JO Wilson vs. Ludlow-Taylor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent is a school full of rich white kids yet the scores are mediocre. There is also no middle school path. I would not listen to anyone that tells you to rely on Basis/Latin as those schools will be hard to get into by the time your LO reaches middle. For the same price or cheaper, you can move in Deal feeder. If you insist, I would pick LT for the diversity and better scores.

Greater "diversity" at LT than Brent? If you mean more low-income AA kids proportionately, yes, of course. If you mean more socioeconomic, international and racial diversity, absolutely not.

My kid's class at Brent has four or five AA kids, several kids of Asian descent (one of whom speaks beautiful Chinese), a Latina (who speaks Spanish at home), and several European kids (who speak European languages at home; their parents work for international organizations with DC HQs, e.g. the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). In LT for ECE, we didn't see that sort of diversity, far from it.

Who cares about the silly test scores? In-boundary parents vote with their feet: Brent is more than half in-boundary, while LT is around 20%.

LT doesn't really have a MS path either, unless you're OK with Stuart Hobson (with a student body that's less than 10% high SES/white in a catchment area that's at least two-third high SES/white in 2015).

I find Brent parents intriguing. They vacillate between being upset that they don't feed into SH and taking shots at SH. I think the overarching mentality seems to be that SH isn't a good school, but they should let Brent feed into it because just having Brent would make it better. And then some Brent parents speak of Latin and Basis as if they have a birthright to those schools. But here's what I find interesting: as Maury has approached or matched Brent and as LT has come up strong and JO has started to move in the right direction, Brent parents seem almost threatened. And that makes no sense to me. Why wouldn't a stronger school system benefit everyone? What's the thought process? You like being the only option? That feels good to you? Or is it that if LT and JO (and hopefully Watkins) continue along their trajectories that SH will become a strong MS option, which will make you feel somehow less special?

Seriously, help me out here. Why would Brent parents hate on other schools. I know others hate on Brent out of jealousy, that makes sense to me. But what's the Brent though process? Is it a childish reflex that "s/he hit me first?

You're projecting. I suppose it's possible that some who recently paid $1MM+ to be IB for Brent might harbor some sense of smugness or superiority but , to be perfectly honest, I can't recall hearing either Ludlow or JO Wilson being discussed by Brent parents except in passing, such as whether they are good options for PK. I doubt most even know where these schools are located. I'll confess that I have only a vague idea in terms of orientation from Union Station. So, from my limited perspective, Brent parents aren't running around saying terrible things about other Hill schools as the topic isn't that interesting and they're not on our collective radar screens.

Two things:

1. I wish you were trying to be ironic or funny, but I fear you're just showing your true colors. And you probably lack enough awareness to understand how your comment reads or how much it says about you (and potentially other Brent families). And it's a 10 year old perspective, but by all means stay with your CSX construction traffic if you like.

2. You must not read DCUM very much. The Brent defenders and "other hill school haters" predominate. Including, by the way, the person to whom I replied. But your reading comprehension apparently rivals your self awareness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really true about the WIC petition by Brent parents? That can't be.

OP, We were looking for a house to buy last year and were looking in JO wilson or LT IB area. JO area is a little bit cheaper but not much- maybe more room for growth as the gentryfying wave moves north. We found a house IB for LT and like the school, and are planning on staying long term unless some 'major life event' occurs (relocation or bullying or something like that). We are high-ish SES but not as high maintance (we are ok with some tv, some candy, some bad words, etc) as other parents and I would feel inadequate at some schools...I just can't get all upset about some little stuff like not enough field trips or old fashioned AV system.

Every word written here about Brent and Brent parents is true, except when it isn't, which unfortunately is the majority of the time. The post was an ardent at sarcasm. The mere mention of Brent elicits a bizarre Pavlovian response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:to the OP. I think the original choice would have to be yours just tour both schools. My DS has been attending JO Wilson since last year and is now into his 2nd year, and yes I played the lottery for Ludlow Taylor and he got in but after a week of careful thought and understanding my child I decided to keep him where he is..... and is there any regrets....DEFINITELY NOT!!! He is learning alot and I love his teacher. A child would learn in any capacity given the right instructor and along with the parents.

Is your child in pK? If so, that's far removed from laying the groundwork for serious academics three four years down the road.

I know someone with an early elementary child who transferred from JO to one of the highly regarded capitol hill elementary school (a few years after PK), and they say that academically the kids in that school are way behind the JO kids in the same grade. In terms of level of books they are reading, math problems, difficulty of words they can spell, etc. JO is an awesome school academically, the principle and all the teachers we have had are great.

Hopefully your children were taught the difference between "principle" and "principal." Just ssyin'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent is a school full of rich white kids yet the scores are mediocre. There is also no middle school path. I would not listen to anyone that tells you to rely on Basis/Latin as those schools will be hard to get into by the time your LO reaches middle. For the same price or cheaper, you can move in Deal feeder. If you insist, I would pick LT for the diversity and better scores.

Greater "diversity" at LT than Brent? If you mean more low-income AA kids proportionately, yes, of course. If you mean more socioeconomic, international and racial diversity, absolutely not.

My kid's class at Brent has four or five AA kids, several kids of Asian descent (one of whom speaks beautiful Chinese), a Latina (who speaks Spanish at home), and several European kids (who speak European languages at home; their parents work for international organizations with DC HQs, e.g. the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). In LT for ECE, we didn't see that sort of diversity, far from it.

Who cares about the silly test scores? In-boundary parents vote with their feet: Brent is more than half in-boundary, while LT is around 20%.

LT doesn't really have a MS path either, unless you're OK with Stuart Hobson (with a student body that's less than 10% high SES/white in a catchment area that's at least two-third high SES/white in 2015).

I find Brent parents intriguing. They vacillate between being upset that they don't feed into SH and taking shots at SH. I think the overarching mentality seems to be that SH isn't a good school, but they should let Brent feed into it because just having Brent would make it better. And then some Brent parents speak of Latin and Basis as if they have a birthright to those schools. But here's what I find interesting: as Maury has approached or matched Brent and as LT has come up strong and JO has started to move in the right direction, Brent parents seem almost threatened. And that makes no sense to me. Why wouldn't a stronger school system benefit everyone? What's the thought process? You like being the only option? That feels good to you? Or is it that if LT and JO (and hopefully Watkins) continue along their trajectories that SH will become a strong MS option, which will make you feel somehow less special?

Seriously, help me out here. Why would Brent parents hate on other schools. I know others hate on Brent out of jealousy, that makes sense to me. But what's the Brent though process? Is it a childish reflex that "s/he hit me first?

You're projecting. I suppose it's possible that some who recently paid $1MM+ to be IB for Brent might harbor some sense of smugness or superiority but , to be perfectly honest, I can't recall hearing either Ludlow or JO Wilson being discussed by Brent parents except in passing, such as whether they are good options for PK. I doubt most even know where these schools are located. I'll confess that I have only a vague idea in terms of orientation from Union Station. So, from my limited perspective, Brent parents aren't running around saying terrible things about other Hill schools as the topic isn't that interesting and they're not on our collective radar screens.

+1. I only associate with Brent parents so while I know there are other schools on the Hill, I only keep track of the names so I know who to avoid.

You're good enough, smart enough, and doggone it people like you. Feel better now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:to the OP. I think the original choice would have to be yours just tour both schools. My DS has been attending JO Wilson since last year and is now into his 2nd year, and yes I played the lottery for Ludlow Taylor and he got in but after a week of careful thought and understanding my child I decided to keep him where he is..... and is there any regrets....DEFINITELY NOT!!! He is learning alot and I love his teacher. A child would learn in any capacity given the right instructor and along with the parents.

Is your child in pK? If so, that's far removed from laying the groundwork for serious academics three four years down the road.

I know someone with an early elementary child who transferred from JO to one of the highly regarded capitol hill elementary school (a few years after PK), and they say that academically the kids in that school are way behind the JO kids in the same grade. In terms of level of books they are reading, math problems, difficulty of words they can spell, etc. JO is an awesome school academically, the principle and all the teachers we have had are great.

Hopefully your children were taught the difference between "principle" and "principal." Just ssyin'.

Not PP but she could have easily had a typo just like YOU DID. I can type some crazy things like "principjr" and it can be replaced with "principle", as a matter of fact that example I used did correct to "principle"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent is a school full of rich white kids yet the scores are mediocre. There is also no middle school path. I would not listen to anyone that tells you to rely on Basis/Latin as those schools will be hard to get into by the time your LO reaches middle. For the same price or cheaper, you can move in Deal feeder. If you insist, I would pick LT for the diversity and better scores.

Greater "diversity" at LT than Brent? If you mean more low-income AA kids proportionately, yes, of course. If you mean more socioeconomic, international and racial diversity, absolutely not.

My kid's class at Brent has four or five AA kids, several kids of Asian descent (one of whom speaks beautiful Chinese), a Latina (who speaks Spanish at home), and several European kids (who speak European languages at home; their parents work for international organizations with DC HQs, e.g. the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). In LT for ECE, we didn't see that sort of diversity, far from it.

Who cares about the silly test scores? In-boundary parents vote with their feet: Brent is more than half in-boundary, while LT is around 20%.

LT doesn't really have a MS path either, unless you're OK with Stuart Hobson (with a student body that's less than 10% high SES/white in a catchment area that's at least two-third high SES/white in 2015).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent is a school full of rich white kids yet the scores are mediocre. There is also no middle school path. I would not listen to anyone that tells you to rely on Basis/Latin as those schools will be hard to get into by the time your LO reaches middle. For the same price or cheaper, you can move in Deal feeder. If you insist, I would pick LT for the diversity and better scores.

Greater "diversity" at LT than Brent? If you mean more low-income AA kids proportionately, yes, of course. If you mean more socioeconomic, international and racial diversity, absolutely not.

My kid's class at Brent has four or five AA kids, several kids of Asian descent (one of whom speaks beautiful Chinese), a Latina (who speaks Spanish at home), and several European kids (who speak European languages at home; their parents work for international organizations with DC HQs, e.g. the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). In LT for ECE, we didn't see that sort of diversity, far from it.

Who cares about the silly test scores? In-boundary parents vote with their feet: Brent is more than half in-boundary, while LT is around 20%.

LT doesn't really have a MS path either, unless you're OK with Stuart Hobson (with a student body that's less than 10% high SES/white in a catchment area that's at least two-third high SES/white in 2015).

I would be disinclined to give much weight to the thoughts of someone who is bitching about Brent being full of rich white kids. Picking one school over another based on a simplistic metric such as overall DCCAS scores from one year (2013-14) is also among some of the dumbest advice I've seen on DCUM. Setting aside the fact that testing cohorts vary year to year, you also would need to drill down into how each grade and racial subgroup performed to try and draw anything approaching a meaningful conclusion, if you're so inclined. I happen to think it's a waste of time and energy. As for the "diversity" issue, Brent and LT are approximate mirror images of one another. Brent is roughly 70 percent white and 20 percent AA, while Ludlow is roughly 70 percent black and 20 percent white. So which is more "diverse" under this myopic metric. Both are good schools that continue to improve and implying one or the other is mediocre is a sign of dishonesty, lack of intelligence or possibly both.

My concern is not so much diversity but rather expectations. It's not about LT having slightly better test scores last year and Brenr having better year before. Brent has a whopping 11% FARM population and barely has test scores in the low 70s. LT is Title 1 with slightly better scores. I know many people don't put too much weight on scores but when schools like Stoddert, Key, Mann, Murch etc have similar FARM population and has scores 20 points higher. That is not minimal. Don't people want to know what's going on at Brent (or what's not going on)? It's quite alarming no matter how you look at it.

Your purported concern about expectations at Brent is interesting but based on misinformation. Test scores for 2013-14 weren't barely in the low 70s unless you fail to account for kids testing as advanced. It would indeed be remarkable if schools like Stoddart, Key and Mann - or any school for that matter - was testing at or above 100 percent.

Brent parents and those still paying eomething of a premium to move in-bound despite the current middle school situation know exactly what is going on in the school. It's the reason there's a PK waiting list for in-bound siblings this year. I'm sorry you find any of this so mysterious. But please, do us all a favor and take your perverse agenda somewhere else.

Ok sorry, high 70s. Does that still not bother you? You choose to fight over 5 points but not care to address why there is such a huge gap in attainment. Brent has 11% FARM but over 20% of students are not proficient. Shepherd has the same scores but triple the FARM rate, Ross has 15 point higher scores and triple the FARM rate. Why does this not concern you?

Still tilting at windmills?

[Anonymous]

OP here again - just checking back in. We will definitely check out all three schools and visit the various open houses etc. We plan on staying in the district long term and so are looking for good public options through elementary and preferably middle school. We are prepared (or will be) to pay for private for highschool. My husband and I both originate from Africa and grew up all over the world (parents job had is both traveling and being raised in the international school system in Africa and Europe). We have a son and are looking to send him to a diverse solid elementary school. While we would love for him to have the same international school experience as we did - we realize that we cannot swing $30k a year per child ( one on the way) from elementary school. While we are not lawyers or doctors, financially we would be considered middle/higher SES on the $200-$250k range. From what folks have shared on this thread so far, it seems all three schools might be in the running. I think "fit" and "feel" obviously will be the determine factor.

[Anonymous]

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Still tilting at windmills?

I think it's great that you get so much use out of the literary phrase you learned in middle or high school. I mean, it's not as impressive as you think it is and you aren't actually using it properly, but no doubt in certain circles you probably get credit for being smarter than you are for using it. So good on you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - just checking back in. We will definitely check out all three schools and visit the various open houses etc. We plan on staying in the district long term and so are looking for good public options through elementary and preferably middle school. We are prepared (or will be) to pay for private for highschool. My husband and I both originate from Africa and grew up all over the world (parents job had is both traveling and being raised in the international school system in Africa and Europe). We have a son and are looking to send him to a diverse solid elementary school. While we would love for him to have the same international school experience as we did - we realize that we cannot swing $30k a year per child ( one on the way) from elementary school. While we are not lawyers or doctors, financially we would be considered middle/higher SES on the $200-$250k range. From what folks have shared on this thread so far, it seems all three schools might be in the running. I think "fit" and "feel" obviously will be the determine factor.

Check out away, but the effort won't take you long. JO Wilson is obviously fine for PreK3 and PreK4, and maybe K, and that's it. Diverse and solid elementary school it's certainly because almost all the kids are AA, and poor.

LT works for some in-boundary past PreK4, but not for most. Brent works for most in-boundary, while some parents still choose privates and language immersion charters.

The irony is that JO Wilson has the strongest principal of the three, LT the second best, and Brent the weakest (official) leadership. That said, the capacity of Brent's PTA is a hundred miles ahead of the other two.

Hint: the chief determinant will be what you can afford in housing. If you can afford Brent, I'd wager that you'll be there, committment to fit and feel not withstanding.

[Anonymous]

Brent is great - come join us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - just checking back in. We will definitely check out all three schools and visit the various open houses etc. We plan on staying in the district long term and so are looking for good public options through elementary and preferably middle school. We are prepared (or will be) to pay for private for highschool. My husband and I both originate from Africa and grew up all over the world (parents job had is both traveling and being raised in the international school system in Africa and Europe). We have a son and are looking to send him to a diverse solid elementary school. While we would love for him to have the same international school experience as we did - we realize that we cannot swing $30k a year per child ( one on the way) from elementary school. While we are not lawyers or doctors, financially we would be considered middle/higher SES on the $200-$250k range. From what folks have shared on this thread so far, it seems all three schools might be in the running. I think "fit" and "feel" obviously will be the determine factor.

Check out away, but the effort won't take you long. JO Wilson is obviously fine for PreK3 and PreK4, and maybe K, and that's it. Diverse and solid elementary school it's certainly because almost all the kids are AA, and poor.

LT works for some in-boundary past PreK4, but not for most. Brent works for most in-boundary, while some parents still choose privates and language immersion charters.

The irony is that JO Wilson has the strongest principal of the three, LT the second best, and Brent the weakest (official) leadership. That said, the capacity of Brent's PTA is a hundred miles ahead of the other two.

Hint: the chief determinant will be what you can afford in housing. If you can afford Brent, I'd wager that you'll be there, committment to fit and feel not withstanding.

Your certainty is amusing, if not misplaced. First of all, the only way a school gets to where it is all IB and kids stay to 5th is if the cohort stays through 4th, and 3rd and 2nd, etc. So the fact that PK3,4 and K are all strong is how things get started. Your observation about LT is also dead wrong. The cohort is staying into 1st and 2nd, and now into 3rd. The final comment about Brent is inane and applies to every school in the city, including JKLM, btw, where JKLM are good, but not as good as Sidwell and its ilk.

[Anonymous]

Not to nitpick but JO Wilson isn't on the Hill. It's technically considered Near Northeast as it's above H Street. The H Street corridor is undergoing a renaissance and the redevelopment of Union Market is imminent. The area is gentrifying rapidly. I would encourage OP to drill down into pedagogical philosophies and curricula, as well as approaches to discuipline. Ask about teacher experience (years as lead), evaluation ratings (effective, highly-effective) and turnover. Try to figure out neighborhood buy-in trends, such as whether in-bound families are staying past pK or K, as well as whether kids who might be coming from other parts of the Hill for PK are staying for K. Look at the quality of the aftercare program and offerings. Check out the library facilities. Think about the quality of the world language program. Observe the school environment. Are transitions chaotic vs. orderly or are kids told to quietly follow lines in the hallways. Check the cleanliness of the bathrooms and cafeteria. Ask about classroom aides, reading and math specialists, and pullout groups.

As for neighborhoods, look at amenities like local parks and playgrounds. Search the Crime Map on the MPD website. Maybe even think about renting for s year to get your feet wet. It's a big decision and a case of buyer's remourse is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - just checking back in. We will definitely check out all three schools and visit the various open houses etc. We plan on staying in the district long term and so are looking for good public options through elementary and preferably middle school. We are prepared (or will be) to pay for private for highschool. My husband and I both originate from Africa and grew up all over the world (parents job had is both traveling and being raised in the international school system in Africa and Europe). We have a son and are looking to send him to a diverse solid elementary school. While we would love for him to have the same international school experience as we did - we realize that we cannot swing $30k a year per child ( one on the way) from elementary school. While we are not lawyers or doctors, financially we would be considered middle/higher SES on the $200-$250k range. From what folks have shared on this thread so far, it seems all three schools might be in the running. I think "fit" and "feel" obviously will be the determine factor.

Check out away, but the effort won't take you long. JO Wilson is obviously fine for PreK3 and PreK4, and maybe K, and that's it. Diverse and solid elementary school it's certainly because almost all the kids are AA, and poor.

LT works for some in-boundary past PreK4, but not for most. Brent works for most in-boundary, while some parents still choose privates and language immersion charters.

The irony is that JO Wilson has the strongest principal of the three, LT the second best, and Brent the weakest (official) leadership. That said, the capacity of Brent's PTA is a hundred miles ahead of the other two.

Hint: the chief determinant will be what you can afford in housing. If you can afford Brent, I'd wager that you'll be there, committment to fit and feel not withstanding.

I think that if you visit the school you will see for yourself that this poster had no idea what they are talking about. Decide for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - just checking back in. We will definitely check out all three schools and visit the various open houses etc. We plan on staying in the district long term and so are looking for good public options through elementary and preferably middle school. We are prepared (or will be) to pay for private for highschool. My husband and I both originate from Africa and grew up all over the world (parents job had is both traveling and being raised in the international school system in Africa and Europe). We have a son and are looking to send him to a diverse solid elementary school. While we would love for him to have the same international school experience as we did - we realize that we cannot swing $30k a year per child ( one on the way) from elementary school. While we are not lawyers or doctors, financially we would be considered middle/higher SES on the $200-$250k range. From what folks have shared on this thread so far, it seems all three schools might be in the running. I think "fit" and "feel" obviously will be the determine factor.

Check out away, but the effort won't take you long. JO Wilson is obviously fine for PreK3 and PreK4, and maybe K, and that's it. Diverse and solid elementary school it's certainly because almost all the kids are AA, and poor.

LT works for some in-boundary past PreK4, but not for most. Brent works for most in-boundary, while some parents still choose privates and language immersion charters.

The irony is that JO Wilson has the strongest principal of the three, LT the second best, and Brent the weakest (official) leadership. That said, the capacity of Brent's PTA is a hundred miles ahead of the other two.

Hint: the chief determinant will be what you can afford in housing. If you can afford Brent, I'd wager that you'll be there, committment to fit and feel not withstanding.

Your certainty is amusing, if not misplaced. First of all, the only way a school gets to where it is all IB and kids stay to 5th is if the cohort stays through 4th, and 3rd and 2nd, etc. So the fact that PK3,4 and K are all strong is how things get started. Your observation about LT is also dead wrong. The cohort is staying into 1st and 2nd, and now into 3rd. The final comment about Brent is inane and applies to every school in the city, including JKLM, btw, where JKLM are good, but not as good as Sidwell and its ilk.

+1