DCPS Spanish bilingual up-and-coming schools

[Anonymous]

We'd love to buy in-bounds for a bilingual Spanish elementary school (have failed at lottery-ing into charters twice) for kindergarten. As our house budget is max 725K, Oyster, etc. are probably out of our range - but the others schools with GreatSchools ratings under 5 give me pause. Anyone at these schools have recommendations for their school/thoughts? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak to any of the DCPS bilingual schools, but I would strongly suggest you stop using GreatSchools and use My School DC or Learn DC websites to compare schools instead.

[Anonymous]

GreatSchools is a mess. It was a huge hassle just to get our page to accurately reflect out grade level offerings.

[Anonymous]

OP - use learndc.org to look for information you can compare against schools.

Houston Elementary has space available in its dual language program for next year. You could probably in via a post-lottery application without having to move.

Otherwise here are your options https://dcps.dc.gov/DL

[Anonymous]

Check out Bruce-Monroe. More and more neighborhood kids have been attending.

[Anonymous]

Powell?

[Anonymous]

I'd consider a condo IB for Oyster.

[Anonymous]

The Greatschools ratings are apparently strongly tied to test score outcomes. You aren't going to have problems with your kids' test scores. So decide based on other factors.

Cleveland has great test scores, it's closer to downtown and has a lower percentage of native speakers. Tyler on the Hill has very few native speakers but Hill families and location.

Bancroft and Oyster are gentrified. Marie Reed not as much and it has some strong supporters.

Powell has been hot for a while but is filling up inbounds. Bruce-Monroe not so much but it has its supporters.

Houston's program is new and it doesn't have much in the way of native speakers.

In terms of real estate, it's a tough market in these areas, at least in my mind. Columbia Heights/Petworth/Park View are gentrified housing markets and you'll have a tough time finding a house under $600,000. Don't even think about the Hill. Someone better informed would have to tell you about Deanwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Bruce-Monroe. More and more neighborhood kids have been attending.

more and more neighborhood kids have been attending - b/c they can not get in anywhere else. The minute they do - they are gone.

I would not buy IB for Bruce Monroe for the school.

[Anonymous]

We're a Powell family and happy to recommend it. Two kids there, the bilingual thing works, we support it at home. There are great teachers but the school is big enough now it's hard to recommend more than who we've had so far.

Based on what I see on Redfin, you'll see houses for $650,000-$700,000 in-boundary, but inventory is not large.

[Anonymous]

You can get a condo IB for Oyster or Bancroft within your budget.

[Anonymous]

OP here - sorry, yes I look at the other sites too, just meant some more qualitative info would be useful, particularly from folks that attend these schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Greatschools ratings are apparently strongly tied to test score outcomes. You aren't going to have problems with your kids' test scores. So decide based on other factors.

Cleveland has great test scores, it's closer to downtown and has a lower percentage of native speakers. Tyler on the Hill has very few native speakers but Hill families and location.

Bancroft and Oyster are gentrified. Marie Reed not as much and it has some strong supporters.

Powell has been hot for a while but is filling up inbounds. Bruce-Monroe not so much but it has its supporters.

Houston's program is new and it doesn't have much in the way of native speakers.

In terms of real estate, it's a tough market in these areas, at least in my mind. Columbia Heights/Petworth/Park View are gentrified housing markets and you'll have a tough time finding a house under $600,000. Don't even think about the Hill. Someone better informed would have to tell you about Deanwood.

We're at Cleveland, with two kids, one in the higher grades. The quality of Spanish instruction is first-rate and there are many native Speajers, including all of the teachers (with the possible exception of the 4th grade teacher who by all accounts speaks impeccable Spanish). Highly recommend! In bound real estate is expensive but if you are open to renting, you may be able to do it. My kids speak to each other in Spanish now and strangers as well as their teachers praise their accents and conversational skills.

[Anonymous]

Great schools is useless now that they care about "equity."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Bruce-Monroe. More and more neighborhood kids have been attending.

its a good school but IB kids have a hard time getting in for Preschool. Its weighted to allow more seats for spanish dominant kids even if they are OOB. Of course, by K you are garuanteed a seat. Our kid is there is so far so good. We will see how K goes.