Which schools, if any, excelled during the pandemic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson actually did an excellent job; the principal was constrained by the distancing and cohort rules, which basically screws high schools in terms of in-person learning; however, in terms of virtual learning, my DC had real, synchronous classes from 9:30-4pm, with a short break in between classes and a break for lunch four days per week. All of her teachers were engaged and the administration was responsive. I can think of only a few times that classes were canceled. While it was not what it would have been had she been in person, it was a solid year of education (as opposed to the disaster that was Deal)...

I have one at Wilson and one at Deal, and our experience of the two was similar, much as PP describes for Wilson. I wonder how much of the disparity in experience at Deal discussed on here comes down to team and (to a lesser extent) grade? My 7th grader had a very good year, with none of the teacher no-shows and other negative experiences I’ve read about on here; I feel like I also heard a lot more negative stories about 8th grade than 7th.

That's interesting...our Deal student was in 8th and it was awful. But I thought a lot of the problem was the fact that the school decided to schedule each class for only two days per week (for about 45 minutes of live class)...I didn't realize it was different for different grades.

Deal kids had their six classes twice a week for 45 min of live class. Some teachers held them through the 30 minutes of homework time though.

[Anonymous]

Lee Montessori rocked DL and quickly came up with a plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did Hardy do?

DC loved the virtual school and elected not to return for the last few months. I think it helped that it was his last year and he was familiar with the school. He and his friend got together outside of school. I can see virtual school being much harder if it's the first year in new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson actually did an excellent job; the principal was constrained by the distancing and cohort rules, which basically screws high schools in terms of in-person learning; however, in terms of virtual learning, my DC had real, synchronous classes from 9:30-4pm, with a short break in between classes and a break for lunch four days per week. All of her teachers were engaged and the administration was responsive. I can think of only a few times that classes were canceled. While it was not what it would have been had she been in person, it was a solid year of education (as opposed to the disaster that was Deal)...

I have one at Wilson and one at Deal, and our experience of the two was similar, much as PP describes for Wilson. I wonder how much of the disparity in experience at Deal discussed on here comes down to team and (to a lesser extent) grade? My 7th grader had a very good year, with none of the teacher no-shows and other negative experiences I’ve read about on here; I feel like I also heard a lot more negative stories about 8th grade than 7th.

That's interesting...our Deal student was in 8th and it was awful. But I thought a lot of the problem was the fact that the school decided to schedule each class for only two days per week (for about 45 minutes of live class)...I didn't realize it was different for different grades.

Deal kids had their six classes twice a week for 45 min of live class. Some teachers held them through the 30 minutes of homework time though.

Right. I’m the PP with one at Wilson and one at Deal, and the amount of class time didn’t vary by grade. So, yes, my Wilson kid had more live instruction than my Deal kid did. But my Deal kid’s teachers were engaged and present and committed, so he had as good a year as I could have hoped for. But I’m sure that was highly variable, and a bad team meant that 100+ kids had a very bad year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a weird question.

DC is an extreme, extreme outlier nationally in its slowness in getting kids back in the classroom. Maybe the only place in the U.S. that did worse than DC was San Francisco.

And we're asking who excelled?

DCPS, as a whole, completely failed its students.

My cousin's kids were in school all year in Florida, completely normally with no restrictions. And, nothing happened.

[Anonymous]

Agree with DCPS and the WTU failing its students. My relatives in Florida, Illinois and Long Island NY were all back in school by early October with no incidents. And the Catholic K-8 school in my neighborhood was back after Labor Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with DCPS and the WTU failing its students. My relatives in Florida, Illinois and Long Island NY were all back in school by early October with no incidents. And the Catholic K-8 school in my neighborhood was back after Labor Day.

Yep. Not to rehash this but ... looking back on this whole sorry mess, the one thing that doesn't cease to amaze me is how the diehard "It's not SAAAFEE!" people somehow thought we couldn't see with our own eyes that schools were open everywhere else? Especially when urban districts like New York and Providence reopened. I could never, ever swallow the fact that my sisters' kids in private school were in school the whole time, my collegues and friends had kids in person in privates and parochials here in DC, and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lee Montessori rocked DL and quickly came up with a plan.

I mean, no Montessori can rock DL but hey, you do you.

Sometimes I just think people have been Stockholm syndromed into thinking this year was great and fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PP about the problems at BASIS this year - HOWEVER, my DC did actually learn a lot and I am not worried about them being prepared for the next grade level. They did a pretty good job given the circumstances will full programming every day.

I am the PP who was surprised about others praise for Basis - to clarify, some of the teachers were great and engaged, so I don't mean to be so negative. Mostly, it seemed inconsistent across classes and some of the teachers clearly needed more support with the technology. Certainly it could have been worse, but I don't think Basis excelled.

+1 agree -it was not good for our kid at all. Too much inconsistency made for a really miserable year.

[Anonymous]

DCI for sure! All the students already had 1:1 tech and the school supplied wireless hotspots to those with poor/no internet connection. They practiced using Zoom before schools closed so that kids were familiar with the technology. They brought back priority populations as soon as they were allowed, and constantly pushed OSSE and the Health Department to get kids back in classrooms. The teachers and leaders were heroic throughout. We were so impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lee Montessori rocked DL and quickly came up with a plan.

I mean, no Montessori can rock DL but hey, you do you.

Sometimes I just think people have been Stockholm syndromed into thinking this year was great and fine.

Why wouldn’t a Montessori school be able to rock DL? Dr. Montessori herself said people completely missed the point with her philosophy on education by focusing on the materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a weird question.

DC is an extreme, extreme outlier nationally in its slowness in getting kids back in the classroom. Maybe the only place in the U.S. that did worse than DC was San Francisco.

And we're asking who excelled?

This is not accurate. Seattle suburbs got kids back only from 9 to Noon 4 days a week. And I bet a some other ultra-liberal areas are not far ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a weird question.

DC is an extreme, extreme outlier nationally in its slowness in getting kids back in the classroom. Maybe the only place in the U.S. that did worse than DC was San Francisco.

And we're asking who excelled?

This is not accurate. Seattle suburbs got kids back only from 9 to Noon 4 days a week. And I bet a some other ultra-liberal areas are not far ahead.

Seattle did better than Deal.

[Anonymous]

But the real problem was the cohorting rule from DOH. And the mayor not prioritizing getting back to school and over ruling the DOH on cohorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lee Montessori rocked DL and quickly came up with a plan.

I mean, no Montessori can rock DL but hey, you do you.

Sometimes I just think people have been Stockholm syndromed into thinking this year was great and fine.

Why wouldn’t a Montessori school be able to rock DL? Dr. Montessori herself said people completely missed the point with her philosophy on education by focusing on the materials.

Do you actually have to ask this? Do you belived that Dr Montessori for a hot second would approve of DL? You're delusional.