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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So, what percentage of students at Deal and Hardy test at grade level?  That's probably the best way to compare them, rather than treating the question as a Redskins vs. Ravens fans rap battle.[/quote]

I can learn that, but there a number of variables that are important to me that test scores won’t tell me. Even with respect to test scores, a school with better average scores might not be as good a fit for a bright kid if the other school offers ability tracking. And if the better test scores are the result of teachers only teaching to the test, that doesn’t sound like a great education to me. I’m not looking for a homework factory OR a place that won’t be challenging. I care whether the kids are happy and how difficult it is to fit in as a new kid. I care whether the parents are particularly cliquish or welcoming to newcomers. I care whether my athletic 4th grader will have sports opportunities when he hits the MS. I also care how regimented the day is and whether there are any major quirks to each school.

I will certainly visit both schools and talk to as many people as possible about each, but DCUM seemed like a good (remote) starting place. [/quote]

Neither is that challenging — both are solid academically. Deal has more choices for foreign language and more sports teams. There’s also more competition to make them too because of the school’s size. Most kids in those neighborhood do club / travel sports if they are serious athletes. Some kids forgo the school teams altogether.

As for parents — that’s more relevant to elementary. Parents are not that involved at either Deal or Hardy outside the PTA or getting to knwo the kids your child is friends with. Most students travel independently to school — walking or taking the city buses or subway (fares are free for all students).

You are unlikely to find any of the schools that feed until Wilson High school explocitly teaching to the test, although the scores matter for teacher and principal evaluations — so there is some attention to them. Students who are struggling or whose scores are close to the line are mostly likely to get explicit test prep. Few parents in DC opt their kids out of PARCC, compared to other states. At the results.osse.dc.gov you can drill into scores by grade or race or exonomics or special needs and see which schools are doing better for all students, not just the ones from the guest SES homes that tend to ace them regardless of the sho environment. [/quote]

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