Thoughts about Brent Upper School from parents of kids who have gone through 5th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

Race should not be a factor just at risk percentage. I’m not sure why white Van Ness parents don’t buy in. It’s a school with 46% at risk and 18% white.
It’s already a mediocre school overall even though the design inside is nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

Race should not be a factor just at risk percentage. I’m not sure why white Van Ness parents don’t buy in. It’s a school with 46% at risk and 18% white.
It’s already a mediocre school overall even though the design inside is nice.

Because being one of a few white kids in a class is very different from being the only white kid in a class. Especially when classmates are even less likely to be from a similar socioeconomic background, regardless of race.

Because differentiation in middle school looks very different from differentiation in elementary school. Fewer than 20 students took Algebra I at Jefferson. And only half of them passed the CAPE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

Meh. Seems about the same from the data available. 12 from Brent in SY20-21 6th grade class. 11 in SY21-22. Fewer than 10 in SY22-23. 10 in SY23-24. Fewer than 10 in SY24-25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

Meh. Seems about the same from the data available. 12 from Brent in SY20-21 6th grade class. 11 in SY21-22. Fewer than 10 in SY22-23. 10 in SY23-24. Fewer than 10 in SY24-25.

Is this from EdScape student enrollment pathways? It's hard because Brent is so small, it's unlikely to have more than 10 kids go to any one school. If you checked the student enrollments by school boundary spreadsheet to get a total in all grades at Jefferson who live IB for Brent that would be interesting. But of course that does not mean they actually went to Brent, and there are kids at Brent who live OOB, so maybe it isnt that enlightening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

Meh. Seems about the same from the data available. 12 from Brent in SY20-21 6th grade class. 11 in SY21-22. Fewer than 10 in SY22-23. 10 in SY23-24. Fewer than 10 in SY24-25.

Is this from EdScape student enrollment pathways? It's hard because Brent is so small, it's unlikely to have more than 10 kids go to any one school. If you checked the student enrollments by school boundary spreadsheet to get a total in all grades at Jefferson who live IB for Brent that would be interesting. But of course that does not mean they actually went to Brent, and there are kids at Brent who live OOB, so maybe it isnt that enlightening.

Yes, from Edscape pathways. But I think the SY23-24 number indicates it's still hovering around 10 even in the years where it's under 10 and we don't know the exact number.

The enrollments by boundary spreadsheet will only tell you how many live IB for Jefferson itself.

[Anonymous]

This has nothing to do with this thread but how long is nap time at Brent? My husband forgot to ask at open house and I really don’t want to email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

PP is right. We know several Brent families who went with Jefferson for an older sib but sent the younger sib(s) to Stuart Hobson or charters post Covid. A good Jefferson principal left during the pandemic, replaced by a mediocre one.

DCPS really blew it at Jefferson. If they'd offered true honors classes there in all core subjects (like Arlington does) they'd might have kept the momentum up. But the window closed and UMC families of all races have largely, and logically, shunned Jefferson since the pandemic. Brent parents are hardly to blame for the "definite no off the bat."

[Anonymous]

Was neighborhood buy-in pre-pandemic really lots better than now? I dont think so. If Brent becomes larger in its class sizes post-renovation, that might eventually lead to more enrollment at Jefferson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

PP is right. We know several Brent families who went with Jefferson for an older sib but sent the younger sib(s) to Stuart Hobson or charters post Covid. A good Jefferson principal left during the pandemic, replaced by a mediocre one.

DCPS really blew it at Jefferson. If they'd offered true honors classes there in all core subjects (like Arlington does) they'd might have kept the momentum up. But the window closed and UMC families of all races have largely, and logically, shunned Jefferson since the pandemic. Brent parents are hardly to blame for the "definite no off the bat."

I agree with an earlier poster that Brent families will be the last to meaningfully engage--that's already the case. But, I think that there is meaningful engagement at the other three feeders and some new momentum exists. Add to that the new Spanish program which should be a draw for some Chisholm families. The current 6th grade class is about to induct it's largest-ever class to NJHS. As a Jefferson parent, I'm very pleased with our experience there. The school talks a lot about meeting kids where they are and providing additional support to kids behind grade level as well as challenging kids that are above grade level, and that has absolutely been our experience.

[Anonymous]

I’m black and would never consider Jefferson — an especially dangerous/awkward place with my child’s phenotype before you even get into the academic issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a current Brent 5th grader. Overall we have been happy for many of the reasons stated above. The problem really isn’t Brent or the upper school model. It’s that DCPS lets the charters start at 5th and many families at Brent don’t want to risk being stuck with Jefferson. If Brent fed into SH, you’d see a pattern more like Ludlow Taylor, where kids choose to stay for 5th.

Based on Term 2, the current class of 6th graders at Jefferson are leading all DCPS middle schools in passing all four core classes. 8th graders are also accepted to application HS and privates like Sidwell and Burke. I hope Brent parents will see Jefferson as a possibility and not a definite no off the bat.

Since grading isn't standardized across schools, I'm not sure this says anything meaningful about Jefferson student performance.

I think Brent will be the last of the Jefferson feeders to see any meaningful buy in from MC/UMC families. The demographics are just too different. From 8% to 61% at risk. And from 67% to 3% white.

There was Jefferson buy in at Brent before Covid and immediately after. But then word started to get around about bad experiences and the whole climate has shifted. People tried Jefferson and it did not work. Way too big of a shift from Brent to Jefferson at an age when academics really start to matter.

PP is right. We know several Brent families who went with Jefferson for an older sib but sent the younger sib(s) to Stuart Hobson or charters post Covid. A good Jefferson principal left during the pandemic, replaced by a mediocre one.

DCPS really blew it at Jefferson. If they'd offered true honors classes there in all core subjects (like Arlington does) they'd might have kept the momentum up. But the window closed and UMC families of all races have largely, and logically, shunned Jefferson since the pandemic. Brent parents are hardly to blame for the "definite no off the bat."

I agree with an earlier poster that Brent families will be the last to meaningfully engage--that's already the case. But, I think that there is meaningful engagement at the other three feeders and some new momentum exists. Add to that the new Spanish program which should be a draw for some Chisholm families. The current 6th grade class is about to induct it's largest-ever class to NJHS. As a Jefferson parent, I'm very pleased with our experience there. The school talks a lot about meeting kids where they are and providing additional support to kids behind grade level as well as challenging kids that are above grade level, and that has absolutely been our experience.

I'm not sure how much MC/UMC Chisholm parents actually care about Spanish instruction. I think immersion was/is primarily a way for MC/UMC families to self segregate from the school boundary's at-risk population. If so, without a full immersion option Jefferson is non-starter for these families too.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t most Brent families capable of going private with ease…?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t most Brent families capable of going private with ease…?

Why pay for that? Brent is a wonderful school. If you mean for MS some do go private and some go to charters.