I'm stressed about the large class size, testing atmosphere and lack of recess, but I'm pretty sure that would be the same at any public elementary in the area.

DCPS is only stressful if you think your child is gifted/special/delicate/deserving of something better. The best thing about our DCPS elementary is that there aren't a lot of parents who feel that way, making for a happier, better-adjusted bunch of kids.

I have one child in private elementary and one in JKLMM. I have to be much more proactive w/r/t my public school kid ensuring she gets the attention she needs. She is a high performer and sometimes (not always) the focus is on the getting the low performers up rather than enrichment for the kids that need more. Overall, we've been fairly happy with our public option, but it does take a bit more "managing." I'm also more involved in the HSA, since I feel that they need the support more than our private school, which has a pretty large contingent of SAHMs who run the show.

Anonymous wrote:Just reading the board for a month or so, it seems a lot of you have to sort of micromanage and do all this planning and obsessing over things private parents don't have to worry about whatsoever. On top of that you worry about certain elements in the classroom. Is it stressful or at the very least a bit exhausting?

For the most part, it was not stressful in elementary. By the time my kids were at middle school (Hardy) and high school (Wilson), yes, it was stressful. There is a certain amount of chaos and dysfunction that goes along with being in DCPS. There are things - like college advising - that DCPS just cannot handle, and that you have to prepare yourself for taking care of on your own.

But, like any thing, it is a tradeoff. Was DCPS as stressful as say, coming up with $35,000 a year for private school. No way.
Was DCPS as stressful as an added half hour to my commute each day had I moved to the suburbs? No way.

My DCPS grads turned out fine, and I think the tradeoffs were all worth it.

P.S. The "certain elements" were never a stress factor for me or my kids.

Anonymous wrote:"certain elements," really? thanks for your concern. we're fine.

+1. Go away, troll. DS is learning to get along with people from all walks of life and it is not stressful at all. Private school would be stressful if I had to protect his character developmeny from the influence of spoiled, sheltered rich kids.

"certain elements," really? thanks for your concern. we're fine.

I do not find it stressful. Private school would be more stressful because it would add to our commute. Our EOTP school has great faculty who keep DD happily engaged and above grade level.

My daughter is in first grade at our EOTP DCPS. I do not stress about it at all. She loves school. I love that she loves school. Sometimes I go to PTO meetings. Sometimes I don't.

Lottery season is always stressful, but a lot of that is self-imposed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a private school and it seems our parents do nothing but stress and micromanage. I think it's a personality thing.

Private parents stress about things parents, in general, stress about. DCPS yuppie parents seem to stress about those things AND about DCPS-specific things.

Wut? This makes no sense.

Personally, I feel like the type of people who find it stressful would likely find something to be stressed about in any situation. I do not stress easily, so I am fine. A person who is typically anxious, or particularly anxious about their children, might find it stressful. All relative to the person.

FWIW, one of the best parts about my EOTP DCPS school is how little stress I see in the parents. I love going to a school where all the families are laid back and easy going.

Anonymous wrote:I work at a private school and it seems our parents do nothing but stress and micromanage. I think it's a personality thing.

Private parents stress about things parents, in general, stress about. DCPS yuppie parents seem to stress about those things AND about DCPS-specific things.

I work at a private school and it seems our parents do nothing but stress and micromanage. I think it's a personality thing.

Depends on what kind of parent you are and what kind of student your child is. Some would be doing the same sorts of things and worrying at private too.

Plenty of the same sorts of comments on the Virginia and MD public school boards.

I think it's more about parenting in 2016 in the DMV than DCPS.

Not for me. But we are at a WOTP established school. Might be different at a new charter or a gentrifying school?

Just reading the board for a month or so, it seems a lot of you have to sort of micromanage and do all this planning and obsessing over things private parents don't have to worry about whatsoever. On top of that you worry about certain elements in the classroom. Is it stressful or at the very least a bit exhausting?