Anonymous wrote:OMG! I haven't been on DC in over a month. Why in god's name is this string going??!!!

Because DC is full of people that were the best in this or that class somewhere else USA and now we move here to do jobs that prove we are actually smart and pretend it is meaningful. When it is not we make money prostituting for the federal government and then obsess about our children being better and at a better place than anyone else. That way we can pretend to go back to those days when we were great academic wonders to the poor schleps around us that were just going to be regular people.

It is hard to look down on others if you don't denigrate them. Hardy is just an easy way to do it.

Anonymous wrote:Much of this thread's debate is focused on Hardy's past rather than Hardy's developing present. As the perceived gap between Hardy and Deal continues to close, such distinguishing extras that Hardy offers (such as school size, class size, culture, and quality of music instruction) will be factors that push many families to happily choose Hardy, whereas in the past they may have not.

+1. I'm baffled by how clueless some of the posters are. The idea that there will be a gigantic gap between next year's Hardy & Deal is fiction. Hardy is ultimately going to be the most desirable MS: its IB catchment is higher SES than deal, it's a much smaller school & the IB ARE attending in increasing numbers . . .

Much of this thread's debate is focused on Hardy's past rather than Hardy's developing present. As the perceived gap between Hardy and Deal continues to close, such distinguishing extras that Hardy offers (such as school size, class size, culture, and quality of music instruction) will be factors that push many families to happily choose Hardy, whereas in the past they may have not.

Anonymous wrote:OMG! I haven't been on DC in over a month. Why in god's name is this string going??!!!

You must have gone to DCPS. God is capitalized.

OMG! I haven't been on DC in over a month. Why in god's name is this string going??!!!

Anonymous wrote:I sense a lot of stress among IB parents who moved their oldest kids to private a few years ago when Hardy was between principals and now don't know what to do for their younger kids. Our younger child really wants to attend the same private as sibling but it will be a big financial strain. We hope some of his friends choose hardy so be changes his mind. But the education at hardy (or deal) isn't as rigorous as this private, so we are on the fence.

Why would having Hardy as an option for younger kids cause stress? That doesn't seem to make much sense. We are in this position (IB for Hardy, kids in private school) and will be happy to consider Hardy when our youngest reaches 5th grade. It would help a lot with college costs for the older kids. If parents find these options stressful, I fear for their sanity during the college application process.

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Hardy, because I cannot imagine sending my child to such a huge middle school. We could very easily afford a home within the Deal zone, but Hardy offers stimulating math options, SEM, and music. Also individualized attention.

Others may prefer Deal. Or Latin. Or private. That's fine.

These posts also amuse me. Do you hear anyone in Bethesda claiming that Pyle is just too darn large? Um no.

I sense a lot of stress among IB parents who moved their oldest kids to private a few years ago when Hardy was between principals and now don't know what to do for their younger kids. Our younger child really wants to attend the same private as sibling but it will be a big financial strain. We hope some of his friends choose hardy so be changes his mind. But the education at hardy (or deal) isn't as rigorous as this private, so we are on the fence.

Anonymous wrote:This is all amusing, but is there anyone here would would freely choose Hardy as their child's middle school if Alice Deal were an option? Except for a handful who prefer Hardy's smaller size, I sincerely doubt there would be many who would not choose Deal.

This. It's what economists called "revealed preference."

Most who have the option of Deal and another school pick Deal.

Most who have the option of Latin and Hardy pick Latin. Most, but not all, of those who have the option of Deal and Latin pick Deal.

Most who have the option of Basis and Hardy pick Basis.

Most who have the option of Hardy and another school that is not Basis, Latin or Deal pick Hardy.

I'm sure with the unified lottery that OSSE now has detailed information about actual preferences.

I would choose Hardy, because I cannot imagine sending my child to such a huge middle school. We could very easily afford a home within the Deal zone, but Hardy offers stimulating math options, SEM, and music. Also individualized attention.

Others may prefer Deal. Or Latin. Or private. That's fine.

This is all amusing, but is there anyone here would would freely choose Hardy as their child's middle school if Alice Deal were an option? Except for a handful who prefer Hardy's smaller size, I sincerely doubt there would be many who would not choose Deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of families who are foolishly stretched thin in order to pay for private (and keep up with the joneses). I think that explains a lot of the wacky vitriol on this & other Hardy threads.

, they have to convince themselves that their public school option is bad to justify paying for the private school

Otherwise they'd have cognitive dissonance about paying for private if Hardy's actually a viable option. I think you're on to something with this potential explanation.

Anonymous wrote:I think there are a lot of families who are foolishly stretched thin in order to pay for private (and keep up with the joneses). I think that explains a lot of the wacky vitriol on this & other Hardy threads.

, they have to convince themselves that their public school option is bad to justify paying for the private school

I think there are a lot of families who are foolishly stretched thin in order to pay for private (and keep up with the joneses). I think that explains a lot of the wacky vitriol on this & other Hardy threads.

Anonymous wrote:I think you guys are right. The nasty poster(s) are probably from one of the many families who really can't afford private (ie private = no or minimal savings) but do it anyway out of peer pressure.

I tend to agree with the analysis here. Schools make people crazy...says this OOC Elementary parent from an EOTP ward attending a HRDCPS.