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Where should we send our kids to school?
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Anonymous
2009 Reading Scores: Hor Mann 1.80% 6.31% 69.37% 22.52% Lafayette 0.35% 9.38% 65.63% 24.65% 2009 Math Scores: Hor Mann 0.00% 11.86% 42.37% 45.76% Lafayette 1.03% 9.97% 46.74% 42.27% So, Mann kids are a little better at reading and Lafayette kids a little (less) better at math. I'm not sure what criteria were used in the ranking you refer to, PP. For what it's worth, note that 35 of the 118 Mann kids tested had limited English proficiency, whereas only 16 of the 294 kids tested where in that position at Lafayette. I don't think these kids are counted in the percentages, but it must have some impact on the reading programs at the two schools. |
Anonymous
| I for upper NW, I thought Key had the nicest facilities...you should go tour all of these school people are referring to! |
Anonymous
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For above, also see the differences in economic circumstances at Mann vs. Lafayette. If you do that, you see that the two schools get pretty much the same results with the fortunate upper income white kids. In fact, that's true of several of the top performing DCPS ESs.
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Anonymous
| Mann has amazing before/aftercare. Separate from the school, though the staff walk the children over and back, come to events, PA meetings etc. Wonders--not for profit/amazing activities, HW support, values based disciplinary approach... I loved the before/after more than Mann itself! For anyone who has ever struggled with quality child care, that says a lot. This program should be sought across the city (it is MD based, which is why I think it is so limited). |
Anonymous
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For the OP, I'll put another vote in for Shepherd. New principal since the middle of last fall has really put some consistency in the overall program. There is french and spanish FLEX for the kids and they are going thru IB PYP certification now (final submission in Dec). There is before/aftercare and it is only OK, but a number of the teachers participate so for some grades that is good. Yes, there have been some bumps and instability in the past (partly why people talk down the school). It is much much better than "they" say and the test scores ARE improving. PK thru 2nd grade teachers are great which, of course, are not the DC-CAS tested grades...and a number of the higher performing kids have been leaving in 3rd and 4th grades the past three years.
On the community side there is a very active PTA for the school and neighborhood citizens' association. As a community to live in and walk to school Shepherd Park is great (though not too many homes for sale). Read thru the school newsletter on the website at http://www.shepherd-elementary.org/ and see if you like or no. Call and ask questions. If you are interested in music I will say that I believe that the school has the best school-provided no cost early elementary music education program in the metro area. I cannot say enough about what Ken Giles does for the kids. All grades receive instruction; very broad exposure of forms: classical, opera, jazz, blues, reggae, and folk as well in the target languages (French and Spanish). Both of our DDs had music homework. And if interested, violin instruction beginning 2nd semester K and guitar instruction beginning in 3rd (instruments provided for in school use). Amazing to see 70+ kids playing violin at the holiday concert. This past spring the upper level kids (2nd, 3rd and a few 4th graders) played Pachelbel Canon in D. After telling me all about Aida in 1st grade, reading music notation in 2nd grade, my now 3rd grade DD has progressed into DC Youth Orchestra. I could keep going, but you get the point... |
Anonymous
| Former Shepherd parent. I'd emphasize that the after care, "only OK", was a disaster for my family |
Anonymous
What happened to language immersion at Shepherd? I thought Shepherd offered French & Spanish immersion. When/how did that get scaled back to a FLES program? |
Anonymous
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Brief history of language immersion at Shepherd.
2006-07 school year, beginning of year, preK, K, 1st alternate days in Spanish/French and English. Spring break, program scaled back to 10 hours per week in Spanish/French, remainder of week in English 2007-08 school year, preK, K, 1, 2 -- 10 hours per week in French / Spanish, remainder of time in English 2008-09 school year. Beginning of year, preK, K, 1, 2 -- 6 hours per week, grades 3, 4, 5 -- something less. December, new principal mid-year issues policy statement (Frequently asked Questions) that indicates the goal is "exposure" not fluency. Scaled back to 3 hours per week of language for lower grades, two 45 minute periods per week for upper 2009- 10 school year. Continuation of 3 hours per week as maximum. |
Anonymous
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13:11 poster here...I misstated it earlier, Shepherd more appropriately has a FLES program as opposed to FLEX. From its inception, it was never a true "immersion" program; however advertised. There never have been enough native speakers in either French or Spanish for it to be formally called an immersion program (like Oyster) and the hours of content-based instruction to the DCPS standards in the target language were not quite enough to be partial immersion (and varied by individual class). So it hasn't really been scaled back, just now being advertised for what it is; not what some in the parent community would have preferred it to be. French and Spanish were taught with different approachs. Can't speak speak for the French instruction, but in Spanish in 1st grade (07/08 ) was taught as content-enriched FLES with the social studies/geography and science taught in Spanish. Oldest DD explained photosynthesis to me English that she learned in Spanish that year. Last year different arrangement of the curriculum (new principal) and it is more a tradtional FLES model with instructional language class. [these web sites help explain the general distinctions: http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9212/programs.htm and http://www.ericdigests.org/1994/immersion.htm] And to 13:51 poster, yes that is why I said "OK." Some families have had good experiences, some bad. For our 2nd DD it was a mixed bag. |