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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To OP and others that are considering DC public schools, Shepherd Elementary in NW DC is a great choice, IMO.  It is majority black, although that is changing a bit in the lower grades (which is fine with me--I'm black but I like the idea of my child being exposed to kids from different ethnic backgrounds).  The test scores are quite impressive considering--I think last year reading was 73% proficient, and math was 76%.  These are not WOTP school scores, which tend to be in the 80s and 90s, but actually pretty decent given that the school is 32% FARMS.  It is a pretty popular school for black doctors, lawyers, etc.--actually, we are an MD/PhD couple and we've been quite happy with Shepherd and don't feel out of place at all; this is our first year there.  The International Baccalaureate program is great, and our child gets French 3-4x/week.  This year, PK3 was all in-boundary and there was even an in-boundary waitlist, so the school is getting even more popular.

For any PPs considering DC schools and looking for a school of choice for middle/upper middle SES black families, Shepherd should definitely be one possibility, particularly in the lower grades, where there is more buy-in from the neighborhood.  There are other DC schools where I know high SES black families, although they are mostly charters--LAMB, Inspired Teaching, Creative Minds, etc.--and these are exceedingly difficult to get into.

[/quote]

I know this is an old thread, but the topic is sadly still relevant.
To the PP, are you planning to send your kids to Deal and Wilson?[/quote]

PP here.  We are so many years away from middle and high school that it's hard to say.  If we are still in the area, we'll have to look at our child's needs as well as really investigate the quality of education and the learning environment at both schools when it's time.  I'm a bit spooked by recent stories of gang activity, violence, etc. at Wilson, but it could be a whole different landscape a decade from now.  Also, some kids are distracted by that stuff and at risk for getting into the wrong peer group, whereas others are really focused and are able to thrive despite those influences--we will have to see which of these best describes our kid when it's time.  My husband did private school all the way through and wants us to also consider private for high school, so we also have that possibility in the mix.[/quote]

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