kids going off to private or for sports.) And again as other said they help with high school applications.
But, it could end up being a good fit you your daughters middle school years as well.

[Anonymous]

Reviving this old thread after a search on Eliot-Hine.

I am a 4th-grade Maury parent and feel enormous pressure from the community to stay for 5th and send my child to EH. I am also not naive and know that many of my child's peers who claim to be heading to EH in 2 years are completing lottery applications right now. I thought people would be more forth coming in an anonymous forum. Did anyone here send their kids to EH and is now regretting it?

[Anonymous]

Not a Maury parent, but know some. Two years ago more kids went to EH. One year ago, a whole bunch of kids landed at the two Latins, Basis, or moved. I think it depends on the cohort. I did hear about people who kept the lottery/moving plans a complete secret.

My advice to you is to speak up and say that you're considering the lottery, and I'm sure some parents will come out of the woodwork. But ultimately unless you are very close and there is a pact, so to speak, you can't be sure what other families are doing. Sometimes there is even internal disagreement within the same family, and a decision isn't made until lottery results are received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this old thread after a search on Eliot-Hine.

I am a 4th-grade Maury parent and feel enormous pressure from the community to stay for 5th and send my child to EH. I am also not naive and know that many of my child's peers who claim to be heading to EH in 2 years are completing lottery applications right now. I thought people would be more forth coming in an anonymous forum. Did anyone here send their kids to EH and is now regretting it?

Way fewer kids went to EH last year from Maury. I think the second Latin campus taking 6th graders + COVID made landing somewhere much easier. SH also had a lot of movement and there are a handful of Maury kids who appeared bound for EH who popped up there. The year before that there really was a sizeable cohort... but quite a few didn't return for 7th (and one even left mid year). That said, I know a couple of neighbors who are happy and thriving there.

[Anonymous]

OP, you do know that you can move now and keep your daughter at her current elementary school until the end of fifth grade? That is DCPS policy as long as you remain a District resident. You would just need to account for that commute for as long as she'll be at her current school. But you may end up with a long commute for your middle schooler anyways, and I'd probably prefer the hassle of a long commute over making your son switch middle schools after one year. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

You are not alone. There is a deep privilege in white families having the ability to risk sub-par educational environments in hopes they will “make it better” in the three years their student is there. Not judging, but would be good if they acknowledged this dynamic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this old thread after a search on Eliot-Hine.

I am a 4th-grade Maury parent and feel enormous pressure from the community to stay for 5th and send my child to EH. I am also not naive and know that many of my child's peers who claim to be heading to EH in 2 years are completing lottery applications right now. I thought people would be more forth coming in an anonymous forum. Did anyone here send their kids to EH and is now regretting it?

Please think of the big picture and where you want your kid to go to high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this old thread after a search on Eliot-Hine.

I am a 4th-grade Maury parent and feel enormous pressure from the community to stay for 5th and send my child to EH. I am also not naive and know that many of my child's peers who claim to be heading to EH in 2 years are completing lottery applications right now. I thought people would be more forth coming in an anonymous forum. Did anyone here send their kids to EH and is now regretting it?

Please think of the big picture and where you want your kid to go to high school.

+100. "community" shifts over the years. It seems short-sighted to bow to this pressure and not explore all MS and HS options, given how limited those options are in DC for those grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer Jefferson to Eliot hine and it takes oob kids. Close to l'enfant plaza metro too.

So the consensus seems to be Jefferson, SH, then EH? Eliot Hine has the IB program, does it matter?

Jefferson and SH, six of one, half dozen of the other.

Eliot-Hine only seems to work for die-hard Maury families who've worked together to support their by-right MS for years. IB Middle Years Curriculum can only do so much for a school jammed with low SES kids who struggle academically and whose head never seems to last more than one or two school years.

Jefferson has better leadership and discipline than SH but, for some reason, no definite at-grade level classes outside math. SH offers honors math and English.

Jefferson only has around 20 high SES/white kids in all grades while SH has about 60 if that matters to you. Neither school has more than a handful of Asian students, with zero in some grade cohorts, if that matters to you. We could go to Jefferson from Brent or SH from a house IB for the Capitol Cluster Schools but passed on both after attending in-person open houses.

If it works for the die-hard Maury families, why wouldn't it work for others with a similar profile? Do SWS kids end up there too or where do they go? 9% white can't be all Maury kids, can it?

Well, I think part of what makes it work is that those families and kids all know each other well, and that's part of the appeal. It wouldn't be as attractive for someone whose kid would not already have good friends there.

But it wouldn’t work for our high-SES black family. Being white offers you sort of “protection” that out kids won’t enjoy. So it will be moving or private middle school for us thank you very much. Resentful…but grateful to have exist options others don’t…I guess.

Would not work for our Latino family either, regardless of the aggressive tactics of some Eliot Hine boosters.