Oyster Adams versus DCI

[Anonymous]

DCI attracts Hill kids who commute 2 hrs a school day to get there. Latin is much less commuting time.

[Anonymous]

All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a DCI parent with a child in middle school. My kid's PARCC scores for last year were 5s (and were 4s in elementary) so I feel like my kid is learning. The IB diploma program is, by all accounts, very difficult and many students opt not to take it (they can do a career track diploma program). I think it was very hard for kids in the pandemic (and their teachers) so I think the results over the next few years will be very telling. But unlike WIS, DCI has a very diverse set of kids from all backgrounds so it isn't fair to compare them to one another.

It isn't fair to keep the top kids at DCI back either. It's not uncommon for strong students to be bored in the program. Kids hardly get any home work in middle school, even in 7th and 8th grades. Ambition is not DCI's strong suit. Happy talk is. It's not uncommon for families of top students on the French and Chinese tracks to supplement on weekends (in heritage programs with actual native speakers). Some DCI parents pay for pricey summer immersion camps because the language instruction isn't that great outside Spanish. Families of the best students often don't stay for HS. The results over the next few years will be entirely predictable, vs. very telling. DCI's average IB points will climb into the low 30s over time. Meanwhile, the best suburban programs post average scores in the high 30s, even the low 40s.

I want to respond directly to the bolded statement above. Perhaps this was true initially, but it is not the case with the current 9th graders. All of the 8 salutatorians and valedictorians from the 8th-grade class stayed this year (or at least almost all of them - I didn't hear about any of them leaving but maybe one did that I didn't hear about). And many other top students stayed. There were some students that applied to Walls, and were accepted, but decided not to take the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

Good to hear.

Here’s the thing with charters is that they are independent and not ruled under a dysfunctional central office that has no idea what is going on in the classroom or schools. So charters can do whatever they want. Classic example is Basis. You can’t hack it, then they hold you back. They are not bounded to socially promote everyone.

So if DCI want to track, nothing the mayor or central office can do. That’s a good thing in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

I thought they did. For sure spanish and math. Would love to know more about whether this is true for ELA.

A friend who is a low performing student (but super bright and wonderful kid) is in a remedial ELA class- that’s why I thought they tracked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

Good to hear.

Here’s the thing with charters is that they are independent and not ruled under a dysfunctional central office that has no idea what is going on in the classroom or schools. So charters can do whatever they want. Classic example is Basis. You can’t hack it, then they hold you back. They are not bounded to socially promote everyone.

So if DCI want to track, nothing the mayor or central office can do. That’s a good thing in my book.

That’s a great thing in my book too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

I thought they did. For sure spanish and math. Would love to know more about whether this is true for ELA.

A friend who is a low performing student (but super bright and wonderful kid) is in a remedial ELA class- that’s why I thought they tracked.

Really informative to know. Students like this would be best served being taught at their level and supported at such than thrown in a class struggling. This is also really helpful to the teachers I’m sure and takes pressure off them to try to teach to a wide gap of levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

I thought they did. For sure spanish and math. Would love to know more about whether this is true for ELA.

A friend who is a low performing student (but super bright and wonderful kid) is in a remedial ELA class- that’s why I thought they tracked.

Remedial ELA is not the same as tracking for advanced kids. I would LOVE if DCI became a strong, competitive option for kids interested in IB and upper level immersion. I hope that the "booster" PPs are right and the school continues to get more buy in and strengthen. I also hear a lot of concern from feeder families that have one child with a guarantee, and a younger child without (or two young children without a guarantee). I think those families are just now starting to realize that DCI may not be an option for both of their children and are expressing concern about the older child starting then needing to move if the younger one doesn't get a spot. Will be interesting to see what impact the expansion classes have on the school dynamics and buy-in from families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

No they don't track for ELA in t he middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

They track for ela? Things must have changed.

I thought they did. For sure spanish and math. Would love to know more about whether this is true for ELA.

A friend who is a low performing student (but super bright and wonderful kid) is in a remedial ELA class- that’s why I thought they tracked.

Remedial ELA is not the same as tracking for advanced kids. I would LOVE if DCI became a strong, competitive option for kids interested in IB and upper level immersion. I hope that the "booster" PPs are right and the school continues to get more buy in and strengthen. I also hear a lot of concern from feeder families that have one child with a guarantee, and a younger child without (or two young children without a guarantee). I think those families are just now starting to realize that DCI may not be an option for both of their children and are expressing concern about the older child starting then needing to move if the younger one doesn't get a spot. Will be interesting to see what impact the expansion classes have on the school dynamics and buy-in from families.

I am far from a booster of dci, but I have firsthand knowledge of parents with academic achievers staying at dci and turning down other options.

I agree that I am worried about those families whose younger kids won’t be guaranteed a spot at dci. What a stupid move, ensuring that at least some parents will leave dci if their families aren’t guaranteed a spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All my friends with kids in DCI (mostly middle school, oldest ones in ninth or tenth) say things like "it's way better than I expected." They seem really pleased and the kids are happy. I hear a lot about cool clubs and a few are really into sports. I have a couple friends with kids at Adams who are also happy (and were probably happier than friends at DCI feeders in elementary years) but now worrying about high school. Neither option is perfect but both can serve a child well if a family wants to stay in the district.

We also have friends who went suburban and some rave about it and some are miserable and most in between. When I've asked for honest assessments as we consider whether to move out for middle school, things they are second guessing include lack of independence for those that moved from a walkable area to a place where tweens/teens have to be driven everywhere and one talks about how the school is better academically but maybe the uber competitive environment could be worse for mental health.

I have heard the same. I was considering pulling my very high achieving child in a feeder, but opted to to stay for dci after speaking to other dci parents and children. I was pleasantly surprised to learn DCI tracks for math and ELA and language.

No they don't track for ELA in t he middle school.

OK but at least the remedial kids, who I’m assuming are 2 grade levels or more behind, are taken out of the class and being supported adequately in another classroom.

I’m not aware of that happening at other middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a DCI parent with a child in middle school. My kid's PARCC scores for last year were 5s (and were 4s in elementary) so I feel like my kid is learning. The IB diploma program is, by all accounts, very difficult and many students opt not to take it (they can do a career track diploma program). I think it was very hard for kids in the pandemic (and their teachers) so I think the results over the next few years will be very telling. But unlike WIS, DCI has a very diverse set of kids from all backgrounds so it isn't fair to compare them to one another.

It isn't fair to keep the top kids at DCI back either. It's not uncommon for strong students to be bored in the program. Kids hardly get any home work in middle school, even in 7th and 8th grades. Ambition is not DCI's strong suit. Happy talk is. It's not uncommon for families of top students on the French and Chinese tracks to supplement on weekends (in heritage programs with actual native speakers). Some DCI parents pay for pricey summer immersion camps because the language instruction isn't that great outside Spanish. Families of the best students often don't stay for HS. The results over the next few years will be entirely predictable, vs. very telling. DCI's average IB points will climb into the low 30s over time. Meanwhile, the best suburban programs post average scores in the high 30s, even the low 40s.

I want to respond directly to the bolded statement above. Perhaps this was true initially, but it is not the case with the current 9th graders. All of the 8 salutatorians and valedictorians from the 8th-grade class stayed this year (or at least almost all of them - I didn't hear about any of them leaving but maybe one did that I didn't hear about). And many other top students stayed. There were some students that applied to Walls, and were accepted, but decided not to take the spot.

Responding to this only to clarify: Of the 8 kids who were honored for saluatorian/valedictorian status (there were GPA ties) at least 4 of them left. I know this firsthand. One went to a traditional public high school and 3 went to Walls. Beyond this cohort, several kids left for privates and other options, like Ellington. And at least 2 other top students turned down Walls to stay at DCI (while I think about 6 in total left for Walls). There are definitely DCI fans who put the language and IB offering above all else. I was impressed so many kids had more than one good option and found the path best for them.

[Anonymous]

What is good for middle school families is that the pressure is off for high school. You have a guarantee good high school option at DCI and if you are able to have other options also, great. Pick the best one for that specific child.

Many families don’t have this luxury and are scrambling for middle school and high school who might end up with no viable option and are forced to move out of the city.

We are in a feeder for DCI with a high achieving child and plan to track to DCI. We are lucky in that financially, we can move WOTP or go private because we don’t want to move to the burbs. There are lots of families like us at our feeder. These families who we talk to are all planning on going to DCI and giving it a chance.