Nalle ES and Kelly Miller MS: flowers in the mud?

[Anonymous]

Looking for a house to buy off the beaten track for a family of 3 + one on the way (the other kid is almost 4 years old). Neighborhood schools are the main decision factor (after price!). We do not like the charter concept, have no car and no plans to get one in the near future, and would like to walk our kids to school and have them walk back by themselves with their friends when they grow older.

We were very impressed by Nalle ES and even more by Kelly Miller Middle School. KM Principal was particularly impressive. She has a clear vision for the school and teachers seem to respect her a lot. Most kids looked well-disciplined in both schools (of course, with exceptions, including a few kids asleep in the classroom). If one takes PARCC scores as an indication of school performance (I do), KM numbers rank at a totally different and higher scale than other MS with similar demographics (99% FARMS). I mean, numbers are still depressingly low (7.5% at grade level) but the school scored so much better than other similar DCPS middle schools (Eliot, Hart, Johnson, Kramer all showing no more than 1% of the school population at grade level). The IB population is extremely high for KM (95%!) and around 60% for Nalle which again are quite unique features. I like the IB numbers not only because I want my kids to have friends in the neighborhood, but also because they may proxy some parental involvement in the school.

I like the area and proximity to Benning Rd metro. House prices are still ok, 3 beds houses in the 300K range. I think we'll place an offer on a house soon.

Does anyone have direct experience with these schools and is willing to share?

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids, OP?

One is 4. The second is expected for March (I am 7 month pregnant).

[Anonymous]

Flowers in the mud REALLY???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flowers in the mud REALLY???

What do you mean? 1% of students at grade level how do you want to call it? These schools are failing our children and the larger body of DC taxpayers.

PP clearly does not have the means (yet) to buy in Tenleytown , so what terminology do you expect her to use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flowers in the mud REALLY???

What do you mean? 1% of students at grade level how do you want to call it? These schools are failing our children and the larger body of DC taxpayers.

PP clearly does not have the means (yet) to buy in Tenleytown , so what terminology do you expect her to use?

I guess I'd call it mud in the mud puddle, if pressed

[Anonymous]

KM is educating 8% of its student body at or above grade level, compared to 0-1% in other schools with similar demographics.

This means that the school is giving better chances in life to some 50 kids.

You probably live in the comfort of your NW neighborhood and have no idea of what the OP is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Go there and walk around at night. Do you think that's still where you want to be raising kids?

Look at the DC crime map. Do you think that's still where you want to be investing your money?

[Anonymous]

That's the 8% getting 4s and 5s, correct? In a high poverty neighborhood, that's not that surprising.

And I bet you anything those kids are amazing. My high ses child got a 3/on the math, and she's a technical genius. Technically, she is a genius--one with every opportunity, excellent keyboarding skills, etc.

If you like the school, op, go for it. I was just looking on the dcps site and they're advertising nalle as one of the schools with a Montessori bent? It all sounds like it could be good.

There's such a fear of poverty these days, people are all trying to live outside of their actual social class. A neighborhood in the city with houses you can afford? Go for it.

[Anonymous]

Don't some kids from Joint Base Bolling go to Kelly Miller - I know it's their IB option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't some kids from Joint Base Bolling go to Kelly Miller - I know it's their IB option?

I know of two families who have gone to Eaton and Hearst.

[Anonymous]

I think you are nuts to buy based on liking the MS principal when your youngest is only 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flowers in the mud REALLY???

What do you mean? 1% of students at grade level how do you want to call it? These schools are failing our children and the larger body of DC taxpayers.

PP clearly does not have the means (yet) to buy in Tenleytown , so what terminology do you expect her to use?

I would expect her to be realistic and not gamble with her kids' education. A MS (not an elementary school) where only 8% of students are at grade level is not an appealing school, the fact that other schools manage to have just 1% of kids at grade level does not make this school good. I do not like the charter concept either, but if I could not afford to live in a good school district, I would buy a house like the one OP is considering (which financially may be a good idea, with pricing eventually going up) and send my kids to charter if they could not get into better schools, or move farther out of DC where schools are good and homes cost less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are nuts to buy based on liking the MS principal when your youngest is only 4.

+1 I would bet a million dollars (well, if I had a million dollars) that she won't be there when your kid gets there. Unfortunately that's just the reality in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

In Bounds numbers mean only that of the students enrolled, x% are within bounds. Not that x% of eligible students from the boundary attend that school. A high IB % says nothing of the students living nearby whose parents have made other choices for their schooling. It's nothing to be impressed by.