Why do Parents Believe in DCI?

[Anonymous]

I see stories again and again on DCUM struggling to commit to Hardy or Eliot-Hine. Then I see threads full of envy about DCI access. What gives? Why the willingness to commit to something so new vs unwillingness to join efforts to integrate DCPS?

[Anonymous]

You are comparing apples and oranges. After being at a DCI feeder and learning another language since preschool, most parents want their children to continue in the immersion language.

[Anonymous]

Also founders have proven track record among charter parents (started Yu Ying).

Feeder parents have proven willing to take risks - most of kids now entering DCI were among the first few classes to go through their charters.

The start up dynamic involves risk but of a different sort than entering a traditional DCPS that has not had a lot of IB families attend before.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone is envious of DCI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone is envious of DCI

Exactly. We opted out of DCI and know of others who have as well. I was speaking to one of my kids friends who could not understand why I was not sending my children on to DCI. I think her reason for continuing on to DCI with no track record imight answer your question OP. She wants her children to go on to DCI because she wants her children to continue the Mandarin and pick up Spanish while obtaining an IB certification. People have their reasons, but until DCI actually post their test scores or graduate a class, I agree with you OP.

[Anonymous]

If parens believe in their DCI feeder elementary, why wouldn't they believe in their middle school? It's not like DCI is also accepting huge swaths of students from SE DC. We know what the feeders are.

[Anonymous]

I have heard there is a pretty wide range of academic levels, which I am sure is more common in MS. However, I am not sure that DCI can support all groups as well as teach in the target language. Also, I have heard from some families, there are behavior problems which have not been well managed. We are waiting to see how this year goes but are considering other options.

[Anonymous]

While we probably will skip DCI, we are at a feeder, Hardy and Elito-Hine are not on the radar for middle school for a whole slew of reasons including poor test scores despite a long record and not being able to continue in the immersion language. Most parents I've spoken to at our school feel the same so it's doubtful DCI is taking anything away from Hardy or Eliot-Hine.

[Anonymous]

So do you get it yet OP? Those of us at feeders who love our feeder school love the concept and have faith in the leadership, since DCI is a continuation and collaboration of the feeder schools. And yes, language continuity and IB status are great as well.

We as a family have NOT committed yet to DCI, because we have questions and concerns and need to see how it goes for a few years before we have to make a choice. But we are excited and definitely impressed with our current school enough to be highly optimistic that the concerns we have will be worked out and that the vision will be achieved.

A proven track record is also possible for a new school when it's started by founders of currently successful (by DC standards) schools.

Does that clear up the mystery for you OP?

[Anonymous]

DCI parents have self-selected and managed to weed most of the low performing and/or problematic students from their lower feeder schools.

They will replicate this model for later grades, with even more barriers to entry.

That is the charter way (at least, it's the the HRCS one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCI parents have self-selected and managed to weed most of the low performing and/or problematic students from their lower feeder schools.

They will replicate this model for later grades, with even more barriers to entry.

That is the charter way (at least, it's the the HRCS one).

Yes to self-selecting but bs to weeding out.

[Anonymous]

Then why have I heard stories about behavior problems and kids who are behind academically? I was thinking the opposite... that high achieving students aren't willing to take a risk on school without a proven track record, especially for middle school. We certainly feel this way. I am hoping for good test scores and some positive reports about the school because it would be so easy just to send DC to DCI!

[Anonymous]

If they are behind in DCI, they were behind at their HRCS. The continuation of the target language is the draw. Why waste six years of language instruction, especially in Mandarin which is a hard language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they are behind in DCI, they were behind at their HRCS. The continuation of the target language is the draw. Why waste six years of language instruction, especially in Mandarin which is a hard language.

this + (for many) escaping their IB DCPS middle school/EC option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then why have I heard stories about behavior problems and kids who are behind academically? I was thinking the opposite... that high achieving students aren't willing to take a risk on school without a proven track record, especially for middle school. We certainly feel this way. I am hoping for good test scores and some positive reports about the school because it would be so easy just to send DC to DCI!

- from whom?
- Where will you send your DC instead?