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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Stuart Hobson and John Francis should probably add Geometry.  That would bring the number of DCPS middle schools with at least some students taking Geometry up from 7 to 9.  SH previously had Geometry but then decided that the added acceleration was not necessarily helping its students.  They were learning algebra better with another year of pre-algebra.  There are lots of areas where DCPS might warrant criticism but math is tracked at every middle school.[/quote]

Well then it sounds like to me that having Geometry was not the issue.  The issue was that students were being put in the class who should not have been in it at all.  They did not master Algebra and so likely struggled and couldn’t hack it.

What you need to do is gatekeep entrance to advance math.  You can’t just let anybody in.  That helps no one because not only will the kids struggle but you drag the whole class down and slows it way down.  You also can’t go deep if the kids can’t grasp basic concepts.

DCI does a good job of gatekeeping all their levels of advance math, because one of the criteria’s that they use is standardized test scores in addition to grades and teachers rec. 
Basis uses comps as a way of advancing or not.

The issue is that DCPS won’t use objective data like standardized tests or any entrance testing due to “equity”.  I mean look at the fiasco with Wall admissions now.

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Yes, DCI does a good job tracking kids in math. It also offers better foreign language options than any other public MS/HS in the city. However, DCI also has a major Chromebook issue (as in kids are on them like 90% of the day) and has staffing and organizational issues that can drive parents crazy and alienate kids. Writing curriculum in MS is weak (I assume it's better in HS). Turns out no school is perfect.

S-H likely will add Geometry back in coming years as they are getting a larger portion of the high-achieving kids from feeders than they used to. I also think the issue with getting rid of Geometry may have been a temporary blip due to Covid, and you don't see the same problems with kids now in upper grades in elementary, who didn't spend 3rd or 4th at home (very critical years for preparing for MS math). S-H has other advantages that you don't get at BASIS or DCI, like the performing arts and music programs, and is strong in social studies with high participation rates in National History Day. Downside is weak in languages, has to use amplify science which sucks.

None of these schools are doing well enough with reading comp. or writing IMO. Privates beat publics on that metric every day of the week, it's very frustrating.

No matter where your kid does MS in DC, if it's a public school, you will likely be making some compromises and supplementing somewhere. It's a matter of deciding what matters most to you, where you are best able or willing to supplement, and also hammering out logistics (it also matters where your kid will be happiest, because a miserable kid is unlikely to excel academically no matter how good the school is).[/quote]

DCI does have a good theater and performing arts and puts on plays a few times a year with live music band in their auditorium that is pretty decent. They also now have an orchestra that you have to try out for.  Besides being strong in math, their science dept is also pretty good.  They have actual lab classrooms for science and their robotics team just beat out area DC private and public schools and are advancing to regional competition.  It is a good fit if you have a STEM kid.  Deal and JR are also good fit for STEM.  Basis also but their curriculum offerings are narrow and limited.

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