Deciding between 2 schools?

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill Montessori or 2R Young for PS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill Montessori or 2R Young for PS?

What's the commute factor look like?

[Anonymous]

This is 14:52. We can walk to CHML and it would be a short drive to 2R Young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ITS or Bethune (PK3)...language is important, but most important is a school that will foster a desire to learn. We have most likely already decided, but curious to hear others thoughts.

If Language is important then I would pick Bethune over ITS. We are at ITS and while they have a Spanish teacher and go once a week it's not enough.

Before you choose Bethune for Spanish, though, I'd read the 10-year charter review report: http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/MM%20Bethune%20Review%20Report.pdf

Regarding that report, have you read similar from the other dual language charters? I'm curious which, if any, do have a good method of determining proficiency and how are they meeting goals?

I think the LAMB report told a pretty different story - it, and the other charter reviews and renewal reports (including bilingual schools like Stokes, Yu Ying, and DC Bilingual) are linked here: http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/charter-reviews-and-renewals-0

[Anonymous]

Mundo or Yu Ying?

Mundo is closer.
Kids already speak Spanish.
One parent speaks Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Mundo Verde - I would stick with Spanish if you have already started with it. Other than the language, I also like Expeditionary Learning more than the Yu Ying teaching approach.

[Anonymous]

If you want the kids to learn Chinese, YY. It's so much easier to learn it from a young age, and you can support it at home. Spanish is easier than Chinese, obviously, and they are already on their way in that language. But if the Chinese isn't important to you, MV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is 14:52. We can walk to CHML and it would be a short drive to 2R Young.

Very different approaches. Montessori is a very specific animal and even more so in higher grades. Probably makes a big difference how long you intend to stay in DC and the DC school system as both schools are equivalent of hitting lottery numbers. If you intend to stay past 1st or 2nd are you ok with Montessori in upper grades? Both are in final locations and have decent physical facilities so that;s probably a a wash. If you haven't done so you should go to a visit in Logan and watch a class. I bet if you do you will have a strong opinion one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is 14:52. We can walk to CHML and it would be a short drive to 2R Young.

Very different approaches. Montessori is a very specific animal and even more so in higher grades. Probably makes a big difference how long you intend to stay in DC and the DC school system as both schools are equivalent of hitting lottery numbers. If you intend to stay past 1st or 2nd are you ok with Montessori in upper grades? Both are in final locations and have decent physical facilities so that;s probably a a wash. If you haven't done so you should go to a visit in Logan and watch a class. I bet if you do you will have a strong opinion one way or the other.

Thanks and we do plan to stay in the city, so we would want to stay at either school until middle, although who knows what could change between now and then. I know a bit about Montessori and really love it, but worry that it won't give strong enough academics in elementary. I do really love how they work, the materials in the classroom, ect and felt like in comparison, 2 Rivers works in larger groups and at desks much more, which I do not love. Of course, this is just from observation during an open house, so its hard to really know. I feel like 2 Rivers would probably be a better academic prep for middle and high school and may be more organized than CHML. I'm just not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had the same choice last year and went with CMI. We love the curriculum, the small class size,the teachers and the families. The middle school charter should be approved so you won't have to lottery again.

+1

[Anonymous]

I'm Bethune vs. Burroughs mom again - which should I pick if I don't plan to stay more than two years?

Bethune advantages - great location for us, Spanish, know a few families who go there and don't hate it.
Bethune disadvantages - leadership seems iffy, lots of Marylanders, older students are questionable, lousy aftercare

Burroughs advantages - seems well-run, principal is great, full-time SLT (important to us), STEM curriculum
Burroughs disadvantages - even worse aftercare, no Spanish, don't know any families there, don't have a good feel for the school outside of talk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridges vs. Bancroft

bridges

I'd go with Bancroft. Deal/Wilson feeder + dual language. Only exception would be if kid has special needs (since Bridges is so good at that) or would struggle learning a second language, or if the commute to Bridges was so much better that everyone would be much happier.

+1 to Bancroft for ^ reasons above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridges vs. Bancroft

bridges

I'd go with Bancroft. Deal/Wilson feeder + dual language. Only exception would be if kid has special needs (since Bridges is so good at that) or would struggle learning a second language, or if the commute to Bridges was so much better that everyone would be much happier.

+1 to Bancroft for ^ reasons above.

Unless you have a special needs child, Bancroft if only for the Deal/Wilson feed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current ITS family matched with Hearst....what to do?!

HEARST

Hearst is a great school, and I would definitely recommend it. But you have to factor in other things that only you can answer -- how child is doing, commute, etc.. If you come, welcome! We have our next PTA meeting on Wednesday at 6pm. Come join us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is 14:52. We can walk to CHML and it would be a short drive to 2R Young.

Very different approaches. Montessori is a very specific animal and even more so in higher grades. Probably makes a big difference how long you intend to stay in DC and the DC school system as both schools are equivalent of hitting lottery numbers. If you intend to stay past 1st or 2nd are you ok with Montessori in upper grades? Both are in final locations and have decent physical facilities so that;s probably a a wash. If you haven't done so you should go to a visit in Logan and watch a class. I bet if you do you will have a strong opinion one way or the other.

Thanks and we do plan to stay in the city, so we would want to stay at either school until middle, although who knows what could change between now and then. I know a bit about Montessori and really love it, but worry that it won't give strong enough academics in elementary. I do really love how they work, the materials in the classroom, ect and felt like in comparison, 2 Rivers works in larger groups and at desks much more, which I do not love. Of course, this is just from observation during an open house, so its hard to really know. I feel like 2 Rivers would probably be a better academic prep for middle and high school and may be more organized than CHML. I'm just not sure.

FWIW had the exact same conversations in our house over the past few months. No doubt Montessori is great for PK3, PK4 and K. But just not clear to us how it works at higher grades. But that's the challenge, really, in a lottery system. Ideally you could go Montessori or Reggio in early elementary and then switch over. But if you have to choose one size for all grades through 8 (or, at least can only guarantee one option) then that's a horse of a different colour. For our family Logan was not the longer term answer and we went with Expeditionary learning. Good luck to you.