Thoughts on Friendship Armstrong?

[Anonymous]

I haven't had a chance to visit, but wondering if I should include it on my list. I haven't heard a lot of talk about it, so I'm wondering anyone has personal experience and feedback. Positive or negative. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have heard it is fine but don't know anyone who goes there beyond preschool. Families in the immediate area tend to choose it if it is more convenient for them than Langley. I suppose it comes down to bigger school vs smaller school, and Reggio vs. SEL.

[Anonymous]

Their day starts too early for my liking.

[Anonymous]

I've posted this before, but . . . my child went to PK3 at Friendship Armstrong and we were very happy with the school, teachers, Reggio program. Mixed age PK3/4 with the same teachers two years in a row. Very small class size (due in part to attrition) -- under 16 kids per class with a teacher + assistant teacher. We had no complaints about the program at all, really. It does have a longer school day (starts at 8, ends at 4pm, I think) but that was a plus for us because we could do without aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've posted this before, but . . . my child went to PK3 at Friendship Armstrong and we were very happy with the school, teachers, Reggio program. Mixed age PK3/4 with the same teachers two years in a row. Very small class size (due in part to attrition) -- under 16 kids per class with a teacher + assistant teacher. We had no complaints about the program at all, really. It does have a longer school day (starts at 8, ends at 4pm, I think) but that was a plus for us because we could do without aftercare.

Why so much attrition? Why did you decide to leave after PK4? I don’t really want to put it on my list if I think I’ll have to go through the lottery again at K or first.

[Anonymous]

Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

Lots of schools have attrition from PK4 into K. Mundo nearby adds 48 seats for K. ITS makes a ton of K offers. And people who didn't get into their own IB for preschool can go there for K (e.g. Ross, Bruce-Monroe). So I would not sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

Lots of schools have attrition from PK4 into K. Mundo nearby adds 48 seats for K. ITS makes a ton of K offers. And people who didn't get into their own IB for preschool can go there for K (e.g. Ross, Bruce-Monroe). So I would not sweat it.

I’m not concerned that attrition means the PK program is bad, I just don’t want to put it on the list if I won’t stay there through elementary or at least for several years.

[Anonymous]

10:32 here. Attrition is mostly due to “trading up”; that’s what we did. If you get into a school you’ll be happy with all through elementary during your first lottery, you will be very lucky! Most people don’t, hence the trading up process. I know many families who were happy with preschool at Friendship Armstrong, but it wasn’t the first choice for any of them. (Location, reputation, interest in dual language, and/or need for more special ed services caused them to have different top choices.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:32 here. Attrition is mostly due to “trading up”; that’s what we did. If you get into a school you’ll be happy with all through elementary during your first lottery, you will be very lucky! Most people don’t, hence the trading up process. I know many families who were happy with preschool at Friendship Armstrong, but it wasn’t the first choice for any of them. (Location, reputation, interest in dual language, and/or need for more special ed services caused them to have different top choices.)

Our situation is that we are in a CBO (where our youngest is also in day care) that you qualify for PK3-4 tuition if you are enrolled, so unless we get into a school in the lottery for PK3 or 4 that we would be happy keeping him at for at least through 2nd, I just don’t see a reason to leave. I’d have to do the lottery again at K either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

People don't like to address this head on but.... do you want your child to be in the minority? I'm ok with it for preschool but would love to have a more diverse school as my child moves up. I'm hoping that more families will decide to stay through early elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

People don't like to address this head on but.... do you want your child to be in the minority? I'm ok with it for preschool but would love to have a more diverse school as my child moves up. I'm hoping that more families will decide to stay through early elementary.

I should hope that minority is fine, there are almost no schools with white majorities here if any. Being literally the only one ... I guess you have to feel that out as time goes by and see how it is for your child. If your race is 15% that seems fine, I think the problem is by 2nd grade it's more like .001%.

[Anonymous]

We were originally placed in Friendship Armstrong this year for PK3, and we were ecstatic about their Reggio program. The instructors came across as genuinely loving and enthusiastic about the work. And the projects they were having kids do looked fun and engaging. But we found out that it was difficult to get in to the after care program (a must for us). The admin staff were sort of discouraging (but honest!) about the odds of getting in and there were no plans this year to expand the number of slots. Plus they didn't open the application until mid summer so we couldn't really "wait and see." We ended up grabbing a slot at Langley when one was offered in early June. (We are super pleased with Langley for what it is worth. We didn't feel we traded down for guaranteed after care.) Anyway, I think it is a good school with lots of love and creativity, but after care is a necessity, you may want to factor that in to your equation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most charters have attrition, especially those you don't see talked about much on these boards. Families are usually trying to 'trade up' to what they perceive as a better school.

The school is Title 1 and 61% of children are considered at risk (to be considered at risk, the family must qualify them for TANF or nutrition assistance, the child is in foster care, or is homeless). That, plus the fact that 91% of students are African American or Black and 15 are white seems to scare some people off.

People don't like to address this head on but.... do you want your child to be in the minority? I'm ok with it for preschool but would love to have a more diverse school as my child moves up. I'm hoping that more families will decide to stay through early elementary.

I should hope that minority is fine, there are almost no schools with white majorities here if any. Being literally the only one ... I guess you have to feel that out as time goes by and see how it is for your child. If your race is 15% that seems fine, I think the problem is by 2nd grade it's more like .001%.

You are right. I'm the PP, I wrote "minority" but it's really about not being the only one. I want similar or greater diversity than what I am experiencing in pre-school. I am hoping that more of the current families stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were originally placed in Friendship Armstrong this year for PK3, and we were ecstatic about their Reggio program. The instructors came across as genuinely loving and enthusiastic about the work. And the projects they were having kids do looked fun and engaging. But we found out that it was difficult to get in to the after care program (a must for us). The admin staff were sort of discouraging (but honest!) about the odds of getting in and there were no plans this year to expand the number of slots. Plus they didn't open the application until mid summer so we couldn't really "wait and see." We ended up grabbing a slot at Langley when one was offered in early June. (We are super pleased with Langley for what it is worth. We didn't feel we traded down for guaranteed after care.) Anyway, I think it is a good school with lots of love and creativity, but after care is a necessity, you may want to factor that in to your equation.

Pp do you mind sharing your waitlist numbers? We live (maybe near you) in Truxton Circle and are hoping for a spot at Langley or Armstrong. TBH I have a bit of envy that my child missed the age cutoff last year as I look at the Langley blog.