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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Lots of rave reviews for DCI on this thread. OP, I'd talk to parent who aren't staying for HS if you want to go in with your eyes open. We have close friends of many years  among them. We've been hear very mixed reviews for years, particularly for strong STEM-oriented students (who failed to get off the BASIS wait list). You know that there's no academic tracking in the middle school outside math (one year acceleration, not more) and language, and minimal tracking in 9th and 10th grades. This means that strong English, social studies and science students are unlikely to be challenged before IB Diploma work in 11th and 12th grades.[/quote]

Hilarious! This is such a typical under informed parent comment. Middle school is much less strong than High School at DCI. Could be better principal and teachers at HS, could be less focus on MS quality. But what it really is......MIDDLE SCHOOL IS PRETTY HARD ON KIDS AND FAMILIES AND PARENTS BLAME THE SCHOOL! 
Instead of focusing on the rush of changes that a 6th grader faces in middle school, puberty hormones, shifting peer group alliances; new academic challenges, experimenting with motivation and re-branding oneself, and battles with parents for more independence make it a tough time of life for EVERYONE. High School is when everything calms down a bit!

Beware blaming the school. I know at least a dozen families who either left DCI or decided to go elsewhere who were begging to get in for HS. Unfortunately, most did not win the lottery. 
[/quote]

Middle school is the weak link in DC and it is too in MCPS and FCPS in terms of academics.  I agree with PP that it’s a very hard transition for the kids going to a new school which is usually much bigger and having to make new friends and peer groups. Not only is the academic demands/expectations higher but also the higher demands in executive functioning skills to manage different classes, deadlines, papers, tests, etc…. On top of this, add raging hormones and it’s a lot.

The benefit with a school that has both a middle and high school is that the kids know the system and don’t have to start all over again in high school with a new school and all these adjustment.  Plus friends stay the same and they don’t need to make new friends all over again. [/quote]

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