Getting cold feet about the charter school option

[Anonymous]

DD is going into K this fall. We are lucky to have a spot in a "good" charter school but I'm suddently getting cold feet. We can't really afford private and while I'm willing to move I don't thik there is time to do so before school starts at this point. So many of our friends are doing private, it's starting to feel like a gamble. Friends in the burbs are incredulous that we are still in DC. What are realistic expectations to have from a charter experience?

[Anonymous]

What are you afraid of? DCPS is not as bad as your imagination (or your friends) has made it out to be. My DD was in both public preschool and public pre-k. The class sizes were small and the teachers were good - her preschool teacher was absolutely amazing. I am moving to a charter because I don't like the administrative side of Public, and I have no qualms about it.

I think that you have nothing to lose by trying this out.

[Anonymous]

Our child was in DCPS and in Charter. There are many good DCPS elementaries--however, they are good 'in spite of the system'. I say this firsthand--I was a teacher in DCPS. Now that I am out of DCPS and our child is in charter, we are still very happy. I also feel viscerally delighted not to have to deal with DCPS systemic demands and unresponsiveness, both personally (dealing with my child's education) and professionally (working through it). The Charter where our child is, is so so responsive. Not perfect--but willing to work towards a vision beyond mediocrity. Great people, great community. Like it a lot. But I agree--the hysteria over DC is overworked. There are quite a few good schools--you need to scope them out--your kid's ed. can be a bit patchwork--like beads on a string as you piece together a series of good opps. If you do find those good opps I do believe that many are different but equal to what the suburbs offer. What is less than desirable is the overall system, which, from my experience on the inside--did not improve significantly under the Chancellor before I left, and has led to some very fractured communities , stressed out teachers and cannon-fodder students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is going into K this fall. We are lucky to have a spot in a "good" charter school but I'm suddently getting cold feet. We can't really afford private and while I'm willing to move I don't thik there is time to do so before school starts at this point. So many of our friends are doing private, it's starting to feel like a gamble. Friends in the burbs are incredulous that we are still in DC. What are realistic expectations to have from a charter experience?

You might as well try the charter, because at this point it's too late to go for most privates, plus you say that affording it will be difficult. So I don't think private is even an option for you. But bear in mind that a house in Bethesda is very expensive, too.

If you don't like the charter, you can apply for privates next year, although first grade isn't a great entrance year, but again it's too late to try for K. And you might just like the charter -- there are some good ones out there. If you do like it, think of all the $ you will save on private tuition or that house in Bethesda, and then your "friends in the burbs" will look on you with envy as you save for college AND take great family vacations.

[Anonymous]

Realistically, would you move to Bethesda over the next three months in order to avoid the charter? And you've pretty much ruled out private schools for the money plus it's too late for K. So it seems like at least trying the charter is your best option.

If you don't like the charter after all, you can always move to Bethesda over the winter. It's easier to enter a public in 1st grade than to enter private in 1st. Plus you would have much more time to find a deal on a house you like, and you wouldn't have to yank your kid out of the charter until the end of the school year, because most charters take MoCo kids if you pay.

[Anonymous]

OP is it that the charter is TOO diverse? If not, then what's your worry? You did check out the charter before registering, right?

[Anonymous]

Why accuse OP of fearing diversity? This seems like another random DCUM drive-by....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why accuse OP of fearing diversity? This seems like another random DCUM drive-by....

Not random at all. What is OP so terrified of that she's ready to flee? Not an accusation but a question. Her DC will be entering K, just not clear of what she's afraid of.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Sounds like adult peer pressure. Or do you only know folks doing private or folks in the burbs who can't believe you're still in DC? Surely you have likeminded DC friends!

[Anonymous]

OP: Actually, most people we know with school age kids have moved out of DC or have gone private. The rest live in bounds for schools in upper NW. One friend in particular keeps saying that kids can fall behind very quickly, especially in math, and that it may be difficult to remain on grade level, that if we move to the burbs later, DC might have to repeat a grade, she has known families where this happened. We do like the charter and are were willing to give it a try but we also want our kid to get a decent education. The whole "falling behind" argument seems like it might be a little overblown for K. We don't know a lot of people who have sent kids to charters so it's hard to really know what to expect.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, OP, I think the "falling behind" argument is overblown for K. Don't panic! Try the school and keep exploring your options in the meantime.

Some of us have been fairly successful sending our kids through DC public schools. Mine survived 9 years! I think you can afford 1 year to check the place out and sort out your options.

[Anonymous]

I get the impression a lot of families in the burbs are emotionally invested in running down ALL DC schools - even the good ones. These families have made their choices, aren't completely satisfied with them, and are a little afraid to see you succeed on a different path. Unless you're planning to move to Chevy Chase, Bethesda or Potomac a LOT of MoCo schools are very over-hyped.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 16:21. I think I need to do the fade a bit with this particular friend at least until school starts. She did move and I think she's lookikng to us to validate her choice a bit. I just can't see not giving the charter a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get the impression a lot of families in the burbs are emotionally invested in running down ALL DC schools - even the good ones. These families have made their choices, aren't completely satisfied with them, and are a little afraid to see you succeed on a different path. Unless you're planning to move to Chevy Chase, Bethesda or Potomac a LOT of MoCo schools are very over-hyped.

THis is absolutely true. And the fact that so many DC kids move into top private schools after elementary school and seem not to have trouble keeping up really lays bare how silly and self-serving this whole line of thinking is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get the impression a lot of families in the burbs are emotionally invested in running down ALL DC schools - even the good ones. These families have made their choices, aren't completely satisfied with them, and are a little afraid to see you succeed on a different path. Unless you're planning to move to Chevy Chase, Bethesda or Potomac a LOT of MoCo schools are very over-hyped.

I would go so far as to replace "a LOT" with "most, if not all..."