Is your LO at Key?

[Anonymous]

We're inbound for Key Elementary and I'm at this moment trying to decide whether or not to send our bright LO there or private. We also have another one that will be ready for school soon, so tuition for two kids in private would be tough. I'm a bit concerned about prospects after 5th grade since the inbound middle school has not gotten great reviews.

Looking for some honest feedback from parents -- the good and the bad. Also: how does the school support and challenge the more advanced kids (if at all)?

[Anonymous]

Virtually all students at Key are advanced. Look it up at learndc.org

Save money now. Send to private for middle of you need to.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I looked there before and saw the scores are good. Roughly 73 percent are at or above reading/math levels in testing. But that doesn't give me any specifics that I was hoping to get from actual parents.

[Anonymous]

LO?

[Anonymous]

Is this a real post? OP, you should search the forum before asking something so inane. Plus, LO implies baby/toddler not a ready for preschool child.

[Anonymous]

Key was great. We had 2 kids there and the experience was very positive. No need to worry about middle school now. The situation could radically change by then. Lots of good options, including charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a real post? OP, you should search the forum before asking something so inane. Plus, LO implies baby/toddler not a ready for preschool child.

Wow. Well, I did do a search and there was nothing that spoke to what I was asking -- at least not in the last 5-7 years. If you know of something that I didn't see it would be more helpful to direct me to it. And please enlighten me as to why this question is "insane"?

Thanks for the correction on LO. I still view mine as that, but good to know what it implies to others.

[Anonymous]

Many DC families would love to have this choice. Key is terrific. And you have many years before middle school. Hardy is improving and will continue to do so. Enjoy having your kids at a neighborhood school, and being a part of your community.

[Anonymous]

new poster here. The old saying on this board was "First rule of Key, don't post on DCUM about Key." In many cases on this forum you get a lost of boosters or detractors about whatever school - and I'll dare to say it - often misinformation is spread. Key is a very nice community school - with a very nice community-centered feel (line up on the blacktop, kids/families staying to play on the playground after school etc). It's a pretty small community (so you may easily be outed/recognizable just posting on DCUM! Seriously!) We love it (2 kids there). High test scores and lots of extremely bright kids. There is not a gifted/talented type of differentiation program like they have in some other school systems, but have found that there are high expectations all around. Like any school - there is going to be a variety of teacher quality -
but have found our kids have had good to some real exceptional standouts. As at any DCPS school, there is a curriculum that the teachers - which can be frustrating esp starting in 3rd (again, this is across DCPS - public vs. going private). The parents are very engaged and like a number of other schools raise money for supplements. A teacher plus an aide through first grade. Different after school programs. Nice science extras and computers. Etc. Large international population. There has been a historic drop from around 60 kids in 3rd grade to around 40 by 5th. And most families do not currently go to Hardy. But as another poster mentioned, that trend is starting to change and a lot of parents across the feeder schools are engaged in the future of Hardy - and the younger age enrollment at Key has been growing...

[Anonymous]

new poster here. The old saying on this board was "First rule of Key, don't post on DCUM about Key." In many cases on this forum you get a lost of boosters or detractors about whatever school - and I'll dare to say it - often misinformation is spread. Key is great. A very community-centered feel (line up on the blacktop, kids/families staying to play on the playground after school etc). High test scores and lots of extremely bright kids. There is not a gifted/talented type of differentiation program like they have in some other school systems, but have found that there are high expectations all around. Like any school - there is going to be a range of teacher quality - but have found our kids have had good to some exceptional standouts. Like any DCPS school, there is a curriculum that the teachers - which can be frustrating esp starting in 3rd (again, this is across DCPS - public vs. going private). As another poster mentioned, currently most families do not go to Hardy (privates, charters, move), but that trend is changing fast and a lot of parents across the feeder schools are engaged in the future of Hardy - and the younger age enrollment at Key has been growing...

[Anonymous]

LOL that you think your preschooler might be too smart for Key.

[Anonymous]

We put three kids through Key, oldest is in high school now. As hard as it is to believe now, when we started Key was under-enrolled. The #1 issue for the PTA was getting enrollment up, because the school was under-resourced and in periodic danger of being closed. The PTA had to raise money for a lot of basics. It only took few years for the situation to reverse, now crowding is the issue.

Throughout our time at Key middle school has been the issue, Hardy is a few years away as it has been for the past decade! The difference was 10+ years ago it was easy to get into Deal, now it's basically impossible. So just about everyone either goes private, goes charter, or moves for middle school. The most popular privates and charters have admission years for fifth grade or lower, sixth grade admissions are rare, so there is a steady erosion in students in third grade and beyond.

Which is sad, because Key is a lovely community. Because it is a neighborhood school you will see the families from school all the time. My kids are still friends with their Key friends even though they don't go to school together any more.

[Anonymous]

You should send your LO to private school. Your snowflake is obviously too bright to attend public school with the riff tagging upper NW. Give your spot to someone who will appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new poster here. The old saying on this board was "First rule of Key, don't post on DCUM about Key." In many cases on this forum you get a lost of boosters or detractors about whatever school - and I'll dare to say it - often misinformation is spread. Key is a very nice community school - with a very nice community-centered feel (line up on the blacktop, kids/families staying to play on the playground after school etc). It's a pretty small community (so you may easily be outed/recognizable just posting on DCUM! Seriously!) We love it (2 kids there). High test scores and lots of extremely bright kids. There is not a gifted/talented type of differentiation program like they have in some other school systems, but have found that there are high expectations all around. Like any school - there is going to be a variety of teacher quality -
but have found our kids have had good to some real exceptional standouts. As at any DCPS school, there is a curriculum that the teachers - which can be frustrating esp starting in 3rd (again, this is across DCPS - public vs. going private). The parents are very engaged and like a number of other schools raise money for supplements. A teacher plus an aide through first grade. Different after school programs. Nice science extras and computers. Etc. Large international population. There has been a historic drop from around 60 kids in 3rd grade to around 40 by 5th. And most families do not currently go to Hardy. But as another poster mentioned, that trend is starting to change and a lot of parents across the feeder schools are engaged in the future of Hardy - and the younger age enrollment at Key has been growing...

If only Janney had such a rule. But then, Janney families are all boosterish and need public schools. They can't go private like Key and Mann.

[Anonymous]

Key is amazing. Just wonderful. We have key & private (long story)....key is much better. Save your $$