Reply to Has anyone switched from private to public elementary school (esp. JKLM)?

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Reply to "Has anyone switched from private to public elementary school (esp. JKLM)?"

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[quote=Anonymous]I have 3 kids at a JKLM (combined 18 years of instruction--yikes!)
Strengths:
-90% of teachers have been very good.  I'd say 50% are as good as a teacher can get, 40% are very good and 10% have been bad (playing on their phone all day, not giving a crap bad).
-extracurriculars including PE/recess are great.  I've never felt that my kids need more active time. 
-curriculum is good; straight up common core for math and ELA.  The "specials" classes have a lot of well-thought out projects, etc.  Writing classes are okay.  Again, some teachers great, some not as great. 
If there's one thing that the kids and their friends (in the upper grades) are weak in it's writing.  
-engaged, smart peers.  By-in-large all the kids are very bright and want to learn.   They've all been doing extracurriculars since birth like the rest of NW DC
-community, community, community.  One million playdates and everyone within walking distance. 
-parents are great.  Pretty much interchangeable with all our private school friends: many doctors, law partners, some famous people, etc.  Just minus the extreme wealth: We don't have people with private jets.  lol

Weaknesses: 
-no real acceleration at all for kids who are ahead or want to be challenged.  I think the basic level of instruction is pretty fast (the cohort is bright) but there is no compacted math (accelerated math that Mont. Co does) and 
certainly no gifted and talented program.  
-it's not a service industry like the private school world.  There is a subtle feeling that your kid is just 1 out of hundreds.  Kids' own talents/interests aren't fostered or encouraged.  The class is taught as a pack.  Teachers 
are nice but generally distant.  If you want to feel like your child is a super unique and special child and have this feeling fostered and catered to you won't get this feeling at all (especially if your child is a good student---I don't have 
experience with kids who are behind--perhaps they feel a bit more invested in).   If your child is doing well you are definitely just a bit of a interchangeable number.  
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