Anonymous wrote:DUDE: CHILL OUT. too many questions. Focus. It's only pk. It's not likely that your child will stay at Burroughs beyond elementary. You have to accept (and even embrace ) the unpredictability of raising a child in DC and all that goes with that, including education.

This.

You'll be fine almost anywhere for PK, and you'll likely leave as soon as possible afterwards - particularly as you approach testing grades.

DUDE: CHILL OUT. too many questions. Focus. It's only pk. It's not likely that your child will stay at Burroughs beyond elementary. You have to accept (and even embrace ) the unpredictability of raising a child in DC and all that goes with that, including education.

Anonymous wrote:

mcjd79 wrote:Interested to hear about folks experiences at Burroughs. It seems like a reasonably good school with a good Stem program and other activities. Do you find the school to be friendly and a warm positive place for younger kids? How is it as kids move up? How are there special education teachers? Is the before & after care run well? We see it as a possibility to stay in the long run and are wondering if others are staying out of choice.

This question pops up every year about Burroughs. The current PreK is great. The Kindergarten teachers are rigorous and tough, not your warm and fuzzy type. Not too parent friendly but your child will come out of Kindergarten miles ahead of other Kindergarteners at popular charters. It depends on what you want academics or social activities.

At a recent fundraiser, I learned the Kindergarten and 4th grade teachers won recent a Teacher of the Year awards. So that is a plus, and I heard 90% of the teaching staff have masters degrees.

Not bad for your local DCPS but the diversity remains an issue. Solid literacy and math instruction, recognized teachers, increasing test scores and STEM still aren't good enough for some people.

Makes you wonder why????

Current Parent

I would prefer a school with a bit more diversity but, our IB school is only slightly more diverse. Our daughter would be in the majority at either school, though our family type would probably be in the minority (probably true of most schools.) Do you find most parents & staff are welcoming & friendly to different types of families? (adoptive, lgbt community/families)

It is a concern if the school overall isn't willing to work & communicate with families. Do they not encourage parent to be directly involved with he school & their child's education? Have you had communication issues with the school?

I would like a warm and welcoming environment for prk for sure. After prk I think a mix of warm, enthusiastic, approachable, creative, emphatic, fun, inclusive, respectful (for everyone), instilling strong work ethics, encouraging putting in effort, not taking excuses or handing out trophy to everyone for just showing up is setting kids up for better success in the long term. Does the school offer this?

I am also wondering how the specialist are speech and special education teachers? As well as clubs and after care?

We really like the STEM program. We can a lot to help supplement reading, history, social science & some of the art at home & with the community resources the city offers I know there is a lot we can do build math & science skills as well. But finding a school with teachers that can really teach Math & Science well is very important. In both Charters & other PS schools it seems a lot of elementary school teachers don't have strong math skills & sometimes even a negative attitude towards math (always says how hard math is). And very often lack the understanding of how the foundations are used in advanced math & science. Which often leads to kids having negative attitudes and lack of a full understanding for the students too.

I can see why some families would leave Burroughs & our IB school if they got into a school that feeds into a better middle school or high school. Unfortunately right know it doesn't seem like the higher grade schools our neighborhood schools feed into are that great. But we are also 6-9 years out before hit middle school so perhaps there will be better or other options by then?

It seems that it would be likely to get a K or 1st grade + seat at Burroughs? (Still on their wait for prk3, but have a seat at BH currently)

Anonymous wrote:

mcjd79 wrote:Interested to hear about folks experiences at Burroughs. It seems like a reasonably good school with a good Stem program and other activities. Do you find the school to be friendly and a warm positive place for younger kids? How is it as kids move up? How are there special education teachers? Is the before & after care run well? We see it as a possibility to stay in the long run and are wondering if others are staying out of choice.

This question pops up every year about Burroughs. The current PreK is great. The Kindergarten teachers are rigorous and tough, not your warm and fuzzy type. Not too parent friendly but your child will come out of Kindergarten miles ahead of other Kindergarteners at popular charters. It depends on what you want academics or social activities.

At a recent fundraiser, I learned the Kindergarten and 4th grade teachers won recent a Teacher of the Year awards. So that is a plus, and I heard 90% of the teaching staff have masters degrees.

Not bad for your local DCPS but the diversity remains an issue. Solid literacy and math instruction, recognized teachers, increasing test scores and STEM still aren't good enough for some people.

Makes you wonder why????

Current Parent

How old is your child, PP? The things you listed are great. Congrats to Burroughs on everything it has achieved. But I do not think wanting a better middle and high school feeder, amd language immersion, is anything to apologize for.

mcjd79 wrote:Interested to hear about folks experiences at Burroughs. It seems like a reasonably good school with a good Stem program and other activities. Do you find the school to be friendly and a warm positive place for younger kids? How is it as kids move up? How are there special education teachers? Is the before & after care run well? We see it as a possibility to stay in the long run and are wondering if others are staying out of choice.

This question pops up every year about Burroughs. The current PreK is great. The Kindergarten teachers are rigorous and tough, not your warm and fuzzy type. Not too parent friendly but your child will come out of Kindergarten miles ahead of other Kindergarteners at popular charters. It depends on what you want academics or social activities.

At a recent fundraiser, I learned the Kindergarten and 4th grade teachers won recent a Teacher of the Year awards. So that is a plus, and I heard 90% of the teaching staff have masters degrees.

Not bad for your local DCPS but the diversity remains an issue. Solid literacy and math instruction, recognized teachers, increasing test scores and STEM still aren't good enough for some people.

Makes you wonder why????

Current Parent

Interested to hear about folks experiences at Burroughs. It seems like a reasonably good school with a good Stem program and other activities. Do you find the school to be friendly and a warm positive place for younger kids? How is it as kids move up? How are there special education teachers? Is the before & after care run well? We see it as a possibility to stay in the long run and are wondering if others are staying out of choice.