Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 10:19     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:I've heard many good things about MRE. I wish I could remember some specifics for you, but it was a while ago. Unfortunately, we were zoned for Thomas Stone so we chose private but would have certainly strongly considered MRE if that were an option.

My child attends Friends Community School, and we love it. Although it's Quaker, the religiosity is not overt. It is very much infused with the Quaker spirit, though, of nonviolence, community, sustainability, etc. If you are agnostic, atheist, or just prefer to keep your religiosity private, you would be very comfortable there. A good example would be the winter holiday program. No traditional Christmas carols or reference to Jesus. It's very much a general holiday theme. The children do learn about various world religions.


Thanks so much for the info! Friends sounds great, but I couldn't afford the tuition, and the distance would make it hard too.

It is good to know about the religiosity though. As atheists, I wanted to try to avoid an overly religious school. Not because I would forbid my son from choosing a religion, but just so it wouldn't be so confusing for him at a young age.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 10:15     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:OP, have you looked at DC housing prices lately? You'd be paying at least $200k more if your house were on the other side of the street.


OP here, lol, SO TRUE! I have a 7 bedroom 3 full bath gorgeous home that I paid under $200,000 for
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 10:06     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Friends of mine are at Christian Family Montessori in Petworth - a very affordable private. Don't know how church-y it is, though.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 10:06     Subject: Re:Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not sure what your financial situation is but in PG you only qualify for public Pre-K if you make under a certain amount of money. Or if your child qualifies because of developmental issues through the Infants and Toddler's program.



Thanks! I just looked into it and I don't qualify, so he'll be entering at Kindergarten.

Mt. Rainier Elementary doesn't have very good scores. Is there anyone who can give me their impressions of this school? I've looked into private schools in the area, but all of them are basically "church schools", which I would rather avoid.



My son went here when Jan Reed was principal. His experience was very good for the most part. Test scores do not a whole story tell, as you know. The school has wonderful dedicated teachers and staff, a very involved PTO that does real things, and at the time, the TAG pull-out teacher was wonderful. The school atmosphere was one of respect and encouragement. The school celebrates consecutive "peace days" and paces a great emphasis on conflict resolution.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 09:55     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:
A visit to the school is better than looking at the great schools website. Find out much teacher turnover there is from year to year. If you know of a couple other families that have the energy and resources to be school advocates in your neighborhood look at it together. That's what happened to Hyattsville Elementary several years ago.


This is what happened at Spellman in Cheverly as well. A few years ago some families who were school advocates really got involved in the school and it resulted in a lot of higher income families taking a chance on the school. The vast majority of them stayed and are very active in the PTA, volunteering etc and the extra parental involvement has made a HUGE difference. They also have a great Principal, staff etc. I'm not suggesting that the lower income families aren't "good" or interested in helping it is just that if you are working 2 jobs and raising a family you don't have time.

And Friends is a GREAT school....but it is also over $16K a year for kindergarten and completely out of your way if you commute to the city.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 09:49     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
OP, have you looked at DC housing prices lately? You'd be paying at least $200k more if your house were on the other side of the street.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 09:46     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
MRE had a good reputation several years ago and a really good principal. my take is that a lot of middle and higher SES families fled the neighborhood schools which brought test scores down and make more families choose elsewhere. It's a very small, walkable school and my take is that it still has a good group of teachers dedicated to the school.

A visit to the school is better than looking at the great schools website. Find out much teacher turnover there is from year to year. If you know of a couple other families that have the energy and resources to be school advocates in your neighborhood look at it together. That's what happened to Hyattsville Elementary several years ago.

Thomas Stone is a different story.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 09:20     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
PP here. I should add that I know one of the teachers there. She is very good and has always seemed very happy with the school.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 09:18     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
I've heard many good things about MRE. I wish I could remember some specifics for you, but it was a while ago. Unfortunately, we were zoned for Thomas Stone so we chose private but would have certainly strongly considered MRE if that were an option.

My child attends Friends Community School, and we love it. Although it's Quaker, the religiosity is not overt. It is very much infused with the Quaker spirit, though, of nonviolence, community, sustainability, etc. If you are agnostic, atheist, or just prefer to keep your religiosity private, you would be very comfortable there. A good example would be the winter holiday program. No traditional Christmas carols or reference to Jesus. It's very much a general holiday theme. The children do learn about various world religions.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2013 08:45     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
The charters and magnets are run slightly differently from each other, have you read the web pages? And they still transport, so your kid will take a bus.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2013 16:35     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:many people in your position start registering for the magnet lottery. You can enter for the montessori lottery starting at this age, and the other schools the year before kindergarten. Hopefully someone here has used your school, some of the poor testing schools still have a great and dedicated staff so it's at least worth a visit.


Thanks, I've looked into the public charter school options available, but I don't see how they are doable for me. They are all really far away, and in the opposite direction of my work commute. I'm right next to quite a few great DC charter schools...practically walking distance. I wish my house was just on the DC side of the street.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2013 16:19     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
many people in your position start registering for the magnet lottery. You can enter for the montessori lottery starting at this age, and the other schools the year before kindergarten. Hopefully someone here has used your school, some of the poor testing schools still have a great and dedicated staff so it's at least worth a visit.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2013 15:34     Subject: Re:Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Anonymous wrote:Not sure what your financial situation is but in PG you only qualify for public Pre-K if you make under a certain amount of money. Or if your child qualifies because of developmental issues through the Infants and Toddler's program.



Thanks! I just looked into it and I don't qualify, so he'll be entering at Kindergarten.

Mt. Rainier Elementary doesn't have very good scores. Is there anyone who can give me their impressions of this school? I've looked into private schools in the area, but all of them are basically "church schools", which I would rather avoid.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2013 14:59     Subject: Re:Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Not sure what your financial situation is but in PG you only qualify for public Pre-K if you make under a certain amount of money. Or if your child qualifies because of developmental issues through the Infants and Toddler's program.

Anonymous
Post 09/18/2013 14:36     Subject: Mt. Rainier Elementary School
Does anyone here have kids (or have had) kids in this school. When my son is ready for pre-K, this is the school we are zoned for. What is your experience and opinions of this school?

Where does your child go for after-school care?