Anyone else disillusioned with the whole process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

OP here, I feel like we could be the same person. We are WL at ITS for K, but a good number and also have a good waitlist # for EL Haynes. I don't know which is better. So, I'm also curious about what folks say.

[Anonymous]

We didn’t really have much luck for PK3. Got into Sela and WL for my IB school Whittier. Any other AA families with experience in these schools? (We weren’t looking for language immersion but live behind Sela which is why it was even on our list).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

Black family at ITS here. We absolutely love the school. We didn’t even list Haynes as we didn’t see it much differently than KIPP. In fact, I listed a KIPP school during lottery. Why don’t you like about KIPP that you think Haynes has? FWIW, the middle school principal at ITS came from Haynes. While he has never said anything negative about Haynes, he made it clear there are differences amongst the schools, particularly with social emotional and student-led curriculum.

[Anonymous]

+ I also think there are a few teachers at Haynes that have their kids at ITS if that’s worth anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

Black family at ITS here. We absolutely love the school. We didn’t even list Haynes as we didn’t see it much differently than KIPP. In fact, I listed a KIPP school during lottery. Why don’t you like about KIPP that you think Haynes has? FWIW, the middle school principal at ITS came from Haynes. While he has never said anything negative about Haynes, he made it clear there are differences amongst the schools, particularly with social emotional and student-led curriculum.

Another black family--I don't know anyone at Haynes, but I've known black families at ITS. If I had a choice, that would be it. My child attends a different school, but I follow ITS on social media and like a lot of what is posted. I like the bolded aspects of their curriculum too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

Black family at ITS here. We absolutely love the school. We didn’t even list Haynes as we didn’t see it much differently than KIPP. In fact, I listed a KIPP school during lottery. Why don’t you like about KIPP that you think Haynes has? FWIW, the middle school principal at ITS came from Haynes. While he has never said anything negative about Haynes, he made it clear there are differences amongst the schools, particularly with social emotional and student-led curriculum.

Another black family--I don't know anyone at Haynes, but I've known black families at ITS. If I had a choice, that would be it. My child attends a different school, but I follow ITS on social media and like a lot of what is posted. I like the bolded aspects of their curriculum too.

This is very promising. All we can hope for is that DC gets off the WL. DC is #44 for K.

[Anonymous]

I am feeling a bit disillusioned this week. We love our school, and are happy to stay with an inbounds DCPS. I know all families are different, and make different choices, but watching families leave year-after-year is just really disheartening. I know my kid is getting a great education, and I am confident in that part of my choice. But watching the rotating door of friends/family/community is just... depressing.

Is this just the way DC schools are? Or only EOTP DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am feeling a bit disillusioned this week. We love our school, and are happy to stay with an inbounds DCPS. I know all families are different, and make different choices, but watching families leave year-after-year is just really disheartening. I know my kid is getting a great education, and I am confident in that part of my choice. But watching the rotating door of friends/family/community is just... depressing.

Is this just the way DC schools are? Or only EOTP DCPS?

It is a lot of schools. DC is just a transient type place. But yes way worse EOTP.

My plan when I was there was to focus on addressing the very real and serious shortcomings of our school and loving it with eyes open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am feeling a bit disillusioned this week. We love our school, and are happy to stay with an inbounds DCPS. I know all families are different, and make different choices, but watching families leave year-after-year is just really disheartening. I know my kid is getting a great education, and I am confident in that part of my choice. But watching the rotating door of friends/family/community is just... depressing.

Is this just the way DC schools are? Or only EOTP DCPS?

I'm taking this into account in decisions this year. We are happy at Title I. But I assume I would feel disillusioned, as you do, in a couple years. Still a tough choice for us, as we are considering a really tough commute instead. Pros and cons each way. We all make the best choices we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got into ITS and low on the wait list for Haynes. Thoughts from black families?? Should we take the spot at ITS or wait for Haynes which do families of color think is better for a black kid with mild sped needs.

Black family at ITS here. We absolutely love the school. We didn’t even list Haynes as we didn’t see it much differently than KIPP. In fact, I listed a KIPP school during lottery. Why don’t you like about KIPP that you think Haynes has? FWIW, the middle school principal at ITS came from Haynes. While he has never said anything negative about Haynes, he made it clear there are differences amongst the schools, particularly with social emotional and student-led curriculum.

Another black family--I don't know anyone at Haynes, but I've known black families at ITS. If I had a choice, that would be it. My child attends a different school, but I follow ITS on social media and like a lot of what is posted. I like the bolded aspects of their curriculum too.

This is very promising. All we can hope for is that DC gets off the WL. DC is #44 for K.

PP here--I'm not sure if that WL number is very likely, but maybe others with more experience can weigh in. Do you like where your kid is now well enough to keep them there for a while? Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am feeling a bit disillusioned this week. We love our school, and are happy to stay with an inbounds DCPS. I know all families are different, and make different choices, but watching families leave year-after-year is just really disheartening. I know my kid is getting a great education, and I am confident in that part of my choice. But watching the rotating door of friends/family/community is just... depressing.

Is this just the way DC schools are? Or only EOTP DCPS?

It is a lot of schools. DC is just a transient type place. But yes way worse EOTP.

My plan when I was there was to focus on addressing the very real and serious shortcomings of our school and loving it with eyes open.

As a parent of a student at a JKLM school I can say it's not the way our school is. There are occasional kids leaving for private or because their family moves, and a few kids coming in every year especially through diplomatic families. But the overall student population is very consistent. I can imagine the shifts are very hard - my kid already gets upset over the handful of friends that have left.

[Anonymous]

OP, leave the district. I am black as well and I am just not playing with these odds. Go to Silver Spring, which will work for both of your commutes. Send your child to an ES like Flora Singer and then Blair HS, or by then, you may have enough equity to move to Bethesda or something.

I truly feel like it isn't worth it for me to chance these schools with my child. Let the white people figure it out and fix it for their kids. I just cannot experiment with my brown baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am feeling a bit disillusioned this week. We love our school, and are happy to stay with an inbounds DCPS. I know all families are different, and make different choices, but watching families leave year-after-year is just really disheartening. I know my kid is getting a great education, and I am confident in that part of my choice. But watching the rotating door of friends/family/community is just... depressing.

Is this just the way DC schools are? Or only EOTP DCPS?

It is a lot of schools. DC is just a transient type place. But yes way worse EOTP.

My plan when I was there was to focus on addressing the very real and serious shortcomings of our school and loving it with eyes open.

As a parent of a student at a JKLM school I can say it's not the way our school is. There are occasional kids leaving for private or because their family moves, and a few kids coming in every year especially through diplomatic families. But the overall student population is very consistent. I can imagine the shifts are very hard - my kid already gets upset over the handful of friends that have left.

The thing about lower Ward 5 is that it is normal to have friends who go to all different schools and people don't move house when they switch schools. We are on our third school within walking distance from our house, and had friends already at each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

OP, I get you completely. I would not send my child to KIPP or DC Prep bc that is not developmentally appropriate or the environment I'd want for my middle class AA child. None of the white parents on DCUM would send their middle class child to those schools and for good reason. This is so much harder for us and our children because of the lowered expectations and stereotypes. I recommended leaving DC for the burbs and sadly, I do think it is the only option if you don't lottery in to a place that works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, leave the district. I am black as well and I am just not playing with these odds. Go to Silver Spring, which will work for both of your commutes. Send your child to an ES like Flora Singer and then Blair HS, or by then, you may have enough equity to move to Bethesda or something.

I truly feel like it isn't worth it for me to chance these schools with my child. Let the white people figure it out and fix it for their kids. I just cannot experiment with my brown baby.

OP here. I hate the idea of doing this because I so want to be one of the middle class brown faces that stays in the city. But, it really doesn't leave a lot of options for our babies. I agree--my DC will not be the experiment.