Anonymous wrote:I would ask if any of the sports have try outs before school starts. Unlike private schools, DCPS doesn't usually start much of anything until several weeks into the school year.

Do you actually have kids at JR? Virtually every team starts tryouts/practices in August.

How does math placement work?
Do they take bio freshman year?

I would ask if any of the sports have try outs before school starts. Unlike private schools, DCPS doesn't usually start much of anything until several weeks into the school year.

Anonymous wrote:I have a son who plays soccer- is that a competitive sport at JR (I assume!) and is it possible to make a JV team as a freshman?

Very difficult team to make. One of the disadvantages of a 2000+ student school.

Anonymous wrote:DS will be starting as a freshman at JRHS, but didn’t go to a DCPS middle school. How do we get plugged into course selection, sports tryouts etc that may happen before school starts?

Any advice from current parents?

You should register now and ask the school. Anyway, my freshman kid showed up to school on the first day in september and found out she was not registered (long story). She registered and selected her classes on the first day. I do not recommend it obviously, but this is to let you know you dont need to come from a DCPS middle school. Registration opened last week and the school would like to have 100% kids registered by May 1. Also we were told that registered kids get priority in the selection of the classes. So first step: register your kid with the school

I have a son who plays soccer- is that a competitive sport at JR (I assume!) and is it possible to make a JV team as a freshman?

If you have a sporty girl who is interested in playing a fall sport, consider field hockey. They will have a good chance of making the team (even if they have never played the sport) and they start in August before school starts with student-run practices (at least they used to). They are they are not good but the upside is that it is low pressure and they have fun- it's a good way to transition to the school.

Anonymous wrote:Look on the sports page and email coaches to ask when tryouts start and if you need any paperwork submitted. (For girl's soccer all of the health forms needed to be submitted before tryouts.) You can call the school and ask if they have the summer bridge dates yet, that was a week long morning orientation. After you enroll you can reach out to the guidance counselor for course selection stuff but it is also on the website.

All good advice. A few other things:

Reach out to the PTSO and get on their email list
Read the weekly newsletter: https://jacksonreedhs.org/enews-4-8-24/
Read The Beacon (student newspaper): https://thejackson-reedbeacon.com/
Go to one of the monthly principal’s coffees and speak with him directly
Check out this list of activities: https://jacksonreedhs.org/students/clubs-extracurricular-activies/

You can also attend some events at the school to get a feel for it—there are games in the stadium most afternoons/evenings, there’s the spring musical in May, etc.

Look on the sports page and email coaches to ask when tryouts start and if you need any paperwork submitted. (For girl's soccer all of the health forms needed to be submitted before tryouts.) You can call the school and ask if they have the summer bridge dates yet, that was a week long morning orientation. After you enroll you can reach out to the guidance counselor for course selection stuff but it is also on the website.

We are in the same position! Not coming from DCPS and thinking about how to help DC meet kids ahead of time. She will not be joining a sports team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you registered?

Not yet. Duh got it, so I do that and then kid gets looped into communications?

That's certainly a necessary first step. How else will the school know about you?

If you’re in DC, try just going down to the school and asking for an appointment or chatting with the school secretary there. In DC not everything is always written down, but people can be friendly and helpful!

Anonymous wrote:Have you registered?

Not yet. Duh got it, so I do that and then kid gets looped into communications?

Have you registered?

DS will be starting as a freshman at JRHS, but didn’t go to a DCPS middle school. How do we get plugged into course selection, sports tryouts etc that may happen before school starts?

Any advice from current parents?