I'm the PP that attended the open house, and I have to say that I was thrilled. The administration seemed wonderful. The teachers are all Masters prepared in education and early childhood development. This definitely wasn't the case at our "well respected" private. Two of the Spanish teachers are starting there after leaving Mundo Verde. I tried to get them to spill why they left, but it was understood that they weren't happy at MV. I grilled them one-on-one about the curriculum that they use and they both felt strongly that it was the best that they've ever taught. Because they just opened the 16th st campus, they still have plenty of spaces. So the class size in our PreK 4 is only 10 students with 2 real teachers. (Not a teacher plus assistant). Volunteering is something that is really important to me after leaving a co-op preschool and they were so excited about the opportunity of regular parent involvement in the classroom.

I know the upper grades may not have the best scores, but we are dealing with our immediate needs. And they really seem to have it together in the early childhood program. I'm not posting this to debate the merits of the school but really as a PSA to those that are still looking and are willing to stray away from the "hot" school of the moment.

And to be fair, we haven't started yet and my impression could change. However, we did talk to several parents at the open house who are entering another year and they were very pleased with their experience. I have the feeling that the administration is really trying. And seeing as how they were approved for a second campus, there seems to be reason to believe that they are doing better and will begin to exceed expectations.

Anonymous wrote:Not to be a Debbie Downer, but proficiency is in the 30s and that seems to be an improvement over a few years ago. What do you mean by 'gaining momentum'?

Not PP, but Bethune was picking up some interest from neighborhood families. Admin hasn't done themselves any favors by dropping out of the common lottery and seemingly haphazard management of applications and wait lists, though. We had a kid there a few years ago and had a wonderful year. The teachers were great.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but proficiency is in the 30s and that seems to be an improvement over a few years ago. What do you mean by 'gaining momentum'?

Anonymous wrote:PP again. FYI, I am the one from the Lee thread that reported they were moving up to 2nd grade to 16th St. I am attending the Open House next week and will report back if anything interesting comes out of it.

This is not true, they are having PK3, PK4, and K at both locations this year.

We are an incoming Bethune PK3 family. There has been no mention whatsoever about a move from their Brookland campus. The 16th street location is an expansion. At this point anything beyond that is pure rumor mongering.

I'm not saying it's not possible, just that the speculation here is getting out of hand.

what happened to Bethune? It was gaining momentum just a few years ago.

Hey PP. Any news about the move?

PP again. FYI, I am the one from the Lee thread that reported they were moving up to 2nd grade to 16th St. I am attending the Open House next week and will report back if anything interesting comes out of it.

Wow. I'm really interested in this. We have enrolled our daughter there to start PreK4 in September. I have to admit that i'm a little nervous based on DCUrbanMom. We felt comfortable sending her there for PreK because this won't be a long term investment for us, and I plan to be heavily involved. The Brookland location is beautiful but unfortunately we haven't been able to actually go inside 16th st yet, although it is very convenient to our home.

And what is the source of this speculation? Just because they're not in the common lottery? Tier 2? Disorganized administration?

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that Bethune is moving to a space that is not really that great. While I love the location of 16th and Kennedy, the space is the basement of a church with no remodeling/updating/upgrading done for many, many years and there is no ramp which makes things difficult if you use a stroller. People should check out the space and make their own decisions. Has Bethune's popularity really grown so much that they need to do this?

No, it hasn't, thus the speculation that this is the first step in vacating their existing space, and that for all intents they will be a preschool-only moving forward.

I am surprised that Bethune is moving to a space that is not really that great. While I love the location of 16th and Kennedy, the space is the basement of a church with no remodeling/updating/upgrading done for many, many years and there is no ramp which makes things difficult if you use a stroller. People should check out the space and make their own decisions. Has Bethune's popularity really grown so much that they need to do this?

Bethune is opening prek3/4 and K at the Presbyterian church on Kennedy and 16th streets. They are having ECE classes at both locations.

Sorry. Typo. Long Lee thread.

Someone mentioned in the (long) Bethune thread that Bethune is both opening a 2nd location and that the ECE classes are being moved to the new location. I see the former on the charter board site - is there any truth to the latter?