Anyone else disillusioned with the whole process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMO,
HRCS are Overrated with unexperienced, young teachers that have no classroom management. At first parents are happy to see a room of diverse faces but it quickly crumbles when parents have high demands and teachers don't have the tools to communicate or truly differentiate in the classroom. If you talk to anyone in detail at a HRCS, you will find a disgruntled, unfilled parent and school experience.

My advice is to find schools with a solid teaching staff. In Elementary, your child will flourish in most any environment - solid teachers are the key. In Middle school, you need to look at their peers. Teachers probably have less of an influence because of their peers so choose wisely.

For now pick a school where your children will be cared for and plan carefully for Middle school.

We are IB at a dcps I like over all and the kid is happy. Like most families we question staying beyond K. We played the lottery this year because K is a good year to get into some of the schools. Don't want to miss the chance at a different school but also nervous to leave. But when teachers (great, long time tracer with commitment) tell you they wouldn't send their kids their after prk, K or 1st that is a hard one. They will tell you behind closed doors it is about the behaviors and lack of recourse. Which is only going to get harder with the new dcps policy. Kids hitting, cussing out teachers in early elementary school it is crazy. No assistant teachers in these class rooms to help manage and redirect the kids. It is too much for most teachers balance and unfair to all of the kids. Yes, I said it it is unfair to the ones thag need the help to stay appropriate at school and unfair to those behaving and triying to learn. Not even starting on the safety and quality of education parts.
So even a solid teacher staff have their limits. What is one to do when you like your IB but know the teachers feel the spend too much time on other things besides teaching... That they would not send their own kids to their school?!?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, what are the best ward 4&5 schools middle class AA families? (for those of us that can't pick up and move)

Maybe DC Prep Edgewood, Friendship PCS Woodridge Middle, Washington Latin, KIPP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, what are the best ward 4&5 schools middle class AA families? (for those of us that can't pick up and move)

Maybe DC Prep Edgewood, Friendship PCS Woodridge Middle, Washington Latin, KIPP.

Also DC Bilingual, Cap City, Stokes...

[Anonymous]

Wow. Not sure what to think of the responses. I was expecting Stokes, cap city... It's, Haynes, 2Rivers 4& Y2rivers, for charters not KIPP or Friendship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not sure what to think of the responses. I was expecting Stokes, cap city... It's, Haynes, 2Rivers 4& Y2rivers, for charters not KIPP or Friendship.

I'm black and don't know any families at those schools. I know black middle/upper middle class families at other schools, including Shepherd, LAMB, Inspired, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not sure what to think of the responses. I was expecting Stokes, cap city... It's, Haynes, 2Rivers 4& Y2rivers, for charters not KIPP or Friendship.

I'm black and don't know any families at those schools. I know black middle/upper middle class families at other schools, including Shepherd, LAMB, Inspired, etc.

The question was about middle schools, so LAMB and Shepherd are not relevant to this conversation.

[Anonymous]

I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not sure what to think of the responses. I was expecting Stokes, cap city... It's, Haynes, 2Rivers 4& Y2rivers, for charters not KIPP or Friendship.

I'm black and don't know any families at those schools. I know black middle/upper middle class families at other schools, including Shepherd, LAMB, Inspired, etc.

The question was about middle schools, so LAMB and Shepherd are not relevant to this conversation.

PP here and I thought that posters asked about *middle class* not middle schools? But if middle schools is the topic, I know families at Deal, various privates, and parochials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prayer is good, OP. At least that is what I am relying on when I submit my choices tonight for my rising 6th grader. I understand where you are coming from.

Us too. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you don't get in and are planning to move to PG or Howard or, MG County..or VA. What specific schools districts are you looking for a house?? Not all PG, MGC or even Howard County schools are equally good or great for students of color. So, I am curious as to which neighborhoods or school zones families of color are looking. Give the lottery is over and we won't know for a while how that will shark out.. Might as well research other long term options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not sure what to think of the responses. I was expecting Stokes, cap city... It's, Haynes, 2Rivers 4& Y2rivers, for charters not KIPP or Friendship.

I'm black and don't know any families at those schools. I know black middle/upper middle class families at other schools, including Shepherd, LAMB, Inspired, etc.

OP here, same smh

[Anonymous]

How are we feeling now that results are up?

[Anonymous]

We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

You can do both, you know.

Enroll in ITS by the May 1 deadline, stay on the list for Haynes and make a final decision then.

You can also ask ITS for a meeting with the special ed director, and see how you feel about their approach.