Brightwood Schools
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Anonymous
I agree with you, but that’s not actually it. I just haven’t done the due diligence yet (and it’s still very new) to know whether it’s as solid as I’m hearing or if that’s exaggerated. I live IB for MacFarland and know plenty of families that send their kids there. Knowing the families, kids, and hearing their experiences, I’m confident that’s not for us due to the academics. That doesn’t mean it’s terrible for other families and kids. I don’t know families at Wells yet, though I do know some at feeder elementaries with kids older than mine, and would want to see those experiences and learn more before assuming it’s the same as MacFarland. I suspect it’s better, but not sure how much better. So not going hoping it improves before mine hits sixth, just not sure if it’s good enough now. |
Anonymous
Agree. I think at one point there was actually a poll somewhere indicating that most DCUM users live in MD or VA, but I can't find it now. That means you're going to encounter a lot of posters who bought for schools, can afford the best school districts (even in the city), and/or weren't interested in the city at all. And, if you check out other forums (notably the private school and college forums) you will notice that this forum skews very Type A and prestige-oriented. There's nothing wrong with any of that--it's more so that you need to understand the POV that you're getting here. I'm an EOTP parent and the general attitude is a bit more laid back than on DCUM, we'll do public or a charter as long as it works for our kid then figure out a new plan if we aren't happy. Obviously people care about their child's educational experience but view it as less black and white then the school with the highest UMC population/best test scores = the best for our kids. In the end, choosing where to buy and choosing to buy EOTP has a lot of factors and only you know which ones are most important. If you can't imagine not having a secured public school path through high school, then maybe WOTP or the burbs are better for you assuming you can afford to buy in a strong school pyramid, but if you really want to be in the city and are okay with some uncertainty in that area, then you can absolutely make it work. Fwiw, I can assure you there is a strong community feel in many EOTP neighborhoods, even with kids scattered at various schools. |
Anonymous
Sorry to ignore you; I forgot about this thread. We lotteried in PK3 and didn't get in, tried again in PK4 and got off the wait list in July. We are happy here, the teachers are very warm, after care is free (!!), facilities are great, and DD is making friends. Having been at another DCPS school last year, it's really important to realize that in ECE, everyone is doing *the exact same thing*. When people say there are no bad options this is what they mean - your kid will have the module on trees, the one on buildings, etc. All the adorable little tykes all around the city explaining in unison to their moms and dads what bark is. So wherever you get in, don't have any worries about the early years. e would leave TKES for Whittier or Shepherd but no other DCPS option. I have little interest in charters so can't help there. IME people like Sela but don't stay longer term (and that's not a dig, we went to a school for PK3 that we liked but didn't intend to stay long-term either, and I would hope that people would still give it a chance). I also hear people talk about Center City Brightwood as a good option, but don't have any first-hand experience. |
Anonymous
We are the identical as you! Live in the area the OP is talking about (west side of GA ave) and went to a charter for PK3 but decided to try for DCPS schools and cleared the waitlist for Takoma in May. We LOVE Takoma. And even though we are OOB, we feel like it is our neighborhood school being so close (3 minute car ride or a 10-15 min walk). OP- if you want to get into Brightwood, I hear your concerns now, but there are really good options as this thread has explained. There are only so many SFH in DC and the tree lined streets Brightwood offers.. we feel like we hit a jackpot with a SFH and still have that real city feel, with some suburban elements. |
Anonymous
I understand not wanting to say your charter but could you share what about Takoma you like better? |
Anonymous
We are also in Brightwood. Love the location and proximity Kids are older now. We did Charters, private 5-8, and Walls now. We viewed middle school as the most critical choice. All about your appetite for uncertainty. We have friends that moved to MoCo and VA. They are still complaining about the same things they did when in DCPS. Just don't make the holy grail of screwups--Move for schools and still end up in private! |
Anonymous
First off, I should add- the charter was amazing. They did absolutely nothing wrong. We were in the same boat as the OP. Wanted more of a neighborhood school. Takoma fit the bill. We would have gone to West, Whittier, Shepherd, etc. we wanted a DCPS neighborhood school. Takoma has great facilities, great location for us, the staff so far (it’s only month two) have been remarkable. The principal really cares about his job - we hope he sticks around. We like the specials. They are trying hard to integrate the arts. It’s not perfect but it’s better than nothing. And most of all, our child comes home SO happy. He loves it. I’m sure I’d say the same about other schools. I don’t have a large sample size. |
Anonymous
| Np. Can someone explain what the negatives are to DCPS Brightwood elementary school? This thread comes across as it just doesn't have enough high SES kids, and that's the issue. Is that is, or is there something else? |
Anonymous
I’m one of the PPs who live in the area but we go to Whittier. Whittier doesn’t have a lot of high SES kids so it can’t just be that issue at Brightwood. |
Anonymous
I'm a PP at Takoma OOB. When were were lotterying for PK3, our then-2 year old had never been in a group care environment, and the idea of putting her into a PK3-8 seemed daunting in a way that PK3-5 (or just PK) did not. Plus we are in-bound for Brightwood, but not actually any closer to it than to Takoma (and only like 0.2 miles closer to it than Shepherd), because we're exactly one house outside the Takoma/Brightwood boundary. So the "neighborhood school" thing cut both ways - we'd have to drive to either in most instances, would see kids from both at our playgrounds, etc. Lastly, there was nothing to set Brightwood apart from any other school. Whittier has STEM, Shepherd has the Deal/J-R feed, Takoma has arts integration, and Brightwood has . . . ??? To be clear I don't know anyone who is going there and unhappy with the school, but when you're researching a dozen+ schools for the lottery the first time, schools fall off the list for any number of reasons. Too big, not particularly close, lots of "big" kids, and no hook was enough for me. |
Anonymous
You must live really close to us. And we are also a PP that goes to Takoma OOB with our IB of Brightwood. We consider both neighborhood schools based on where we live. I agree with everything else you said. Brightwood is probably a fine school but the other schools we lotteried for seemed to have more to them for us. |
Anonymous
| Brightwood is heavily populated with Hispanics. Many think it should be a dual language school but I disagree as many families are just learning English or struggling with the English language. It is however heavily IB as those are the families who live in the surrounding apartment buildings. |
Anonymous
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https://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/page_content/attachments/SY2122_Public%20School%20Enrollments%20per%20DCPS%20Boundary_0.xlsx
Op, here you can see where kids go to school. There is no difference between Takoma and Brightwood ES regarding IB participation rate (~ 35% both). Therefore, less than half IB people attend these schools. IB participation rate means the % of IB kids who attend that school. |
Anonymous
Right. But 70% of Takoma kids are still IB. |
Anonymous
Brightwood, Takoma, and Whittier are all Title 1. |