Moving to DC, and can't decide between Oyster and MoCo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but it still sounds like you want Oyster more for the neighborhood than for the program. It is a challenging program. Your child will be in class with native Spanish speakers and other students who have a linguistic edge because one or both parents speaks fluent Spanish. I know several families who've moved into the Oyster neighborhood and, for whatever reasons, the school has not been for them. So, things to ponder.

Can you give some of the reasons your friends decided Oyster was not for them? How old were their kids when they enrolled? Was it the school or the language part? (I realize these are somewhat separate things.) And where did your friends send their kids? Did they go private? Or to other DCPS? Or to the suburbs? Is there a particular culture of the school that does not suit certain families? If so, can you describe it, and why some families don't fit it? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but it still sounds like you want Oyster more for the neighborhood than for the program. It is a challenging program. Your child will be in class with native Spanish speakers and other students who have a linguistic edge because one or both parents speaks fluent Spanish. I know several families who've moved into the Oyster neighborhood and, for whatever reasons, the school has not been for them. So, things to ponder.

Can you give some of the reasons your friends decided Oyster was not for them? How old were their kids when they enrolled? Was it the school or the language part? (I realize these are somewhat separate things.) And where did your friends send their kids? Did they go private? Or to other DCPS? Or to the suburbs? Is there a particular culture of the school that does not suit certain families? If so, can you describe it, and why some families don't fit it? Thanks.

I'm not the PP you're asking, but I think it's worth pointing out that the principal who was forced out last year really alienated a lot of people and set up a culture at the school that was disorganized and unresponsive to parents. This used to put a lot of families off, especially if they felt their kids had particular needs that weren't getting addressed or even acknowledged. I'm finding the order, climate and communication situations much improved this year under the new administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but it still sounds like you want Oyster more for the neighborhood than for the program. It is a challenging program. Your child will be in class with native Spanish speakers and other students who have a linguistic edge because one or both parents speaks fluent Spanish. I know several families who've moved into the Oyster neighborhood and, for whatever reasons, the school has not been for them. So, things to ponder.

Can you give some of the reasons your friends decided Oyster was not for them? How old were their kids when they enrolled? Was it the school or the language part? (I realize these are somewhat separate things.) And where did your friends send their kids? Did they go private? Or to other DCPS? Or to the suburbs? Is there a particular culture of the school that does not suit certain families? If so, can you describe it, and why some families don't fit it? Thanks.

I'm not the PP you're asking, but I think it's worth pointing out that the principal who was forced out last year really alienated a lot of people and set up a culture at the school that was disorganized and unresponsive to parents. This used to put a lot of families off, especially if they felt their kids had particular needs that weren't getting addressed or even acknowledged. I'm finding the order, climate and communication situations much improved this year under the new administration.

I totally agree. The new principle is fantastic - and responive. She personally has responded to every email, phone call, that myself, or my friends/acquaintances in the school have made.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who mentioned Oyster not being a perfect fit for several families and as far as the people I know it was absolutely not the principal, past or present, but a combination of things. I never read their decision not to stay as an indictment of the school or the program. These were friends of friends, people I'd see socially when our orbits overlapped, and I didn't get deep into their stories, I think they switched to private.

This level of attrition seems typical for a school this size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There has to be a way to demonstrate residency sooner. It is impossible that DCPS would ask OP's kids to wait 2 months before enrolling in school!

Sorry for any confusion. Just to clarify, every student's address has to be verified when you enroll. You do not have to "wait", but you do need proof of residence within the boundary which is 2 months' rent & utilities which is DCPS policy. If you cannot prove residency in-boundary for Oyster at the time you apply, you will be sent to whatever school you are in-boundary for. And yes, there are audits because unfortunately some people do try to game the public school system.

OP - much of Woodley Park is in Eaton, not Oyster boundary. Verify the exact street address is in boundary with the school or DCPS website. Do not take a real estate agent's word. Sometimes they don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:06 For me, a very different energy, a very different mix. Are you the OP?

I'm the OP. Please elaborate. What is the "energy" difference? I'm assuming SS is much more economically diverse. What worries me is that the more affluent parents in SS seem to bypass the public schools after elementary. I'd prefer to live in a more economically diverse area than Bethesda or Chevy Chase, but the trade-off with the schools stops me from considering SS. Is there another way to look at this? Am I missing something?

Woodley is hardly "diverse" in anything compared to the neighbords just across Rock Creek. Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, U Street/Logan Circle and Columbia Hts. are more "diverse" in the NYC/Brooklyn kind of way if that's what OP is getting at. Dupont/Kalorama is very diverse in nationalities and lifestyles (same sex families), but probably economically similar to WP.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is nothing comparable in MoCo which is possibly the richest county in America.

OP, suggest you go with your gut on the school/schools. (Bear in mind, Oyster just added middle school.)

You will never be able to answer this in advance. It's not worth the headache of second-guessing your child's education versus walking distance to Metro.

(Personally, I say Oyster in-boundary in Adams Morgan. Our "diverse" family loves it.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There has to be a way to demonstrate residency sooner. It is impossible that DCPS would ask OP's kids to wait 2 months before enrolling in school!

Sorry for any confusion. Just to clarify, every student's address has to be verified when you enroll. You do not have to "wait", but you do need proof of residence within the boundary which is 2 months' rent & utilities which is DCPS policy. If you cannot prove residency in-boundary for Oyster at the time you apply, you will be sent to whatever school you are in-boundary for. And yes, there are audits because unfortunately some people do try to game the public school system.

OP - much of Woodley Park is in Eaton, not Oyster boundary. Verify the exact street address is in boundary with the school or DCPS website. Do not take a real estate agent's word. Sometimes they don't know.

There are multiple ways to prove residency not all of which require 2 months residency, just check out the dcps website. For example, a parent can provice a paystub that has his/her address on it.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP's talking apples and oranges. Immersion's a great opportunity but it's not the same as a G/T program. You send your child to immersion school because you think that learning another language is important - period.

One of the early posters talked about having to compete with native speakers and/or parents who speak Spanish. I think that's just a cop-out. DS is in an immersion program in Arlington and they start actually build up very slowly and offer supplemental instruction for native speakers. This fear of having to compete is ridiculous.

I'd say go to Oyster. Unless your child proves to be gifted at languages, going to an immersion program is the only way he'll learn another language well.

[Anonymous]

Since schools are driving your decision, have you actually visited the schools you are looking at?

The question of urban living will follow.

For example, if you fall in love w/ Bethesda Elem, find a place within easy walking to the metro, restos & coffee shops. Picking Moco does not necessarily mean that you will be a million miles from a metro station & shopping.

On the other hand, if Oyster makes you jump for joy, you'll know between which streets your housing will have to land.

As has been duly noted, no where in DC will duplicate NYC-style urban - so you are already starting at a compromise. But be careful, you might actually come to like it here! (I spent 12 years in Tribeca and wouldn't go back if someone handed me a miserable $5M airshaft apartment for free.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There has to be a way to demonstrate residency sooner. It is impossible that DCPS would ask OP's kids to wait 2 months before enrolling in school!

Sorry for any confusion. Just to clarify, every student's address has to be verified when you enroll. You do not have to "wait", but you do need proof of residence within the boundary which is 2 months' rent & utilities which is DCPS policy. If you cannot prove residency in-boundary for Oyster at the time you apply, you will be sent to whatever school you are in-boundary for. And yes, there are audits because unfortunately some people do try to game the public school system.

OP - much of Woodley Park is in Eaton, not Oyster boundary. Verify the exact street address is in boundary with the school or DCPS website. Do not take a real estate agent's word. Sometimes they don't know.

That doesn't account for a family completely new to the city. You seem to be assuming the previous address is even in DC! As another PP mentioned, there are other ways to establish residency. Relocating from other cities and countries is also a common scenario DCPS needs to manage.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to open can o'worms on residency and take this OT. My bad. Here's DCPS link. Yes, several ways to verify including embassy letters.

http://www.k12.dc.us/offices/oda/doc/title1_school_choice/RESIDENCY_VERIFICATION_GUIDELINES.pdf

[Anonymous]

The utility bill has to be from within the last 2 months, not 2 months worth.

[Anonymous]

One of the early posters talked about having to compete with native speakers and/or parents who speak Spanish. I think that's just a cop-out. DS is in an immersion program in Arlington and they start actually build up very slowly and offer supplemental instruction for native speakers. This fear of having to compete is ridiculous.

Well, that is not how Oyster works. These concerns are not a copout and they're not ridiculous -- they're students' concerns, based on their in-class experience. They sometimes withdraw because they don't speak Spanish as well as their classmates. Oyster teachers are aware of this, and would not call their students' experience ridiculous. Some students leave Oyster because they get tired of the bilingual program. Again, if OP is considering Oyster, she needs to understand what the program might involve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the early posters talked about having to compete with native speakers and/or parents who speak Spanish. I think that's just a cop-out. DS is in an immersion program in Arlington and they start actually build up very slowly and offer supplemental instruction for native speakers. This fear of having to compete is ridiculous.

Well, that is not how Oyster works. These concerns are not a copout and they're not ridiculous -- they're students' concerns, based on their in-class experience. They sometimes withdraw because they don't speak Spanish as well as their classmates. Oyster teachers are aware of this, and would not call their students' experience ridiculous. Some students leave Oyster because they get tired of the bilingual program. Again, if OP is considering Oyster, she needs to understand what the program might involve.

Especially at the upper grades Oyster needs to add something value added -- like IB or a permanent sister school exchange program--to keep the bright kids it attracts engaged. It is not enough as they progress into the Middle Years to simply learn math in Spanish. There needs to be something more... I think kids do burn out on the program without that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but it still sounds like you want Oyster more for the neighborhood than for the program. It is a challenging program. Your child will be in class with native Spanish speakers and other students who have a linguistic edge because one or both parents speaks fluent Spanish. I know several families who've moved into the Oyster neighborhood and, for whatever reasons, the school has not been for them. So, things to ponder.

Can you give some of the reasons your friends decided Oyster was not for them? How old were their kids when they enrolled? Was it the school or the language part? (I realize these are somewhat separate things.) And where did your friends send their kids? Did they go private? Or to other DCPS? Or to the suburbs? Is there a particular culture of the school that does not suit certain families? If so, can you describe it, and why some families don't fit it? Thanks.

I'm not the PP you're asking, but I think it's worth pointing out that the principal who was forced out last year really alienated a lot of people and set up a culture at the school that was disorganized and unresponsive to parents. This used to put a lot of families off, especially if they felt their kids had particular needs that weren't getting addressed or even acknowledged. I'm finding the order, climate and communication situations much improved this year under the new administration.

I totally agree. The new principle is fantastic - and responive. She personally has responded to every email, phone call, that myself, or my friends/acquaintances in the school have made.

That's nice; responsive also mean implementing planned purposeful change with parental feedback, but not beholden to it. Do you see results from the phone calls and emails she fields? Is the school on a good trajectory for next year?