Anonymous wrote:I am an IT parent and I cannot believe how organized CM is in comparison! The newsletter they sent out is amazing! They are cooperating with MV and have all the bells and whistles (art, music, drama, kaboom grant, language, inclusion teacher, a curriculum!) in the first year that IT couldn't manage! Even in the second year the administration can't come out an tell us what the extras will be.

creative Minds has also started a parents organization! Amazing. Really.

Another IT parent here. That is impressive. It makes me slightly envious! However, we turned down CM. We love the philosophy and teachers at IT and our child loves it. I feel like we're starting to build a nice little community at IT. No contest for us.

CM sent out a newsletter? DD is signed up for K. Is there a mailing list we need to sign up for?

I am an IT parent and I cannot believe how organized CM is in comparison! The newsletter they sent out is amazing! They are cooperating with MV and have all the bells and whistles (art, music, drama, kaboom grant, language, inclusion teacher, a curriculum!) in the first year that IT couldn't manage! Even in the second year the administration can't come out an tell us what the extras will be.

creative Minds has also started a parents organization! Amazing. Really.

That art was a testament to the part time art teacher. They didn't have her in the beginning of the year and the art wasn't tha impressive even with the Phillips connection. I think the relationship is great, I'm just saying that the art is great because of the teacher not the relationship.

FYI Inspired also has an arts integration approach and partnership with the Phillips Collection. I really impressed with the artwork at the Sat night event.

I'm very jealous that OP has such good choices! I'd probably go with IT, simply bc it has the one year under its belt and lots of folks seem happy there. I also found CM very intriguing with the small class sizes and arts integration; their mission sounds great but have to wonder if they can execute. Given the (slightly) more established nature of IT with the nonprofit behind it, that'd be where I would lean. Congrats and good luck.

Anonymous wrote:IT will be in a new location with new teachers, classes, and students. I'd say that both schools are startups.

I disagree. IT isn't growing that much in size next year (just adding from the bottom); 90+% of current families have re-enrolled and the majority will likely return; and there is no administration change on the horizon. Therefore, the "spirit" of the school will be unchanged even if it is contained in a new building. Besides, even as a first year charter, IT had surprisingly few hiccups this year. Next year they will have more money, and more support from its highly active and dedicated community of families.

Stating that IT will be a startup again next year is simply incorrect.

Cm has a full arts program

Anonymous wrote:IT will be in a new location with new teachers, classes, and students. I'd say that both schools are startups.

New location, yes.
SOME new teachers.
ONE new grade (4th).
1/3 new students (44 in PS3, at least 22 new in K, varied #s in the rest of the grades).
Administration will, in all likelihood, stay the same.

A Startup? Somewhat, but relatively experienced when compared to Creative Minds which doesn't have a reputable, successful organization backing it (IT had/has the Center for Inspired Teaching with 15 years of experience in DC) nor a strong first year under its belt. Doesn't mean it can't - it just means that the comparison between the two doesn't make sense. Compare IT with MV, but not CM.

IT will be in a new location with new teachers, classes, and students. I'd say that both schools are startups.

Unless you have a SN child or some other reason to strongly prefer CM, I would choose IT because it's a second year charter. There is inherent risk in a young charter, especially a brand new one. Disclosure: I am an IT parent. We are happy but I would have been happier not to go through all the uncertainty about so many things at the beginning of the year and during the summer. There are inevitably rough spots in a startup.

I'd pick IT over CM. IT is known to be good, CT is unknown. CT sounds good to me, but also like they are trying to do a whole lot with that curriculum... maybe bit off more than they can chew well. But maybe it'll be really awesome!

Full Disclosure: We're on the waitlist for K: 30ties at Creative Minds and 60ties at Inspired.

I favor CM over IT b/c I like philosophy behind it and the smaller class size. However, we're already at a sought after immersion language charter school and will be staying put: Thought it wasn't a good fit for DC when I entered the lotteries but turns out DC is very good in the immersion language.

What grade?

I'm leaning towards Inspired Teaching (although really hoping we have a chance at Mundo Verde). Any opinions out there (wait, this is DCUM - of course there are opinions out there)?