Anonymous
02/26/2026 23:30
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I've heard great things about DCB. It became a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, a year that most DC public and charter schools saw their test scores plummet. The ED is highly respected among her peers. Perhaps their success is more in overcoming the opportunity gap than teaching Spanish to English-speaking kids, but they're doing something right. And FWIW, I have no horse in this race--never even set foot in the school--just a local educator who hears talk from many other educators.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
But as we know actual experiences in a school and the numbers on paper don’t match. See PPs response with actual experience. We never listed DCB because Spanish is important to us (and commute). The Spanish program didn’t seem very strong. It’s fine if it’s not the priority for the school but it’s important for people to know if they are considering it for the bilingualism.
+1. Didn’t list DCB at all because of the weak Spanish.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 18:28
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I've heard great things about DCB. It became a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, a year that most DC public and charter schools saw their test scores plummet. The ED is highly respected among her peers. Perhaps their success is more in overcoming the opportunity gap than teaching Spanish to English-speaking kids, but they're doing something right. And FWIW, I have no horse in this race--never even set foot in the school--just a local educator who hears talk from many other educators.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
Above is not true. DCB is nit the hugest when it comes to actual CAPE data. If you look at CAPE scores, DCB is one of the lowest of the immersion charters for at grade level or above. In fact the math scores are pretty poor with the other schools as much as 14% higher.
I don’t look at empower or anything about ranking because it’s all skewed to give more weight to at risk, certain racial groups, etc…. which DCB has the highest.
Straight forward data is test scores.
not the highest
Anonymous
02/26/2026 18:27
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:I've heard great things about DCB. It became a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, a year that most DC public and charter schools saw their test scores plummet. The ED is highly respected among her peers. Perhaps their success is more in overcoming the opportunity gap than teaching Spanish to English-speaking kids, but they're doing something right. And FWIW, I have no horse in this race--never even set foot in the school--just a local educator who hears talk from many other educators.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
Above is not true. DCB is nit the hugest when it comes to actual CAPE data. If you look at CAPE scores, DCB is one of the lowest of the immersion charters for at grade level or above. In fact the math scores are pretty poor with the other schools as much as 14% higher.
I don’t look at empower or anything about ranking because it’s all skewed to give more weight to at risk, certain racial groups, etc…. which DCB has the highest.
Straight forward data is test scores.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 16:33
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:I've heard great things about DCB. It became a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, a year that most DC public and charter schools saw their test scores plummet. The ED is highly respected among her peers. Perhaps their success is more in overcoming the opportunity gap than teaching Spanish to English-speaking kids, but they're doing something right. And FWIW, I have no horse in this race--never even set foot in the school--just a local educator who hears talk from many other educators.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
But as we know actual experiences in a school and the numbers on paper don’t match. See PPs response with actual experience. We never listed DCB because Spanish is important to us (and commute). The Spanish program didn’t seem very strong. It’s fine if it’s not the priority for the school but it’s important for people to know if they are considering it for the bilingualism.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 11:38
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
I've heard great things about DCB. It became a National Blue Ribbon School in 2024, a year that most DC public and charter schools saw their test scores plummet. The ED is highly respected among her peers. Perhaps their success is more in overcoming the opportunity gap than teaching Spanish to English-speaking kids, but they're doing something right. And FWIW, I have no horse in this race--never even set foot in the school--just a local educator who hears talk from many other educators.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
From this press release: https://www.dcbilingual.org/blog/dc-bilingual-ranks-in-top-95-of-elementary-school-in-the-district
DC Bilingual is excited to receive a score of 76.2%, which places our school at the top of the list for all elementary charters in the city, and in the top 5% of all elementary schools across the city! In fact, DC Bilingual is the highest performing language immersion program across DCPS and public charter schools. For the detailed report card for DC Bilingual, read here. For comparative data, look at this dashboard created by EmpowerK12 using raw data from OSSE.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 07:12
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Disciplinary issues have been a challenge. My students have experienced bullying from both fellow students and staff, and it's hard to get school leadership to respond to serious issues. There was a teacher walk out a few years ago due to leadership's unwillingness to listen to staff's safety concerns.
They expanded too fast and while they managed it better than some othet schools, the infrastructure just isn't there to support students and staff like there used to be. They are also too quick to leap to asynchronous learning rather than make up snow days. DCB was very slow to reopen in the pandemic years and that is still seemingly part of their SOPs. It feels at times that school leadership doesn't want students in the building-- unless there is a fundraising event or business opportunity.
Personally I think Spanish is taught well and the kids who have been there since PK speak it well. There are still plenty of native Spanish speakers attending the school.
They expanded too fast and while they managed it better than some othet schools, the infrastructure just isn't there to support students and staff like there used to be. They are also too quick to leap to asynchronous learning rather than make up snow days. DCB was very slow to reopen in the pandemic years and that is still seemingly part of their SOPs. It feels at times that school leadership doesn't want students in the building-- unless there is a fundraising event or business opportunity.
Personally I think Spanish is taught well and the kids who have been there since PK speak it well. There are still plenty of native Spanish speakers attending the school.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 22:04
Subject: Re:DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:Its location makes it a difficult commute for many.
+1
That stretch of Military/Riggs Rd is an absolute nightmare. I live pretty close and still hesitated to add it to our lottery list because it is just awful to drive over there.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 21:16
Subject: Re:DCB.. whats the rub?
Weak spanish. Highest at risk kids of the immersion charters so needs more resources.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 20:55
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
(1) Weaker Spanish program than DCPS or MV
(2) Likely sub 50% chance at DCI if you don’t have an older kid there already, then by then you’ve missed the lottery for Latin and Basis
(3) Logistically nightmarish location unless you are close enough to walk or bike
But people universally love the community and it’s decent academically with an engaged cohort of kids. The lack of DCI guarantee is what did it for us (and we lotteried into a Deal feeder eventually, so right call for us).
(2) Likely sub 50% chance at DCI if you don’t have an older kid there already, then by then you’ve missed the lottery for Latin and Basis
(3) Logistically nightmarish location unless you are close enough to walk or bike
But people universally love the community and it’s decent academically with an engaged cohort of kids. The lack of DCI guarantee is what did it for us (and we lotteried into a Deal feeder eventually, so right call for us).
Anonymous
02/25/2026 20:31
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:I think bc of expansion there's no longer a feeder right, just a preference?
There is a preference to DCI but will be difficult without a sibling.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 20:30
Subject: Re:DCB.. whats the rub?
Anonymous wrote:Its location makes it a difficult commute for many.
+1. It is a great little school community but the commute isn’t worth it for a lot of people. They don’t do 100% Spanish in prek and K like a lot of other schools so English speaking families have to work hard to fill in the gaps. My neighbors go there and barely speak Spanish in upper Elementary.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 20:17
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Drop off and pick up are awful and you probably won't get in anyway.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 20:02
Subject: Re:DCB.. whats the rub?
Its location makes it a difficult commute for many.
Anonymous
02/25/2026 19:59
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
I think bc of expansion there's no longer a feeder right, just a preference?
Anonymous
02/25/2026 19:59
Subject: DCB.. whats the rub?
Based on the Open House(vs other Open Houses).. DCB seems like a near perfect (DC) school. But what is the drawback of DCB? It appears to have a check in every requisite box one may be looking for in a school and feed into one of the better high schools?