New Feedback on Thomson Elementary

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in what current parents think of the school. The archives have older feedback. The website looks impressive. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I'm a current parent and we have been very happy at Thomson. My kids love the Chinese and guitar lessons and the school has a very warm and gentle environment. The principal is fantastic and the the children are a truly diverse group of learners. We're on our third year there and I love it more each year. There is an open house on the 14th of January. It's worth taking a look since there are out-of-boundary slots available, in the lower grades.

[Anonymous]

PP, thanks. Can I ask what the school environment is like? I'm concerned with rowdy behavior of older students mixing with the younger kids as witnessed in other schools. Also, in terms of diversity, how has it changed in the last few years? Are more in-bounds parents sending their children? I noticed test scores weren't high.

[Anonymous]

Thomson oldest children are 11 and they are most definitely not rowdy. There is a values and behavior code at Thomson that is taken very seriously. The older children are very sweet to the younger and there are many large families at Thomson. It is very touching to watch the pre-K class and see a "big" kid unbundling their younger sibling from the cold. The family atmosphere at Thomson and the notion that you look out for your little brother/cousins/ friends might just be my favorite part of the school.

The test scores at Thomson are a struggle. Over half the children are English Language learners they have to test right next to my native born children after they've been in the country for a year. I would look closely at the breakdowns on the OSSE website to see how the numbers shake out.

Although my children have performed very well on the DC-CAS, it really doesn't measure all the wonderful things they learn each day at Thomson.

[Anonymous]

I left after being at Thomson for a short time. I was not impressed with the leadership of the school, and didn't find it to be a good environment for my child.

[Anonymous]

PP, could you be more specific? What was it in the leadership and environment that was not a good fit? Going to an open house will only tell you so much.

[Anonymous]

I attended an open house and was disappointed with the principal; she did not impress me at all. Seemed a bit out of it and did not answer questions directly - maybe she was having an off day. The interior of the building is beautiful - very nice facility with nice library and computer lab. It is worth visiting to see for yourself. There have been good write ups in The Post.

[Anonymous]

9:47 here- I think that 14:24 sums up my experience with the principal, so no, she was not having an off day. The facility is nice, but I was less than impressed with some of the teachers and with the administration.

[Anonymous]

Thomson retains over 90% of their student body each year and many, many parents are delighted with the principal.

The previous poster (and I have a pretty good idea who this is) did not have a good experience. She is one vocal parent who left after one year.

Thomson is not a perfect school. If you have a high tolerance for diversity in terms of both race and socio-economic status and you want a warm caring environment with Chinese/IB/guitar etc... It is worth taking a look.

[Anonymous]

I was not a particularly "vocal" parent, so I'd be surprised if you know who I am. I was also not the only parent who pulled their children out of the school last year.

There were serious administrative lapses that led to me leaving this school. I did not leave because I was intolerant of cultural and socio-economic differences. I resent the suggestion that my experience is to be dismissed as outside of the norm.

[Anonymous]

I love the school and so do plenty of other parents. The fact that the school is over-enrolled by 50 students says something.

16:20, I do hope you found a school and an administration that makes you happy.

To address the original question, my children are very happy at Thomson. However, it is not the right school for everyone.

Former Thomson parent, it seems clear that you must get in the final dig at the school in this forum, so I'll make this my last post.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I find the website tells me almost nothing about the school's curriculum. It's very vague.

[Anonymous]

Former Thomson parent is not "getting digs." The OP asked for opinions, and my experience is as valid as any other parent's experience. Your quick dismissal of any experience that is different from yours without understanding the circumstances speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I find it odd to hear the crexing about the principal. I've heard LOTS of good things about her - and I'm not even a Thomson parent! Just goes to show you can't please everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I find the website tells me almost nothing about the school's curriculum. It's very vague.

All DCPS schools have the same curriculum. Thomson's educational program is no better or worse than any DC public school, with the exception of Mandarin and IB, which is basically pedagogy and values.