Creative Minds Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

What continues to be hopelessly naive here, is the notion that you can transplant the model of a successful private without significant retooling for a public. Privates have multiple barriers to entry (mainly in the form of high-WISC scores and of course $$). That means they can sort out anyone they don't want, for any reason: academic readiness, behavior and demeanor, attitude, and of course financial wherewithal, which generally means highly motivated parents and families. They can also ask students to leave at any time. Trouble learning? Leave. Problem in class? Leave. Etc.

CM will not have that option. It will have to take all comers, and barring anything criminal, will have to keep them. Disrupt the class? Too bad class, we have to accommodate the misbehavior. Slow learner? Too bad class, we have to slow down the level of instruction. Student needs extra resources? Too bad class, we have to take away potential money from your potential science lab to spend it on specialized resources for specialized needs.

It will have to open the floodgates, and the students who pour in will not be coming from the same academic background. It will not have the economies of scale to be all schools to all people. I'm no fan of Deal myself, but it certainly has that going for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

What continues to be hopelessly naive here, is the notion that you can transplant the model of a successful private without significant retooling for a public. Privates have multiple barriers to entry (mainly in the form of high-WISC scores and of course $$). That means they can sort out anyone they don't want, for any reason: academic readiness, behavior and demeanor, attitude, and of course financial wherewithal, which generally means highly motivated parents and families. They can also ask students to leave at any time. Trouble learning? Leave. Problem in class? Leave. Etc.

CM will not have that option. It will have to take all comers, and barring anything criminal, will have to keep them. Disrupt the class? Too bad class, we have to accommodate the misbehavior. Slow learner? Too bad class, we have to slow down the level of instruction. Student needs extra resources? Too bad class, we have to take away potential money from your potential science lab to spend it on specialized resources for specialized needs.

It will have to open the floodgates, and the students who pour in will not be coming from the same academic background. It will not have the economies of scale to be all schools to all people. I'm no fan of Deal myself, but it certainly has that going for it.

my charter does this now, and while it's not a private school, it is a fantastic school that is mostly middle class (maybe 60%). Right now there isn't enough middle class for a "come one come all" small middle-school charters to draw from, but there will be in 10 years. And enough middle class families will want them instead of a big dci or Deal that cmi and ss/lee/breakthrough (it that happens) and ITS WILL still be 60% middle class even if not the same 60% they had in 3rd grade. Some kids/families want big middle schools. We don't. A small 60% middle-class middle school will be fine. The kinds of schools these middles schools are creating (not sports centric, progressive education) will appeal to the same kind of parents that the elementary schools appeal to. So they will eb self-selecting in the same way the elementary schools are. And do know you don't "slow down the level of instruction" when you have kids working on individual and team based projects, right? These schools are different than all desks face the teacher and hear one lesson kinda schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP...because their DC is probably still in ES.

PP IB at Deal. You are correct we are three years away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

What continues to be hopelessly naive here, is the notion that you can transplant the model of a successful private without significant retooling for a public. Privates have multiple barriers to entry (mainly in the form of high-WISC scores and of course $$). That means they can sort out anyone they don't want, for any reason: academic readiness, behavior and demeanor, attitude, and of course financial wherewithal, which generally means highly motivated parents and families. They can also ask students to leave at any time. Trouble learning? Leave. Problem in class? Leave. Etc.

CM will not have that option. It will have to take all comers, and barring anything criminal, will have to keep them. Disrupt the class? Too bad class, we have to accommodate the misbehavior. Slow learner? Too bad class, we have to slow down the level of instruction. Student needs extra resources? Too bad class, we have to take away potential money from your potential science lab to spend it on specialized resources for specialized needs.

It will have to open the floodgates, and the students who pour in will not be coming from the same academic background. It will not have the economies of scale to be all schools to all people. I'm no fan of Deal myself, but it certainly has that going for it.

You do realize CMI is already armed with the extra teachers to do this. It is an INCLUSION school. Which means it takes all-comers and is prepared to deal with any behavioral, emotional, or academic issues the children bring. There is a full-time behavioral therapist at the school. Inclusions specialists in the class rooms. The classes are small intentionally so that real learning can take place. Golnar is being really thoughtful in her plans for the middle school. There is no naivety here...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

What continues to be hopelessly naive here, is the notion that you can transplant the model of a successful private without significant retooling for a public. Privates have multiple barriers to entry (mainly in the form of high-WISC scores and of course $$). That means they can sort out anyone they don't want, for any reason: academic readiness, behavior and demeanor, attitude, and of course financial wherewithal, which generally means highly motivated parents and families. They can also ask students to leave at any time. Trouble learning? Leave. Problem in class? Leave. Etc.

CM will not have that option. It will have to take all comers, and barring anything criminal, will have to keep them. Disrupt the class? Too bad class, we have to accommodate the misbehavior. Slow learner? Too bad class, we have to slow down the level of instruction. Student needs extra resources? Too bad class, we have to take away potential money from your potential science lab to spend it on specialized resources for specialized needs.

It will have to open the floodgates, and the students who pour in will not be coming from the same academic background. It will not have the economies of scale to be all schools to all people. I'm no fan of Deal myself, but it certainly has that going for it.

Do you really believe this about private schools? They just "kick out" slow learners? Many pick private schools, or smaller charter schools for the individual attention their child will get. For the specific differentiation the schools provide in small groups.

[Anonymous]

NP - if by slow learners the PP meant students with learning disabilities, yes, that can be the case. Not all private schools, but many of them do.

As for kids 2, 3 or 4 years below grade level, I would imagine a private school would have never taken them in the first place. But these kids do enroll in charter middle schools (progressive and traditional) probably because their parents now that the kids haven't learned where they are.

I think CMI is better positioned to deal with these situations than some other charters.

[Anonymous]

I have dyslexia and attended a private school. It was a great experience.

My own child now attends CMI, no dyslexia presenting. I love CMI and have found it to be very child focused.

We plan to stay for middle school (and we can afford private).

[Anonymous]

MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

[Anonymous]

NP...agree 100% with PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a lower grade at CMI. I just toured a private school k-12 program and focused specifically on their middle school to get an idea of what would be available to me at this private that I like vs the planned CMI middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that CMI has EVERYTHING this private had and more, with the Chinese language instruction and sensory stuff. All CMI needs to add for middle school is a science lab but nothing fancy as it is only middle school and an arts room to do ceramics and clay modeling. They have the space so this will be easy. As for the competition sports this is lacking but. Can be developed. I went to a k-8 school and it was fine. I also appreciated the diversity At CMI that you can't get at any area private. The fact is that CMI model has never been done in DC in a K-8 public model so really there is nothing upon which to base predictions. There are no schools that are public,for instance, which small class sizes like CMI so people are comparing apples to oranges.

Hmm. Trying to conjure up which "K-12 school" you might have toured. As in, the independent school that has no more resources in middle school than creative minds does.

[Anonymous]

Why are those at CMI insistent on spreading the "like a private school" message?

[Anonymous]

I missed the "like a private" post. But to answer your question, some at the school may feel this way because the classes are small and there is a lot of focus on the socio-emotional aspect of development. Everyone knows our kids at the school and has a vested interest their well-being. Kindness and respect are large parts of the community. The school grounds also give it that feel. Despite this we are very aware that it's a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.