Takoma DC - where do you send your kids?

[Anonymous]

We are a couple of years away from starting school, but I'm trying to start researching our options now. Where are Takoma DC parents sending their kids? From what I read the Takoma Education Center has some problems.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I live in Takoma DC and send my child to LAMB PCS. We love it there. Hard to get into though, especially for English language families.

My neighbors send their kids to Eaton, Shepherd, Cap City, EL Haynes, LAMB, Two Rivers, among others.

Regarding Takoma Educational Center, it's been semi-bleh for years, but not the worst school in the city by any means. It's actually an OOB school of choice for some neighborhoods where the middle school options are even crappier. The test scores aren't that bad, and the campus is pretty calm. That said, there haven't been many "extras" there to compete with charters.

However, I'd really take a look at it now, Takoma DCer. The principal is outstanding compared to the last few. She is a real go-getter and has made great strides in her first year. Takoma EC was chosen as a catalyst school and will be arts-focused. Check out the new web site for the school for more info. She is always reaching out to the neighborhood, she's fixed up on the outside of the school, etc. And the pre-school/K program has always been self-contained and pretty nice as far as I could tell.

http://www.takomaedcenter.org/tec.php?id=1000

Best of luck---

[Anonymous]

Another Takoma DC resident. Adding to the list of schools that neighborhood kids attend:

Yu Ying, Elsie Stokes, Appletree-Columbia Heights for preschool 3 year old, Deal for 7th & 8th grader.

Plus privates, Lowell, St. Ann, etc.

I would second the take a look at Takoma EC. Although I recently discussed with a neighbor who told me the principal's daughter attends Capital City, and she'll look at Takoma EC after the principal sends her own daughter there. .. . .FWIW

When I last looked at the demographics, Takoma EC was a mixture of ~30% Hispanic, ~70% AA, with few if any white kids. A white neighbor went there a few years ago, and had a good experience, but was the only white kid in the school at that time.

I am white, and that is not an experience that I want for my kids (let the DCUM flaming begin. .. . . ).

[Anonymous]

My child is at Cleveland.