Mundo Verde since unionization/recently

[Anonymous]

I hear so many concerns about Mundo Verde, but it's looking likely that we'll get a spot there for kindergarten and not at any of our other higher ranked schools. We're at a CBO, so staying where we are isn't an option. We're also in-bound for Bruce Monroe and unsure whether to take the MV spot or just enroll at BM. Frankly, Bruce Monroe doesn't get a lot of attention here or in the neighborhood even, but it seems like it has a lot going for it. I'm not factoring in DCI since we're not interested in doing the lottery for middle school, but would choose MV if we could feel confident we would be happy there long term.

How have things been, particularly in 2nd grade and up, at Mundo Verde lately? Do people still have concerns with academics, classroom management (to the extent possible, since the pandemic of course), teacher quality, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Yes, same concerns. Bruce-Monroe is good, I would strongly consider it. Not sure what you mean about middle school, what is your actual plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, same concerns. Bruce-Monroe is good, I would strongly consider it. Not sure what you mean about middle school, what is your actual plan?

We'll move if we don't get an OOB seat with feeder rights. After playing (and losing) the lottery for years, I'm just out of stamina to gamble middle school on a good lottery draw since DCI isn't a guarantee. Plus DCI is still pretty unproven, so doesn't seem worth prioritizing over the actual elementary school experience.

Overall, people say things like "plan to move" by X grade at Bruce Monroe, but I hear so much about unhappy families trying to move from MV too that it really seems like there are shortcomings at both schools (middle school feeder, etc.) and Mundo Verde is riding on a reputation that Bruce Monroe doesn't match. But it's really hard to tell which people have an axe to grind and which are giving more objective, reasonable feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, same concerns. Bruce-Monroe is good, I would strongly consider it. Not sure what you mean about middle school, what is your actual plan?

We'll move if we don't get an OOB seat with feeder rights. After playing (and losing) the lottery for years, I'm just out of stamina to gamble middle school on a good lottery draw since DCI isn't a guarantee. Plus DCI is still pretty unproven, so doesn't seem worth prioritizing over the actual elementary school experience.

Overall, people say things like "plan to move" by X grade at Bruce Monroe, but I hear so much about unhappy families trying to move from MV too that it really seems like there are shortcomings at both schools (middle school feeder, etc.) and Mundo Verde is riding on a reputation that Bruce Monroe doesn't match. But it's really hard to tell which people have an axe to grind and which are giving more objective, reasonable feedback.

Which MV? Big difference.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think there’s a big difference. MV8 hasn’t reached the upper grades that have been problematic at MVP. Most P St families are happy in kínder and first, it’s later that they have concerns. Assuming the same curriculum, teacher training programs, classroom management policies, they’re lent to be very similar by fifth grade.

[Anonymous]

Lent = likely

[Anonymous]

Easy. Go with MV. If you like it, then you can stay. If you don’t, you can always go to your IB.

I know families who are really happy at MV. I don’t know any families currently at BM. I do know a family who was at BM who moved over to MV in K 2 years ago and are happy at MV.

I suggest you talk to families who actually have kids who go to the school than to rely on an anonymous board.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

MV

[Anonymous]

OP here. Anyone have recent feedback on Mundo Verde for older grades? I know MV is more popular, but I’m not convinced it’s actually a better school and am hesitant to choose a charter in a different neighborhood just because of popularity. We also are not going to switch elementary schools multiple times. We’ll do one more move to secure a high school pathway, but I wouldn’t want to try MV then move back to BM in a few years. Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Anyone have recent feedback on Mundo Verde for older grades? I know MV is more popular, but I’m not convinced it’s actually a better school and am hesitant to choose a charter in a different neighborhood just because of popularity. We also are not going to switch elementary schools multiple times. We’ll do one more move to secure a high school pathway, but I wouldn’t want to try MV then move back to BM in a few years. Thanks all.

I chose MV over BM a couple pf years ago. We are a Spanish speaking family. We went to the open houses and it was clear that MV and BM are completely different. There are many families from BM at MV. The ones that are at BM are still playing the lottery. DCI preference is better than no preference. In addition, you know that people leave BM in upper grades. However, if you are not convinced then just leave the spot to someone that would love to be there. You cannot expect anonymous people to convince you one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Real talk time. I have older kids and know lots of families at MV, at DCPS schools and at DCPS bilingual schools including BM.

Many families I know were not pleased with the teaching/academics at MV in upper elem and moved to Oyster or Bancroft. If you can find them they will talk to you very openly about the shortcomings. I think DCPS schools have stronger academics generally. People don't often move from MV to BM because they are uncomfortable with the demographics. You will find discerning people at BM who didn't consider MV bc they weren't making their school decision based on demographics, but many people who chose MV are choosing it for that reason -- thats why they would go from MV to BM.

[Anonymous]

Pp *wouldn't

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Anyone have recent feedback on Mundo Verde for older grades? I know MV is more popular, but I’m not convinced it’s actually a better school and am hesitant to choose a charter in a different neighborhood just because of popularity. We also are not going to switch elementary schools multiple times. We’ll do one more move to secure a high school pathway, but I wouldn’t want to try MV then move back to BM in a few years. Thanks all.

I chose MV over BM a couple pf years ago. We are a Spanish speaking family. We went to the open houses and it was clear that MV and BM are completely different. There are many families from BM at MV. The ones that are at BM are still playing the lottery. DCI preference is better than no preference. In addition, you know that people leave BM in upper grades. However, if you are not convinced then just leave the spot to someone that would love to be there. You cannot expect anonymous people to convince you one way or another.

What grades are your kid(s) now? And fundamentally, I just don't agree that a DCI preference is better than no preference. I wouldn't want to feel like we should be sticking it out at a school we're not happy with because of a preference, and then not get lucky that lottery year anyways. Now if I thought the experience would actually be better at one school versus the other, that would be different. How has your experience been at MV? Positives and negatives about the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Real talk time. I have older kids and know lots of families at MV, at DCPS schools and at DCPS bilingual schools including BM.

Many families I know were not pleased with the teaching/academics at MV in upper elem and moved to Oyster or Bancroft. If you can find them they will talk to you very openly about the shortcomings. I think DCPS schools have stronger academics generally. People don't often move from MV to BM because they are uncomfortable with the demographics. You will find discerning people at BM who didn't consider MV bc they weren't making their school decision based on demographics, but many people who chose MV are choosing it for that reason -- thats why they would go from MV to BM.

Yeah, this is the conclusion we're coming to as well. We would absolutely not choose demographics over academics, but am just not clear *how* concerning the academics are at MV, particularly compared to a school like BM. If we could get into Oyster or Bancroft now, we'd do that obviously, but my hunch is we'd end up with a better experience in early grades at BM and the same concerns at around the same time at both schools. At least with BM we'd be going in with our eyes open and not feel compelled to stick it out for a chance at DCI that may not work out, or even be what we're looking for in a middle school at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Real talk time. I have older kids and know lots of families at MV, at DCPS schools and at DCPS bilingual schools including BM.

Many families I know were not pleased with the teaching/academics at MV in upper elem and moved to Oyster or Bancroft. If you can find them they will talk to you very openly about the shortcomings. I think DCPS schools have stronger academics generally. People don't often move from MV to BM because they are uncomfortable with the demographics. You will find discerning people at BM who didn't consider MV bc they weren't making their school decision based on demographics, but many people who chose MV are choosing it for that reason -- thats why they would go from MV to BM.

Yeah, this is the conclusion we're coming to as well. We would absolutely not choose demographics over academics, but am just not clear *how* concerning the academics are at MV, particularly compared to a school like BM. If we could get into Oyster or Bancroft now, we'd do that obviously, but my hunch is we'd end up with a better experience in early grades at BM and the same concerns at around the same time at both schools. At least with BM we'd be going in with our eyes open and not feel compelled to stick it out for a chance at DCI that may not work out, or even be what we're looking for in a middle school at that point.

Yes. We are at a Title 1 elem (though one that has lots of upper income kids and will probably lose that status soon) and I don't think you will be that concerned about academics in late elem, just maybe worried about middle school.