For the K parent: We have a now 6th grader.

Of course, the landscape is going to be different for you than it was for our family in terms of what schools are available and likely.

I do think there are some constants though, and I think if you really think through these questions, you'll be better prepared down the road.

1) Is continuity of cohort important to you? That is, do you want your K kid to be surrounded by a lot of the same kids come their senior year in high school? Do you want to be able to have parents to turn to that have come up with you through the grades at the same schools? If so, then Brent is not for you. If you don't care, then stay at Brent.

2) How does your child do in new situations? Will they adjust well to a situation where they may know no other kids or 1-2 or several (none of whom may be their closest friends)? If yes, then stay at Brent. If no, then make your move now.


Brent is a strong school, but it surely is not the only strong school out there. Capital Hill is a great neighborhood, but it surely is not the only great neighborhood.

Good luck!

Our kids went to Brent and then BASIS. So far it's worked out well. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Yes, CHDS occasionally takes MSers, as does St. Peter’s. I know some parents who started CHDS in PK4 precisely because they were worried about the same thing as you, however, because PK4’s admission rates are way different than the 0-2 spots a year they offer for starting in 5th/6th grade. Lots of kids go to Latin, but that’s hard to get into now (just in terms of being a sought after lottery spot). Lots of kids go to BASIS, which you still have good odds of now, but may not by the time your kid is old enough. Other kids move IB for Deal or lottery to get a feed; occasionally people lottery to get a SH feed, though most folks think it’s not great either. Some kids move to Maryland or VA for schools. Some kids move to a NW private. Historically, those have been the paths taken. (I think a few have lotteries to 2Rs for the MS and a few have lotteried for Hardy, but those are outliers.)

In a nutshell - these are the options. Fortunately my kid seems to be pretty good at math/likes it well enough (although he prefers the language/arts) so I am sort of counting on Basis to bail us out of having to move, if we don't get into Latin or CHDS (or maybe Two Rivers) in a couple of years.

Yes, CHDS occasionally takes MSers, as does St. Peter’s. I know some parents who started CHDS in PK4 precisely because they were worried about the same thing as you, however, because PK4’s admission rates are way different than the 0-2 spots a year they offer for starting in 5th/6th grade. Lots of kids go to Latin, but that’s hard to get into now (just in terms of being a sought after lottery spot). Lots of kids go to BASIS, which you still have good odds of now, but may not by the time your kid is old enough. Other kids move IB for Deal or lottery to get a feed; occasionally people lottery to get a SH feed, though most folks think it’s not great either. Some kids move to Maryland or VA for schools. Some kids move to a NW private. Historically, those have been the paths taken. (I think a few have lotteries to 2Rs for the MS and a few have lotteried for Hardy, but those are outliers.)

To be honest, the experiences of current Post Brent MS students will have little relation to your own.

- There has been a massive baby boom across the Hill. Compare IB enrollment numbers in K at Brent, Maury, etc from those IB 7&8 years ago. My guess is they have close to doubled.

- Spots in “good” DCPS and Charter are getting fewer and further between now and the biggest IB classes are still 2 plus years away. Basis still seems to be an option but it appears that it isn’t for everyone.

- Feeder patterns were redone recently and are still taking hold. Before they were changed, Brent had four separate feeder patterns.

- The neighborhood continues to change in ways few imagined 8 or so years ago. It will continue to do so.

This is a long way of saying Brent is a good school. Welcome to the community, get involved, and try not to stress about MS until 2nd or 3rd grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

OP here. Tell me what? I'd love to know what I don't know!

Well. This is an extremely touchy subject that usually makes threads run to dozens of pages. Brent (and many other Hill) parents don't like the middle school options that DCPS has given them.

Because they’re garbage.

- Not a Brent parent

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

OP here. Tell me what? I'd love to know what I don't know!

Well. This is an extremely touchy subject that usually makes threads run to dozens of pages. Brent (and many other Hill) parents don't like the middle school options that DCPS has given them.

OP here again, Right I don't like the middle school options either which is why I was wondering what people do after? I understand my child is only in Kindergarten but I'm also planning for whether she stays in Brent or moves to private in a few years. If there are links to the other threads on this I'd love to read them I did a search and couldn't find anything. Appreciate everyone's wisdom.

Someone find that endless thread for OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

OP here. Tell me what? I'd love to know what I don't know!

Well. This is an extremely touchy subject that usually makes threads run to dozens of pages. Brent (and many other Hill) parents don't like the middle school options that DCPS has given them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

This isn't the OP but what does that mean?

It means that the middle school options are terrible (and the center of much discussion/controversy on this board/MOTH) so people do one of 3 things:
1) Charter
2) Private
3) Move

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

OP here. Tell me what? I'd love to know what I don't know!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

This isn't the OP but what does that mean?

Friends’ child attends MS at Washington Latin. Your child is starting Kindergarten. I suggest you wait and see how your child develops. I know plenty of kids who went to DCPSvand have gone to the top privates. You also have charter options. I didn’t start thinking about MS until my child was in 4th grade. You have a much better idea of what will fit your child best.

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?

Who wants to tell her?

I have a soon to be kindergartner and we're in bounds for Brent. I like Brent for Elementary school but don't like the middle school options. What schools do kids go to after Brent if they don't stay in DCPS? Would Capitol Hill Day take kids in 6th grade? Not sure if we stick with Brent for Elementary and if that puts us at a disadvantage for private middle school?