Why is Sela not more popular?

[Anonymous]

We were just accepted and I have been going thru the threads, why do people make it a safety school and not desirable it seems.

[Anonymous]

Because they are just not that into their kids learning Hebrew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they are just not that into their kids learning Hebrew.

This. For Jewish families who want a Hebrew education, there are strong private options.

For non-Jewish families interested in language immersion, there are many charter options teaching languages that one could conceivably use in daily life, travel, or professionally.

So people make it a "safety" because they prioritize more useful languages, but would accept a random language if it meant the benefits of bilingualism.

[Anonymous]

And no middle school, and the opposite direction of many people's commutes.

[Anonymous]

It's in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure if there's more than even 10 Jewish families that live within a mile of the school. It's sort of bizarre.

We'd consider it for our son, but we live in Glover Park and work down on K Street. That would be an insane commute.

-Inter-faith couple

[Anonymous]

I’m a sela parent, and I agree with everyone that people aren’t attracted to Hebrew, the commute is very difficult for many, and it doesn’t feed to DCI. That being said, we’re very happy there but the school won’t ever be as popular as other immersions, even if the quality of the education was just as good.

[Anonymous]

The school building is decrepit, and Hebrew immersion, without the fun parts of Jewish tradition isn't very enticing. It is like the worst parts of of Hebrew school without any of the fun.

Jewish families who care that much about Hebrew probably also want faith traditions taught and maybe certain observances kept. Sela does not tick those boxes. We are not Jewish and we went to a private Jewish preschool and we put Sela down as a backup, but after visiting there was no we would send our kid thouhj over our EOTP in boundary school (which isn't that great btw)

[Anonymous]

Seems popular with MD families.

[Anonymous]

It was explained to me that all the classes are taught in English but they have Hebrew class/lessons every day. As well as it being incorporated into music and art classes etc. If this is still correct than is a more traditional charter with early language learning that is certainly being overlooked. It seems to be a great little school. And a lot of probably has to do with location and demographics. That might change, as other school become harder to get into more folks might try it out.
Those obsessed with middle school paths never will.

[Anonymous]

They should teach Arabic at the same school. Now that would be interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was explained to me that all the classes are taught in English but they have Hebrew class/lessons every day. As well as it being incorporated into music and art classes etc. If this is still correct than is a more traditional charter with early language learning that is certainly being overlooked. It seems to be a great little school. And a lot of probably has to do with location and demographics. That might change, as other school become harder to get into more folks might try it out.
Those obsessed with middle school paths never will.

Pk3 abd 4 are immersion with an English and Hebrew teacher. You’re right about the rest of the grades, but starting this year with kindergarten, they’re going to make it immersion like in PK and add that immersion program to each year (so in two years, first grade willl be fully immersive, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should teach Arabic at the same school. Now that would be interesting.

That would be useful. As a Jew, I wonder if these kids will be served being bi-lingual in a language that isn't highly critical. Also as attitudes towards Israel change how marketable knowing Hebrew would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should teach Arabic at the same school. Now that would be interesting.

That would be useful. As a Jew, I wonder if these kids will be served being bi-lingual in a language that isn't highly critical. Also as attitudes towards Israel change how marketable knowing Hebrew would be.

How fluent would they even be in Hebrew if they stop learning it in 5th grade? No MS or HS public school where they could continue the language. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure if there's more than even 10 Jewish families that live within a mile of the school. It's sort of bizarre.

We'd consider it for our son, but we live in Glover Park and work down on K Street. That would be an insane commute.

-Inter-faith couple

Ignorant on many levels, there are plenty of Jews in Takoma, DC/EOTP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should teach Arabic at the same school. Now that would be interesting.

That would be useful. As a Jew, I wonder if these kids will be served being bi-lingual in a language that isn't highly critical. Also as attitudes towards Israel change how marketable knowing Hebrew would be.

How fluent would they even be in Hebrew if they stop learning it in 5th grade? No MS or HS public school where they could continue the language. .

This school as taxpayer school should never have been approved, nor any other school in non-commonly used languages. Hebrew could have been offered as a language at a charter or DCPS school, plenty of other ways to spend taxpayer money. DC Charter school board needs to be held to higher accountability and offer schools that more people want. Also, sick of schools closing and opening, complete waste of money.