Anonymous wrote:As the parent of an older teen, lemme also add that this applies to high school. If your kid hates STEM, they will not be happy in a STEM magnet (though if they truly love it, it's great).

I'm a little worried about that. My kid has it in their mind that they want to do the IB program. They can power through the math if they have too but it isn't going to be pretty. I wish PG had more opportunities for kids who excel in the humanities.

As the parent of an older teen, lemme also add that this applies to high school. If your kid hates STEM, they will not be happy in a STEM magnet (though if they truly love it, it's great).

Anonymous wrote:This is true. I’ve been an immersion parent for 6 years now with two kids. Looking at the bus schedule for some of these neighborhoods is staggering - there were spending 3+ hours a day on the bus. There is no way we would do this - we turned down a slot at CMIT due to the commute.

Also, people are not honest about their kids. I know it’s hard, but if your kid isn’t speaking or reading the target language by 2nd grade, it’s time to pull. If they need reading help, it’s probably best for them to go elsewhere. If you think there is too much homework (we are not at Chavez), it’s not the school for you.

And that’s fine. I didn’t entertain TAG because I knew homework would be a daily struggle. He’s JUST now hitting his homework stride in 4th grade.

I know a few people who were “forced” into their (Bowie) neighborhood schools and surprise! They love the schools and their kids are thriving.

There are several families in our neighborhood who fled language immersion this year and most ended up at out local elementary school. The kids all seem to be much happier and everyone seems less stressed out.

Anonymous wrote:This is true. I’ve been an immersion parent for 6 years now with two kids. Looking at the bus schedule for some of these neighborhoods is staggering - there were spending 3+ hours a day on the bus. There is no way we would do this - we turned down a slot at CMIT due to the commute.

Also, people are not honest about their kids. I know it’s hard, but if your kid isn’t speaking or reading the target language by 2nd grade, it’s time to pull. If they need reading help, it’s probably best for them to go elsewhere. If you think there is too much homework (we are not at Chavez), it’s not the school for you.

And that’s fine. I didn’t entertain TAG because I knew homework would be a daily struggle. He’s JUST now hitting his homework stride in 4th grade.

I know a few people who were “forced” into their (Bowie) neighborhood schools and surprise! They love the schools and their kids are thriving.

I'm stalking these threads from DC while considering if/where to relocate. I really wish DC parents would appreciate this more. There is SO much talk about how "any" exposure and knowledge in a second language is good for the child, but it's so clear that it's not. It's a waste of time at best and actively harmful at worst. My DC was raised with the second language and was reading in English in PK4 and the second language by kindergarten, but there are many, many classmates that are struggling in both languages and the second language just distracts from ELL. It's reassuring to hear parents outside of DC proper acknowledge the trade offs.

This is true. I’ve been an immersion parent for 6 years now with two kids. Looking at the bus schedule for some of these neighborhoods is staggering - there were spending 3+ hours a day on the bus. There is no way we would do this - we turned down a slot at CMIT due to the commute.

Also, people are not honest about their kids. I know it’s hard, but if your kid isn’t speaking or reading the target language by 2nd grade, it’s time to pull. If they need reading help, it’s probably best for them to go elsewhere. If you think there is too much homework (we are not at Chavez), it’s not the school for you.

And that’s fine. I didn’t entertain TAG because I knew homework would be a daily struggle. He’s JUST now hitting his homework stride in 4th grade.

I know a few people who were “forced” into their (Bowie) neighborhood schools and surprise! They love the schools and their kids are thriving.

Chavez has been a hot mess since it started. People tolerated the crazy workload because they desperately wanted the kids to have a second language. When distance learning started and the school's expectations didn't change, things were intolerable. I know at least 8 families who left this year because their kids were just too stressed out.

Say it louder for the people in the back! Our second go at the lottery worked fantastically for us, until COVID. Now it’s just so-so. But it’s been heartbreaking to see the struggle for so many of my friends and their kids. Chavez has been particularly rough to watch.

For all those people who are considering Specialty Programs, I want to point out that getting into a language immersion/TAG magnet/Montessori programs isn't always the best fit for you or your family.

The number of people I have encountered who forced their kids to struggle through Spanish and French immersion programs or tolerated terrible principals to stay in specialty schools is staggering. People complaining about too much homework, not enough recess, kindergartners crying at night because they are tired after a 6 hour school day, 2 hours on a bus and then an hour of homework.

Just because you "win" something doesn't mean it is worth it and your local school is often a better option.

Many kids thrive in these programs, but many others do not yet their parents insist on fitting the square peg into the round hole. Lots of people tolerate programs because they offer a middle school option. Is it really worth 6 or 7 years of misery just so you don't have to pay for 2 years of private school?

I'm not saying not to take the spot, but if you do, keep an open mind and be prepared to evaluate if it is the right fit for your child. It isn't a failure if you decide to withdraw.