IB versus Charter

[Anonymous]

Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

You've missed the lottery, so your idea of the "best" charter will have a long waitlist. Are you asking for the best schools close to the Hill that might be worth putting in a post-lottery application for, or which ones have lists that are far too long for you ever to have a chance of getting in?

[Anonymous]

People tend to prefer their IB when it is better than the charters they get into, and prefer charters when they are better than their IB. Depending on the age of your kid and what you can afford, you may not have access to an IB school that meets your child's needs.

DCPS' special blend of incompetence and corruption will put your philosophical beliefs to the test. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

You've missed the lottery, so your idea of the "best" charter will have a long waitlist. Are you asking for the best schools close to the Hill that might be worth putting in a post-lottery application for, or which ones have lists that are far too long for you ever to have a chance of getting in?

We will stay IB this year and try to apply for next year. What are the charter you would recommend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

You've missed the lottery, so your idea of the "best" charter will have a long waitlist. Are you asking for the best schools close to the Hill that might be worth putting in a post-lottery application for, or which ones have lists that are far too long for you ever to have a chance of getting in?

We will stay IB this year and try to apply for next year. What are the charter you would recommend?

Depends on age of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

Charter schools are public schools. It sounds like you have some basic research to do before being ready to select a school. Start with MySchoolDC.

[Anonymous]

Most of the Hill schools are better than 90% of the charters. Should think about that. Once you know your IB, you should come back for advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

Charter schools are public schools. It sounds like you have some basic research to do before being ready to select a school. Start with MySchoolDC.

That is arguable A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located.[1][2] Charter schools are an example of public asset privatization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Hill schools are better than 90% of the charters. Should think about that. Once you know your IB, you should come back for advice.

Thanks for that. My IB would be Watkins

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Hill schools are better than 90% of the charters. Should think about that. Once you know your IB, you should come back for advice.

Thanks for that. My IB would be Watkins

Watkins is one of the best performing elementary schools (DCPS and Charter) in the city. I wouldn't even think of the drama for commute/lottery unless you really, really, really, really wanted Spanish immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Hill schools are better than 90% of the charters. Should think about that. Once you know your IB, you should come back for advice.

Thanks for that. My IB would be Watkins

What grades are you looking at? Many of the highest-regarded charters are bilingual ones that do not take kids after a certain grade. I'm not sure there are charters you'd like more--maybe Two Rivers or Inspired Teaching School? Possibly Capital City but I wouldn't think it was worth the extra commute--same with both Lee Montessori campuses, unless you LOVE the Montessori model.

You could also apply to DCPS elementary schools that feed into Deal and Hardy (this will not be a good commute); Brent, Van Ness, Maury, and School Within School (maybe Capitol Hill Montessori and Ludlow-Taylor) on/near the Hill; and Ross (maybe School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens but again I don't think it's better than Watkins). Your odds at all of these schools are terrible. Many take no kids at all through the lottery.

You should also look into Capitol Hill Day School, St. Peter's, and maybe Friends Community School (it's in PG County but many Hill families attend). Or reconsider moving to the Watkins district--you sound like someone who would be more comfortable with the schools west of Rock Creek Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Ladies, we are moving to DC this sumer and this forum has been a tremendous help. We are not in love with our IB and were wondering ig you could share your knowledge about what are the best charter out there. We most likely will be in the Capitol hill area.
We dont love the charter school idea much (we believe in public education) but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?

You've missed the lottery, so your idea of the "best" charter will have a long waitlist. Are you asking for the best schools close to the Hill that might be worth putting in a post-lottery application for, or which ones have lists that are far too long for you ever to have a chance of getting in?

We will stay IB this year and try to apply for next year. What are the charter you would recommend?

You should come back and ask this next year. It's way too soon to be thinking about this before even trying out the IB!

[Anonymous]

OP, any charter you like more will involve a significant commute from the Hill.

I don't think there are schools so much better than Watkins that it makes sense to spend an extra 180 hours a year strapped into a car seat or riding the bus. Either move to a place where you love the IB school, learn to love Watkins, or realize that you can be "not in love with" a school and your kid will still be perfectly fine there.

[Anonymous]

"but it seems a lot of long time DC resident prefer Charter versus IB. Is that true?" It really depends on what your IB is, and what grade your child will be entering. There are many IB to Watkins that are sending their kids to the school, but there are others that chose charters, for a variety of reasons. Some have to do with language, some bc the charter is a better fit for the child. It's worth visiting Watkins and talking to parents who send their kids there, as well as visiting the charters you think may be a better fit. It's hard to make decisions based on DCUM chatter alone (especially as you may find what DCUM recommends and what is best for your child/lifestyle are very different).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the Hill schools are better than 90% of the charters. Should think about that. Once you know your IB, you should come back for advice.

Thanks for that. My IB would be Watkins

Watkins is one of the best performing elementary schools (DCPS and Charter) in the city. I wouldn't even think of the drama for commute/lottery unless you really, really, really, really wanted Spanish immersion.

What fantasyland are you living in?