Anonymous
02/04/2026 22:13
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
If you want low tech and great math, you should apply to St Anselm’s, which you mentioned as a possibility.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 19:27
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
solid 5th grade list and solid advice to add Hardy feeders (basically gives you two years to try for Hardy). there are some other reasonably good middle school options that you might consider as part of Plan B.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 18:20
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
I don't think so, ITDS makes a lot of late offers. we know a family that was deep in the 100s for BASIS and got an offer from ITDS for 5th.
ITDS admissions are pretty variable year to year.
The current 4th grade cohort has some widespread behavior issues and the school has tried various interventions but nothing has been very effective. There may be more attrition this year because of it.
This is very concerning, as 4th grade would be our cohort.
Of course, there's no reason to think any particular kid in that cohort would or wouldn't stay for 5th... and what kids will come in for 5th is also pretty random. ITDS tends to have 15-20% turnover between 4th and 5th.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 18:11
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
I don't think so, ITDS makes a lot of late offers. we know a family that was deep in the 100s for BASIS and got an offer from ITDS for 5th.
ITDS admissions are pretty variable year to year.
The current 4th grade cohort has some widespread behavior issues and the school has tried various interventions but nothing has been very effective. There may be more attrition this year because of it.
This is very concerning, as 4th grade would be our cohort.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 18:04
Subject: Re:Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:You could also put a bunch of DCI feeders on there and then try for DCI in 5th.
Thought about it, but decided against as the only option, if I'm understanding correctly, is Stokes French which is a 45 min bus commute, to then end up in a high technology school which we don't want.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:53
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
I don't think so, ITDS makes a lot of late offers. we know a family that was deep in the 100s for BASIS and got an offer from ITDS for 5th.
ITDS admissions are pretty variable year to year.
The current 4th grade cohort has some widespread behavior issues and the school has tried various interventions but nothing has been very effective. There may be more attrition this year because of it.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:37
Subject: Re:Judge my lottery list for MS
You could also put a bunch of DCI feeders on there and then try for DCI in 5th.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:35
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
I don't think so, ITDS makes a lot of late offers. we know a family that was deep in the 100s for BASIS and got an offer from ITDS for 5th.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:12
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:59
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
Why not try for Francis this year? If you think your kid could handle the multiple transitions, could also include elementary schools that feed to Deal, Hardy, or Francis.
Was trying to avoid transition for 5th only, but yes, with Francis it wouldn't be a transition. I'll add that! Just really hate that they don't have geometry.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:52
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:42
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
Why not try for Francis this year? If you think your kid could handle the multiple transitions, could also include elementary schools that feed to Deal, Hardy, or Francis.
Yes to this. We are at a Hardy feeder and get many new students who lottery in for 5th grade. I would fill out your list with every Hardy and Deal feeder than works for your commute.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:41
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
Why not try for Francis this year? If you think your kid could handle the multiple transitions, could also include elementary schools that feed to Deal, Hardy, or Francis.
Good advice
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:39
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
Why not try for Francis this year? If you think your kid could handle the multiple transitions, could also include elementary schools that feed to Deal, Hardy, or Francis.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:31
Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS
Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.
Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this
Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.
Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.
Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.