Powell or DC Bilingual?
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Anonymous
| We are likely going to be in a position to choose between Powell, our inbound option, and DC Bilingual. We DC Bilingual is accessible but not the most convenient commute-wise, and would mean that our kiddo does not live as close to classmates and their families. Would appreciate any thoughts. Some of the factors we are concerned about are the likelihood of full-time in-person learning in the fall, the likelihood that we will be excited to keep our kiddo at either school all the way through grade 5, and the planned expansion at DCB. |
Anonymous
| If the path to DCI is not a factor for you, I'd go with Powell. Excellent school. Really nice to go to school with your neighbors. All signs are pointing to DCB being very slow to reopen. And the location stinks. |
Anonymous
| Right now, only a handful of kids are invited back to DCB for school. There has been no transparency about the process, but school leaders will shame you for asking. Probably because they don't want to admit that they had no problem finding in person spots for their kids and close friends. |
Anonymous
| I don't know about how virtual has gone or what reopening looks like, but I know two or three families who switched to DCB from other Spanish immersion programs and they love it. |
Anonymous
|
I have friends with children at both who are happy. Not sure the age of your child, but when mine was headed for PreK3 I probably would have chosen DCB. Knowing what I know now, I would have valued IB and the easier commute (as it relates to these two specific schools; not overall).
It won't be the same as next year, but definitely drive to DCB in the morning to simulate what drop off will be like and in the afternoon. That corridor is a nightmare. |
Anonymous
| This is the OP. Should have specified - this is for PK3. |
Anonymous
| PK3 at DCB is lovely in normal times, but can't speak to Powell. Also, many DCB families live in Wards 4 and 5, so I wouldn't assume that your child wouldn't be neighbors with classmates. But given the school's reluctance to re-open (and they haven't even prioritized the youngest students!) and the traffic on Riggs (if you're commuting by car), I would choose the IB option. DCI won't be a guarantee because next year's PK3 will ultimately have 4 classes. |
Anonymous
| Hi, neighbor! We did PK3 at Powell and loved it. We switched to an immersion charter (not DCB) for PK4 solely because of the feeder pattern into DCI, and I have always regretted it a bit. If you do not need a path to middle school, Powell is a great option. Even if you do need a path to middle school, I still think Powell might be the better choice. Without a guaranteed slot at DCI due to feeder expansions, you are trading off a sure good thing (excellent neighborhood school) for 5+ years of guaranteed inconvenience for a modestly better chance at DCI. |
Anonymous
NP. If you don't mind me asking, are you at MV? We're looking at a choice between MV and Powell likely and though MV is popular and hyped, I'm not getting the impression that it's actually any better than Powell. |
Anonymous
| DCB. That is only chance you wil have of getting into DCI. And even that won't be a gaurantee but coming from Powell is zero % chance to gettng into DCB. Don;t get your hopes on MacFarland. The feeders are still losing their strongest cohorts after 3rd. |
Anonymous
NP, but I will say I think "hype" is the right word for MV. I know lots of people who try to get into MV, and almost all of them then try to get out. |
Anonymous
| I'd agree that students do leave all of these schools, but I'd disagree about fearing MacFarland. |
Anonymous
Do you have statistics to support your claim? Your hate for MV is so obvious in every thread that is hard to take your posts seriously. I have a lot of neighbors and friends at DCB, MV, and LAMB and they are all happy with the schools. To OP, I live in the same neighborhood but our IB is BM. A lot of people in this neighborhood choose charters due to the DCI feeder (me included). But if that is not a problem for you then choose whatever is easier for your family. I know people that are very happy at Powell and is their first option. |
Anonymous
I'm the PP you are responding to, but I think you misunderstand (or misidentify?) me. I haven't been posting in other threads. I don't hate Mundo. (How could I hate or root against a school full of kids!?) Just disappointed that it hasn't work for a good number of my friends and acquaintances. For people who are happy there, that is great! I just know so many folks who have "outgrown" the school before the upper grades, or whose kids' needs have not been met they had to go elsewhere. it doesn't seem like the golden ticket. Like I said, maybe a bit over-hyped, compared to other language charters across the city and other schools in the area. |
Anonymous
| A very close family friend just left Powell. She was deeply committed to the school, but ultimately left for private. |