Could anyone tell me more about Key (OOB)?

[Anonymous]

We just received an offer for our rising kindergartener. I'm torn because we're in a charter that we're not crazy about, but it's not absolutely horrible and the logistics work. The logistics for Key would be more difficult, but not insurmountable. We think Key may be a better fit because the language immersion seems to be an issue for DC and the current school's teachers aren't good with social emotional skills. Also, we're IB for Deal and the current charter feeds to DCI, so we already have MS options. Right now I'm just concerned with finding the best fit for elementary.

I looked up some threads on this site, and I still have some questions:

1. It seems like it's unlikely that we could get into the Key aftercare. Has anyone used the Jelleff aftercare option? Do they pick up your child from Key? What has your experience been with this program?
2. The school website indicates that there are approximately 8% out of bounds students. Are OOB students included socially? Obviously we would expect to do the bulk of driving for play dates etc. since we're the ones not living in the neighborhood, but is the social scene more insular to only Palisades families or are they accepting and inclusive of OOB kids?
3. How does the school handle special needs? We see signs of potential ADHD and it's a hereditary condition in our family. Our rising K child is very bright and does well socially like our older child, but older child needed some supports with an IEP in early elementary. A lot of it was outgrown by around 5th grade but we needed stronger supports until then. We plan to do tutoring if needed too. How satisfied were you with your child's IEP execution?
4. How are the social emotional skills of the teachers at Key?
5. How collaborative are the administrators with parents? Do they listen to parent's concerns and try to help resolve issues? Or is it more of a take it or leave it proposition?
6. What are the chances of a younger sibling getting in with OOB preference? I tried to find the website that shows past admittance data but couldn't find it. A link would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

The logistics for elementary school are heavier than you might think. It’s not just the daily drop-off. It’s all the middle of the day stuff too: parent teacher conferences, plays, fundraisers, etc. We are IB and it’s tough for us to balance. Plus, in 6 years the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson will be past the breaking point. Those 6 years will go fast. Better to stay at charter and establish roots in the student and parent community. You’ll be much happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The logistics for elementary school are heavier than you might think. It’s not just the daily drop-off. It’s all the middle of the day stuff too: parent teacher conferences, plays, fundraisers, etc. We are IB and it’s tough for us to balance. Plus, in 6 years the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson will be past the breaking point. Those 6 years will go fast. Better to stay at charter and establish roots in the student and parent community. You’ll be much happier.

Thanks for your response. We've been through elementary school with our oldest so we're familiar with the logistics. The charter school is just as inconvenient for conferences, volunteering etc. so that's not a factor. The only way it's easier is there's a parent-chartered bus that takes the kids to school and drops off right after school. It doesn't help with pick up for after school activities or the middle of the day stuff. I hope this helps explain better.

We're not sure if DCI will have improved enough in time for our rising K child, so we're not banking on that. All I meant was we at least have some options for MS, but now you're making me think it might good to have Hardy as an option too if the overcrowding at Deal becomes untenable in 6 years. We would be happy with Deal if it stays the same as it is now. At this point, we're looking just for best fit for elementary and we'll figure out MS closer to that time. Based on the info we have, Key looks like it might be a better fit but I'm hoping to get more info to make a decision.

[Anonymous]

What about your IB elementary? If it feeds to deal then it is likely as good as Key and may be easier logistically. I'm clearly missing something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The logistics for elementary school are heavier than you might think. It’s not just the daily drop-off. It’s all the middle of the day stuff too: parent teacher conferences, plays, fundraisers, etc. We are IB and it’s tough for us to balance. Plus, in 6 years the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson will be past the breaking point. Those 6 years will go fast. Better to stay at charter and establish roots in the student and parent community. You’ll be much happier.

Thanks for your response. We've been through elementary school with our oldest so we're familiar with the logistics. The charter school is just as inconvenient for conferences, volunteering etc. so that's not a factor. The only way it's easier is there's a parent-chartered bus that takes the kids to school and drops off right after school. It doesn't help with pick up for after school activities or the middle of the day stuff. I hope this helps explain better.

We're not sure if DCI will have improved enough in time for our rising K child, so we're not banking on that. All I meant was we at least have some options for MS, but now you're making me think it might good to have Hardy as an option too if the overcrowding at Deal becomes untenable in 6 years. We would be happy with Deal if it stays the same as it is now. At this point, we're looking just for best fit for elementary and we'll figure out MS closer to that time. Based on the info we have, Key looks like it might be a better fit but I'm hoping to get more info to make a decision.

Deal most definitely wont be the same in six years. It will be worse. It’s literally twice as big as it was 7 years ago. What DCPS is doing to that school is criminal. There is a growing cohort of committed parents fighting to improve their IB schools. You should give that some consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just received an offer for our rising kindergartener. I'm torn because we're in a charter that we're not crazy about, but it's not absolutely horrible and the logistics work. The logistics for Key would be more difficult, but not insurmountable. We think Key may be a better fit because the language immersion seems to be an issue for DC and the current school's teachers aren't good with social emotional skills. Also, we're IB for Deal and the current charter feeds to DCI, so we already have MS options. Right now I'm just concerned with finding the best fit for elementary.

I looked up some threads on this site, and I still have some questions:

1. It seems like it's unlikely that we could get into the Key aftercare. Has anyone used the Jelleff aftercare option? Do they pick up your child from Key? What has your experience been with this program?
2. The school website indicates that there are approximately 8% out of bounds students. Are OOB students included socially? Obviously we would expect to do the bulk of driving for play dates etc. since we're the ones not living in the neighborhood, but is the social scene more insular to only Palisades families or are they accepting and inclusive of OOB kids?
3. How does the school handle special needs? We see signs of potential ADHD and it's a hereditary condition in our family. Our rising K child is very bright and does well socially like our older child, but older child needed some supports with an IEP in early elementary. A lot of it was outgrown by around 5th grade but we needed stronger supports until then. We plan to do tutoring if needed too. How satisfied were you with your child's IEP execution?
4. How are the social emotional skills of the teachers at Key?
5. How collaborative are the administrators with parents? Do they listen to parent's concerns and try to help resolve issues? Or is it more of a take it or leave it proposition?
6. What are the chances of a younger sibling getting in with OOB preference? I tried to find the website that shows past admittance data but couldn't find it. A link would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

What school that feeds Deal trumps Key with a commute?
Why are you not considering your IB school that you think Key is a better option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about your IB elementary? If it feeds to deal then it is likely as good as Key and may be easier logistically. I'm clearly missing something.

Yes I have the same question.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the responses. Our IB school isn't a good fit and we're not willing to send our kids there and hope we can fight to improve it. We would rather stay at our charter than our IB DCPS for elementary so going to our IB DCPS isn't even on the table.

We plan to deal with MS when we get closer. Deal could go down hill or not, and DCI might improve or might not. We don't have to move right now as we have an ok-enough option for elementary (our current charter) and a possibly better option (Key). I'm trying to get enough info to decide between either our current charter or Key for elementary.

Does anyone have any info regarding the 6 questions from above? That would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the responses. Our IB school isn't a good fit and we're not willing to send our kids there and hope we can fight to improve it. We would rather stay at our charter than our IB DCPS for elementary so going to our IB DCPS isn't even on the table.

We plan to deal with MS when we get closer. Deal could go down hill or not, and DCI might improve or might not. We don't have to move right now as we have an ok-enough option for elementary (our current charter) and a possibly better option (Key). I'm trying to get enough info to decide between either our current charter or Key for elementary.

Does anyone have any info regarding the 6 questions from above? That would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!

What’s the problem with your IB? Hard for many of us getting our heads around the fact that you say your neighborhood school, a Deal feeder, is not an option at all, yet you would jump through hoops to go to a school that’s not logistically challenging, may not have aftercare, and would necessitate your child possibly changing friendship groups yet again if you opt against Hardy.

[Anonymous]

that is logistically challenging

[Anonymous]

I don’t know much about Key since I’ve only attended the Handwriting camp run by one of the K teachers. It seems like a great community and the teacher has a lot of experience. At the open house it seemed like all kids were treated well. I believe there were a lot of OOB in the 3rd grade and they seemed to have no problems fitting in.

There was a recent thread in the special needs forum that might help you.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/811639.page#15239143

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know much about Key since I’ve only attended the Handwriting camp run by one of the K teachers. It seems like a great community and the teacher has a lot of experience. At the open house it seemed like all kids were treated well. I believe there were a lot of OOB in the 3rd grade and they seemed to have no problems fitting in.

There was a recent thread in the special needs forum that might help you.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/811639.page#15239143

Op here. Thanks for the post and link - very helpful!

[Anonymous]

You understand the leadership issue at Key - right? So if you are OK with that culture - and it is a better fit for you than your IB school - enjoy.

[Anonymous]

1. It seems like it's unlikely that we could get into the Key aftercare. Has anyone used the Jelleff aftercare option? Do they pick up your child from Key? What has your experience been with this program?
Jelleff as a whole is a better option for older kids. I would not send a K there. I did not do aftercare there - did summer camp there. You get what you pay for - and it was really cheap.

2. The school website indicates that there are approximately 8% out of bounds students. Are OOB students included socially? Obviously we would expect to do the bulk of driving for play dates etc. since we're the ones not living in the neighborhood, but is the social scene more insular to only Palisades families or are they accepting and inclusive of OOB kids?
People do not exclude- but they do not go out of their way to include. What I mean is on Sat if you are at the playground and you run into a classmate - you might schedule a playdate - or invite them back for an activity. You don't think to yourself - let me also text Joe's mom to see if they are interested. Proximity matters.

3. How does the school handle special needs? We see signs of potential ADHD and it's a hereditary condition in our family. Our rising K child is very bright and does well socially like our older child, but older child needed some supports with an IEP in early elementary. A lot of it was outgrown by around 5th grade but we needed stronger supports until then. We plan to do tutoring if needed too. How satisfied were you with your child's IEP execution?
There was a thread on Key IEP recently on special needs forum - go read it.

4. How are the social emotional skills of the teachers at Key?
5. How collaborative are the administrators with parents? Do they listen to parent's concerns and try to help resolve issues? Or is it more of a take it or leave it proposition?
Go read the threads on the Key Principal to understand the dynamics and culture of the school.

6. What are the chances of a younger sibling getting in with OOB preference? I tried to find the website that shows past admittance data but couldn't find it. A link would be greatly appreciated.
For PreK - will not get in
For K - they will find a spot for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You understand the leadership issue at Key - right? So if you are OK with that culture - and it is a better fit for you than your IB school - enjoy.

Op here. What leadership issue? I don't know much about Key. I never paid attention to it because I didn't expect to get in.