Lafayette for PK and elementary?

[Anonymous]

Looking for insight concerning Lafayette. Looking to move to DC from OOS and the neighborhood we're interested is inbound for this school. Is it on par with DC charters?

[Anonymous]

Better.

[Anonymous]

It's better than most DC charters, but there are some Lafayette families who get into some of the more desirable ones (YY and LAMB) that choose those instead.

Lafayette is a great school. Honestly, what's holding it back is PreK. If the PreK classrooms could be closed (it's not as if everyone IB gets in anyway), there would be more classrooms for upper grades and the class sizes wouldn't have to be so large.

To be fair, this isn't just a problem at Lafayette. Most of the best DCPS elementaries have this dilemma, because of the inability to limit class sizes. That is one of the advantages the charters have.

[Anonymous]

I disagree about class sizes. Eliminating pre-k would make the school smaller (and it is the largest elementary school in DC), but all of my kids' classes have been reasonably sized (24 kids is the larges we've had). And the pre-k program is really excellent (and to my knowledge most IB kids get in--they added an additional section of pre-k this year to try and accommodate morkids).

It's one of the best schools in DC. If you'd prefer a smaller school it may not be right for you, but we've been very happy there and the new building is very nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's better than most DC charters, but there are some Lafayette families who get into some of the more desirable ones (YY and LAMB) that choose those instead.

Lafayette is a great school. Honestly, what's holding it back is PreK. If the PreK classrooms could be closed (it's not as if everyone IB gets in anyway), there would be more classrooms for upper grades and the class sizes wouldn't have to be so large.

To be fair, this isn't just a problem at Lafayette. Most of the best DCPS elementaries have this dilemma, because of the inability to limit class sizes. That is one of the advantages the charters have.

Huh? What are you talking about? They could fill up the PK with 100% IB families (indeed, many IB families didn't get off the waitlist this year, even with a 5th class) but they include OOB students on purpose, not just to fill empty seats. The class sizes are never above 24, and usually below. I think you may be confusing Lafayette with some other school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight concerning Lafayette. Looking to move to DC from OOS and the neighborhood we're interested is inbound for this school. Is it on par with DC charters?

It's a wonderful school and a fabulous neighborhood that is more like a small town. We love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight concerning Lafayette. Looking to move to DC from OOS and the neighborhood we're interested is inbound for this school. Is it on par with DC charters?

It's a wonderful school and a fabulous neighborhood that is more like a small town. We love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight concerning Lafayette. Looking to move to DC from OOS and the neighborhood we're interested is inbound for this school. Is it on par with DC charters?

It's a wonderful school and a fabulous neighborhood that is more like a small town. We love it.

+1 ! search on this forum for Lafayette and you will get more detailed views. There is a bit of recent drama concerning the new principal but it seems to be quieting down. Lafayette was just renovated and the new building is really fantastic.

PP comment about pre-K and class sizes is off-base in our experience - our child loved and benefited from pre-K and has had classes around 22-24 kids each year.

[Anonymous]

Unless you are set on an immersion experience (e.g. YY or LAMB), Lafayette is a better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight concerning Lafayette. Looking to move to DC from OOS and the neighborhood we're interested is inbound for this school. Is it on par with DC charters?

"on par with charters" is a funny question to ask for this site. Usually people are looking for charters that might be deemed on par with schools like Lafayette. Search this site, there is a large handful of DCPS schools that are preferred over charters by in bound families. These schools all have utilization rates above 90%, which means that of the families who live in bound for the school more than 90% choose their in bound DCPS and do not lottery into another school or charter. Lafayette is one of those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's better than most DC charters, but there are some Lafayette families who get into some of the more desirable ones (YY and LAMB) that choose those instead.

Lafayette is a great school. Honestly, what's holding it back is PreK. If the PreK classrooms could be closed (it's not as if everyone IB gets in anyway), there would be more classrooms for upper grades and the class sizes wouldn't have to be so large.

To be fair, this isn't just a problem at Lafayette. Most of the best DCPS elementaries have this dilemma, because of the inability to limit class sizes. That is one of the advantages the charters have.

Huh? What are you talking about? They could fill up the PK with 100% IB families (indeed, many IB families didn't get off the waitlist this year, even with a 5th class) but they include OOB students on purpose, not just to fill empty seats. The class sizes are never above 24, and usually below. I think you may be confusing Lafayette with some other school.

24 children per classroom is ginormous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's better than most DC charters, but there are some Lafayette families who get into some of the more desirable ones (YY and LAMB) that choose those instead.

Lafayette is a great school. Honestly, what's holding it back is PreK. If the PreK classrooms could be closed (it's not as if everyone IB gets in anyway), there would be more classrooms for upper grades and the class sizes wouldn't have to be so large.

To be fair, this isn't just a problem at Lafayette. Most of the best DCPS elementaries have this dilemma, because of the inability to limit class sizes. That is one of the advantages the charters have.

Huh? What are you talking about? They could fill up the PK with 100% IB families (indeed, many IB families didn't get off the waitlist this year, even with a 5th class) but they include OOB students on purpose, not just to fill empty seats. The class sizes are never above 24, and usually below. I think you may be confusing Lafayette with some other school.

24 children per classroom is ginormous!

Where? You're looking at 28-30 in MPCS and FCPS.
Meanwhile, PK is under 20 with 2 teachers, K also has 2 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Unless you are set on language go with Lafayette.

[Anonymous]

Where? You're looking at 28-30 in MPCS and FCPS.
Meanwhile, PK is under 20 with 2 teachers, K also has 2 teachers.

+1

PP, what are you comparing it to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's better than most DC charters, but there are some Lafayette families who get into some of the more desirable ones (YY and LAMB) that choose those instead.

Lafayette is a great school. Honestly, what's holding it back is PreK. If the PreK classrooms could be closed (it's not as if everyone IB gets in anyway), there would be more classrooms for upper grades and the class sizes wouldn't have to be so large.

To be fair, this isn't just a problem at Lafayette. Most of the best DCPS elementaries have this dilemma, because of the inability to limit class sizes. That is one of the advantages the charters have.

Huh? What are you talking about? They could fill up the PK with 100% IB families (indeed, many IB families didn't get off the waitlist this year, even with a 5th class) but they include OOB students on purpose, not just to fill empty seats. The class sizes are never above 24, and usually below. I think you may be confusing Lafayette with some other school.

24 children per classroom is ginormous!

Where? You're looking at 28-30 in MPCS and FCPS.
Meanwhile, PK is under 20 with 2 teachers, K also has 2 teachers.

2 teachers; or 1 teacher + aide?