El Haynes vs. Powell: Are we crazy to...

[Anonymous]

So, I waited to respond to this thread. Not sure why, maybe DCUM rudeness, but I've decided I will.

I know that the students in Haynes graduating class are PHENOMENAL. Seriously, phenomenal. Please watch how you talk about them on here because you DON'T KNOW THEM. Many of them are first generation college students and life is not perfect, but they are good kids. One is a Gates Millennium scholar, one is a National Science Foundation scholar and as a class brought in over $3.5 million dollars in merit scholars to colleges and universities.

This is their FIRST class, I hope they only go UP from here.

My student is in the first grade and has been there since PK3. My family likes Haynes. Like anywhere, it's not perfect, but my student has been with a strong teacher every year and progressed meeting or exceeding grade level expectations every year.

Oddly, the only reason we would leave is for dual-language. It is something my family has wanted the entire time, but we have NEVER gotten in to any dual-language program (and we've applied to just about all of them). My student takes spanish as an elective at Haynes and has taken out of school language classes since the age of 1.5.

I would say go visit, talk to families and see what you think. Its a hard decision, but either way there are people waiting to take your place at Powell and Haynes.

[Anonymous]

I want my child to have more diverse friends but as an adult parent I can count the minorities I am friend with outside my children's interests. BS without the degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I waited to respond to this thread. Not sure why, maybe DCUM rudeness, but I've decided I will.

I know that the students in Haynes graduating class are PHENOMENAL. Seriously, phenomenal. Please watch how you talk about them on here because you DON'T KNOW THEM. Many of them are first generation college students and life is not perfect, but they are good kids. One is a Gates Millennium scholar, one is a National Science Foundation scholar and as a class brought in over $3.5 million dollars in merit scholars to colleges and universities.

This is their FIRST class, I hope they only go UP from here.

My student is in the first grade and has been there since PK3. My family likes Haynes. Like anywhere, it's not perfect, but my student has been with a strong teacher every year and progressed meeting or exceeding grade level expectations every year.

Oddly, the only reason we would leave is for dual-language. It is something my family has wanted the entire time, but we have NEVER gotten in to any dual-language program (and we've applied to just about all of them). My student takes spanish as an elective at Haynes and has taken out of school language classes since the age of 1.5.

I would say go visit, talk to families and see what you think. Its a hard decision, but either way there are people waiting to take your place at Powell and Haynes.

We were at Haynes for 5 years, and thought it was great. But Haynes has a very specific mission - everybody goes to college. The entire focus of the school is to help kids in difficult circumstances get to college. That is about as admirable as it gets. But, it does raise questions about whether the school is the best fit for other kids - kids from middle or upper-middle class families who are economically stable, whose parents both have college degrees, and who expect, absent exceptional circumstances, their kids to go to college - at a minimum. The school programs are geared to assist the kids who need the most help (and they do an exceptional job of that), but not necessarily to challenge kids who, compared to the majority of their classmates, start out life on second base. Now, there are several kids at the school who are so damned smart that it doesn't matter where they go, they'll be at the top of their class. I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about the above average kids with an average level of motivation. The kids who read a grade level or two above where they're supposed to, and 3 levels above half of their classmates, and are coasting along. In my experience, the school has very little reason to focus on those kids, so they are permitted to coast along.

I will also say that, unlike many charter schools, Haynes does not (in my experience, at least) discriminate against kids with special needs. There are tremendous supports provided, and I have not heard of special needs kids getting counseled out. (This is in contrast to reports from other highly regarded charter schools.) This also exceptionally admirable (and in keeping with their mission), but it does make for a more chaotic and fragmented classroom.

In sum, I think Haynes is a phenomenal choice for some kids, and a bad one for others (just like all schools). You just have to weigh all the factors.

[Anonymous]

Having the one Hispanic parent, are the kids already bilingual? If so, the spouse that is Hispanic can continue to support the language at home if you chose ELH.

If not, what's the point of attending a school because of the % of Hispanics when the kids don't even speak it; unless you want them to learn.

[Anonymous]

I never understand why people turn to an anonymous forum for things like this. We don't know your children. You and your spouse should be able to make your own decisions.

[Anonymous]

High school is a long way off. Middle school is not. I think it will be a while before McFarland is ready for prime time, in terms of the neighborhood buying in. ELH, on the other hand, seems like a much safer bet. It sounds like you can go there in bounds if you want, but that this is likely your shot at Haynes. Work on language at home and supplement - your kids are very young and people become fluent at all ages. You have a Hispanic parent in the house, they will learn as long as everyone works at it. Go for Haynes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school is a long way off. Middle school is not. I think it will be a while before McFarland is ready for prime time, in terms of the neighborhood buying in. ELH, on the other hand, seems like a much safer bet. It sounds like you can go there in bounds if you want, but that this is likely your shot at Haynes. Work on language at home and supplement - your kids are very young and people become fluent at all ages. You have a Hispanic parent in the house, they will learn as long as everyone works at it. Go for Haynes.

There's no IB preference for Charters.

[Anonymous]

That poster meant Powell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That poster meant Powell.

Thanks, but the OP is not IB for Powell (see first page).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That poster meant Powell.

Thanks, but the OP is not IB for Powell (see first page).

I meant McFarland, actually.

[Anonymous]

To the OP: another Powell parent here. Just wanted to wish you luck in making a tough decision. I do believe it is possible to be committed to a school and still wonder if it's the best fit for your family. Listen to your gut, learn as much as you can about ELH, and trust yourself!

[Anonymous]

To add to what the 07/23/2015 23:15 poster said: In addition to the merit scholarships...100% of the graduating class was accepted to college. That isn't something Wilson can say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add to what the 07/23/2015 23:15 poster said: In addition to the merit scholarships...100% of the graduating class was accepted to college. That isn't something Wilson can say.

UDC counts as acceptances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add to what the 07/23/2015 23:15 poster said: In addition to the merit scholarships...100% of the graduating class was accepted to college. That isn't something Wilson can say.

Let's not make this a debate about two schools, when we ALL know Wilson is better.

[Anonymous]

No, I don't know that. It may be better for your kid...but it may not be better for my kid. Maybe my kid benefits from smaller classrooms and individualized attention.