Two Rivers worth it?

[Anonymous]

We are enrolled a (lottery) spot in K at Thomson, which is very convenient to work. This is our first year at school after completely bombing the lottery for pre-K. DS has an IEP for speech articulation (just clarity issues).

We've received an offer for Two Rivers 4th St. DC School Report Card gives both schools a 4 STAR rating. I really like the sound of the expeditionary learning there, but don't feel like I have a really strong grasp of the environment at either school due to the shutdowns preventing real open houses, etc. Two Rivers is certainly less convenient, but the commute isn't terrible (around 20 minutes away from home via straightforward bus and metro routes). The commute would be more than worth it if Two Rivers will provide DS a better education, but I'm not sure how big the difference really is. I know I shouldn't over-rely on the recent negative posts about Two Rivers on these boards, but I am also at a loss on the best resources to compare these schools.

Our neighborhood schools (including middle and high schools in the future, though of course that could change) are not good, so we are looking for something that could be a long-term solution.

[Anonymous]

Go to 2Rivers. They are a school that does expeditionary learning very well.

[Anonymous]

I would stick with Thomson. Test scores are very similar, particularly considering the demographics, and I would rather have the resources and accountability of DCPS when the schools perform comparably (especially with an IEP). Plus a better commute, it doesn’t seem worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

Definitely go with Thomson. The resources at DCPS schools are robust, especially regarding IEPs. And you will have a good middle school option.

[Anonymous]

I can’t speak to Thomson, but we are a Two Rivers family that still loves this school, despite recent dcum reviews. With that said, if everything else is similar, go with what makes sense for your commute! Long commutes get old really fast. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thomson is a really great school. You'll love it and they'll make sure his IEP is met.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure why everyone is so table pounding of Thomson. It is a school that has a very short track record - all connected to the gentrification in the area. DCPS special education support is hit or miss at best. Thomson feeds SWW@ Francis Stevens and Cardozo.

It is not that I frequently read on DCUM everyone singing the praises of Cardozo for High School - am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why everyone is so table pounding of Thomson. It is a school that has a very short track record - all connected to the gentrification in the area. DCPS special education support is hit or miss at best. Thomson feeds SWW@ Francis Stevens and Cardozo.

It is not that I frequently read on DCUM everyone singing the praises of Cardozo for High School - am I missing something?

Two Rivers doesn't have a high school option, right, so the Cardozo feed seems beside the point. Neither Thomson nor Two Rivers will set OP up for high school (unless one MS does considerably better for the selective high schools, I guess).

[Anonymous]

TR parent here--as many others have said, Pre K and K and even 1st was a good experience for us, but things started to slide beginning in 2nd. Of course, all exacerbated by the pandemic and the leadership's really poor handling of (not) reopening and lack of prioritizing in person learning. I'm not sure what is going on at the top, but I sure wish I had faith in the leadership but I just do not.
But that being said, many parents/students think it's fine and are happy. So you might think it's fine and your kid might be as happy there as anywhere else.
I just wouldn't buy into the marketing and hype--I wouldn't say it's as bad as some on DCUM make it out to be, but it's also by no means a great school. I think it comes down to how much you are willing to settle for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TR parent here--as many others have said, Pre K and K and even 1st was a good experience for us, but things started to slide beginning in 2nd. Of course, all exacerbated by the pandemic and the leadership's really poor handling of (not) reopening and lack of prioritizing in person learning. I'm not sure what is going on at the top, but I sure wish I had faith in the leadership but I just do not.
But that being said, many parents/students think it's fine and are happy. So you might think it's fine and your kid might be as happy there as anywhere else.
I just wouldn't buy into the marketing and hype--I wouldn't say it's as bad as some on DCUM make it out to be, but it's also by no means a great school. I think it comes down to how much you are willing to settle for.

This pretty much describes every single "HRCS" in DC.

[Anonymous]

Seems like Two Rivers is a good fit for families that keep their kids well above grade level, and so don't need (or want) the school to provide the academic rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TR parent here--as many others have said, Pre K and K and even 1st was a good experience for us, but things started to slide beginning in 2nd. Of course, all exacerbated by the pandemic and the leadership's really poor handling of (not) reopening and lack of prioritizing in person learning. I'm not sure what is going on at the top, but I sure wish I had faith in the leadership but I just do not.
But that being said, many parents/students think it's fine and are happy. So you might think it's fine and your kid might be as happy there as anywhere else.
I just wouldn't buy into the marketing and hype--I wouldn't say it's as bad as some on DCUM make it out to be, but it's also by no means a great school. I think it comes down to how much you are willing to settle for.

This pretty much describes every single "HRCS" in DC.

Exactly. I want to save this to copy and paste every time someone says to choose a HRCS over a DCPS because of "achievement gap" issues upper elementary. It's ALL schools outside of upper NW maybe, you either live with it or leave.

[Anonymous]

I get being concerned about "achievement gap" issues as a matter of public policy, but why should parents be concerned about that as long as their kid has a critical mass of academic peers (~15%+ of the school population) and are on the "right" side of the achievement gap? Using race as a proxy for class, the white kids at Two Rivers appear to test just as well as the white kids at JKLM, etc. Test scores are nit everything of course but it seems like you really need to go private to get what most of us are ideally looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get being concerned about "achievement gap" issues as a matter of public policy, but why should parents be concerned about that as long as their kid has a critical mass of academic peers (~15%+ of the school population) and are on the "right" side of the achievement gap? Using race as a proxy for class, the white kids at Two Rivers appear to test just as well as the white kids at JKLM, etc. Test scores are nit everything of course but it seems like you really need to go private to get what most of us are ideally looking for.

+100

[Anonymous]

I think the expeditionary learning and performance arts at Two Rivers look pretty cool, but seems like shouldn't underestimate the convenience of Thomson. Being able to make it over more often for school events/volunteering if able may be more important than whatever marginal benefits may exist. Sounds like scores are pretty similar, though didn't understand what earlier post meant about Thomson's results being tied to gentrification.