Feedback on Hearst ES

[Anonymous]

This is our 4th year at Hearst. The pros are small school, nice new renovation, green spaces.

However there are a lot of issues.
The removal of birthday and Halloween celebrations is really unfortunate. Also last year they reduced the window where you could drop off your child in the morning from 8:15 to 8:30. That made a huge difference for a lot of parents. The PTA has plenty of cash on hand but got rid of one free enrichment class per kid per year.

The aftercare program is horrible. There is no oversight when kids are on the DPR controlled playground. One day they couldn’t find my child — and that was the last day we enrolled her at Innis.

Also there is always a lot of finger pointing betwee. Hearst administration and DPR about facilities because HEARST does not control the outdoor spaces. No shade on playground, rat infestation, unsafe play structure conditions, light timing off due to daylight saving are just some of the issues that have come up lately.

Most of the communication from the principal and teachers is about discipline problems. Now that I have a child at another DCPS school I can see that Hearst has a long way to go.

It just seems like Hearst is chipping away at all the things that made it attractive in the first place.

Oh, I just remembered they also did away with the SEM program this year. Every month I just expect more bad news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is our 4th year at Hearst. The pros are small school, nice new renovation, green spaces.

However there are a lot of issues.
The removal of birthday and Halloween celebrations is really unfortunate. Also last year they reduced the window where you could drop off your child in the morning from 8:15 to 8:30. That made a huge difference for a lot of parents. The PTA has plenty of cash on hand but got rid of one free enrichment class per kid per year.

The aftercare program is horrible. There is no oversight when kids are on the DPR controlled playground. One day they couldn’t find my child — and that was the last day we enrolled her at Innis.

Also there is always a lot of finger pointing betwee. Hearst administration and DPR about facilities because HEARST does not control the outdoor spaces. No shade on playground, rat infestation, unsafe play structure conditions, light timing off due to daylight saving are just some of the issues that have come up lately.

Most of the communication from the principal and teachers is about discipline problems. Now that I have a child at another DCPS school I can see that Hearst has a long way to go.

It just seems like Hearst is chipping away at all the things that made it attractive in the first place.

Oh, I just remembered they also did away with the SEM program this year. Every month I just expect more bad news.

Perhaps your real neighborhood IB school would be a better fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps your real neighborhood IB school would be a better fit?

Thanks. I just am trying to provide some actual information, from experiences my family has had in the 4 years we've been at Hearst. I think all your comment illustrates is there is some perception that OOB families are not welcome. When, in reality, it's the OOB kids that are providing all the diversity and interest in the school. At Hearst, that diversity is going away with every class that is at or near 100% IB, and it's unfortunate.

I'm not saying it's a bad school. I am just saying, I have seen things going in a negative direction there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is our 4th year at Hearst. The pros are small school, nice new renovation, green spaces.

However there are a lot of issues.
The removal of birthday and Halloween celebrations is really unfortunate. Also last year they reduced the window where you could drop off your child in the morning from 8:15 to 8:30. That made a huge difference for a lot of parents. The PTA has plenty of cash on hand but got rid of one free enrichment class per kid per year.

The aftercare program is horrible. There is no oversight when kids are on the DPR controlled playground. One day they couldn’t find my child — and that was the last day we enrolled her at Innis.

Also there is always a lot of finger pointing betwee. Hearst administration and DPR about facilities because HEARST does not control the outdoor spaces. No shade on playground, rat infestation, unsafe play structure conditions, light timing off due to daylight saving are just some of the issues that have come up lately.

Most of the communication from the principal and teachers is about discipline problems. Now that I have a child at another DCPS school I can see that Hearst has a long way to go.

It just seems like Hearst is chipping away at all the things that made it attractive in the first place.

Oh, I just remembered they also did away with the SEM program this year. Every month I just expect more bad news.

Why all the hate on Hearst? Stop trashing DC.

[Anonymous]

The OP asked for an opinion. There are negatives and positives to every school. I think the poster who is constantly insisting that everyone who may have a negative is OOB is DISGUSTING. People are allowed to have opinions. And your attitude about OOB families is horrible.

[Anonymous]

Nothing wrong with OOB. But DC had a neighborhood-base elementary school system. That brings a lot of benefits — walkabilty, strong school-community alignment, students friends in close proximity, etc. As neighborhood enrollment increases, OOB places should shrink. Nothing wrong with that, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is our 4th year at Hearst. The pros are small school, nice new renovation, green spaces.

However there are a lot of issues.
The removal of birthday and Halloween celebrations is really unfortunate. Also last year they reduced the window where you could drop off your child in the morning from 8:15 to 8:30. That made a huge difference for a lot of parents. The PTA has plenty of cash on hand but got rid of one free enrichment class per kid per year.

The aftercare program is horrible. There is no oversight when kids are on the DPR controlled playground. One day they couldn’t find my child — and that was the last day we enrolled her at Innis.

Also there is always a lot of finger pointing betwee. Hearst administration and DPR about facilities because HEARST does not control the outdoor spaces. No shade on playground, rat infestation, unsafe play structure conditions, light timing off due to daylight saving are just some of the issues that have come up lately.

Most of the communication from the principal and teachers is about discipline problems. Now that I have a child at another DCPS school I can see that Hearst has a long way to go.

It just seems like Hearst is chipping away at all the things that made it attractive in the first place.

Oh, I just remembered they also did away with the SEM program this year. Every month I just expect more bad news.

So your top 3 complaints are: 1) the school refuses to waste instructional time for your snowflake’s BD party, 2) you don’t think you should have to pay for before care, and 3) you want free after school enrichment. Do you even hear yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is our 4th year at Hearst. The pros are small school, nice new renovation, green spaces.

However there are a lot of issues.
The removal of birthday and Halloween celebrations is really unfortunate. Also last year they reduced the window where you could drop off your child in the morning from 8:15 to 8:30. That made a huge difference for a lot of parents. The PTA has plenty of cash on hand but got rid of one free enrichment class per kid per year.

The aftercare program is horrible. There is no oversight when kids are on the DPR controlled playground. One day they couldn’t find my child — and that was the last day we enrolled her at Innis.

Also there is always a lot of finger pointing betwee. Hearst administration and DPR about facilities because HEARST does not control the outdoor spaces. No shade on playground, rat infestation, unsafe play structure conditions, light timing off due to daylight saving are just some of the issues that have come up lately.

Most of the communication from the principal and teachers is about discipline problems. Now that I have a child at another DCPS school I can see that Hearst has a long way to go.

It just seems like Hearst is chipping away at all the things that made it attractive in the first place.

Oh, I just remembered they also did away with the SEM program this year. Every month I just expect more bad news.

I disagree with just about everything this person says, but I really take issue with the highlighted sentence. The principal sends a weekly email that includes all kinds of updates. She attends every PTA meeting to provide a presentation on issues impacting the school. She is often at drop off and pick up to chat with parents. I get at least one update per week from each of my kids' teachers, and usually more than that. To say that "most" of the communication is about discipline troubles indicates an issue with this PP's kid, not with the overall communication from the principal and teachers.

On other topics, the lack of birthday celebrations is completely unimportant to me. I hadn't even realized it was a thing until this poster started constantly bringing it up on DCUM.

Finally, my kids have gone to Innis for 7 years and have never had an issue with them. I appreciate their flexibility and low cost.

[Anonymous]

What are differentiators if any between Hearst and John Eaton? We are renting in area and would consider both.

[Anonymous]

What are differentiators if any between Hearst and John Eaton? We are renting in area and would consider both.

[Anonymous]

SEM was awful last year. We are glad they got rid of it. Let’s teach the kids rather than sit around and do nothing and have nothing to show for it. It was fine two years ago but last year was an utter waste. Also glad they got rid of birthdays and the literacy parade. You may have more time to get multiple costumes but we don’t. And it never felt like our son got anything out of it. Just less instruction.

Also, DPR stinks. It’s their playground. We’ve begged and begged for changes. But it’s a different pool of money. Put sunscreen and a hat in your kid’s bag.

The teachers are great. The principal communicates a Ton. We are a happy family. And happier with the changes made this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are differentiators if any between Hearst and John Eaton? We are renting in area and would consider both.

Both are fine schools. Eaton has more students and less open space on the school grounds and surrounding area. They are going to be relocated for the next 2 school years for a renovation so after that they will have much improved facilities (Hearst was fully renovated a few years ago).

[Anonymous]

Eaton feeds to Hardy and Hearst feeds to Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eaton feeds to Hardy and Hearst feeds to Deal.

I’m not sure that is as big of a deal as it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eaton feeds to Hardy and Hearst feeds to Deal.

I’m not sure that is as big of a deal as it used to be.

No, but it is something that is different between the two school. The PP didn't add judgement to the fact.