How is MacArthur HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree AP Kennedy is great.

This! The other AP is equally impressive. They keep the school afloat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:When you see these types of responses I realize why this happens. Many parents think this is normal. I hope these incidents stop during the summer since students are on free time.

Seriously. The "other schools have fights" are whacked.

They may be fine with fights. I expect fights at my kids' schools to be far and few between and dealt with quickly and effectively by admin. Otherwise, we're changing schools because not all schools have such disruptive kids.

Where do your kids go to school? Be specific.

To a middle school with effective discipline and a selective high school at which most students are not inclined to physical fights.

Where? Be specific. Name the schools.

You can’t be serious. Not PP. Most privates may have drugs, but not fights. Don’t know about public. Does Walls have fights? Basis?

I didn’t even know fighting in high school still existed until I was in my forties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In-boundary rising junior. DD had a solid year—the majority of her teachers were strong, and she found a great peer group. There are enough opportunities for sports and extracurriculars to keep her engaged, and the club scene (who knew??) has been a delightful surprise.

As we look ahead to fall, I find myself increasingly grateful for the robustness of this astounding school community. It will be a pleasure to see the full school emerge with a quartet of amazing grades and the facilities teeming with young minds hoping for nothing more than to learn and take their place as the next adults in this challenging society. Truly, the corridors of the school pulse with the kinetic electricity of adolescent promise, their sneakers echoing the beats of tomorrow's innovation. The chemistry labs radiate potential; the English classes whisper encouragement, and the social studies classes resonate with debate.

The lunchroom is no longer merely a place to eat—it is a crucible of identity formation. The day-to-day challenges of finding your "crew," gossip that hurts feelings and sets back dreams, relationship drama, etc.—it's no different than any other school, folks. But it's important and not to be understated.

But let us not shield our eyes. There's an issue we need to tackle head-on.

The vaping is out of control. And there's more drug use than most naive parents think. My DD is very open with me and she doesn't mince words. Too many kids are vaping. There's pot use before and after school. And there are occasional sales at school.

My DD says “everyone’s doing it,” and I said, “Not on my watch!!!” Where are the hall monitors? Where is the zero tolerance policy?

I don't want to be dramatic, because the good outweighs the bad—BY FAR!!! But don't assume Little Zoe is clean just because you don't see or smell it. Ask. Then ask again. And ask other parents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you see these types of responses I realize why this happens. Many parents think this is normal. I hope these incidents stop during the summer since students are on free time.

Seriously. The "other schools have fights" are whacked.

They may be fine with fights. I expect fights at my kids' schools to be far and few between and dealt with quickly and effectively by admin. Otherwise, we're changing schools because not all schools have such disruptive kids.

Where do your kids go to school? Be specific.

To a middle school with effective discipline and a selective high school at which most students are not inclined to physical fights.

Where? Be specific. Name the schools.

You can’t be serious. Not PP. Most privates may have drugs, but not fights. Don’t know about public. Does Walls have fights? Basis?

I didn’t even know fighting in high school still existed until I was in my forties.

NP. Walls hasn't' had a fight in something like 12 years. They're very proud of this fact, and share it during open house events.

[Anonymous]

macarthur junior/senior that just graduated here. hated the drugs like nothing else, kids in the halls were always annoying and halls were never empty at any point during the day from skipping kids. they had to call school-round hallsweeps every period besides 1st pd latter half of the year. i got straight a's and 4.1 gpa by the end of it but the worst thing about the school are the kids. felt as though half of them would be on the street homeless in the next 5 years. the light's very dim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:macarthur junior/senior that just graduated here. hated the drugs like nothing else, kids in the halls were always annoying and halls were never empty at any point during the day from skipping kids. they had to call school-round hallsweeps every period besides 1st pd latter half of the year. i got straight a's and 4.1 gpa by the end of it but the worst thing about the school are the kids. felt as though half of them would be on the street homeless in the next 5 years. the light's very dim.

and this isnt even mentioning the amount of kids ive seen get on geek bars or rolling shit on the d6 back to dupont. kids suck but schools great if you dont care about anyone else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is MacArthur HS these days? I realize it is still very small.

Is violence/drug use similiar to JR HS? We are deciding if we buy within bounds.

I’d strongly advise you to talk to parents with kids at JR and MacArthur. This forum is, for some reason, full of people with no direct knowledge who insist on posting as if they were parents or had firsthand knowledge. My kid went to JR, and while it definitely had issues, they weren’t in any was similar to the bizzarroworld invented by DCUM fiction writers pretending to be JR parents.

+100

Never make a major decision, such as purchasing a house, based on what you read on DCUM. These schools have web sites and instagrams and student newspapers. They have clubs and teams with instagrams. They host open houses. JR has a regular “coffee with the principal” and I wouldn’t be surprised if MacArthur has something similar. Use non-anonymous sources.

This. seriously talk to a real world parent. most other stuff are noise. The NIMBYs in the palisades/foxhall are the same as the anti-macarthur cranks. they are largely either childless or send their kids to private, so not really useful here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is MacArthur HS these days? I realize it is still very small.

Is violence/drug use similiar to JR HS? We are deciding if we buy within bounds.

I’d strongly advise you to talk to parents with kids at JR and MacArthur. This forum is, for some reason, full of people with no direct knowledge who insist on posting as if they were parents or had firsthand knowledge. My kid went to JR, and while it definitely had issues, they weren’t in any was similar to the bizzarroworld invented by DCUM fiction writers pretending to be JR parents.

+100

Never make a major decision, such as purchasing a house, based on what you read on DCUM. These schools have web sites and instagrams and student newspapers. They have clubs and teams with instagrams. They host open houses. JR has a regular “coffee with the principal” and I wouldn’t be surprised if MacArthur has something similar. Use non-anonymous sources.

This. seriously talk to a real world parent. most other stuff are noise. The NIMBYs in the palisades/foxhall are the same as the anti-macarthur cranks. they are largely either childless or send their kids to private, so not really useful here.

If someone is telling you that the kids are high all day long, by all means meet the actual kids and see for yourself that they aren't. But for things like test scores, truancy, and in-boundary numbers, there's data available, and it's useful beyond talking to parents.

[Anonymous]

How was the first day?

[Anonymous]

Great!!

[Anonymous]

Our experience with an incoming freshman is that the school staff is doing a fantastic job communicating in advance and clearly to parents, and creating a warm, welcoming and fun environment for students. This is the principal and the APs with their ocial media and email communications over the summer, the office staff answering questions, and it is, so far, the teachers and their syllabi.

[Anonymous]

My freshman son is enjoying MacArthur it’s definitely a culture shock, he’s coming from Basis but he likes the school. He witnessed his first fight already though.

By the way, I am not upset about the fight. I know children fight all the time and I know how high school is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My freshman son is enjoying MacArthur it’s definitely a culture shock, he’s coming from Basis but he likes the school. He witnessed his first fight already though.

By the way, I am not upset about the fight. I know children fight all the time and I know how high school is.

I'm sorry he's having to deal with fights (I assume you mean in school). Not all schools in DC have them in the school building, but I certainly saw my share in the middle school I went to (out of state).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My freshman son is enjoying MacArthur it’s definitely a culture shock, he’s coming from Basis but he likes the school. He witnessed his first fight already though.

By the way, I am not upset about the fight. I know children fight all the time and I know how high school is.

I'm sorry he's having to deal with fights (I assume you mean in school). Not all schools in DC have them in the school building, but I certainly saw my share in the middle school I went to (out of state).

He wasn’t in the fight, it was outlet lots it was just a shock for him because he didn’t know kids fight 😂 my son had clearly been sheltered

[Anonymous]

FWIW the kids that have been fighting are the juniors and sophomores. The seniors are a calm, unique bunch and the freshmen so far seem calm. I think as the juniors and sophomores graduate every year the school will start to look and feel different with fewer to no fights.