Feedback on Washington Latin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We liked Latin very much as well, and the curriculum encourages creativity and thought. But DC is now at Basis and doing much better. He is beginning to take responsibility and now actively wants the good grades, since the school culture makes it clear how success is achieved.

Add to the list of Latin's downsides the fact that teachers rely more heavily on parents to make sure the child stays organized and working hard (heavier emphasis on homework as part of the grade). Also, teachers tend to leave soon after school ends, making it hard for the child to follow up with a teacher (at least, that was our experience). And finally, the after-school program is not good at all, if it even exists any more.

I respectfully disagree. My child has been at Latin for four years and I find that DC has always been well organized and on task. The kids have planners and use them. My kid meets with teachers regularly to get help (in fact they have a schedule where every teacher has a day that they are available after school). My favorite part of Latin is the really cool discussion topics that the kids prepare for their socratic seminars. I enjoy talking to my DC and DC's friends. They have a fairly sophisticated conversational ability (much more than I did at that age).

As a WL parent, I also disagree with this characterization. We were concerned about both of our children's capacities to meet the organizational and academic demands of WL's middle school. The teachers take a lot of responsibility for helping students create effective organizational and monitoring systems. We have also found the teachers and administration to be highly accessible to students and parents; they often make themselves available before school, after school, and via phone/email. During the fall of 5th grade, I was quite involved in helping my children make their transitions, but after a few months, they became quite independent -- with ongoing teacher support and less intensive parent support-- in meeting demands. My children have developed very solid study habits and clearly feel proud of how independent they have become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how difficult is it to get into Latin in 6th grade rather than 5th? I know 5th is easier, but what are the odds for 6th?

Historically, there is very little attrition after 5th grade, but I believe they are expanding the grade size a little bit this summer. There may be more attrition than usual because of the move, but I'm not aware of families planning on leaving. If you plan on applying (worth doing!), you should turn in your application as soon as it will be accepted. Acceptance is based on a lottery, but they take names off the waiting list according to the order in which the applications were received.

This admissions procedure is no longer used at Latin. They have switched to ordering the waitlist by random lottery as well. No more date and time stamping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how difficult is it to get into Latin in 6th grade rather than 5th? I know 5th is easier, but what are the odds for 6th?

Historically, there is very little attrition after 5th grade, but I believe they are expanding the grade size a little bit this summer. There may be more attrition than usual because of the move, but I'm not aware of families planning on leaving. If you plan on applying (worth doing!), you should turn in your application as soon as it will be accepted. Acceptance is based on a lottery, but they take names off the waiting list according to the order in which the applications were received.

Thanks for the info. I'm asking because I'd rather have my child continue at his current elementary school through 5th, and then go to Latin for 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Historically, there is very little attrition after 5th grade, but I believe they are expanding the grade size a little bit this summer. There may be more attrition than usual because of the move, but I'm not aware of families planning on leaving. If you plan on applying (worth doing!), you should turn in your application as soon as it will be accepted. Acceptance is based on a lottery, but they take names off the waiting list according to the order in which the applications were received.

You mean little attrition between 5th and 6th? True, there is almost none, but there is some between 6th and 7th, more between 7th and 8th and LOTS between 8th and 9th, although more middle-class families are staying for HS with every passing year. We're in 6th. If Latin's MS offered honors classes, particularly in English, and more advanced math, we would be more likely to stay through 8th. From where we sit, teachers have to spend too much time and energy helping struggling learners. We're considering moving on to a suburban school or privates between 6th and 7th. We won't be missed.

[Anonymous]

I also have a child at Latin in 6th. When I look at the high school offerings on their website, I see honors classes offered in every subject. What is making you think otherwise?

http://www.latinpcs.org/programs/curriculum.html

[Anonymous]

Oh, sorry pp. I reread your post. You want honors classes in middle school. Right. They don't seem to have that except in math, which I thought was pretty advanced: pre algebra in 6th and 7th, algebra in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that's right, we'd like honors ms classes in most subjects. DC could and would do much more if pushed harder, especially in math and English. We're looking at test-in suburban magnets and privates where struggling students would be a lot less likely to be in her classes and we aren't alone among ms parents at wl.

[Anonymous]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I have a straight A student who could probably do more if pushed. But I am happy and so is he. I trust the educators at Latin to work with the different levels in the class while keeping overall rigor pretty high. We can wait until he is 14 in 9th grade for honors classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We applied years before Latin got 'hot', but over the year many people I've met who expressed interest have eventually joined the school. The one thing I would check is whether applying early to the lottery makes a difference. Personally, as an interested parent I would apply the day it opens up. Can't hurt! Good luck PP. Our child had a great experience in Middle School, and the program looks so much MORE organized now (we were pretty much pathfinders!) that I imagine MS is pretty awesome now if you are entering in 5th. Again, we were surprised to find that HS is really, really smooth and exciting this freshman year. A lot of attention was paid to HS in the years since Latin was started, and it is evident for this class. Just like I think we and prior classes paved the way in MS, I thank this year's graduating class that no doubt took a few bumps as the HS came together. It doesn't mean they had a bad experience, but a different one. Still - it's nice to feel like things aren't on a learning curve and are unfolding really nicely.

Admission to WL is based on a lottery. Once the lottery is complete, remaining students are put on a waiting list -- in the order in which applications are received. We emailed and faxed our applications at 12:01am. The fax line was busy for a long time! It seems that we weren't alone in submitting our application at that crazy, early hour.

[Anonymous]

Sorry you missed the memo, but this is no longer how Latin orders their waitlist. It is now by random lottery. Here is the link to the official information:

http://www.latinpcs.org/apply-enroll/application-process.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We wanted a rigorous, classics-based, college preparatory track school for DC, and Latin was definitely very high on our radar, it looks like a fantastic option. Tough choice, but we ended up going with BASIS for a couple of reasons - we think BASIS will have somewhat greater rigor and academic culture as they don't do social promotion and will not be accepting students at the higher grades - also, for us DC's commute to Latin would have been brutal, but BASIS is much easier for us to get to. Latin would definitely be our alternate.

Latin promotes students to the next grade based on achievement alone. Summer school is an option for struggling students.