Anonymous wrote:My honest take, which many will react negatively to: LAMB is an older, truly DC Hispanic-centered hard core dual language school with great results. Mundo Verde also has great results, but is primarily by and for upper class liberals, as evidenced by moving away from where DC's Hispanic population lives, while LAMB remains anchored in one of its community centers.

I don't know Mundo Verde, but am extremely tired of PP acting like Hispanic people can't be upper class liberals.

- upper class liberal who is also Hispanic and has Spanish speaking children

Do you have the choice now or are you asking about some hypothetical situation in which you'd be choosing. If the latter, I'd save your energy/mind space thinking about something real.

My honest take, which many will react negatively to: LAMB is an older, truly DC Hispanic-centered hard core dual language school with great results. Mundo Verde also has great results, but is primarily by and for upper class liberals, as evidenced by moving away from where DC's Hispanic population lives, while LAMB remains anchored in one of its community centers.

We had this choice earlier this year in the lottery cycle. We are a LAMB family but impulsively, I threw a lottery application in last spring due to the incident with Mr Fernandez, admins reactions, and some concern about whether Montessori is the right thing for our kid.

We stuck with LAMB over MV becuase: 1) commute is better 2) LAMB has longer track record 3) DC is a challenging kid and we are happy with how the Montessori trained teachers have handled her defiance. Given what we have heard about MV and behavioral issues, we are not confident they would be able to manage our child. 4) our child's actual experience at LAMB has been quite good so far.

Regarding expansion, I actually view MV and LAMB as similar. Both are planning to expand but I believe there are issues internally within the schools that should be resolved before the expansions proceed. It is a good sign for MV that they listened to parent input. LAMB does not always do so, the admins think they know best. It can be frustrating. This may be improving though.

For OP, it's probably a toss up. Think about whether you like Montessori or expeditionary learning better. And realize that neither may be the school of your dreams.....or that you will be disappointed alongside the way.

We had the choice as well and went with MV.

Despite the grousing on the boards, we've been very happy with MV. Can't say anything against LAMB--we're not parents there--but the teaching at MV has been great, the teachers have been on top of the social stuff. It's definitely a newer school and they've got things to figure out.

But they're also very different schools, in our experience. Have you toured? What's your take on Montessori? What feels right for your kid? What is the commute like? (The LAMB commute would have been killer on us and we figured our kid would really, really rebel.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MV parents are pretty unhappy about the proposed expansion. The school has issues and instead of addressing them, the leadership has chosen to focus the lion's share of its energy in expansion. This will consume whatever effort could be marshaled towards the existing problems.

LAMB isn't fighting that battle. They've solidified a successful track record.

and MV parents were so vocal that the Charter School Board listened to them and delayed the expansion. There must have been some very specific issues the parent's said that caused the PCSB to listen and not give them the green light

No - the school voluntarily decided to push back the expansion for a year when they realized the extent of the parent opposition -- they amended their expansion request. The PCSB didn't tell them they had to, and only voted on the later date for expansion.

The PCSB did say that school has to finish the process of accreditation before it can open the second campus. That was supposed to have been done a year ago.

Anonymous wrote:MV parents are pretty unhappy about the proposed expansion. The school has issues and instead of addressing them, the leadership has chosen to focus the lion's share of its energy in expansion. This will consume whatever effort could be marshaled towards the existing problems.

LAMB isn't fighting that battle. They've solidified a successful track record.

and MV parents were so vocal that the Charter School Board listened to them and delayed the expansion. There must have been some very specific issues the parent's said that caused the PCSB to listen and not give them the green light

MV parents are pretty unhappy about the proposed expansion. The school has issues and instead of addressing them, the leadership has chosen to focus the lion's share of its energy in expansion. This will consume whatever effort could be marshaled towards the existing problems.

LAMB isn't fighting that battle. They've solidified a successful track record.

Anonymous wrote:OP.

I looked at the DC Charter School Reports and while LAMB is better they seem very similar. Both Tier 1. This is what I looked at:
http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/school-quality-reports-pmf

You should also read the qualitative site review reports. LAMB last was reviewed in 2014; Mundo Verde in 2015. http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/qualitative-school-reviews

OP.

I looked at the DC Charter School Reports and while LAMB is better they seem very similar. Both Tier 1. This is what I looked at:
http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/school-quality-reports-pmf

Look at test scores. They aren't really in the same league.

Anonymous wrote:How do you expect to have a chance to choose between these schools?

Some people are very lucky.

How do you expect to have a chance to choose between these schools?

The Fernandez incident not withstanding, LAMB has a long track record -- its earliest graduates are entering college this fall. Its students consistently do well on standardized testing and have succeeded in a variety of schools (public, private, parochial) after LAMB (pre-DCI days).

There are numerous reviews and internal investigations underway to strengthen the school's weaknesses and close any gaps -- I think that the school will be stronger in the end, but it's been hard for the family and faculty, especially those at the SD campus.

Both schools are moving / growing in the next couple years so there will be some growing pains in the coming years.

Anyone here have any thoughts? The Montessori aspect is LAMB is appealing but I am not sure about the future of the school
given all the recent drama (pedophile teacher). MV sounds great. Love the Spanish aspect at both schools.