That's true. I just haven't seen any IB parents willing to do that work yet.

The advantage of a school like Bunker Hill is that parents will have much more input because it is a boundary school. It is much easier to establish a vision and set of standards when the school is anchor within a community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Competition is good for everyone. However, the charter schools in the neighborhood are not exceeding expectation. Additionally, the new trend will be on building neighborhood schools, where parents have much more control. As a new residence in the area, I will be enrolling my two children in Bunker Hill.

Interesting statement. I would argue that well over half of the top charter schools are either within Brookland or its contiguous neighborhoods.

The post said "exceeding expectations". Most of the "popular" Charters in that neighborhood aren't at it's testing grades yet. Although IT is, you can look at the recent threads on this issue.

There is also, DC Prep (or something similar) and the Arts focused Charter with not so great test scores.

Anonymous wrote:Competition is good for everyone. However, the charter schools in the neighborhood are not exceeding expectation. Additionally, the new trend will be on building neighborhood schools, where parents have much more control. As a new residence in the area, I will be enrolling my two children in Bunker Hill.

Interesting statement. I would argue that well over half of the top charter schools are either within Brookland or its contiguous neighborhoods.

Competition is good for everyone. However, the charter schools in the neighborhood are not exceeding expectation. Additionally, the new trend will be on building neighborhood schools, where parents have much more control. As a new residence in the area, I will be enrolling my two children in Bunker Hill.

^ +1. Middle class families who prioritize education are not a new dynamic in the neighborhoods that feed Bunker Hill. In the 80s and 90s, they sent their kids to the cluster or west of Rock Creek, and now they send them to charters. Plus, this will be the third "dynamic, new" principal the school has seen since Rheeform kicked in. I hope it's a terrific hire and I wish them success, but I've heard this story before.

It's really sad. It is a great location and great building and you're right new families are moving in. Many of those families paying 700k+ for their homes. I've lived in brookland for over 10 years and I sent my kids to charters. The school has a really bad rep and it will take several years for it to turn around. I'm hopeful for Brookland Middle but I'm not sure how many families are going to send their kids there because of Noyes and Bunker Hill. Burroughs is the only viable DCPS option in this neighborhood.

^^ This. Let us be hopeful. With a lot more IB kids due to the influx of young families, and the offloading of the middle school age kids to Brookland MS (which has a good leader, building, better academic program), and hopefully a good new principal at Bunker Hill, there is reason to be hopeful for the future.

Yes, the school is under enrolled but change will come in the form of a dynamic new principal. The school has a great location and new homeowners are moving in on a weekly basis. The school with a new leader a committed staff and engaged community can be turned around. Also, with the Middle School students moving on to the new Brookland MS, this development will allow the school to refocus its resources on its PK 3 - 5 program. Let's not be so negative.

Anonymous wrote:The principal decision should be made this week. A very good school.

Um, no. Used to be a good school for DCPS standards. 2015 not so much.

^^ this. Bunker Hill is abysmally underenrolled and even then with lots of MD kids whose relatives attended in its better days and live close by. Merge with Burroughs and put a high-functioning, strong-demand charter in that ideal space. It has one of the lowest enrollments of any school in the district.

I'm hoping they will close either Bunker or Noyes and join forces to make a 2nd more desirable Brookland school, rather than two chronically underenrolled schools.

Anonymous wrote:The principal decision should be made this week. A very good school.

Despite the terrible reviews and abysmal test scores?

The principal decision should be made this week. A very good school.

Who is the new principal at Bunker Hill Elementary School?