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DC Public and Public Charter Schools
Middle School Choices Next Year
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Anonymous
My son got into 5th this year and the majority of the kids we knew who applied did as well. Almost everyone took the spots though, so there did not appear to be much movement on the wait list. So far, so good. He really likes it and feels challenged (not his experience last year). |
Anonymous
| do you think Deal is so impressive because of the facilities? I remember when my 1st son attended Deal 2 years ago the students were incredibly disruptive and the teachers didn't seem to care. The atmosphere was barely controlled chaos. Can things have changed that much? The student population is the same (except the youngest are in 6th), many of the teachers must be the same, can a new fancy building with smart boards, etc...make that large a difference? Maybe it can. |
Anonymous
I do not think its all due to the facility- although having been in the old school, it definitely helps make a great impression and makes me feel like its a place in which my son can be comfortable. My son is in 6th grade and I think all of his teachers, with the exception of his math and music teacher, are new to Deal this year. Some are new teachers (within the past 3 yrs), some are DCPS teachers (he has a 6th grade teacher from Janney for language Arts), his science teacher was an attorney for 10 yrs, then a teacher for 8- but new to DC and DCPS. I think Melissa Kim has absolutely turned this school around, and now she is on year 5, so the changes are becoming ingrained. I would say 2 years ago there was probably still a lot leftover from the leadership of the previous principal who had been there for 30 years. I have not known much about the IB program, but I am becoming pretty sold on it-- it seems to be very rich, with a lot of room for kids to go deeply into the material if they can/wish to. It is also seeming to be so much more than busywork and facts. I have thought that a lot of the poorly behaved kids in the elementary schools were not stimulated, and not excited about what they were being taught. After 7 years with kids in DCPS, that is something I am so grateful for-- it seems like a very creative yet directed curriculum which they take very much to heart (the IB certification visit is next month). |
Anonymous
| You have got to be kidding. This isn't the school I visited last year. There was no detailed curriculm. Please someone share the DCPS curriculum. I visited MCPS and they have a detailed curriculum and class course list - a fat folder that they gave me of course plans and courses taught to middle schoolers. I thought the enthusiam was great at Deal but I walked away with "where's the beef?" |
Anonymous
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To the PP,
Please drop by Deal and pick up the "6th grade Course Outlines" distributed at "back-to-school night". It is a very good overview of the 6th grade curriculum. In addition to the information the school provides, you can research IB MYP "international baccalaureate middle years program" on your own. I too visited MCPS middle schools before deciding to send my child to Deal. I also was given a very thick folder of curricular information. A lot of it was dedicated to the very complicated math tracking program which does need a lot of explanation. Please don't confuse the amount of paper with the effort made in developing curriculum. While it is not just the new facilities that make Deal's program so exciting, don't underestimate how much environment can influence motivation and behavior. I hope more people will give Deal the chance it deserves. |
Anonymous
| Do any other middle schools in DC offer the IB program? Does Wilson continue the program into the high school years? |
Anonymous
Latin parent here--again, I was impressed by Deal. I hope it thrives; I hope they all thrive. More choices for the rest of us!  ps. Yes, it is possible to get into Latin after 5th based on children moving etc. The school's charter only does not allow it to accept new children 10th and up--based on the Latin and other instruction being difficult to enter into at that point.
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Anonymous
| I believe the only other middle school in DC to offer IB on the middle school level is WIS. I think Banneker is the IB High School, but I'm not sure. |
Anonymous
Yes, Banneker provides an IB program. |
Anonymous
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so to get the most from the IB program one should go from Deal to banneker I suppose. Their website makes a big deal out of following the program through for 6 years.
FWIW a child I know entered the lottery for Latin at 5th and didn't get in. |
Anonymous
| What about E.L. Haynes? It will soon go all the way through 12th grade. Is this a good option? |
Anonymous
From what I saw on the tour, read, and heard form parents with kids there, E.L. Hayne is an excellent option. Unfortunately my child did not get selected in the lottery. You really need to get into the school in preK or K to have a chance and they give priority to siblings of existing students. There are just not that many slots. I have heard they are moving to three clases at every grade level which will open up more slots, but it is still not a lot given how many kids would like to go here. |
Anonymous
| EL Hayne seems to have a strong elementary program. I think the middle school portion still needs to be worked out. |
Anonymous
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I think EL Hayne has a lot of turnover in the middle upper grades. I know kids who have left in the 4 - 5 - 6 th grade range. Mainly "middle class" families discouraged with the number of disruptive students in class.
So, one can likely get an older child in, whether it will be the experience you're hoping for, unknown |