Reply to Deal or Basis for DCs? Advice Needed.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][/quote]  I'm not opposed to Deal [b]having more advanced classes[/b], but I don't believe she's missing anything - especially when I compare notes with her private school peers.  [/quote]

Parent of a math-minded 4th grader, IB for Deal.  [b]But IS Deal going to have more advanced classes? Which ones and when?  [/b]After attending open houses at BASIS, Latin, and Deal, that's not a question I feel I need to ask of BASIS parents.  BASIS sounded definite about what they're offering, and planning to (which isn't to say that I consider all the expectations laid out to be entirely reasonable).  But after visiting Deal and Latin, I emerged with more questions than answers.   E.g. I'm left asking why these schools accelerate only for math via separate classes for advanced learners.

So the story is that most parents of kids who would benefit from more advanced classes at Deal are "not opposed" which is to say not sufficiently in favor to fight for them, outide math?  The school community/leadership isn't amenable, or what?  We're fairly new to NW and don't have the inside scoop on any ms.  It seems that you can hire consultants to brief you on the whys and wherefores of various private schools in search of a "good fit" independent; not so for public schools.  So you end up here, trying to fill in the gaps...

[/quote]

Parent of Deal 7th grader again.  As I noted before I feel that my advanced learner is getting what she needs at Deal.  Of course I can't speak for all parents at Deal but I truly don't understand the frenzy around wanting to have the label of advanced classes.  Am I supposed to be in favor of this as part of some marketing tool for elementary school parents, so they can feel comfortable sending their child to Deal?  The fact is that Deal continues to be overenrolled, with upwards of 80-90% of kids from Janney and Lafayette enrolling.  Given this, the pool of kids that are now enrolling at Deal are probably working at a higher level than many other ms in DC - so teachers have to teach based on the kids that are in front of them.  When I was investigating Deal, I was told that all of the class work is above grade level - and that is what I've seen in 6th and now in 7th.  I think the rationale for offering advanced math is to make sure that kids have the opportunity to follow a specific sequence of math to reach the higher levels of math in high school - there is no wiggle room with math because the topics build on each other.  If you have more specific questions I would contact the administrators directly.  I'd personally be interested in hearing from other Deal parents about whether or not we need more advanced classes - I can be convinced but I need more evidence that my kid is missing something by not having these classes.[/quote]

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