Lowell School Delaying Employee Contracts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lowell missed its enrollment target by dozens and has to make up at least $1M to float next year.

Is under enrollment a Lowell issue, or a general trend seen in the area’s other independent schools?

Both. Education costs are rising dramatically. Enrollment is trending down in independent schools. Smaller schools are needing to be creative to stay financially viable. Those with longstanding financial issues or living year to year based on enrollment are going to have less ability to get through lean years without program impacts.

Lowell historically attracts more public sector familiars than trust fund families. As we all know, feds/nonprofits have been hit hard with layoffs and downsizing in the last year. Lowell gives out significant portion of their budget in aid, but there is far more need across the DMV in the last year.

[Anonymous]

I know nothing about the school’s leadership so I won’t comment on what effect that is having on the enrollment. But Lowell has another problem: geography. Location location location. It’s in a horrible location for DCs most affluent families. So the demographic cliff is going to hit a school in a bad location like Lowell first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lowell missed its enrollment target by dozens and has to make up at least $1M to float next year.

What’s the plan to make up the $1m? Any risk the school closes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lowell missed its enrollment target by dozens and has to make up at least $1M to float next year.

What’s the plan to make up the $1m? Any risk the school closes?

Per the HOS letter: by “determining what is necessary vs. nice for the coming school year…” — which is code for having fewer people do a lot more work for less pay/benefits. Unsure if risk of closure is imminent. But staff/faculty exodus (voluntarily or otherwise) is likely inevitable following a letter with such verbiage. And that will further exacerbate the downward spiral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know nothing about the school’s leadership so I won’t comment on what effect that is having on the enrollment. But Lowell has another problem: geography. Location location location. It’s in a horrible location for DCs most affluent families. So the demographic cliff is going to hit a school in a bad location like Lowell first.

I disagree. It's in a very good location for DC's affluent families.

I think this is mostly about cost and being K-8. Lowell is very expensive and K-8 schools are out of vogue because the public elementaries are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also seems like the person who has to make the call on who exactly gets cut is sitting in jury duty for longer than anticipated... also does every school send fresh offer letters to every teacher, every year???

I mean I'm a teacher at a DC charter nor private, but yes. Every year we get a contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know nothing about the school’s leadership so I won’t comment on what effect that is having on the enrollment. But Lowell has another problem: geography. Location location location. It’s in a horrible location for DCs most affluent families. So the demographic cliff is going to hit a school in a bad location like Lowell first.

I disagree. It's in a very good location for DC's affluent families.

I think this is mostly about cost and being K-8. Lowell is very expensive and K-8 schools are out of vogue because the public elementaries are good.

Agreed, I'm on the far side (compared to Lowell) of Forest Hills which is exactly the sort of neighborhood you expect to send their kids to Lowell and it is only 15 minutes away. But also, I prioritized schools that took my kid to 12th when choosing a school (though I did lightly look at ones that ended sooner and public, they just weren't my priority and the private K-8s probably would have easily lost out to a strong DC lottery result...

[Anonymous]

Could they merge with Burke or Field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could they merge with Burke or Field?

I struggle to see any advantage for Burke or Field in such a merger?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could they merge with Burke or Field?

I struggle to see any advantage for Burke or Field in such a merger?

Not PP, but if they merged, it would create the continuity from K-12 that most DC private school parents are seeking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could they merge with Burke or Field?

I struggle to see any advantage for Burke or Field in such a merger?

They could consolidate the middle schools for cost savings, gain access to new facilities (including a pool), and better compete with GDS/Maret by adding an elementary option.

[Anonymous]

Lowell is not in danger of closing.

People dismiss the K-8 model, because it seems inconvenient. There are many advantages to letting kids thrive at a place focused on children that isn’t overly focused on college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lowell is not in danger of closing.

People dismiss the K-8 model, because it seems inconvenient. There are many advantages to letting kids thrive at a place focused on children that isn’t overly focused on college admissions.

Maybe true at a properly-run K-8. But Lowell is not that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lowell is not in danger of closing.

People dismiss the K-8 model, because it seems inconvenient. There are many advantages to letting kids thrive at a place focused on children that isn’t overly focused on college admissions.

Those who like the model won’t dismiss Lowell for being a K-8 but they may dismiss it because it is struggling financially. And, of course, no one already enrolled at Lowell is dismissive of the K-8 model, or they would not be enrolled there. But surely these families must be worried about the medium- to long-term financial viability of the school even if Lowell is not in immediate danger of closing.