Upper elementary at a Title 1 school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really wish posters would name the schools they have experience with. It would be really valuable for those of us still deciding where to send our kids.

Well, the list of highly desired middle schools is pretty concise and are mentioned consistently on this thread. Elementary schools seem to be "in the eye of the beholder" type of thing but at least in the preceding page you see Whittier listed, JKLM, some others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really wish posters would name the schools they have experience with. It would be really valuable for those of us still deciding where to send our kids.

It is hard because these schools tend to be small and the experience can vary from cohort to cohort. My DD's experience at Langley was very different from that of friends in the grades immediately above and below. So much depends on luck of the draw who is in the class and who the teacher is. So I would hesitate to confidently predict what the future would be like.

We had friends who moved to a HRCS due to behavioral issues of other kids in their class and a week later that very same kid with behavior challenges switched over to the HRCS too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish posters would name the schools they have experience with. It would be really valuable for those of us still deciding where to send our kids.

Well, the list of highly desired middle schools is pretty concise and are mentioned consistently on this thread. Elementary schools seem to be "in the eye of the beholder" type of thing but at least in the preceding page you see Whittier listed, JKLM, some others.

This thread is about Title 1 elementary schools, not JKLM or middle schools...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wish posters would name the schools they have experience with. It would be really valuable for those of us still deciding where to send our kids.

It is hard because these schools tend to be small and the experience can vary from cohort to cohort. My DD's experience at Langley was very different from that of friends in the grades immediately above and below. So much depends on luck of the draw who is in the class and who the teacher is. So I would hesitate to confidently predict what the future would be like.

We had friends who moved to a HRCS due to behavioral issues of other kids in their class and a week later that very same kid with behavior challenges switched over to the HRCS too.

Oh certainly, but it's good to know that MV also has PTA and activity policies, or that Whittier has enough above grade level kids to form cohort across multiple years and send a good number of kids to selective high schools. Every data point helps paint the bigger picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is starting third grade at a Title 1. We have been trying to lottery to a charter foryears but no luck. We loved the school but by second grade there are HUGE acheivement gaps. So far its worked because the classes are so small (around 16-20) and there are good supports for kids who need help.
I also talk with the teacher a lot about keeping my kid challenged. But the academics definitely are teaching down, not up. the attitude is "your kid will be fine anywhere" is tiresome. The fourth and fifth grades are ususally down to one class compared to 4 classes in first grade. Familiies leave also due to the middle school feed. MacFarland is a no go. My kid has had amazing teachers but don't kid yourself on diferentiation. Even the best teacher cant really reach the kid one grade above and the kid two grades behind.

Which school is this? We’re considering a few MacFarland feeders right now.

Sound like Powell, but I guess it can be another feeder school and I say this as a former Powell parent.

Im the poster, its Bruce Monroe

[Anonymous]

PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

But now that DCI is a preference and not guarantee, I really wonder if you'll see less flight to the DCI feeders. I wouldn't want to disrupt my middle elementary kid for a chance at a middle school, particularly when the DCI feeder parents complain about academics in upper elementary as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

But now that DCI is a preference and not guarantee, I really wonder if you'll see less flight to the DCI feeders. I wouldn't want to disrupt my middle elementary kid for a chance at a middle school, particularly when the DCI feeder parents complain about academics in upper elementary as well.

But people are also complaining about upper elementary In title 1 schools too. I still think than DCI preference is better than no preferences and ending up at McFarland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

But now that DCI is a preference and not guarantee, I really wonder if you'll see less flight to the DCI feeders. I wouldn't want to disrupt my middle elementary kid for a chance at a middle school, particularly when the DCI feeder parents complain about academics in upper elementary as well.

But people are also complaining about upper elementary In title 1 schools too. I still think than DCI preference is better than no preferences and ending up at McFarland.

Maybe. But I think it's very different to move to a school where you know you're getting a pathway through graduation, and the continuity with friends that goes along with it, and moving to play the lottery again in 2-3 years. Particularly if DCI doesn't replicate and a good percent of available seats get sucked up by sibling preference. I think lottery winners will continue to take DCI feeder spots, but you may not see as many parents pull kids when they're already established at a school. Who knows, only time will tell I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

But now that DCI is a preference and not guarantee, I really wonder if you'll see less flight to the DCI feeders. I wouldn't want to disrupt my middle elementary kid for a chance at a middle school, particularly when the DCI feeder parents complain about academics in upper elementary as well.

Kids in upper grades at the DCI feeder are practically gauranteed a spot at DCI, its all the kids in 1st and below who may get screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Bruce Monroe is a real gem but the middle school feed is the biggest driver of parents leaving. Most go to DCI feeders. that would be my preference too.

But now that DCI is a preference and not guarantee, I really wonder if you'll see less flight to the DCI feeders. I wouldn't want to disrupt my middle elementary kid for a chance at a middle school, particularly when the DCI feeder parents complain about academics in upper elementary as well.

Kids in upper grades at the DCI feeder are practically gauranteed a spot at DCI, its all the kids in 1st and below who may get screwed.

PP here. Not practically, actually guaranteed a spot because the graduating classes aren’t exceeding the available slots per school. Yes, its this year’s kindergarten and first graders, depending on the school, that will need to lottery for DCI spots. For the first few years, many of those kids will have older siblings with the guarantee, so they’ve got a guarantee in effect as well. It’s the oldest/only children that will be left to compete for the remaining spots not taken by siblings. I suspect that losing will be a big surprise for families that “won” the lottery in ECE and haven’t had the stress of being a lottery loser before. Either DCI will expand or you may eventually see families start leaving in upper elementary in the DCI feeders as well if they don’t have the stomach for having to lottery for middle school.

[Anonymous]

We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

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