Anonymous
08/31/2025 21:18
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:6th grade family here at DCI.
DS just finished up his 1st week and it has been really good so far. Main points of interest to share.
- 3 out of 5 core classes are tracked (Math, language, social studies). English not officially tracked but was told they try to group same abilities together. Last class is science which my kid has enjoyed the most he said this week
- Lots of really great elective choices and kids have 2 electives in addition to 5 core classes.
- His core classes have no more than 15-17 kids. I was shocked to learn that numbers were this low. I was expecting more low to mid 20’s. I don’t know if it’s because of the level of his classes or what.
- There is not a lot of computer usage in any of his classes. I specifically asked him this because I read on here there was. He said he did an in class assignment on his chromebook in a class but that was it.
-The metro and bus to DCI is so easy. Bus drop off is right at entrance of the school. If you are in NE/NW near the red line, it will be so easy and fast to get to school.
- Sports and club options, lots of choices. They said over 70% of kids participate. That’s over 1000 kids total with middle and high school. In addition, they have a dedicated homework help option after school everyday. Lots of flexibility with how many days you want to do clubs, homework lounge, etc…Total game changer not to have to drive for extracurriculars!
I realize it’s only been 1 week. But off to a really good start.
Forgot, lastly, communication has been good so far from the school.
Anonymous
08/31/2025 21:17
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
6th grade family here at DCI.
DS just finished up his 1st week and it has been really good so far. Main points of interest to share.
- 3 out of 5 core classes are tracked (Math, language, social studies). English not officially tracked but was told they try to group same abilities together. Last class is science which my kid has enjoyed the most he said this week
- Lots of really great elective choices and kids have 2 electives in addition to 5 core classes.
- His core classes have no more than 15-17 kids. I was shocked to learn that numbers were this low. I was expecting more low to mid 20’s. I don’t know if it’s because of the level of his classes or what.
- There is not a lot of computer usage in any of his classes. I specifically asked him this because I read on here there was. He said he did an in class assignment on his chromebook in a class but that was it.
-The metro and bus to DCI is so easy. Bus drop off is right at entrance of the school. If you are in NE/NW near the red line, it will be so easy and fast to get to school.
- Sports and club options, lots of choices. They said over 70% of kids participate. That’s over 1000 kids total with middle and high school. In addition, they have a dedicated homework help option after school everyday. Lots of flexibility with how many days you want to do clubs, homework lounge, etc…Total game changer not to have to drive for extracurriculars!
I realize it’s only been 1 week. But off to a really good start.
DS just finished up his 1st week and it has been really good so far. Main points of interest to share.
- 3 out of 5 core classes are tracked (Math, language, social studies). English not officially tracked but was told they try to group same abilities together. Last class is science which my kid has enjoyed the most he said this week
- Lots of really great elective choices and kids have 2 electives in addition to 5 core classes.
- His core classes have no more than 15-17 kids. I was shocked to learn that numbers were this low. I was expecting more low to mid 20’s. I don’t know if it’s because of the level of his classes or what.
- There is not a lot of computer usage in any of his classes. I specifically asked him this because I read on here there was. He said he did an in class assignment on his chromebook in a class but that was it.
-The metro and bus to DCI is so easy. Bus drop off is right at entrance of the school. If you are in NE/NW near the red line, it will be so easy and fast to get to school.
- Sports and club options, lots of choices. They said over 70% of kids participate. That’s over 1000 kids total with middle and high school. In addition, they have a dedicated homework help option after school everyday. Lots of flexibility with how many days you want to do clubs, homework lounge, etc…Total game changer not to have to drive for extracurriculars!
I realize it’s only been 1 week. But off to a really good start.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 14:31
Subject: DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI is getting better every year. The principal is fantastic and the new cell phone policy this year requires students to lock their phones in Yonder pouches during entire school day.
Did the middle school get a new principal? If so, what are the thoughts around the incoming principal?
It's been less than one school day with him. Let's give him time, and we can assess later.
Anonymous
08/22/2025 15:38
Subject: DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI is getting better every year. The principal is fantastic and the new cell phone policy this year requires students to lock their phones in Yonder pouches during entire school day.
The no cell phones during the school year is a citywide policy applicable to all public schools.
My understanding is that it was passed for DCPS schools and not charters. BTW, each school is responsible for the processes to implement this. Some schools with do better policing this than others based on resources and leadership.
DCI has an amazing high school principal who will no doubt be successful with this. The middle school has a new principal who looks promising and time will tell how his capabilities will be for the middle school.
DCPS created it as a policy in January, and DC Council passed a law that also covers charters. That bill is still under congressional review.
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0073
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/01/28/dc-schools-cellphone-ban/
Anonymous
08/22/2025 15:12
Subject: DCI vs Deal for middle
I think the DCI options for electives, clubs, and academic tracking are awesome. My kid is happy and doing well. Yes there is a lot of computer time, but my kid uses it to get all his homework done. He rarely has more than 20 min left when he gets home.
Anonymous
08/21/2025 10:57
Subject: DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI is getting better every year. The principal is fantastic and the new cell phone policy this year requires students to lock their phones in Yonder pouches during entire school day.
The no cell phones during the school year is a citywide policy applicable to all public schools.
My understanding is that it was passed for DCPS schools and not charters. BTW, each school is responsible for the processes to implement this. Some schools with do better policing this than others based on resources and leadership.
DCI has an amazing high school principal who will no doubt be successful with this. The middle school has a new principal who looks promising and time will tell how his capabilities will be for the middle school.
Anonymous
08/21/2025 09:54
Subject: DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:DCI is getting better every year. The principal is fantastic and the new cell phone policy this year requires students to lock their phones in Yonder pouches during entire school day.
The no cell phones during the school year is a citywide policy applicable to all public schools.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 22:37
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No brainer. DCI and then if you don’t like it, can always switch to Deal since it’s your IB.
You can’t do it the other way around. You only have 1 chance at DCI so take it and try it out. Plus most of your kids friends will be going there.
I will 4th or 5th this recommendation. We did this when 16th St. Heights was still grandfathered into Deal (has this ended)? At a DCI feeder and knew we could switch to Deal, but not the other way around. We never considered Deal after our first year at DCI.
DCI has a good cohort of families IB for Deal. These families wanted language, IB, or just not such a big school like Deal (600 vs 1400).
DCI has what I think is the sweet spot, a medium size school, so not too small and not too big with good facilities, sports, and EC’s like Deal
Anonymous
08/20/2025 17:29
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI is notorious for having kids on laptops every minute of every day.
So much screen time. I am a DCI parent and hate this. They do a poor job of monitoring it also.
Exactly. Who cares about Yonder pouches when kids are on unmonitored devices all day anyways?
Kids in the middle school are not on devices all day. The middle school principal the last 2 years have moved some classes to paper and pencil and cut back on screens in the classroom. Align with this, now DCI has a no cell phone policy in bath middle and high school.
My high performance kid doesn’t surf the web or play games. He is focused and gets what he needs done. Maybe your kid is not. It is kid dependent and also I suspect track and level dependent.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 14:39
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:No brainer. DCI and then if you don’t like it, can always switch to Deal since it’s your IB.
You can’t do it the other way around. You only have 1 chance at DCI so take it and try it out. Plus most of your kids friends will be going there.
I will 4th or 5th this recommendation. We did this when 16th St. Heights was still grandfathered into Deal (has this ended)? At a DCI feeder and knew we could switch to Deal, but not the other way around. We never considered Deal after our first year at DCI.
Anonymous
08/14/2025 19:49
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI is notorious for having kids on laptops every minute of every day.
So much screen time. I am a DCI parent and hate this. They do a poor job of monitoring it also.
Exactly. Who cares about Yonder pouches when kids are on unmonitored devices all day anyways?
Anonymous
08/14/2025 17:26
Subject: Re:DCI vs Deal for middle
Anonymous wrote:DCI is notorious for having kids on laptops every minute of every day.
So much screen time. I am a DCI parent and hate this. They do a poor job of monitoring it also.