Washington Latin has the best scores in the city and a lot of happy families as well. However, unlike Deal you can't buy your way in (by moving into an expensive neighborhood) and unlike Basis, it has a successful track record educating DC students of all SES backgrounds (so the lottery is highly competitive).

For safety, move into the Deal district and do both the Latin and Basis lotteries.

Yes pp, smaller class sizes in our fabulous dcps 5th! Many families peeled off for charters and our remaining kids are reaping tremendous benefits. So glad we didnt panic and stayed the course. Middle school will work out one way or another. If we end up at our dcps middle school we'll enjoy the positive things it has to offer and work through any problems. Our child will be fine.

Anonymous wrote:For 5th only Mann, Stoddert, Hyde, Maury, Brent, Lafayette, Janey, Key and Murch are all very good. If you want a school that starts at 5th and moves up after that then Latin, Basis, or a Deal feeder.

Remember that a number of students will be peeling off from these traditionals for 5th-and-up programs (public or private). Maybe that's good, smaller class sizes? But at Hyde there was a 4th/5th combined class after folks decamped to Latin.

I would make appointments to tour EL Haynes, Cap City, Basis, Washington Latin. Middle school is the launching point for high school subjects like science, languages and it's a distracting hormonal time, I would shoot for the most rigorous curriculum you can get into, and get your kid lined up for advanced math in HS with summer courses etc.

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for a program for the 2013-2014 school year. I've loved the current school up until this school year--too many negative changes, lack of funding and resources are a few of my gripes. I'm not seeking to make a transition this school.

Still, if you're thinking of transitioning into a new school for 5th grade, you should probably prioritize those choices that offer your child a couple of years to make that rough spot worthwhile. Some do this in their sleep, but most children take a long time forging new friendships. And while that's not all school is about it's foolish to think it's not an important part of academic success.

I'm looking for a program for the 2013-2014 school year. I've loved the current school up until this school year--too many negative changes, lack of funding and resources are a few of my gripes. I'm not seeking to make a transition this school.

For 5th only Mann, Stoddert, Hyde, Maury, Brent, Lafayette, Janey, Key and Murch are all very good. If you want a school that starts at 5th and moves up after that then Latin, Basis, or a Deal feeder.

I'd give you a big thumbs up for our elementary school, where I have a 5th grader who I don't think could be in a much better context anywhere and I'm not a big believer in charter schools. But assuming you're now looking for a fifth grade to enter now, then I concur that the 5-8 or 5-12 charters or possibly a K-8 elementary your your very best way to go. Putting a child through a mid-year transition and then transition into middle school for 6th would not serve him or her, no matter how great that school is.
Now, if you're military or coming from outside to leave soon again, then you should specify that in your post. There are schools that do much better on that front then others. Your criteria then should be different from someone (like me) who'll tell you how great their school is, exactly because it's a steady community locked into a long-term interaction and hence probably wouldn't serve you well, no matter how great I think it is.
You should consider all of this. Kids aren't chess pieces and schools/classrooms aren't some amorphous entity.

OP - what are your circumstances, are you coming to DC for a year and want a good 5th grade school or are you looking for 5th grade and up? Are you willing to move into the neighborhood of a particular school to enter or are you going to rely on the lottery system. Do you need this today or next year? Does your child have particular interests.

Your options differ based on what you want. There are good options in DC and surrounding areas.

Give Capital City a call - they had some room at the start of the year. The teachers are incredible and the facility is gorgeous.

We are at a great elementary charter that plans to go through 5th or 6th. Though we love it, the rigor is just not there at the higher grades. I'm interested in this topic, too. I will probably be seeing a lot of familiar faces at Basis or someplace like that. Any other ideas?

I think Basis DC Charter School is a great choice Our 5th grader is thriving there!

No. None in DCPS. You need to go charter or else plan to waste a year.

Public middle school? You're asking about a 'stellar' public middle school in DC...

Does anyone love their elementary school or have recommendations for a 'stellar' 5th grade program in DC?

Thanks