DCI academics

[Anonymous]

My son is a very average student and he is bored. When I raised a brow about what he is learning and the lack of homework he said, "Doesn't every kid dream of school being this easy?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op. Why don't you reach out to school administration about scheduling an Faq session for parents on the curriculum? That seems like a better and more direct way to get info.

Or DCI should do a better job explaining its curriculum on its website. Every prospective parent should not have to call DCI with a laundry list of questions that could easily be answered on its website. It's a waste of time for both parents and DCI. I already have concerns about the academic rigor at DCI. The lack of information about DCI's curriculum on the website makes me wonder if the school administrators fully understand what they're doing.

Well, the benefit of an in-person session is that you can ask questions in real time. Why don't you reach out and try it? You could even offer to take notes on the meeting which could be sent to all parents for those who couldn't attend. I don't have a dog in this fight but that's what I would do if I had op's concerns. After all, they are not mind readers. So tell them what you want from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op. Why don't you reach out to school administration about scheduling an Faq session for parents on the curriculum? That seems like a better and more direct way to get info.

Or DCI should do a better job explaining its curriculum on its website. Every prospective parent should not have to call DCI with a laundry list of questions that could easily be answered on its website. It's a waste of time for both parents and DCI. I already have concerns about the academic rigor at DCI. The lack of information about DCI's curriculum on the website makes me wonder if the school administrators fully understand what they're doing.

Well, the benefit of an in-person session is that you can ask questions in real time. Why don't you reach out and try it? You could even offer to take notes on the meeting which could be sent to all parents for those who couldn't attend. I don't have a dog in this fight but that's what I would do if I had op's concerns. After all, they are not mind readers. So tell them what you want from them.

They should do both - explain on website and offer time for parents to get up to speed on it.

I don't think the question about how math levels for incoming students were determined has been answered yet. And how do they figure out the varying levels of Spanish with kids coming from 3 different schools, soon to be 4.

[Anonymous]

what do you mean the math hasn't been answered? Students are placed into the appropriate level, regardless of grade level. That was clear from the info session. Lots more info on math in this thread. What is still unclear to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean the math hasn't been answered? Students are placed into the appropriate level, regardless of grade level. That was clear from the info session. Lots more info on math in this thread. What is still unclear to you?

Do they give a common placement test? When does that happen? That's how it's done at Deal and Oyster-Adams, among others?

[Anonymous]

My DD was placed in the lower level math despite being on grade level and half-way through 6th grade math. I asked and was told it was based on teacher recommendations and standardized test scores. It wasn't based on grades.

[Anonymous]

12:28 here. Thanks 12:39. That's exactly what I was asking.

Since no one has PARCC scores back from 2014-15, it makes me wonder what standardized tests they used.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nwea.org/assessments/

[Anonymous]

did they use them from the year before?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:28 here. Thanks 12:39. That's exactly what I was asking.

Since no one has PARCC scores back from 2014-15, it makes me wonder what standardized tests they used.

Don't they use iReady assessments? That's how Deal placement is done.

[Anonymous]

They used assessments and teacher recs from previous years. They then tested students in English, Math and language classes. Student schedules are then changed to reflect their levels as determined by the pre-assessment tests they took and anecdotal evidence from their current teachers. Students are being moved into correct classes daily, including different language levels and support classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op. Why don't you reach out to school administration about scheduling an Faq session for parents on the curriculum? That seems like a better and more direct way to get info.

Or DCI should do a better job explaining its curriculum on its website. Every prospective parent should not have to call DCI with a laundry list of questions that could easily be answered on its website. It's a waste of time for both parents and DCI. I already have concerns about the academic rigor at DCI. The lack of information about DCI's curriculum on the website makes me wonder if the school administrators fully understand what they're doing.

Well, the benefit of an in-person session is that you can ask questions in real time. Why don't you reach out and try it? You could even offer to take notes on the meeting which could be sent to all parents for those who couldn't attend. I don't have a dog in this fight but that's what I would do if I had op's concerns. After all, they are not mind readers. So tell them what you want from them.

Wow! Do I work for DCI now? Based on your suggestions, I should take off from work for an in-person session (and later a group tour/info. session). I should then take notes on information that should already be on DCI's website. Then I should send those notes to other parents who couldn't take off time from work to bring them up to speed?!? Um, no. DCI should explain its curriculum clearly on its website. I could then ask the few questions I have (if any) when I attend the tour and info. session. Therefore, no ones time is wasted trying to do what DCI should have done in the first place.

[Anonymous]

We were also told that teachers couldn't answer questions at back to school night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They used assessments and teacher recs from previous years. They then tested students in English, Math and language classes. Student schedules are then changed to reflect their levels as determined by the pre-assessment tests they took and anecdotal evidence from their current teachers. Students are being moved into correct classes daily, including different language levels and support classes.

You sound like an employee. It would be great if you would share this with the whole DCI community, including the teachers who seem to only be allowed to give out veiled and confusing answers to these questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were also told that teachers couldn't answer questions at back to school night.

???