El Haynes vs. Powell: Are we crazy to...

[Anonymous]

We have 2 kids in Powell Elementary and we are enjoying the dual language Spanish immersion program. Yet we just got slots for 1st grade in EL Haynes, and now we're deep into decision stress. We are temped to stay in Powell, as its what we know, but EL Haynes has a great reputation, though Greta Schools ranks them about the same.

a. Are we crazy to pass up EL Haynes and stay in Powell?
b. Here are our pros and cons for both schools. Are we missing something?

Powell Pros
1. learning Spanish fluently
2. great school community
3. 82% Hispanic

Powell Cons
1. not convinced higher grades are doing that well
2. new principal
3. Title 1 school

El Haynes Pros
1. have k-12 - done with lottery
2. results were great, now are ok
3. our neighbors kids are there

EL Haynes Cons
1. no 2nd language instruction
2. moving to 3rd school in 4 years
3. school 40% AA, only 36% Hispanic
What is the year-round EL Haynes school calendar like with odd weeks off?

Both schools are close to our house, both have aftercare, and both are remodeling/newish so those are neutral.

Thanks in advance for you help.

[Anonymous]

"[S]chool 40% AA, only 36% Hispanic." Why is this a "con" for EL Haynes.

[Anonymous]

One spouse is Hispanic, so looking for ways for our children to know other Hispanic kids in school through natural friend process vs. trying to manufacture Hispanic friendships outside of school. They already have plenty of AA friends in the neighborhood outside of school, so its not like they'd be missing out at Powell.

[Anonymous]

Are you in-bounds for Powell and therefore can go back if you don't like Haynes? We're taking that approach with Powell and our charter (not Haynes)--we can always go back there. How did your kids handle the transition from a previous school to Powell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One spouse is Hispanic, so looking for ways for our children to know other Hispanic kids in school through natural friend process vs. trying to manufacture Hispanic friendships outside of school. They already have plenty of AA friends in the neighborhood outside of school, so its not like they'd be missing out at Powell.

With a Hispanic population of 36%, they will have plenty of opportunities to know other Hispanic children.

[Anonymous]

I would choose the K-12 option every time, but that's just me and my terrible luck with the lottery. I'd rather be done with it now.

[Anonymous]

The grass seems always greener, yada yada.... switching kids to a new school for the faint possibility isn't a good idea. It's upsetting and unsettling. If it were for something you consider a real and significant improvement, yes, but just because you got "lucky" doesn't make that option any better. (By the way, why did you even enter the lottery?)

[Anonymous]

In your situation, I would stay at Powell.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We are not in-bound for Powell and we don't like our IB options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would choose the K-12 option every time, but that's just me and my terrible luck with the lottery. I'd rather be done with it now.

I wouldn't consider ELH HS to be an option for my kid, so it's choosing one PK-8 that gets progressively worse as the grades go up, vs another.

I don't know Powell well, but if your kids are doing well, and they're benefiting from the Spanish, I'd leave them there.

[Anonymous]

OP here: we did lottery because of the Powell cons and EL Haynes pros

[Anonymous]

Congratulations, you won the lottery! Take the spots and never look back. Haynes is a solid school that prepares kids well for Deal. They have more parent resources that benefit the school. It's diverse and the children come from all over dc. Take and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations, you won the lottery! Take the spots and never look back. Haynes is a solid school that prepares kids well for Deal. They have more parent resources that benefit the school. It's diverse and the children come from all over dc. Take and don't look back.

"Haynes...prepares kids well for Deal." What are you talking about?!? Obviously the OP is not IB for Deal--if she were, she would already be at a very good IB feeder to Deal. The OP's school options are Powell, Haynes and (I assume) a crappy IB school--so mediocre/to adequate school options. If OP moves her child(ren) to Haynes, they will not attend Deal later (unless she moves IB or lotteries into a Deal feeder). They will "feed" into Hayne's not very good high school. That is all.

[Anonymous]

Those that say EL Haynes HS isn't good/ even an option: why? Personal experience? Perception? Data?

ELHHS (middle and high) is one of what we think is a reason for the switch. We are not IB for Deal, and not sure about McFarlane, our IB option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"[S]chool 40% AA, only 36% Hispanic." Why is this a "con" for EL Haynes.

Yes this is my question as well. Makes me sick to my stomach that so many see majority brown as a pro but a mixed brown/black majority is a pro. There is no other clear answer to this than anti-black, pro-Hispanic. Sickening.