Latin Cooper versus DCI for IEP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Do you find the constant device usage a problem? I heard it has gotten a bit better but I still hear stories from the neighbor kids at DCI about kids in their class playing games all day. I worry about this for my kid with ADHD. I don't think it will be good for her.

Not pp, but yes. We hear from admin that they are trying to incorporate more offline learning, but it's not happening fast enough for my ADHD child, at least not so far into the first year of middle school. Who knows if the new principal will feel the same.

The school can lock down the student's Chromebook if families request it to a more extreme setting than the default. This can help but may also make it hard for the student to access certain sites that teachers use, such as ones with embedded videos.

From asking about computers when touring other schools, this problem is not unique to DCI so we will stay for 7th.

Meant to add when I asked this question of other middle school families I knew, some with older kids said Latin used to be much less computer focused pre-covid but now it didn't sound all that different from DCI.

DCI is much more screen focused than Stuart Hobson (kids at both). Friends at Latin describe it as having less screens than SH, so I’d be very surprised if Latin and DCI were equivalent in this respect.

Kids at Latin aren’t watching TV and playing video games at school like some kids at DCI. It is teacher dependent but in general so much screen time.

Kids at dci aren’t watching tv. Maybe in remedial classes? But not true for my kids or anyone we know.

Or maybe your middle school kid doesn’t tell you? It’s so secret that DCI kids spend tons of time on screens. On our lids shadow day at DCI tons of kids were watching Tv and playing non educational games.

That’s not been our experience. What I do know is the kids who were behind and struggling at our feeder were thrilled with the much easier curriculum at Latin. Finally they didn’t have to struggle to learn languages at a high level. Math and science is much easier at Latin too. It’s a great place for an average and below average kid. I do think dci drops the ball on average/struggling kids and they’d be better off at a much easier school like Latin. But whatever works for your kids of course.

How is this possible when the Latin Science CAPE scores are SO MUCH higher than DCI? More than 50 percent profieciency versus less than 10 percent? Latin is second only to BASIS on science education.

Ignore her. She posts this crap constantly, and about any school seen as better than DCI. Yesterday she was obsessively posting about how Schools Without Walls is only for mediocre students.

She? Your misogyny is showing

People can have different opinions based on their own experiences. Calm down. Also for what it’s worth- not just one poster. I’ve agreed with this person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you find the constant device usage a problem? I heard it has gotten a bit better but I still hear stories from the neighbor kids at DCI about kids in their class playing games all day. I worry about this for my kid with ADHD. I don't think it will be good for her.

Not pp, but yes. We hear from admin that they are trying to incorporate more offline learning, but it's not happening fast enough for my ADHD child, at least not so far into the first year of middle school. Who knows if the new principal will feel the same.

The school can lock down the student's Chromebook if families request it to a more extreme setting than the default. This can help but may also make it hard for the student to access certain sites that teachers use, such as ones with embedded videos.

From asking about computers when touring other schools, this problem is not unique to DCI so we will stay for 7th.

Meant to add when I asked this question of other middle school families I knew, some with older kids said Latin used to be much less computer focused pre-covid but now it didn't sound all that different from DCI.

DCI is much more screen focused than Stuart Hobson (kids at both). Friends at Latin describe it as having less screens than SH, so I’d be very surprised if Latin and DCI were equivalent in this respect.

Kids at Latin aren’t watching TV and playing video games at school like some kids at DCI. It is teacher dependent but in general so much screen time.

Kids at dci aren’t watching tv. Maybe in remedial classes? But not true for my kids or anyone we know.

Or maybe your middle school kid doesn’t tell you? It’s so secret that DCI kids spend tons of time on screens. On our lids shadow day at DCI tons of kids were watching Tv and playing non educational games.

That’s not been our experience. What I do know is the kids who were behind and struggling at our feeder were thrilled with the much easier curriculum at Latin. Finally they didn’t have to struggle to learn languages at a high level. Math and science is much easier at Latin too. It’s a great place for an average and below average kid. I do think dci drops the ball on average/struggling kids and they’d be better off at a much easier school like Latin. But whatever works for your kids of course.

How is this possible when the Latin Science CAPE scores are SO MUCH higher than DCI? More than 50 percent profieciency versus less than 10 percent? Latin is second only to BASIS on science education.

Ignore her. She posts this crap constantly, and about any school seen as better than DCI. Yesterday she was obsessively posting about how Schools Without Walls is only for mediocre students.

She? Your misogyny is showing

People can have different opinions based on their own experiences. Calm down. Also for what it’s worth- not just one poster. I’ve agreed with this person.

Oh look she is posting yet again while pretending to be a different person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With an IEP, you might actually be best off at DCPS. So unless continuing full-time with the current second language is really important to you (and/or a huge strength for your child), I think I would try 5th at Latin see how it goes.

My child has had an IEP since pre-k. We’ve tried two DC charters and one DCPS over the years, and so far I’ve been happiest overall with their current charter. I’m not sure Latin is the place for my child as everybody who’s praised their special education services has referred to their child as having a mild disability. I played the lottery thinking ahead about where both of my children could go that’s close to my home and didn’t think my older child would get in. Welp, they did and now i’m struggling with the decision to uproot them from their current school where special ed is working to transition them to the unknown. I also know if I let go of this opportunity, I won’t get it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With an IEP, you might actually be best off at DCPS. So unless continuing full-time with the current second language is really important to you (and/or a huge strength for your child), I think I would try 5th at Latin see how it goes.

My child has had an IEP since pre-k. We’ve tried two DC charters and one DCPS over the years, and so far I’ve been happiest overall with their current charter. I’m not sure Latin is the place for my child as everybody who’s praised their special education services has referred to their child as having a mild disability. I played the lottery thinking ahead about where both of my children could go that’s close to my home and didn’t think my older child would get in. Welp, they did and now i’m struggling with the decision to uproot them from their current school where special ed is working to transition them to the unknown. I also know if I let go of this opportunity, I won’t get it again.

I would not if you are happy and your child has a significant disability unless you will need an option for HS. What is the terminal grade of your current charter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With an IEP, you might actually be best off at DCPS. So unless continuing full-time with the current second language is really important to you (and/or a huge strength for your child), I think I would try 5th at Latin see how it goes.

My child has had an IEP since pre-k. We’ve tried two DC charters and one DCPS over the years, and so far I’ve been happiest overall with their current charter. I’m not sure Latin is the place for my child as everybody who’s praised their special education services has referred to their child as having a mild disability. I played the lottery thinking ahead about where both of my children could go that’s close to my home and didn’t think my older child would get in. Welp, they did and now i’m struggling with the decision to uproot them from their current school where special ed is working to transition them to the unknown. I also know if I let go of this opportunity, I won’t get it again.

I have no experience with IEPs, but I do have experience with Latin, and I doubt there is any school in this city that does more to nurture its students than Latin.

[Anonymous]

5th. We can stay at our current one more year but then we are back to square one next year. We are at a DCI feeder so that’ll be a possible option. I’m not thrilled with what I’ve learned via this forum so far about Brookland Middle or Deal but they offer the services so I know that’s where we’d be placed by DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5th. We can stay at our current one more year but then we are back to square one next year. We are at a DCI feeder so that’ll be a possible option. I’m not thrilled with what I’ve learned via this forum so far about Brookland Middle or Deal but they offer the services so I know that’s where we’d be placed by DCPS.

In this case I would take the spot. You can always go back to DCPS but you will not get a shot at Latin again. Also would not do DCI in this case. See previous comments.

[Anonymous]

Call Latin, tell them you matched, and ask to speak with the special ed coordinator. (You can try the same with DCI though I wasn't able to get many questions answered when we were choosing between the schools.) And speak to teachers and the ED at your charter. They have good insight about your kids and the middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call Latin, tell them you matched, and ask to speak with the special ed coordinator. (You can try the same with DCI though I wasn't able to get many questions answered when we were choosing between the schools.) And speak to teachers and the ED at your charter. They have good insight about your kids and the middle schools.

Thank you. I did connect with Latin already and plan to talk with my child’s current team too. I think what I’m really looking for is insight from parents about what it’s like day to day for kids that need more support. If anyone has experience like that at Latin or DCI, I’d love to hear it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call Latin, tell them you matched, and ask to speak with the special ed coordinator. (You can try the same with DCI though I wasn't able to get many questions answered when we were choosing between the schools.) And speak to teachers and the ED at your charter. They have good insight about your kids and the middle schools.

Thank you. I did connect with Latin already and plan to talk with my child’s current team too. I think what I’m really looking for is insight from parents about what it’s like day to day for kids that need more support. If anyone has experience like that at Latin or DCI, I’d love to hear it.

DCI has integrated classes- so your special ed class will have two teachers and some kids will have an IEP/504 and others will not. Kids get extended time and supports as outlined on their IEP. OT and speech therapists have been outside contractors for us and generally very good. My kiddo has had to learn to advocate for themselves at times, letting the teachers know they must sit at the front of the classroom or receive extended time. I have had the occasional issue and the sped team has been responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5th. We can stay at our current one more year but then we are back to square one next year. We are at a DCI feeder so that’ll be a possible option. I’m not thrilled with what I’ve learned via this forum so far about Brookland Middle or Deal but they offer the services so I know that’s where we’d be placed by DCPS.

In this case I would take the spot. You can always go back to DCPS but you will not get a shot at Latin again. Also would not do DCI in this case. See previous comments.

As someone with experience at dci, I disagree. We have been happy. You’re fortunate to have great choices!

I would email dci and straight up present these concerns. We had similar choice (not Cooper) and did just that. We decided on dci because of language and clubs dci had that my kiddo was excited about. The math tracking turned out to be a lucky bonus for my neurodivergent kiddo. Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you find the constant device usage a problem? I heard it has gotten a bit better but I still hear stories from the neighbor kids at DCI about kids in their class playing games all day. I worry about this for my kid with ADHD. I don't think it will be good for her.

Not pp, but yes. We hear from admin that they are trying to incorporate more offline learning, but it's not happening fast enough for my ADHD child, at least not so far into the first year of middle school. Who knows if the new principal will feel the same.

The school can lock down the student's Chromebook if families request it to a more extreme setting than the default. This can help but may also make it hard for the student to access certain sites that teachers use, such as ones with embedded videos.

From asking about computers when touring other schools, this problem is not unique to DCI so we will stay for 7th.

Meant to add when I asked this question of other middle school families I knew, some with older kids said Latin used to be much less computer focused pre-covid but now it didn't sound all that different from DCI.

DCI is much more screen focused than Stuart Hobson (kids at both). Friends at Latin describe it as having less screens than SH, so I’d be very surprised if Latin and DCI were equivalent in this respect.

Kids at Latin aren’t watching TV and playing video games at school like some kids at DCI. It is teacher dependent but in general so much screen time.

Kids at dci aren’t watching tv. Maybe in remedial classes? But not true for my kids or anyone we know.

Or maybe your middle school kid doesn’t tell you? It’s so secret that DCI kids spend tons of time on screens. On our lids shadow day at DCI tons of kids were watching Tv and playing non educational games.

That’s not been our experience. What I do know is the kids who were behind and struggling at our feeder were thrilled with the much easier curriculum at Latin. Finally they didn’t have to struggle to learn languages at a high level. Math and science is much easier at Latin too. It’s a great place for an average and below average kid. I do think dci drops the ball on average/struggling kids and they’d be better off at a much easier school like Latin. But whatever works for your kids of course.

You post this on every thread that mentions DCI and you aren’t even responding to what you quoted. This thread is about IEPs and not which school is easier. We are at a DCI feeder and a handful of kids left for Latin and Basis and it wasn’t because they struggled with language. One left because they were worried about sped services.

There is a lot of rage here. And I don’t know if I’m the person you’re screaming at and name calling, but I agree with this statement. The IB Diploma program is more rigorous than AP. That includes Banneker and eastern. And it is harder for kids to do schoolwork in a foreign language at a high level. This isn’t true for all dci students, but is true for many. I also understand Latin does not offer the same math tracking as dci. This doesn’t affect everyone of course, but for some neurodivergent kids that’s a total lifeline. I also understand Latin may have more advanced tracks for stronger students, but I could be wrong. We were very sold on the IB diploma and the language opportunities with the math turning out to be a wonderful bonus. And yes we also know kids who hated speaking our feeders language and loved going to school when they didn’t have to go through that. Those kids are lucky to have that option IMO!

I don’t know what made you upset but people are entitled to share their experiences and opinions on this website. Latin is a fine school as well, and if someone wants to disagree with me they’re absolutely free to do so. I do think it’s worth noting that they’re doing a great job with college acceptances and people seem happy. I don’t know anyone at cooper but we are familiar with many happy Latin families. We are a happy dci family. Op- you’re very lucky!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call Latin, tell them you matched, and ask to speak with the special ed coordinator. (You can try the same with DCI though I wasn't able to get many questions answered when we were choosing between the schools.) And speak to teachers and the ED at your charter. They have good insight about your kids and the middle schools.

Thank you. I did connect with Latin already and plan to talk with my child’s current team too. I think what I’m really looking for is insight from parents about what it’s like day to day for kids that need more support. If anyone has experience like that at Latin or DCI, I’d love to hear it.

DCI has integrated classes- so your special ed class will have two teachers and some kids will have an IEP/504 and others will not. Kids get extended time and supports as outlined on their IEP. OT and speech therapists have been outside contractors for us and generally very good. My kiddo has had to learn to advocate for themselves at times, letting the teachers know they must sit at the front of the classroom or receive extended time. I have had the occasional issue and the sped team has been responsive.

Thank you this is helpful. This is what I was told was the set up at Latin as well. However, google says DCI also has self-contained classrooms. Do you know anything about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you find the constant device usage a problem? I heard it has gotten a bit better but I still hear stories from the neighbor kids at DCI about kids in their class playing games all day. I worry about this for my kid with ADHD. I don't think it will be good for her.

Not pp, but yes. We hear from admin that they are trying to incorporate more offline learning, but it's not happening fast enough for my ADHD child, at least not so far into the first year of middle school. Who knows if the new principal will feel the same.

The school can lock down the student's Chromebook if families request it to a more extreme setting than the default. This can help but may also make it hard for the student to access certain sites that teachers use, such as ones with embedded videos.

From asking about computers when touring other schools, this problem is not unique to DCI so we will stay for 7th.

Meant to add when I asked this question of other middle school families I knew, some with older kids said Latin used to be much less computer focused pre-covid but now it didn't sound all that different from DCI.

DCI is much more screen focused than Stuart Hobson (kids at both). Friends at Latin describe it as having less screens than SH, so I’d be very surprised if Latin and DCI were equivalent in this respect.

Kids at Latin aren’t watching TV and playing video games at school like some kids at DCI. It is teacher dependent but in general so much screen time.

Kids at dci aren’t watching tv. Maybe in remedial classes? But not true for my kids or anyone we know.

Or maybe your middle school kid doesn’t tell you? It’s so secret that DCI kids spend tons of time on screens. On our lids shadow day at DCI tons of kids were watching Tv and playing non educational games.

That’s not been our experience. What I do know is the kids who were behind and struggling at our feeder were thrilled with the much easier curriculum at Latin. Finally they didn’t have to struggle to learn languages at a high level. Math and science is much easier at Latin too. It’s a great place for an average and below average kid. I do think dci drops the ball on average/struggling kids and they’d be better off at a much easier school like Latin. But whatever works for your kids of course.

You post this on every thread that mentions DCI and you aren’t even responding to what you quoted. This thread is about IEPs and not which school is easier. We are at a DCI feeder and a handful of kids left for Latin and Basis and it wasn’t because they struggled with language. One left because they were worried about sped services.

There is a lot of rage here. And I don’t know if I’m the person you’re screaming at and name calling, but I agree with this statement. The IB Diploma program is more rigorous than AP. That includes Banneker and eastern. And it is harder for kids to do schoolwork in a foreign language at a high level. This isn’t true for all dci students, but is true for many. I also understand Latin does not offer the same math tracking as dci. This doesn’t affect everyone of course, but for some neurodivergent kids that’s a total lifeline. I also understand Latin may have more advanced tracks for stronger students, but I could be wrong. We were very sold on the IB diploma and the language opportunities with the math turning out to be a wonderful bonus. And yes we also know kids who hated speaking our feeders language and loved going to school when they didn’t have to go through that. Those kids are lucky to have that option IMO!

I don’t know what made you upset but people are entitled to share their experiences and opinions on this website. Latin is a fine school as well, and if someone wants to disagree with me they’re absolutely free to do so. I do think it’s worth noting that they’re doing a great job with college acceptances and people seem happy. I don’t know anyone at cooper but we are familiar with many happy Latin families. We are a happy dci family. Op- you’re very lucky!

In no place does the post you are commenting on name call. It simply states facts. Your post was completely unrelated to the one that you quoted and your posts do not address Ops question. People are on this thread to find out about Sped services at these schools and want experiences with that to make an informed decision. You post this same thing on every thread about DCI about Latin students being average to below average, which is false. The post simply responded to that with factual information about some students in a DCI feeder. No rage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call Latin, tell them you matched, and ask to speak with the special ed coordinator. (You can try the same with DCI though I wasn't able to get many questions answered when we were choosing between the schools.) And speak to teachers and the ED at your charter. They have good insight about your kids and the middle schools.

Thank you. I did connect with Latin already and plan to talk with my child’s current team too. I think what I’m really looking for is insight from parents about what it’s like day to day for kids that need more support. If anyone has experience like that at Latin or DCI, I’d love to hear it.

What kind of services does your child get? It might be helpful to know so people can speak directly to those services.