Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI. The overcrowding at Deal impacts everything from academics to behaviors, etc….

Where is the data that suggests overcrowding at Deal impacts academics? Genuinely curious. This thread suggest Deal is the highest performing middle school in the city for academics.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/1151471.page

(Posts at 6:14 and 6:32)

You are being obtuse. Of course it affects academics when you have large class sizes, can’t get courses you need, have no subs when teachers leave, etc…

You are comparing the wrong thing. Get out of your bubble. The standards in DC are so low. Look at the similar SES group and neighborhood in the burbs and compare scores.

The best middle school in the city you are talking about is really just mediocre at best.

??? What is the point of comparing public middle schools in the city with those in the suburbs? Are you living in DC and sending your kid to a public middle school in the suburbs? How are you pulling that off?

I’m the PP. You are completely missing the point which is that the severe overcrowding at Deal comprises EVERYTHING and degrades your kids experience overall.

Just search this site of all the parents complaining of not having teachers, behavioral issues, bathroom issues, whatever. In fact there is one now if the science yea her who left. Now some issues might be related to the dysfunctional hell that is DCPS and not totally schools fault but you can’t get away from it.

I’m assuming DCI parents are happier and in a calmer environment because you don’t hear any of that from them.

Also the point that the PP boasts how it’s the best middle school is that you need to get perspective. You need to compare it to a school with similar SES and real estate and apples to apples. Then you see just how the best is really lacking and why so many families in ward 3 with options opt out and go private or move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI. The overcrowding at Deal impacts everything from academics to behaviors, etc….

Where is the data that suggests overcrowding at Deal impacts academics? Genuinely curious. This thread suggest Deal is the highest performing middle school in the city for academics.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/1151471.page

(Posts at 6:14 and 6:32)

You are being obtuse. Of course it affects academics when you have large class sizes, can’t get courses you need, have no subs when teachers leave, etc…

You are comparing the wrong thing. Get out of your bubble. The standards in DC are so low. Look at the similar SES group and neighborhood in the burbs and compare scores.

The best middle school in the city you are talking about is really just mediocre at best.

??? What is the point of comparing public middle schools in the city with those in the suburbs? Are you living in DC and sending your kid to a public middle school in the suburbs? How are you pulling that off?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid would benefit from the highest-level classes, then choose Deal, there will be a cohort of similarly advance students. If your kid would benefit from grade-level classes, choose DCI.

Also, what does your kid want to do? Buy-in could be useful at this age. Realize that by prioritizing Spanish, you lose out on access to certain other things, but also realize that everything is a trade-off, so as long as you don't assume one school is perfect, and that there will be pros/cons, your kid should be OK.

Also consider high schools, if you don't plan on staying at DCI for high school, it makes less sense to bother with middle school.

(My kid is at DCI, but would have preferred Basis.)

IB is more rigorous than Deal's dcps curriculum!

But isn't the IB very weak and most kids won't qualify for an IB diploma anyhow at DCI.

No the IB diploma program is not weak if DCI scores are low to mid 30’s and kids are getting into Ivy’s even if they are URM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid would benefit from the highest-level classes, then choose Deal, there will be a cohort of similarly advance students. If your kid would benefit from grade-level classes, choose DCI.

Also, what does your kid want to do? Buy-in could be useful at this age. Realize that by prioritizing Spanish, you lose out on access to certain other things, but also realize that everything is a trade-off, so as long as you don't assume one school is perfect, and that there will be pros/cons, your kid should be OK.

Also consider high schools, if you don't plan on staying at DCI for high school, it makes less sense to bother with middle school.

(My kid is at DCI, but would have preferred Basis.)

IB is more rigorous than Deal's dcps curriculum!

But isn't the IB very weak and most kids won't qualify for an IB diploma anyhow at DCI.

The high school has 3 different tracks and IB diploma is the most rigorous track of the 3.

So yes some kids will not go the IB diploma route.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid would benefit from the highest-level classes, then choose Deal, there will be a cohort of similarly advance students. If your kid would benefit from grade-level classes, choose DCI.

Also, what does your kid want to do? Buy-in could be useful at this age. Realize that by prioritizing Spanish, you lose out on access to certain other things, but also realize that everything is a trade-off, so as long as you don't assume one school is perfect, and that there will be pros/cons, your kid should be OK.

Also consider high schools, if you don't plan on staying at DCI for high school, it makes less sense to bother with middle school.

(My kid is at DCI, but would have preferred Basis.)

IB is more rigorous than Deal's dcps curriculum!

But isn't the IB very weak and most kids won't qualify for an IB diploma anyhow at DCI.

Anonymous wrote:OK, but the question posed is Deal v DCI, mediocre vs. mediocre of a different stripe.

Well said! Both are mediocre. Do whatever is most convenient. One isn’t much better than the other.

OK, but the question posed is Deal v DCI, mediocre vs. mediocre of a different stripe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI. The overcrowding at Deal impacts everything from academics to behaviors, etc….

Where is the data that suggests overcrowding at Deal impacts academics? Genuinely curious. This thread suggest Deal is the highest performing middle school in the city for academics.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/1151471.page

(Posts at 6:14 and 6:32)

You are being obtuse. Of course it affects academics when you have large class sizes, can’t get courses you need, have no subs when teachers leave, etc…

You are comparing the wrong thing. Get out of your bubble. The standards in DC are so low. Look at the similar SES group and neighborhood in the burbs and compare scores.

The best middle school in the city you are talking about is really just mediocre at best.

No, it isn't. It's me. My eldest went to YY and DCI. The only language track that's serious at DCI is Spanish. Everybody in the school knows this but, yea, you're a troll if you mention it. Too bad DCI's English, math, science and social studies aren't all that serious, at least in middle school. No idea if Deal's academics are better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal 100%
Also for languages: We’ve been very impressed with the Chinese language classes and our child just tested into a level 4 Chinese for next year

Deal 100%. It’s a better, more stable school. DCI always has vacancies and lots of teacher and admin turnover.

The reality is that many of the most advanced DCI Chinese students, who came up through YuYing, can barely hold down a normal conversation. That's what happens when kids learn Chinese without native speakers in their cohorts or full-fledged immersion experiences (vs. merely learning form teachers during the school year). We know this because we're native speakers who've had a lot of contact with YuYing and DCI Chinese families over the years. Like it or not, v. impressive is relative.

The OP clearly asked about Spanish.

Oh look! It's the infamous Chinese language troll whose kid didn't go to YY OR DCI, and who lives in Maryland!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid would benefit from the highest-level classes, then choose Deal, there will be a cohort of similarly advance students. If your kid would benefit from grade-level classes, choose DCI.

Also, what does your kid want to do? Buy-in could be useful at this age. Realize that by prioritizing Spanish, you lose out on access to certain other things, but also realize that everything is a trade-off, so as long as you don't assume one school is perfect, and that there will be pros/cons, your kid should be OK.

Also consider high schools, if you don't plan on staying at DCI for high school, it makes less sense to bother with middle school.

(My kid is at DCI, but would have preferred Basis.)

IB is more rigorous than Deal's dcps curriculum!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal 100%
Also for languages: We’ve been very impressed with the Chinese language classes and our child just tested into a level 4 Chinese for next year

Deal 100%. It’s a better, more stable school. DCI always has vacancies and lots of teacher and admin turnover.

The reality is that many of the most advanced DCI Chinese students, who came up through YuYing, can barely hold down a normal conversation. That's what happens when kids learn Chinese without native speakers in their cohorts or full-fledged immersion experiences (vs. merely learning form teachers during the school year). We know this because we're native speakers who've had a lot of contact with YuYing and DCI Chinese families over the years. Like it or not, v. impressive is relative.

The OP clearly asked about Spanish.

Where language goes, DCI is really only serious about high school Spanish instruction. Much better Spanish than Deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deal 100%
Also for languages: We’ve been very impressed with the Chinese language classes and our child just tested into a level 4 Chinese for next year

Deal 100%. It’s a better, more stable school. DCI always has vacancies and lots of teacher and admin turnover.

The reality is that many of the most advanced DCI Chinese students, who came up through YuYing, can barely hold down a normal conversation. That's what happens when kids learn Chinese without native speakers in their cohorts or full-fledged immersion experiences (vs. merely learning form teachers during the school year). We know this because we're native speakers who've had a lot of contact with YuYing and DCI Chinese families over the years. Like it or not, v. impressive is relative.

Anonymous wrote:DCI. The overcrowding at Deal impacts everything from academics to behaviors, etc….

Where is the data that suggests overcrowding at Deal impacts academics? Genuinely curious. This thread suggest Deal is the highest performing middle school in the city for academics.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/1151471.page

(Posts at 6:14 and 6:32)