Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

Having moved myself to a one high school town when I was a kid, I kind of doubt this is true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

Hasn't been my kids experience, at all. Some kids chose to stick with what's comfortable, I guess. Some kids branch out or establish multiple friend groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

My Murch/Deal/JR kids walked, and they also made plenty of friends with kids from outside that path. Given JR’s size and the huge range of activities, you really have to go out of your way NOT to meet/make friends outside the elementary school path.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

Yikes! Is everyone as cliquish as your children and their friends? That's awful that they haven't made new friends in middle or high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

My 9th grader started at JR after going to a charter school for elementary and middle school. There are more than a few kids like mine, who did not go to a feeder. DC has had no problem making friends and seems to have social outings planned every weekend. (He takes Metrobus to school, FWIW.)

He's been less engaged academically. Hopefully he'll find more of interest (and to challenge him) as the years go on.

I do wish we had considered moving to the suburbs, to get access to the Maryland or Virginia public university systems. UDC just does not compare, and there is very little by way of funding to help cover costs at state schools.

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

You should care more about in-state college options and costs vs. the things you mention above. DC TAG does not bridge the entire gap between in-state and OOS at all, so if you care about having UMD or UVA/W&M/Virginia Tech et al as in-state options, that should be a larger factor for you.

The areas you would consider "walkable" are fairly expensive for SFHs. I consider say anything within a 1 mile radius (and that could be a stretch) as walkable. There are reasonable apartments and condos, especially in some older buildings on CT Avenue.

My guess is that 50% of the kids that are in-bound for Jackson-Reed in these areas attend, while there is a large %age going to Walls or private schools.

Anonymous wrote:Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

By numbers, most of the kids do not walk to JR since the boundary is so big. Almost all that do walk went to Deal and most of the walkers went to Janney (some kids from Hearst and Murch live within walking distance). My kids have gone the walking to Janney/Deal/JR path and almost all of their friends are friends from early elementary. I think the same is true for the Hearst and Murch kids. There is just not that much social development outside of the elementary school friendships. I doubt moving close to JR for high school would let your child break into these cliques.

Do most of the kids walk to and from school? I’m deciding between MoCo, NOVA and JR to relocate to for HS and for my particular kid, I really value him developing a good friend group. Seems like a mostly walkable school facilitates that better than bussing/driving.

We’re in our fifth year at JR and have been very happy. The wealth of ECs is really a huge benefit; my kids both were/are involved in multiple activities that have made their time in HS much richer. I recommend using 9th and 10th grade, when academics are generally less demanding, to explore activities.

AP classes are generally strong; most of the AP teachers are good, so encourage your kid to pursue those classes. There are a few widely available in 10th grade, which is a great way to get exposed to AP pace/rigor before things get more intense in 11th grade.

The college and career office is also good; they have a couple of very dedicated counselors who are kind, knowledgeable, and responsive.

I hear about 1-2 fights each year, but usually only if I’ve heard about them elsewhere (like DCUM) and make a point to ask. I never hear about classroom disruptions; I’m not saying they don’t happen (although I don’t think they happen in AP classes), but if they happen, it’s not frequent enough to make an impression on my kids (who are talkers/sharers).

The things that frustrate me are very much down to DCPS bureaucracy—e.g., physical plant issues, budget.

Overall, it’s a vibrant place where my kids have thrived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the open house someone mentioned behavior issues in the classroom. How big of an issue is this?

Huge.

Frequent brawls.

I have had two kids go through (second is now a senior). Neither ever experienced any "brawls" in the classroom. The year they went back after Covid it was definitely an issue in the hallways/at lunch, but not in the classroom. The school has about 400 fewer students now (thanks to MacArthur opening) and the lack of overcrowding plus kids being used to being back in school has helped a bunch.

That is not to say that kids are all engaged in the classroom--they are not. But that is definitely less of an issue as your kids move through the school. Overall, the school is fine. On the bright side, there are lots of APs, tons of extracurriculars, a very diverse student body, and a fairly large cohort of very driven smart kids. A lot of very good teachers too. On the downside, it is large and can be chaotic. There are some teachers who are just phoning it in. I'd recommend it for kids who are driven and don't need a lot of attention and would thrive from all of the opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:At the open house someone mentioned behavior issues in the classroom. How big of an issue is this?

Huge.

Frequent brawls.

bump

At the open house someone mentioned behavior issues in the classroom. How big of an issue is this?

It’s a mixed bag and it depends on your kid. I have two there. For my highly motivated and high achieving kid, there are some awesome teachers, some ok teachers, some teachers who do not do much. The latter classes might be good for some students—a pleasant slow paced overview of a topic without much rigor. My highly motivated kid is not challenged enough but also seeks out opportunities. My other, smart but less motivated, kid skates through with good grades but without being challenged or particularly engaged. There are tons of extracurricular opportunities, many awesome tho with incredible bureaucracy from the school and DCPS HQ that is more of an obstacle than a help.

Looking for people’s experiences at JR. I really want to know about their extracurriculars, teachers, classes, sports, and culture. I’ve heard mixed reviews and I want to get a better overall picture.