Thoughts on DCI, Latin or BASIS

[Anonymous]

Maybe some parents value preparing kids for a diverse world and not for an Ivy league world? We're not at Latin, but this is our family philosophy. I grew up in an all white world with homogenized learning and our kids will not. I also attended a top-tier school and I work with Ivy and other top-tier international science and math students. Insight drives our decisions.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, pp.. However we are talking DC here. Diversity is inevitable.

[Anonymous]

Diversity is inevitable and great. But lumping kids who lack basic skills into the same classes as kids capable of working several years ahead of grade level in the same middle school classes for political reasons is bone-headed. The arrangement keeps the brightest and most advanced kids back. Not a tragedy but hardly optimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes that is true.

But the kids have to want to apply to those schools. Unless you have access to Latin's Naviance data there's just no way to know if they applied and were rejected, or chose to apply elsewhere.

I think that's the worst part- that maybe the school says crap like "oh but you'll thrive at small third tier private" instead of trying to apply to Michigan, for instance. I wonder if they direct kids to these third tier schools so they can say "our graduating class got over a million dollars in financial aide!" Really hope not.

Truthfully Latin's course offerings fail to impress, and maybe that's why they only got one kid in Brown three years ago.

I happen to know many of Latin's top students, and I also know that many (I can't say all, because I didn't dig that much) of them decided not to apply to any of the Ivy's. For most, it just didn't feel like a good fit, so why bother applying if you have no intention on accepting an offer? I guess it would make the school look better to all you DCUMers, but it's really about the students and what is best for them and their families. And not all top students decide to go straight to college, some may take a gap year to "discover" themselves and see the world.

[Anonymous]

The saddest part about this silly debate is that we're going to be doing it all again when the Latin college admissions are released in May/June.

Even if there are 3-4 more Ivys on the list someone will claim it's an aberation, blah blah blah.

[Anonymous]

The only problem with DCI is a solid 20% of the students are unable to behave in a civilized manner. They destroy the learning for the other 80%. I feel very bad for the teachers, who are generally excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes that is true.

But the kids have to want to apply to those schools. Unless you have access to Latin's Naviance data there's just no way to know if they applied and were rejected, or chose to apply elsewhere.

I think that's the worst part- that maybe the school says crap like "oh but you'll thrive at small third tier private" instead of trying to apply to Michigan, for instance. I wonder if they direct kids to these third tier schools so they can say "our graduating class got over a million dollars in financial aide!" Really hope not.

Truthfully Latin's course offerings fail to impress, and maybe that's why they only got one kid in Brown three years ago.

I happen to know many of Latin's top students, and I also know that many (I can't say all, because I didn't dig that much) of them decided not to apply to any of the Ivy's. For most, it just didn't feel like a good fit, so why bother applying if you have no intention on accepting an offer? I guess it would make the school look better to all you DCUMers, but it's really about the students and what is best for them and their families. And not all top students decide to go straight to college, some may take a gap year to "discover" themselves and see the world.

But why?? Imposter syndrome? I think this speaks volumes about Latin, none of it good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only problem with DCI is a solid 20% of the students are unable to behave in a civilized manner. They destroy the learning for the other 80%. I feel very bad for the teachers, who are generally excellent.

Dci parent here and I have the same issue/concern. And I think its higher than 20%.

[Anonymous]

^^ Discipline and hormones is a problem at most middle schools. Not sure if DCI is any worse than anyplace else. I do wonder if the tech contributes though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only problem with DCI is a solid 20% of the students are unable to behave in a civilized manner. They destroy the learning for the other 80%. I feel very bad for the teachers, who are generally excellent.

Dci parent here and I have the same issue/concern. And I think its higher than 20%.

Really? We are at a feeder and our grade, upper elementary, at the feeder is generally well behaved without these issues so it is very disheartening to hear this.

[Anonymous]

Can DCI parents please elaborate on discipline concerns? What kind of disruptive behavior takes place and how do teacher's respond? Wondering if the behavior problems prevent kids from doing better, i.e test scores. TIA

[Anonymous]

Test scores correlate most with SES - with a very few exceptions. DCIs scores pretty closely match its demographics - it is a high need school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test scores correlate most with SES - with a very few exceptions. DCIs scores pretty closely match its demographics - it is a high need school.

Adding - 53% FARMS. It is great that DCI is building to serve all but it is not the high SES enclave a couple of its feeders are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test scores correlate most with SES - with a very few exceptions. DCIs scores pretty closely match its demographics - it is a high need school.

Adding - 53% FARMS. It is great that DCI is building to serve all but it is not the high SES enclave a couple of its feeders are.

Well that might take a few years to change, and hopefully the kinks might work out by then too.

[Anonymous]

It isn't likely to change. Look at the enrollment of each feeder and their FARMS rate.

What will change - hopefully - is their ability to meet all their kids needs to reduce behavioral challenges. The computer networking / job training alternative to a high school IB diploma is one way they plan to serve their non college-bound students.