If a Brent student does not lottery into a charter for 5th grade -- the students are likely going to a DCPS middle school via lottery (not Jefferson), private, or move from the Hill for 6th grade, if they stayed at Brent.

The academic model at Brent is in which 6 ish 5th graders (24 students/4 classes) are placed in a classroom with 18 ish 4th grades. This model was an absolute nightmare socially and academically for my child. Although a strong student, my child didn't learn critical math steps traditionally taught at 5th grade or expand their writing skills (they literally read the same books as in 4th grade). Many parents will say "oh but the 4th graders are so smart" but at the end of the day, the curricula is not taught at a 5th grade level.

The Principal will present all sorts of statistics validating their model, but it's a bunch of BS and all of the parents know it.

Op here. Yes, but I find it odd that they combine it. What if your fifth graders is advanced. And they are out with fourth graders?

Its only 4th and 5th that are combined.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much. This is helpful. Where do the Brent kids go? I am just so curious to hear how they combine those grades. Do the fifth graders even learn anything if they are in a classroom of 9 year olds. This whole thing sounds odd. Can’t imagine sending my kids to a school when they are almost two years younger than the fifth graders.

Brent kids peel off after 4th for Latin; BASIS; feeders to other DCPS middle schools (especially Deal, Hardy, Stuart-Hobson, maybe some to Francis-Stevens and Eliot-Hine); and some other charters that go through 8th or 12th like ITDS or Capital City.

Thanks so much. This is helpful. Where do the Brent kids go? I am just so curious to hear how they combine those grades. Do the fifth graders even learn anything if they are in a classroom of 9 year olds. This whole thing sounds odd. Can’t imagine sending my kids to a school when they are almost two years younger than the fifth graders.

If you get a lottery seat for HA and can make the commute work, take it. There’s less and less chance of getting in after 2nd grade. It’s a lovely school with great teachers, lots of activities, and a good feeder pattern for middle and high school (MacArthur will be a great option in the next few years, and Hardy sends a lot of kids to Walls as well).

You won’t get a PK3 seat OOB in either school even with sibling preference. Probably not PK4 either.

There are three 4th grade classes and two 5th grade classes at HA, so whatever is causing attrition at Brent in and after 4th isn’t as much an issue at HA (and given the not insignificant number of Brent-zoned kids I know at HA, some of those later elementary kids are leaving FOR Hardy and Deal feeders like HA).

Brent has a large exodus after 4th grade (for charters etc.) and its students scatter for middle school. The administration presumably made the combined 4/5 upper school to handle awkward 5th grade more students than 1 class but less than 2 numbers like 25 students. Then they decided they liked it because 4th grade has a larger concentration of more advanced students. But its somewhat short sighted on the part of the admin, because the tnet result is lots of families who didnt get into Latin and might have otherwise returned for 5th or even stuck together for middle school departed after 4th last year too.

I cannot speak toward Hyde Elementary, but Brent has a strong community, good academics in the younger years, and feels like a private in terms of enrichment (a large PTA budget to enhance the already existing specials especially their music programming/play). The teachers are caring and kind although the Upper School model (combined 4th and 5th grade) really hinders their impact on students. I've always been curious what they think of this model.

The previous posts are pretty accurate in terms of middle school placement and supplementing in the upper grades -- the Principal seems to be in denial that a large percentage of the high achieving kids go to Mathnasium or other enrichment programs and that the positive outcomes are not all Brent-driven. Also seems to be in denial about the Upper School model (parents and students hate it).

The commute will be a wash.

That’s good to know. I’m just worried about it the 4 and 5th grade classes being together.

I would select Hyde.
Nice school
Feeder to Hardy
I feel that everyone at Brent of starts playing for the feeder / bail to private starting in 3rd grade.

Why do they combine those grades?

What’s wrong with the swing space?
Hyde is ranked very high? I mean is there a better school than it? For higher elementary? It’s the same as Janney.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much. Kid is older than first grade. However, commute to school will be 30-45 minutes (including traffic). So driving would be the same. In bounds school is good but not for my kids. Academically it isn’t as good for older elementary kids. More concerned about academics. After reviewing older posts, it seems like Brent isn’t as academically good. Seems like it is good for k-3 and after that parents say that they needed to supplement for middle school. Is this true? They are combining third and fourth grades?

If you are at a decent IB and think it’s not working for your kid, I am skeptical either of these is the solution for you. (Unless it’s a social fit issue.) Brent combines 4th & 5th and I have heard from zero 5th grade parents who like it. I think Brent is fine academically before that, especially in math. But considering how rich the kids are, I don’t think there’s evidence of a lot of value add. Nice community, good location… but if your kid is already in 2nd, so you get 1-2 years in the actual building and deal with a ton of disruption? Hard pass from me.

Hyde-Addison I’ve heard decent things about. Not as much of a community feel because so heavily OOB. Good teachers though and evidence of value add in test data… but fewer extras than Brent and the actual scores are comparable to Brent, just considerably more impressive for demographics. So it depends again what you don’t love about your current school.

If you attend a walkable IB, I would think long and hard about think either of these were good options at a 30-45 minute commute. Maybe HA if the feed matters to you and you’re willing to commit to this commute long term.

Thanks so much. Kid is older than first grade. However, commute to school will be 30-45 minutes (including traffic). So driving would be the same. In bounds school is good but not for my kids. Academically it isn’t as good for older elementary kids. More concerned about academics. After reviewing older posts, it seems like Brent isn’t as academically good. Seems like it is good for k-3 and after that parents say that they needed to supplement for middle school. Is this true? They are combining third and fourth grades?

I would not enroll in Brent to schlep my kid across the city, but if your kid is young, then maybe the inconvenience is worth it long term. If they aren't young, then it's not, because it's not like Brent has a feeder. Hyde does.

Historically few IB PK3s without sibs get into Brent's PK3 so an OOB kid would have less than no chance... but it could be different just this year with the renovation. Doubtful though. Hyde = zero chance as OOB PK3.

What's your IB?

What would you do?

Brent is closer but going through renovations.
Hyde is a longer commute for us, probably 30 minutes.

Both academically seem like excellent schools.

What is the likelihood of sibling preference for prek3 if we are not in bounds for both schools? Is enrollment going down in Brent because of renovations?