Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

I've heard this too.

Why? Asking as an Olde Creek parent, we have had a wonderful experience there. Avoid the school for what reason?

My kids went to WFES and had a wonderful experience and several amazing teachers. They are now at Woodson. The no homework policy is based on all the research that homework in elementary school doesn’t improve outcomes. My kids have had no issues making the transition to homework in middle school and high school and are getting great grades at Woodson. On the daily basis you would find packs of Wfes kids building a tree fort village in the Truro trails after school instead of rushing home to do worksheets. It makes for a wonderful childhood.

Anonymous wrote:WFES outscored the other two on standardized reading tests this year. Kind of a big deal given that it is NOT an AAP center, so shouldn't outperform schools serving as gifted hubs.

The AAP kids who are bussed into Mantua from other elementaries are almost all coming from title one schools, and a significant number speak English as their second language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

Why Little Run? Everyone I know there (teachers and parents) love that school.

the younger grades love it but by the time everyone gets to 4th grade- they are ready for a bigger school.

And didn't teachers and subs quit without notice this year leaving some classes in a terrible situation?

Little Run got a new principal this year. It wasn’t a great year for many staff members. When staff is not happy, it trickles down to students/families.

Ah, I guess I didn't update my knowledge--my closest friends' kids' all graduated last year and I only talk to the teachers I know there sporadically. That's too bad--it was always a gem of a little school. I don't think it's a bad thing for the upper grades to feel like they are outgrowing a school a bit because then they really are eager for middle school. But a principal who doesn't know how to/doesn't support staff can really wreck things. Hopefully it will right itself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

Why Little Run? Everyone I know there (teachers and parents) love that school.

the younger grades love it but by the time everyone gets to 4th grade- they are ready for a bigger school.

And didn't teachers and subs quit without notice this year leaving some classes in a terrible situation?

Little Run got a new principal this year. It wasn’t a great year for many staff members. When staff is not happy, it trickles down to students/families.

This year is not going to be better. Isn’t the new principal from olde creek? I would definitely avoid both. ]

Anonymous wrote:WFES parent. Most teachers are very, very strong, and to Principal Prindle's credit the staff turnover is exceptionally low, especially in this time of mass teacher departures.

I would say family population skews lefty in politics (as do we) and is very supportive of handful of LGBTQIA plus families and students (yes in ES).

Worth noting is that WFES is a no homework school, CWES is definitely not and some AAP families at WFES really want that so they send kids to CW. Jury is still out for us on which approach is better.

Not sure if you can shed light on peer and other dynamics, given that AAP program is relatively small and there's not a whole lot of level II/III/IV?

Anonymous wrote:OP, not enough different to matter

On what basis do you say this? Let me put out there what I know. Mantua seems wealthier/more educated than the other two. It also has the highest proportion of kids in level II/III. Mantua and CBW obviously have more level IV. CBW seems to emphasize math more than Mantua. WFES seems to do well academically despite not being a center. Parents may want different things and influence the schools differently. Peer influences may be different. I worry about the peer group just as much as academics. Want DC to have a good experience and good peers. I say this as someone who had pretty bad experiences at elementary school decades ago in a MC neighborhood, at a school some on here would say would be "just fine". Many kids who were not interested in learning and more interested in being disruptive, bullying, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

Why Little Run? Everyone I know there (teachers and parents) love that school.

the younger grades love it but by the time everyone gets to 4th grade- they are ready for a bigger school.

And didn't teachers and subs quit without notice this year leaving some classes in a terrible situation?

Little Run got a new principal this year. It wasn’t a great year for many staff members. When staff is not happy, it trickles down to students/families.

OP, not enough different to matter

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

Why Little Run? Everyone I know there (teachers and parents) love that school.

the younger grades love it but by the time everyone gets to 4th grade- they are ready for a bigger school.

And didn't teachers and subs quit without notice this year leaving some classes in a terrible situation?

Anonymous wrote:WFES parent. Most teachers are very, very strong, and to Principal Prindle's credit the staff turnover is exceptionally low, especially in this time of mass teacher departures.

I would say family population skews lefty in politics (as do we) and is very supportive of handful of LGBTQIA plus families and students (yes in ES).

Worth noting is that WFES is a no homework school, CWES is definitely not and some AAP families at WFES really want that so they send kids to CW. Jury is still out for us on which approach is better.

Thank you! This is informative. What is the rationale behind no homework?

WFES parent. Most teachers are very, very strong, and to Principal Prindle's credit the staff turnover is exceptionally low, especially in this time of mass teacher departures.

I would say family population skews lefty in politics (as do we) and is very supportive of handful of LGBTQIA plus families and students (yes in ES).

Worth noting is that WFES is a no homework school, CWES is definitely not and some AAP families at WFES really want that so they send kids to CW. Jury is still out for us on which approach is better.

Anonymous wrote:WFES outscored the other two on standardized reading tests this year. Kind of a big deal given that it is NOT an AAP center, so shouldn't outperform schools serving as gifted hubs.

Where are you able to find this info?

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Wakefield. You didn’t ask about other schools but I would avoid olde creek and little run.

Why Little Run? Everyone I know there (teachers and parents) love that school.

Anonymous wrote:I dont think any of the 3 schools you're considering will be a glide path to AAP.

Given the new local norm standards in which kids compete against their immediate peers, if an easy AAP path is what you're looking for in the Woodson pyramid would consider Little Run or Olde Creek instead.

For reference, DC had a 137 COGAT and didn't make the top 10% automatic consideration for AAP in one of the schools you're eying. Did ultimately get in first round though so doesn't necessarily matter.

Wow, that's interesting. Definitely not looking for easy path but wanted to consider whether it may be significantly more difficult to get in at one of these schools versus the others. Just like to have a lot of information.