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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.[/quote]

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from? [/quote]

Bump (DP)[/quote]

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?[/quote]

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m [b]convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away[/b]. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.[/quote]

OP, I wish you well.  I really do.  But when we attended a similar school for ECE I thought the same thing, and there were actually a lot of things that legitimately made people want to leave the school.  Disorganization.  Incompetent front office staff.  Some teachers great, others intensely strict and vindictive.  For advanced kids, differentiation was playing math games on a computer.  95% of the kids were sweet and charming and well-behaved, but it only takes one kid with a serious behavior problem to disrupt the classroom all day ever day.  A really really screwed up Instructional Superintendent and weird policy things from downtown.  And most of all, a terrible middle school feeder.  I'm glad you've had a nice 6 weeks of Kindergarten, but there's a lot you haven't experienced yet, and a lot of things that you may care more about later that you aren't really engaging with now.  It's racism, but it isn't *just* racism.  The shortcomings of DCPS are real and those of us who want DCPS to succeed must face the issues and work to address them.[/quote]

DCPS teacher here who can confirm this parent’s experience of one child with a major behavior issue negatively impacting the entire class. It can be a very stressful and intimidating experience for the other students. A skilled teacher will handle it and hopefully get extra support from other adults in the building but it still has a big impact on others. We can treat that child with compassion and help the other kids do so too. But that can get pretty real pretty quickly when the out of control child is hitting, throwing furniture or threatening other children.[/quote]

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