Anonymous wrote:OP: I'm leaning towards a smaller school, smaller class sizes if possible, and one with more progressive tendencies i.e. minimizes the busy work, maximizes the experiential learning.

The only "small" school is Hearst. The rest are big to huge.

Class sizes are all the same, +/- a couple kids. Agsin, as with curriculum, this is a function of the central office of DCPS and budget/allocation of funds to each school from the Central Office of dcps.

OP, you are looking for a charter school, btw.

OP: Bad phrasing. I should have said that above would be my ideal. I'm not leaning toward any particular school at the moment as I'm still in a research phase.

OP: I'm leaning towards a smaller school, smaller class sizes if possible, and one with more progressive tendencies i.e. minimizes the busy work, maximizes the experiential learning.

Murch is the most diverse of the upper NW schools--racially, ethnically, and socio-economically. It's a lovely school with a wonderful community and a good principal.

On the downside, like Janney and Lafayette, it's overcrowded.

But you really can't go wrong with any of the schools on your list--they all benefit from supportive, involved families. It's true that not all of them do/will feed Deal (Murch, Janney, and Lafayette all almost certainly will long-term), but changing the feeder patterns should make Hardy stronger.

OP, why don't you tell us what factors are important to you? It would be easier to match schools to your priorities than to try to tell you about every school.

For instance, is diversity important to you? Some schools in NW have ethnic and socio-economic diversity, others are mostly white.

Do you want a large or a small school? Some schools have 5 classes per grade, others have 2.

Tell us what you are looking for and we can tell you who has those things.

Janney is the best in upper NW. Almost 100 % in bound now in lower grades, you will have a better neighborhood network. And be all set to feed into deal and Wilson.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with Eaton. Nice school, but could be soon zoned out of Deal and Wilson.

Deal and Wilson, or just deal? Where would eaton kids go to HS if not Wilson?
.

She probably misspoke I'm guess she means no DEAL but Hardy which will feed into Wilson.

OP: Why do you love Stoddert? I've heard that it is very small and has a very intimate feel. Anything else?

Also, good to know that all DCPS have the same curriculum. I hadn't realized that.

Stoddert Hands down, unless your child is a type A kid who has to be the best in everything and gets bored if things are not very fast paced.

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with Eaton. Nice school, but could be soon zoned out of Deal and Wilson.

Deal and Wilson, or just deal? Where would eaton kids go to HS if not Wilson?
.

There is one single core curriculum for dcps.

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with Eaton. Nice school, but could be soon zoned out of Deal and Wilson.

Come and see Eaton for yourself. Next open house is on November 20. No one knows what will happen with the boundaries but the Eaton community will do its best to advocate for all of our kids.

Be careful with Eaton. Nice school, but could be soon zoned out of Deal and Wilson.

Lafayette has a terrific arts program. Through the Kennedy Center. Changing Education Through Arts (CETA)

We're moving to DC and want to pick a house in upper NW that is IB for a good ES. We just want to find the right good ES for our kids. Can anyone tell me about the differences between Lafayette, Murch, Janney, Key, Stoddert, Eaton, Mann etc? Any considered to be slightly more progressive? Any more old fashioned? Any stand out in the sciences? sports? art? Any problem principals? Problems with institutionalized bullying? Any schools have less homework? Any have more extra-curriculars?

These schools are all new to me, although the neighborhoods aren't, and I'm just trying to get a feel for them. So, any information that might help me distinguish between them would be useful for me at this stage.
Thanks!