Is SSMA really that bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

Surely they knew that when they enrolled, though. And the teacher turnover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

Surely they knew that when they enrolled, though. And the teacher turnover?

The re-enrollment number does become a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy as schools become easier to get into, so they're populated by folks that had them lower down on their lists to begin with, etc. Easy for schools to get caught in a death spiral after a bad year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

Really, you think that's it?

Lee Montessori reenrollment: 86.4%
Lee Montessori AA percentage: 39%

Shining Stars Montessori reenrollment: 69.8%
Shining Stars Montessori AA percentage: 44%

CHML AA percentage: 66%
CHML reenrollment percentage: 73%

The actual data sure does put a crimp in your racism theory. I mean, CHML disproves it right up front and if you think the extra 5% of AA student leads to a 17% lower reenrollment rate, then you are exactly what is wrong with the school. The school won't improve until people are able to look seriously at its flaws and take steps to address them rather than throwing out accusations of racism.

**I did not include breakthrough, since, unlike the other three it only goes up to 6th grade which makes the data less comparable from my perspective.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I meant Breakthrough only goes to second while the other three go to sixth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

Really, you think that's it?

Lee Montessori reenrollment: 86.4%
Lee Montessori AA percentage: 39%

Shining Stars Montessori reenrollment: 69.8%
Shining Stars Montessori AA percentage: 44%

CHML AA percentage: 66%
CHML reenrollment percentage: 73%

The actual data sure does put a crimp in your racism theory. I mean, CHML disproves it right up front and if you think the extra 5% of AA student leads to a 17% lower reenrollment rate, then you are exactly what is wrong with the school. The school won't improve until people are able to look seriously at its flaws and take steps to address them rather than throwing out accusations of racism.

**I did not include breakthrough, since, unlike the other three it only goes up to 6th grade which makes the data less comparable from my perspective.

And is that last years CHML re-enrollment figure? Because I think it’s normally way higher. The swing space destroyed some of the younger grades — PK4, in particular, likely ended up with a re-enrollment figure below 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Demographic trends tell an interesting story about both schools. We’ll see what the picture looks like in August. I am optimistic about renewal and will continue to support the school. My children are thriving and very happy.

Same here. I am the pp who commented about having two kids at SSMA who are happy at the school, have fantastic teachers, and consistently thrive in Montessori. As an example my oldest kids academic level is two grades above his current level (not bragging but shedding light into performance). I do not feel threatened by the attendance policy and see it as a normal thing and agree with other posters regarding the school’s interest to check in on students who miss several classes. As a parent I am too concern about children who may have been missing class whether it is because their parents can’t support virtual education or they have a less than ideal home environment (parent neglect etc).

I do not consider my self a school booster and rarely comment on these threads, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that the school’s virtual education was far more better than one of the Dcps well regarded schools (won’t name the school), and that is my point of comparison when saying that I was impressed by their ability to quickly pulling together the DL program. The scores may not be the best, but the school’s communication continues to improve, the guides and admin staff do genuinely care about the students. For the upcoming school year the school have asked parents feedback to make a decision on the schedule based on CDC/DC guidance. For me a school is more than standardized tests.

I'm glad your family is having a good experience. Can you speak to 1) Why re-enrollment is so much lower than the other public/charter montessori schools in the city? 2) Why teacher and staff turnover is so much higher than the other montessori schools in the city?

IDK. Perhaps because it has the highest percentage of AA students than any other public charter Montessori and some families are looking for a different level of diversity?

Really, you think that's it?

Lee Montessori reenrollment: 86.4%
Lee Montessori AA percentage: 39%

Shining Stars Montessori reenrollment: 69.8%
Shining Stars Montessori AA percentage: 44%

CHML AA percentage: 66%
CHML reenrollment percentage: 73%

The actual data sure does put a crimp in your racism theory. I mean, CHML disproves it right up front and if you think the extra 5% of AA student leads to a 17% lower reenrollment rate, then you are exactly what is wrong with the school. The school won't improve until people are able to look seriously at its flaws and take steps to address them rather than throwing out accusations of racism.

**I did not include breakthrough, since, unlike the other three it only goes up to 6th grade which makes the data less comparable from my perspective.

And is that last years CHML re-enrollment figure? Because I think it’s normally way higher. The swing space destroyed some of the younger grades — PK4, in particular, likely ended up with a re-enrollment figure below 50%.

I used what was available on the report card but I've always been confused about which year that represents. Regardless, their re-enrollment rate has always been higher than SSMA. I think it is hugely problematic the way many at SSMA claim that those who raised concerns or choose to leave the school (we're a former SSMA family who ended up at a neighborhood DCPS with a much higher percentage of AA students than SSMA) do so because of racism. It prevents them from looking seriously at the school's flaws, and continues to enable Dr. R's abhorrent behavior.

[Anonymous]

Abhorrent behavior?
For the race element, don’t just look at population vs Re-enrollment, look at the leadership and staff diversity. Clearly the difference between Lee and SSMA. Parents might be ok with a higher AA student population but not as much with leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Abhorrent behavior?
For the race element, don’t just look at population vs Re-enrollment, look at the leadership and staff diversity. Clearly the difference between Lee and SSMA. Parents might be ok with a higher AA student population but not as much with leadership.

You all keep changing the explanation as soon as your pet theory is disproved. PP above clearly said AA students, not staff or leadership, but fine. CHML has an AA principal (and as a DCPS principal is the highest position). So what's the excuse now?

And yes, abhorrent. There is no other word for the way she retaliated against teachers and families who spoke out against her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Abhorrent behavior?
For the race element, don’t just look at population vs Re-enrollment, look at the leadership and staff diversity. Clearly the difference between Lee and SSMA. Parents might be ok with a higher AA student population but not as much with leadership.

Lee East End has a Black head of school...

[Anonymous]

Lee East end needed an AA head of school. Serving a complete different demographic.
I ‘m very happy with the changes SSMA has had to better serve its entire school community over the years, but just trying to please a selected group, that surprisingly keeps speaking up in this page.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hope this thread has made clear that, yes, SSMA is really that bad. There are a few families that are happy, and some really good teachers, but if you have any issues at all you will be working against the administration rather than with the administration. I wouldn't take that risk with your child.

[Anonymous]

The only thing that this thread has made clear is that there are some families that have left that feel so incline to come back and comment. Ask on different groups and talk to real people, with names rather than anonymity. No school is perfect, and no one should base their decisions just on online forums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that this thread has made clear is that there are some families that have left that feel so incline to come back and comment. Ask on different groups and talk to real people, with names rather than anonymity. No school is perfect, and no one should base their decisions just on online forums.

Why do you think the re-enrollment is so low, though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that this thread has made clear is that there are some families that have left that feel so incline to come back and comment. Ask on different groups and talk to real people, with names rather than anonymity. No school is perfect, and no one should base their decisions just on online forums.

Why do you think the re-enrollment is so low, though?

They have no genuine response beyond ridiculous, unsubstantiated accusations of racism because they would have to admit that a very large portion of families are unhappy with the school.