Flora Singer v. Oakland Terrace v. Rock Creek Forest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Einstein has a lot of high performing kids.

They do. And as one of the OTES parents on the thread, the earlier comment is laughable. I should forego the chance for my kids to become fluent in another language so they can avoid socioeconomic diversity? That's what it comes down to, PP, and you know it. One of the things our family loves about OTES is the range of diversity it includes. I went to a W school as a kid, so I know what that brand of "diversity" looks like. No, thanks.

I don't think you can go wrong with Flora Singer, OP, and if you like your neighbors, I'm not sure I would move. Seeing my Kindergartner excited to learn Spanish is pretty amazing, though, and I am so, so grateful for the opportunity.

Things have changed in the decades and decades and decades since you were a kid.

You might actually like your former school if you still owned a house in that neighborhood. But then you couldn't come on this board and make disparaging comments like that. Who knows. Glad you've found happiness at your school.

I know that they've changed, and it's not for the better (IMO). The neighborhood in which I grew up, which at the time was all small, post WWII homes, is largely filled with McMansions on tiny lots and is completely inaccessible to families like the one in which I was raised (absent family wealth). We have friends who moved there, and their daughter has had a horrible time making friends; another childhood friend with older kids also confirmed that it's not the welcoming, friendly place it once was.

Yeah, yeah, you want to believe you value diversity. You don't, not really. Own it.

Except, the flippers and McMansions are now in OT and Flora Singer too. They have done Chevy Chase, Bethesda and other parts so now they are moving out where the last of the "affordable" housing is (and its in quotes as its not really affordable especially for what you get).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Einstein has a lot of high performing kids.

They do. And as one of the OTES parents on the thread, the earlier comment is laughable. I should forego the chance for my kids to become fluent in another language so they can avoid socioeconomic diversity? That's what it comes down to, PP, and you know it. One of the things our family loves about OTES is the range of diversity it includes. I went to a W school as a kid, so I know what that brand of "diversity" looks like. No, thanks.

I don't think you can go wrong with Flora Singer, OP, and if you like your neighbors, I'm not sure I would move. Seeing my Kindergartner excited to learn Spanish is pretty amazing, though, and I am so, so grateful for the opportunity.

Maybe it will change with your grade, but with the older grades, a lot of families have moved out of the area for a variety of reasons (divorce, jobs, housing size and need more space) and the school is much less diverse in the older grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Einstein has a lot of high performing kids.

They do. And as one of the OTES parents on the thread, the earlier comment is laughable. I should forego the chance for my kids to become fluent in another language so they can avoid socioeconomic diversity? That's what it comes down to, PP, and you know it. One of the things our family loves about OTES is the range of diversity it includes. I went to a W school as a kid, so I know what that brand of "diversity" looks like. No, thanks.

I don't think you can go wrong with Flora Singer, OP, and if you like your neighbors, I'm not sure I would move. Seeing my Kindergartner excited to learn Spanish is pretty amazing, though, and I am so, so grateful for the opportunity.

Things have changed in the decades and decades and decades since you were a kid.

You might actually like your former school if you still owned a house in that neighborhood. But then you couldn't come on this board and make disparaging comments like that. Who knows. Glad you've found happiness at your school.

I know that they've changed, and it's not for the better (IMO). The neighborhood in which I grew up, which at the time was all small, post WWII homes, is largely filled with McMansions on tiny lots and is completely inaccessible to families like the one in which I was raised (absent family wealth). We have friends who moved there, and their daughter has had a horrible time making friends; another childhood friend with older kids also confirmed that it's not the welcoming, friendly place it once was.

Yeah, yeah, you want to believe you value diversity. You don't, not really. Own it.

Except, the flippers and McMansions are now in OT and Flora Singer too. They have done Chevy Chase, Bethesda and other parts so now they are moving out where the last of the "affordable" housing is (and its in quotes as its not really affordable especially for what you get).

They’re coming, but it’s not nearly what it is in Bethesda. The percentage of McMansions here is like what it was ~30 years ago in Bethesda (at least the part where I grew up). You can’t argue that they’re comparable at all.

[Anonymous]

I recognize that poster up-thread who for years has been trashing Oakland Terrace every.single.time. it is mentioned. I have always suspected a fired teacher or mental parent. They just can't let it go and it has been years.

I grew up in Silver Spring and so did my husband. We are both teachers (UMD for undergrad and GW for grad school, so truly locals!) . When we started a family a few years ago we knew we would choose OT or Flora Singer. OT won out due to the dual immersion language program. We are hopeful the program will continue to Newport Mill MS; we will see what to do when that time comes. We are fine with the DCC high school choices as husband and i are both products of them (Blair). The IB programs are what we are looking for; it will be most convenient for us personally if our kids choose Einstein, though as proud Blair graduates, well, we would be beaming if our kids continued the legacy...

[Anonymous]

Maybe it will change with your grade, but with the older grades, a lot of families have moved out of the area for a variety of reasons (divorce, jobs, housing size and need more space) and the school is much less diverse in the older grades.

I have a 5th grader at Flora Singer and have noticed no significant change in diversity in the older elementary grades. Are you talking about middle/high school? It seems like all of my neighbors are staying and enjoy Sligo, magnets, or the DCC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe it will change with your grade, but with the older grades, a lot of families have moved out of the area for a variety of reasons (divorce, jobs, housing size and need more space) and the school is much less diverse in the older grades.

I have a 5th grader at Flora Singer and have noticed no significant change in diversity in the older elementary grades. Are you talking about middle/high school? It seems like all of my neighbors are staying and enjoy Sligo, magnets, or the DCC schools.

Elementary. Maybe not at your school but it has been at all. Many of us are staying for the middle/high schools but some also leave especially needing more space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recognize that poster up-thread who for years has been trashing Oakland Terrace every.single.time. it is mentioned. I have always suspected a fired teacher or mental parent. They just can't let it go and it has been years.

I grew up in Silver Spring and so did my husband. We are both teachers (UMD for undergrad and GW for grad school, so truly locals!) . When we started a family a few years ago we knew we would choose OT or Flora Singer. OT won out due to the dual immersion language program. We are hopeful the program will continue to Newport Mill MS; we will see what to do when that time comes. We are fine with the DCC high school choices as husband and i are both products of them (Blair). The IB programs are what we are looking for; it will be most convenient for us personally if our kids choose Einstein, though as proud Blair graduates, well, we would be beaming if our kids continued the legacy...

That's great you are having a good experience but that is your experience and not everyone's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Einstein has a lot of high performing kids.

They do. And as one of the OTES parents on the thread, the earlier comment is laughable. I should forego the chance for my kids to become fluent in another language so they can avoid socioeconomic diversity? That's what it comes down to, PP, and you know it. One of the things our family loves about OTES is the range of diversity it includes. I went to a W school as a kid, so I know what that brand of "diversity" looks like. No, thanks.

I don't think you can go wrong with Flora Singer, OP, and if you like your neighbors, I'm not sure I would move. Seeing my Kindergartner excited to learn Spanish is pretty amazing, though, and I am so, so grateful for the opportunity.

Things have changed in the decades and decades and decades since you were a kid.

You might actually like your former school if you still owned a house in that neighborhood. But then you couldn't come on this board and make disparaging comments like that. Who knows. Glad you've found happiness at your school.

I know that they've changed, and it's not for the better (IMO). The neighborhood in which I grew up, which at the time was all small, post WWII homes, is largely filled with McMansions on tiny lots and is completely inaccessible to families like the one in which I was raised (absent family wealth). We have friends who moved there, and their daughter has had a horrible time making friends; another childhood friend with older kids also confirmed that it's not the welcoming, friendly place it once was.

Yeah, yeah, you want to believe you value diversity. You don't, not really. Own it.

Except, the flippers and McMansions are now in OT and Flora Singer too. They have done Chevy Chase, Bethesda and other parts so now they are moving out where the last of the "affordable" housing is (and its in quotes as its not really affordable especially for what you get).

They’re coming, but it’s not nearly what it is in Bethesda. The percentage of McMansions here is like what it was ~30 years ago in Bethesda (at least the part where I grew up). You can’t argue that they’re comparable at all.

They are coming and many of the houses will be slowly flipped over. 30 years ago they were more remodels, which was normal given the age of some of the houses. There are multiple houses being remodeled or flipped right now. Its understandable given how small the houses are but some are just too big for the small plots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Einstein has a lot of high performing kids.

They do. And as one of the OTES parents on the thread, the earlier comment is laughable. I should forego the chance for my kids to become fluent in another language so they can avoid socioeconomic diversity? That's what it comes down to, PP, and you know it. One of the things our family loves about OTES is the range of diversity it includes. I went to a W school as a kid, so I know what that brand of "diversity" looks like. No, thanks.

I don't think you can go wrong with Flora Singer, OP, and if you like your neighbors, I'm not sure I would move. Seeing my Kindergartner excited to learn Spanish is pretty amazing, though, and I am so, so grateful for the opportunity.

Things have changed in the decades and decades and decades since you were a kid.

You might actually like your former school if you still owned a house in that neighborhood. But then you couldn't come on this board and make disparaging comments like that. Who knows. Glad you've found happiness at your school.

I know that they've changed, and it's not for the better (IMO). The neighborhood in which I grew up, which at the time was all small, post WWII homes, is largely filled with McMansions on tiny lots and is completely inaccessible to families like the one in which I was raised (absent family wealth). We have friends who moved there, and their daughter has had a horrible time making friends; another childhood friend with older kids also confirmed that it's not the welcoming, friendly place it once was.

Yeah, yeah, you want to believe you value diversity. You don't, not really. Own it.

Except, the flippers and McMansions are now in OT and Flora Singer too. They have done Chevy Chase, Bethesda and other parts so now they are moving out where the last of the "affordable" housing is (and its in quotes as its not really affordable especially for what you get).

They’re coming, but it’s not nearly what it is in Bethesda. The percentage of McMansions here is like what it was ~30 years ago in Bethesda (at least the part where I grew up). You can’t argue that they’re comparable at all.

They are coming and many of the houses will be slowly flipped over. 30 years ago they were more remodels, which was normal given the age of some of the houses. There are multiple houses being remodeled or flipped right now. Its understandable given how small the houses are but some are just too big for the small plots.

Yeah, I agree that they’re coming to these areas, too, but slowly. And 30-ish years was when the McMansions (not remodels) started in my Bethesda neighborhood. I lived there still, so I remember. I still am glad we are where we are now and have zero interest in the neighborhood in which I grew up. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Oy vey.

Rookie parents like you make me chuckle ;0)

SATs and other test scores merely refer to how ALL students do. Your kiddo doesn’t magically have higher scores by attending one school over another. Those scores are boosted or dragged down by other students.

Next: your smart kid has better odds getting into a good college if he is at the top of his class rather than on par with a bunch of top performers. Your A student at Einstein will have a better shot at a limited slot in college than the kid with the same scores at BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As cool as the OT immersion program sounds, in the long run, your child will get a better education from RCF/Silver Creek/BCC. Just compare the avg SAT score at BCC vs Einstein. Plus with BCC at ~32% Black/Hispanic BCC will also provide you with the diversity many on this board crave.

Oy vey.

Rookie parents like you make me chuckle ;0)

SATs and other test scores merely refer to how ALL students do. Your kiddo doesn’t magically have higher scores by attending one school over another. Those scores are boosted or dragged down by other students.

Next: your smart kid has better odds getting into a good college if he is at the top of his class rather than on par with a bunch of top performers. Your A student at Einstein will have a better shot at a limited slot in college than the kid with the same scores at BCC.

Don't tell them that. Let them think Einstein is a lousy school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are one of the rare families who hated Flora Singer. We left for Forest Knolls which was fabulous. Consider adding FKES to your list.

OP here- Thank you all for your info! Good to hear about other recommendations as well. Regarding the comment above, what was the difference between Forest Knolls and Flora Singer?

For us, the quality of the administration.

[Anonymous]

We bought in a neighborhood zoned for Flora Singer before the language program as on the horizon. Had we known, we would have waited until we could find a house zoned for OTES. But it is what it is and I don't see us moving again. All of our neighbors seem to be happy with Flora Singer.

I do wonder how OTES will handle kids who move to the school partway through ES. I know of kids who have transferred into a full immersion program in 1st grade but none beyond that. I could see it being hard to do in say, 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought in a neighborhood zoned for Flora Singer before the language program as on the horizon. Had we known, we would have waited until we could find a house zoned for OTES. But it is what it is and I don't see us moving again. All of our neighbors seem to be happy with Flora Singer.

I do wonder how OTES will handle kids who move to the school partway through ES. I know of kids who have transferred into a full immersion program in 1st grade but none beyond that. I could see it being hard to do in say, 4th grade.

"Hard" is an understatement. Maybe an SSOL program will be necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought in a neighborhood zoned for Flora Singer before the language program as on the horizon. Had we known, we would have waited until we could find a house zoned for OTES. But it is what it is and I don't see us moving again. All of our neighbors seem to be happy with Flora Singer.

I do wonder how OTES will handle kids who move to the school partway through ES. I know of kids who have transferred into a full immersion program in 1st grade but none beyond that. I could see it being hard to do in say, 4th grade.

"Hard" is an understatement. Maybe an SSOL program will be necessary.

In DC, if you are zoned for Oyster but dont want to or are too old for immersion, you can go to another assigned DC school. Does OT have a back up like that, or an ENglish only track within the school?