Two Rivers/Two Rivers Young: How Are Things Going Under New Leadership?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:So to the OP's original question, it doesn't appear that the new leadership has driven much overall improvement in the school.

Well, it takes a long time to make enough change that it'll show up in the data.

Fair point, but I was hoping to glean anecdotal insight.

Look, TR had a catastrophic decline between 2020-2023. The mass exodus of leadership is a related thing. From what I can tell, this year has been a majorly stabilizing year but it will take time to rebuild what was lost.

You can dig up multiple threads with lots of thoughts/opinions of TR the past few years, and I do think there are some valid reasons families were leaving. But what I also see happening has nothing to do with TR. There are more families who are feeling comfortable sending their kids to SH, EH, and now there are two Latin campuses, and Basis, DCI, etc. Again, I am speaking from the outside, as somebody who has worked in and had kids in DC schools for 9+ years now. Both looking at data and enrollment trends at other elementary and middle schools, and also anecdotal observations of families opting out of their TR spot to return to DCPS for upper elementary or middle, or turning down their lottery placement there b/c they are happier than they thought they'd be at their original school.

I’ll submit that this is because the entire TR model of inquiry/project based learning is ineffective, and especially so when the kids get to upper elementary and MS. It just doesn’t work, especially for kids who need more academic support.

Dumb take.

Not a dumb take at all. Direct instruction is an evidence based way to actually teach kids. As we learned with the whole phonics debacle, there are a lot of educational trends that are totally ineffective. Project based/inquiry learning fails when kids don’t have the fundamentals learned, especially math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So to the OP's original question, it doesn't appear that the new leadership has driven much overall improvement in the school.

How long has the new leadership been in place? PARCC test scores released at the beginning of this school year were for tests taken in April/May last year. Realistically, if new leadership wasn't in place by many months before the test, you won't see test-based improvement. Parents, teachers/staff and your own students are the best source of information on whether there are other types of improvement.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

[Anonymous]

Sheesh, we are all parents here, and In the same boat together. Kids are much more civil than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheesh, we are all parents here, and In the same boat together. Kids are much more civil than this.

We are all adults here. Which means your holier than thou, condescending tone is inappropriate. PPP missed the point. That was pointed out. To which you decided to...chime in to tell someone they don't have a right to disagree?

Go back to our 5 year old twins with that tone and approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

I didn't "fail to grasp the point." I just disagree. At the elementary level, the physical school environment matters. And I actually think you overestimate the importance of instruction for the children of well-educated, high SES parents. Studies show these kids tend to do well on learning assessments independent of the school, because they get the support they need at home and having well educated parents is a huge boon for literacy, vocabulary, and other key elementary learning metrics.

So it's actually not crazy for a well-educated, high SES parent to place a premium on a pleasant physical environment for their kids. There's evident that many children do not spend enough time outside or exposed to nature, and a campus like TR4's will only make that worse. You can supplement reading and math, but if your child is spending 90% of their weekdays with limited access to sunshine and nature, and the time they do spend outside is close to noise and air pollution, there is no way to fix that with some extra assistance at home.

[Anonymous]

Such weird takes in this thread. The classes get plenty of sunlight. Why lie about this?

[Anonymous]

I just encountered a two rivers field trip at the zoo and the kids were all lovely and well managed from what I saw.

[Anonymous]

I have failed my family. Why do I go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

I didn't "fail to grasp the point." I just disagree. At the elementary level, the physical school environment matters. And I actually think you overestimate the importance of instruction for the children of well-educated, high SES parents. Studies show these kids tend to do well on learning assessments independent of the school, because they get the support they need at home and having well educated parents is a huge boon for literacy, vocabulary, and other key elementary learning metrics.

So it's actually not crazy for a well-educated, high SES parent to place a premium on a pleasant physical environment for their kids. There's evident that many children do not spend enough time outside or exposed to nature, and a campus like TR4's will only make that worse. You can supplement reading and math, but if your child is spending 90% of their weekdays with limited access to sunshine and nature, and the time they do spend outside is close to noise and air pollution, there is no way to fix that with some extra assistance at home.

We live in the city— of course there’s noise and air pollution all the time? What kind of bizarre take is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

I didn't "fail to grasp the point." I just disagree. At the elementary level, the physical school environment matters. And I actually think you overestimate the importance of instruction for the children of well-educated, high SES parents. Studies show these kids tend to do well on learning assessments independent of the school, because they get the support they need at home and having well educated parents is a huge boon for literacy, vocabulary, and other key elementary learning metrics.

So it's actually not crazy for a well-educated, high SES parent to place a premium on a pleasant physical environment for their kids. There's evident that many children do not spend enough time outside or exposed to nature, and a campus like TR4's will only make that worse. You can supplement reading and math, but if your child is spending 90% of their weekdays with limited access to sunshine and nature, and the time they do spend outside is close to noise and air pollution, there is no way to fix that with some extra assistance at home.

I agree about physical space but have to burst your bubble about academics. Yes your “high SES” kid will learn to read assuming no learning challenges. But learning challenges are not uncommon. And your “high SES” kid may miss out on many fundamentals of math & writing that do not in fact manifest out of thin air and need to be taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

I didn't "fail to grasp the point." I just disagree. At the elementary level, the physical school environment matters. And I actually think you overestimate the importance of instruction for the children of well-educated, high SES parents. Studies show these kids tend to do well on learning assessments independent of the school, because they get the support they need at home and having well educated parents is a huge boon for literacy, vocabulary, and other key elementary learning metrics.

So it's actually not crazy for a well-educated, high SES parent to place a premium on a pleasant physical environment for their kids. There's evident that many children do not spend enough time outside or exposed to nature, and a campus like TR4's will only make that worse. You can supplement reading and math, but if your child is spending 90% of their weekdays with limited access to sunshine and nature, and the time they do spend outside is close to noise and air pollution, there is no way to fix that with some extra assistance at home.

We live in the city— of course there’s noise and air pollution all the time? What kind of bizarre take is this?

Have you seen the TR playground?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird to read this thread. It has been several years, but back when we were looking into schools for the PK lottery, TR got a ton of hype, including from people we knew on the Hill. I even toured it, though after doing so, I put it very low on the lottery list. Not because of concerns about academics or leadership but because I thought that the playground area at TR4 was very sad. I couldn't imagine having to play in that small little space right off Florida Ave. Didn't seem healthy to me.

PK3 parents are adorable.

I'm laughing at this. I also shake my head at mention of playgrounds being the reason you select a school (or not). The irony is the kids don't even care. What matters most in the end is quality of education, which you will start seeing the fruit of sooner than later.

Academically, the school seemed fine, but the space was not very appealing to me and that turned me off it. Yes, teaching and culture matter more than environment. But environment still matters, and the limited play space at TR, and its location on a very busy and loud street, are reasonable concerns for any grade parent, not just PK. My kid is now in middle elementary, and I'd have the same concerns about TR's physical space now as I did back then.

700 words and yet you fail to grasp the point. The issue with TR is academics. But you're too worried about playgrounds to notice.

I didn't "fail to grasp the point." I just disagree. At the elementary level, the physical school environment matters. And I actually think you overestimate the importance of instruction for the children of well-educated, high SES parents. Studies show these kids tend to do well on learning assessments independent of the school, because they get the support they need at home and having well educated parents is a huge boon for literacy, vocabulary, and other key elementary learning metrics.

So it's actually not crazy for a well-educated, high SES parent to place a premium on a pleasant physical environment for their kids. There's evident that many children do not spend enough time outside or exposed to nature, and a campus like TR4's will only make that worse. You can supplement reading and math, but if your child is spending 90% of their weekdays with limited access to sunshine and nature, and the time they do spend outside is close to noise and air pollution, there is no way to fix that with some extra assistance at home.

We live in the city— of course there’s noise and air pollution all the time? What kind of bizarre take is this?

Have you seen the TR playground?

This. There's a difference between just living in the city and sending your kid to a school with a postage stamp sized playground that is a few yards away from a major traffic artery that gets heavily congested during school hours.

My kid attends a school in the city with a huge playground and field, two blocks from the nearest traffic artery, and the playgrounds are located on the side of the school with a quiet one way street, plus there's a big buffer between the playground and street.

In a time when we are understanding more about the value of physical movement and time outdoors for young children, I do think it's reasonable to see that TR playground and nope out. And not just for PK kids-- it's actually older kids who need that physical outlet most.

[Anonymous]

I’m also on the hill, can someone tell me what is going on at Two Rivers Young? About to list them on a PK lotto. Should we avoid?

Also on the hill with a competitive inbounds so we may not get a spot without a sibling! Thanks

[Anonymous]

Both 4th and Young are sketchy locations. Hell would freeze over before I would send my kids there.