Murch vs Lafayette vs Janney

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do more of the Janney kids go on to privates compared to the other schools?

Very few go to private schools after Janney. Maybe one handful. Everyone goes happily to Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the kids get to Deal, the Janney kids are the popular kids.

And the mean kids. Current 7th grade girls in particular.

Yes, sure. Let's believe the Hearst mom.

It was pretty well known at Janney when the class was in fifth grade. And they carry on to Deal.

This is a sad conversation. If these are really Janney parents posting about middle school popularity, that says a lot.

Sadly it’s not just Janney parents. There’s one poster, an adult, here implying the Janney kids got their comeuppance from being popular. Says a lot.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is saying it's good or bad that the Janney kids are popular at Deal. I replied and I know I wasn't putting any value judgement on this.
Simply I noted that I've noticed this. As a prior Janney parent I think it's interesting. I didn't find Janney especially easy to navigate socially.
LOTs of social climbing and inviting X, Y or Z kid because of who their parents are and not because of who the kids are friends with. Lots of being "looked through" at
social gatherings because I wasn't important enough socially to be talked to by some parents. One of my children is now in an elite private school and the parents there
(although far wealthier and more "powerful" than the Janney parents) are far nicer than Janney parents were (I am a nobody at both schools). There's something about having arrived vs. clamoring to claw your way up that makes people comfortable in their own skin and generally nicer.
That said, the Janney weirdness isn't found in every class and with every parent (there are plenty of nice people!) but it does permeate some grades and seems to dominate some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone is saying it's good or bad that the Janney kids are popular at Deal. I replied and I know I wasn't putting any value judgement on this.
Simply I noted that I've noticed this. As a prior Janney parent I think it's interesting. I didn't find Janney especially easy to navigate socially.
LOTs of social climbing and inviting X, Y or Z kid because of who their parents are and not because of who the kids are friends with. Lots of being "looked through" at
social gatherings because I wasn't important enough socially to be talked to by some parents. One of my children is now in an elite private school and the parents there
(although far wealthier and more "powerful" than the Janney parents) are far nicer than Janney parents were (I am a nobody at both schools). There's something about having arrived vs. clamoring to claw your way up that makes people comfortable in their own skin and generally nicer.
That said, the Janney weirdness isn't found in every class and with every parent (there are plenty of nice people!) but it does permeate some grades and seems to dominate some.

Sounds god awful

[Anonymous]

So how would you characterize Murch kids and parents?

[Anonymous]

I would argue that any parent who recognizes popularity in 11 and 12 year olds has issues. I know for a fact that my mom had NO idea who was popular or not at my middle school nor what elementary school the popular girls came from. She knew who my friends were. She knew any struggles I faced with other girls - like the time my friends dropped me when a new girl joined our group and decided I wasn't cool enough. But she was not keyed into the social hierarchy of my school. To do so would be to validate the importance of the hierarchy, and it has no long term importance at all. Bullying has long term consequences, but middle school popularity or the lack thereof does not.

[Anonymous]

Truly, if your children would do well in one of these schools, they will do well in all of them. PPs have pointed out that Lafayette is huge, if that matters to you. Find a house you like in a neighborhood you like and your kids will do just fine.

Plenty of kids- and parents - in DC would give anything to have access to any one of these schools. You're very fortunate to be able to afford living in bounds for any of them. I am not trying to sanctimonious, just trying to provide some perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how would you characterize Murch kids and parents?

I think there are more underdogs at Much than at Janney because there is more diversity. The women who run the PTA are extremely cliquey as well at Murch. I stayed away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the kids get to Deal, the Janney kids are the popular kids.

And the mean kids. Current 7th grade girls in particular.

Yes, sure. Let's believe the Hearst mom.

It was pretty well known at Janney when the class was in fifth grade. And they carry on to Deal.

It's very true - 3 kids that have gone/going through Deal...every year the Janney kids are the "popular" ones. But, given what has happened to some of those kids - you don't want that

And what have happened to those kids?

Research has shown that the really popular kids in middle school tend to end up being burn-outs (drugs, early sexual experiences etc.) because they are in the fast-moving social groups. Can't find the link but will post later.

Yes...and apparently my kids tell me a lot more then yours I was not trying to be judgemental with that comment - really trying to inject some humor. It's just been interesting to watch as a parent how it all shakes out. There is definitely a peer pressure element that can cause not so good things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the kids get to Deal, the Janney kids are the popular kids.

And the mean kids. Current 7th grade girls in particular.

Yes, sure. Let's believe the Hearst mom.

It was pretty well known at Janney when the class was in fifth grade. And they carry on to Deal.

This is a sad conversation. If these are really Janney parents posting about middle school popularity, that says a lot.

I am not posting about popularity. I am posting about bullying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do more of the Janney kids go on to privates compared to the other schools?

Very few go to private schools after Janney. Maybe one handful. Everyone goes happily to Deal.

That's not true after Deal though. Many Janney kids go on to private high schools. Almost all Murch kids go to Wilson or Walls. Not sure about Lafayette, but I think most go to Wilson/Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do more of the Janney kids go on to privates compared to the other schools?

Very few go to private schools after Janney. Maybe one handful. Everyone goes happily to Deal.

That's not true after Deal though. Many Janney kids go on to private high schools. Almost all Murch kids go to Wilson or Walls. Not sure about Lafayette, but I think most go to Wilson/Walls.

Does the data exist to support this or are you talking about a handful of your friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do more of the Janney kids go on to privates compared to the other schools?

Very few go to private schools after Janney. Maybe one handful. Everyone goes happily to Deal.

That's not true after Deal though. Many Janney kids go on to private high schools. Almost all Murch kids go to Wilson or Walls. Not sure about Lafayette, but I think most go to Wilson/Walls.

Does the data exist to support this or are you talking about a handful of your friends?

It's anecdotal. It just sounded better if I generalized. But I have heard the same from others in different years as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the kids get to Deal, the Janney kids are the popular kids.

Therein tells you everything you need to know about the Janney community.

AU Park and Tenleytown is their home turf, their native habitat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Truly, if your children would do well in one of these schools, they will do well in all of them. PPs have pointed out that Lafayette is huge, if that matters to you. Find a house you like in a neighborhood you like and your kids will do just fine.

Plenty of kids- and parents - in DC would give anything to have access to any one of these schools. You're very fortunate to be able to afford living in bounds for any of them. I am not trying to sanctimonious, just trying to provide some perspective.

To keep some perspective, these are good schools for DC. That may not necessarily be true against schools in better-run districts.