Anonymous
01/26/2026 16:38
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Not true - we have a 4th grader and we care much more now! Looking for low screen middle schools.
Good luck in DCPS. Everything is online including math. I hate it too. My kid has one book for school.
Anonymous
01/26/2026 16:34
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
hahahaha
Anonymous wrote:The part of BASIS that I'm exposed to (middle school) is incredibly low tech and old fashioned. Even the copying machines are sometimes not that great!
Anonymous
01/22/2026 18:41
Subject: Re:Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:The Anti-EdTech movement is just getting started. EdTech, for smart kids who maybe have help outside of school, is perfectly fine and probably doesn't impact scores very much. But for the other 80-90 percent, it is actively harmful. It takes up unnecessary time in class (fixing tech, dead batteries, explaining new software), it doesn't actually teach very well, and it is missing the hand-brain connection that creates memories.
If you doubt me, go try learning statistics or the Polish language online and see how you do.
Yes!!
Anonymous
01/22/2026 16:26
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
The part of BASIS that I'm exposed to (middle school) is incredibly low tech and old fashioned. Even the copying machines are sometimes not that great!
Anonymous
01/21/2026 04:52
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
What’s particularly galling is that the tech downtown is choosing is getting worse. They’ve canceled brainpop. They’ve added amplify and common lit. Amplify says continents float on water and that human cells are rectangular with no nuclei. DNA is not included in the provided notes on genetics. Food chains start with animals within the program. Do you realize how atrocious this is? We’ve pointed the flaws out repeatedly. We are told to suck it up and use it anyways.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 21:15
Subject: Re:Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:The Anti-EdTech movement is just getting started. EdTech, for smart kids who maybe have help outside of school, is perfectly fine and probably doesn't impact scores very much. But for the other 80-90 percent, it is actively harmful. It takes up unnecessary time in class (fixing tech, dead batteries, explaining new software), it doesn't actually teach very well, and it is missing the hand-brain connection that creates memories.
If you doubt me, go try learning statistics or the Polish language online and see how you do.
Ekrany są świetne do nauki polskiego.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 20:56
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hardy has been reducing screen usage over time in response to parents' feedback.
The problem is DCPS pushes screens. Cheaper for them (though worse for students) and gives them control, which they are need for since they don't trust their teachers (which says something about their managerial (in)competence.
This is so depressing. I suspect the DCPS schools that limit screen time (Hardy and I guess Ross) have principals who are strong enough to push back.
It’s not simply the principal. It’s the level of need in the classroom and the tools the teachers have. All DCPS schools have to use iReady so there will be some computer time - but it can be kept at 2 hours a week.
There is no mandated amount of computer time beyond iReady. If you are looking for a low tech school you need to look at schools that value science-specifically neuroscience.
That's not right. Any books for ELA are in Sora (unless the teacher, school, or PTA buys hardcopies), science in social studies curricula are online, middle schoolers and high schoolers take RCTs in most classes, etc etc.
Consider this: Has DCPS issued your child a device? Has DCPS *ever* issued your child a textbook, not counting math workbooks?
Apologies, I am an ES teacher. There is nothing digital beyond iReady at my school. Very sad this is not the norm... these kids deserve better. My child is not yet on school so I am not as well versed about MS/HS.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 16:59
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
I also think it's why children's handwriting is so terrible these days.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 16:58
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
I hate the use of tech in the classroom. I disagree with the poster who said you'd care about it less as your children get older - I have a rising middle schooler and care about it massively. It is clearly not good for kids. It's not even good for adults! I just think about how I feel after staring at a screen all day. Jittery and sluggish at the same time.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 15:26
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Also remember iReady is used by most if not all schools to assess teachers. So there’s an incentive for teachers to make kids do more iReady.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 11:20
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hardy has been reducing screen usage over time in response to parents' feedback.
The problem is DCPS pushes screens. Cheaper for them (though worse for students) and gives them control, which they are need for since they don't trust their teachers (which says something about their managerial (in)competence.
This is so depressing. I suspect the DCPS schools that limit screen time (Hardy and I guess Ross) have principals who are strong enough to push back.
Glad to hear about Hardy. I heard they used to be so tech heavy in math classes.
Hardy is very good about tech and the principal really has done a great job- implementing the no cell phone policy (you can watch the today show segment on Hardy here: https://www.today.com/video/phone-free-school-in-dc-shows-positive-effects-more-engagement-219077189697). The kids do not have 1:1 chromebooks anymore and there are quite a few teachers there who are doing low tech or no tech in their specific classrooms. Majority of ELA is all hand written worksheets and essays, math is definitely not exclusively on chrome books with a lot of work sheets and group work being done.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 10:48
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hardy has been reducing screen usage over time in response to parents' feedback.
The problem is DCPS pushes screens. Cheaper for them (though worse for students) and gives them control, which they are need for since they don't trust their teachers (which says something about their managerial (in)competence.
This is so depressing. I suspect the DCPS schools that limit screen time (Hardy and I guess Ross) have principals who are strong enough to push back.
It’s not simply the principal. It’s the level of need in the classroom and the tools the teachers have. All DCPS schools have to use iReady so there will be some computer time - but it can be kept at 2 hours a week.
There is no mandated amount of computer time beyond iReady. If you are looking for a low tech school you need to look at schools that value science-specifically neuroscience.
That's not right. Any books for ELA are in Sora (unless the teacher, school, or PTA buys hardcopies), science in social studies curricula are online, middle schoolers and high schoolers take RCTs in most classes, etc etc.
Consider this: Has DCPS issued your child a device? Has DCPS *ever* issued your child a textbook, not counting math workbooks?
Anonymous
01/20/2026 10:14
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hardy has been reducing screen usage over time in response to parents' feedback.
The problem is DCPS pushes screens. Cheaper for them (though worse for students) and gives them control, which they are need for since they don't trust their teachers (which says something about their managerial (in)competence.
This is so depressing. I suspect the DCPS schools that limit screen time (Hardy and I guess Ross) have principals who are strong enough to push back.
Glad to hear about Hardy. I heard they used to be so tech heavy in math classes.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 17:32
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:+1 for Brent
Only issue is you will have to find an alternative for MS but my oldest just went to private and is in their freshman year now at Walls. I’m sure others go to a charter for 4th or 5th but I was also concerned about too much tech.
I am also a teacher, I would not send my child to most DC public schools -especially title 1’s. Not because of the teachers but due to DCPS pushing tech on them the most. It’s detrimental to their kids and it’s awful. I work in one and only do the mandated iReady minutes but most of my colleagues are using chromebooks and iPads for a majority of the day.
It is so sad but this is becoming standard. I teach in the suburbs and it kills me to see kindergarten students on iPads. I do think charters have more autonomy, but at our charter it was teacher dependent. Most teachers didn’t heavily use screens but there were one or two through the years that did. Of course there are charters like DCI which are very screen dependent.
Anonymous
01/19/2026 17:27
Subject: Any noted schools with low screen use?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hardy has been reducing screen usage over time in response to parents' feedback.
The problem is DCPS pushes screens. Cheaper for them (though worse for students) and gives them control, which they are need for since they don't trust their teachers (which says something about their managerial (in)competence.
This is so depressing. I suspect the DCPS schools that limit screen time (Hardy and I guess Ross) have principals who are strong enough to push back.
It’s not simply the principal. It’s the level of need in the classroom and the tools the teachers have. All DCPS schools have to use iReady so there will be some computer time - but it can be kept at 2 hours a week.
There is no mandated amount of computer time beyond iReady. If you are looking for a low tech school you need to look at schools that value science-specifically neuroscience.