Would you rather DCI or BCC

[Anonymous]

DD is in a DCI feeder charter, but her dad lives in Chevy Chase MD. Should she go to high school at DCI or BCC ( and middle school in CCMD). I currently rent in CCDC but am willing to move across the street if residency requirements need me to live in montgomery county for BCC. There's IB at both schools.

[Anonymous]

BCC is one of the top 500-odd schools in the country, probably top 40 in the state of Maryland. It's also very large, largely white/Asian, and largely wealthy. This kind of privilege has advantages (strong academics) and disadvantages (produces shallow, cliquey kids who are drunk on their parents' money and sometimes, alcohol/drugs). It's a competitive school, and if your kid thrives in a competitive environment, the academics are stellar. DCI is a new school, very diverse, very nurturing, relatively small. Academics are uneven, but smart, driven kids will thrive.

[Anonymous]

MCPS and DCPCSB are different animals. I'd do research to see which curriculum you prefer or you think is better for your kid. Also class size, etc., which are probably different. My understanding is every school in MCPS is overcrowded. DCI is not, I don't think. That could be important to you/your kid.

Hopefully someone else on here has researched the differences and has feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BCC is one of the top 500-odd schools in the country, probably top 40 in the state of Maryland. It's also very large, largely white/Asian, and largely wealthy. This kind of privilege has advantages (strong academics) and disadvantages (produces shallow, cliquey kids who are drunk on their parents' money and sometimes, alcohol/drugs). It's a competitive school, and if your kid thrives in a competitive environment, the academics are stellar. DCI is a new school, very diverse, very nurturing, relatively small. Academics are uneven, but smart, driven kids will thrive.

I'm a BCC parent, think highly of the school, but the above description isn't really correct. According to MCPS, BCC's student body is currently 57.6% white, 5.4% Asian, 14.3% African American, 17.2% Hispanic, and 5.3% Multiracial. I can't rank the academics vis-a-vis other MCPS or DC schools, but it's far more challenging than my own HS experience was a billion years ago. I'm sure there's tons of privilege and the usual teenage partying, but my kid experiences zero of that - so there's a reasonably large and happy cohort of dorky students as well!

[Anonymous]

10% of B-CC were apparently Free or Reduced Lunch eligible in 2019.

DCI HS was 18.8% at risk in 2018-19.

I think you're looking at an early-ish years startup vs. a high school that's an academic institution.

[Anonymous]

You can always pull your kid out of DCI if it isn't working for her but you probably can't go back. Does your kid want to do IB, which they have at DCI? Does she care about continuing to have some classes in the language she' learning? Does she like the other kids or want different classmates? How do the extracurriculars compare? How will the commutes compare?

I think your kid is definitely old enough to have a major say in the decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can always pull your kid out of DCI if it isn't working for her but you probably can't go back. Does your kid want to do IB, which they have at DCI? Does she care about continuing to have some classes in the language she' learning? Does she like the other kids or want different classmates? How do the extracurriculars compare? How will the commutes compare?

I think your kid is definitely old enough to have a major say in the decision.

DD is 10 right now, so getting ready to go to middle school next year. She has no preference either way. Once she starts, she will probably feel differently.

She's not really moving to go to either school, and both schools will be fresh starts from elementary school. Her friends are all over for to the nature of charter schools and extracurriculars. She's looking forward to making new friends too. We're Asian FWIW

[Anonymous]

If you live in CCDC, why not Wilson? Seems like it has positive traits from both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can always pull your kid out of DCI if it isn't working for her but you probably can't go back. Does your kid want to do IB, which they have at DCI? Does she care about continuing to have some classes in the language she' learning? Does she like the other kids or want different classmates? How do the extracurriculars compare? How will the commutes compare?

I think your kid is definitely old enough to have a major say in the decision.

BCC also has IB to the extent it matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you live in CCDC, why not Wilson? Seems like it has positive traits from both schools.

Williston would be an option too. But we like the language emphasis and IB program of DCI. And since we're in a DCI feeder, I guess that's what we know because she's in an elementary IB program. She can do IB at BCC

[Anonymous]

How do the DCI discipline issues affect well behaved students? I mean this question in all seriousness. Is DCI not removing a misbehaving child from a classroom? Or are there behaviors outside of the classroom (hallway, school yard, bullying, etc)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do the DCI discipline issues affect well behaved students? I mean this question in all seriousness. Is DCI not removing a misbehaving child from a classroom? Or are there behaviors outside of the classroom (hallway, school yard, bullying, etc)?

OP here. There are a few discipline issues with DD's elementary school, as with any school. But I think it's a matter of supplementing at home and finding the right peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do the DCI discipline issues affect well behaved students? I mean this question in all seriousness. Is DCI not removing a misbehaving child from a classroom? Or are there behaviors outside of the classroom (hallway, school yard, bullying, etc)?

I don't think DCI has "discipline issues" as much as it has inexperienced teachers who lack strong classroom management skills. Toss in 25 middle schoolers ... and things can get chaotic. There are NO middle schools without rowdy behavior in halls, or bullying.

FWIW DCI, like most charters, has far more staff turnover than a traditional public school. There are pluses and minuses to each.

Personally, I'd choose BCC if moving is an option.

[Anonymous]

Maybe compare IB diploma outcomes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe compare IB diploma outcomes?

You can’t. IB tests were not given last year and DCI is too new.