Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 19:51     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.


What are their issues with SH?
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 19:47     Subject: Middle school options
We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 19:31     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:If you’re open to Wells and Eliot-Hine, I’d also consider Brookland.


Brookland had 6 students pass the Algebra I CAPE. Wells had 17. Eliot-Hine had 19, plus another 9 who passed the Geometry CAPE.

The numbers are all small, but IMO still represents a huge difference between Brookland and Eliot-Hine.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 19:19     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you’re open to Wells and Eliot-Hine, I’d also consider Brookland.


Brookland is really bad. The test scores are terrible, I live in the neighborhood and there are roving fights from the middle school to the metro. Almost none of the students are on grade level, and few are actually in bounds.

That being said, the tests scores have improved, in a decade it might be ok.


And then after that you have to figure out high school ...
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 19:13     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:If you’re open to Wells and Eliot-Hine, I’d also consider Brookland.


Brookland is really bad. The test scores are terrible, I live in the neighborhood and there are roving fights from the middle school to the metro. Almost none of the students are on grade level, and few are actually in bounds.

That being said, the tests scores have improved, in a decade it might be ok.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 18:32     Subject: Middle school options
If you’re open to Wells and Eliot-Hine, I’d also consider Brookland.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 17:18     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you, super helpful! Yeah part of it is making sure we live somewhere that makes the commute bearable for any of the potential options. Like seems like living on the Hill may work for some charters but likely we need to target NW.

Anonymous wrote:Just to make sure you understand:

Basis is a charter with no boundary -- students are only admitted via 5th grade lottery. They don't backfill so you cannot "wait-list in" after that 5th grade lottery.

Deal and Hardy are DCPS schools with boundaries. You must either live in bound, attend a feeder school, or lottery into then.

It is not possible to lottery into Deal from OOB. You can sometimes lottery into a feeder in elementary, so there are some OOB students. But you will not lottery in during middle.

I think Hardy does take a small number if lottery students in MS, I'd have to check the historic numbers.

ITDS is a charter, so lottery only, but unlike Basis they do backfill, so you can get spots there even if you miss the entry year. But it's very small, so not many spots to begin with.

Latin is another popular charter middle and high school. Like Basis it starts in 5th and is very hard to lottery into (actually harder than basis). They do backfill, but there are virtually never spots available.

Anyway you said you were looking to relocate and it's important to understand which school admit students based on where they live and where they don't.


Lots of MS kids take public transit to school.


Why tf would OP move to the Hill in the hopes of what, lotterying into Latin? That makes zero sense.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 17:17     Subject: Middle school options
If you can move anywhere and your kids are close to MS age, it makes zero sense to move anywhere but NW to access JR or MacArthur. Probably makes more sense to move to MoCo or NOVA.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 16:07     Subject: Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:Thank you, super helpful! Yeah part of it is making sure we live somewhere that makes the commute bearable for any of the potential options. Like seems like living on the Hill may work for some charters but likely we need to target NW.

Anonymous wrote:Just to make sure you understand:

Basis is a charter with no boundary -- students are only admitted via 5th grade lottery. They don't backfill so you cannot "wait-list in" after that 5th grade lottery.

Deal and Hardy are DCPS schools with boundaries. You must either live in bound, attend a feeder school, or lottery into then.

It is not possible to lottery into Deal from OOB. You can sometimes lottery into a feeder in elementary, so there are some OOB students. But you will not lottery in during middle.

I think Hardy does take a small number if lottery students in MS, I'd have to check the historic numbers.

ITDS is a charter, so lottery only, but unlike Basis they do backfill, so you can get spots there even if you miss the entry year. But it's very small, so not many spots to begin with.

Latin is another popular charter middle and high school. Like Basis it starts in 5th and is very hard to lottery into (actually harder than basis). They do backfill, but there are virtually never spots available.

Anyway you said you were looking to relocate and it's important to understand which school admit students based on where they live and where they don't.


Lots of MS kids take public transit to school.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 13:44     Subject: Middle school options
Adams and Wells. Francis.

But really, consider your plans for high school and work backwards.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 13:37     Subject: Middle school options
One that I think is worth looking into is MacFarland. I’ve had two conversations recently with people who have kids at John Lewis and have friends (so yes, this is second hand) whose kids went to MacFarland for 6th this year and are having a great experience. I was surprised! Sounds like it’s an up and coming school.

For me I’d say the obvious choices are:

BASIS
Latin
ITDS
Deal
Hardy
DCI
John Francis
Oyster-Adams
Stuart Hobson
Eliot Hine
Truth

Others that look like they might have potential:
Wells
DC Prep - Edgewood
Jefferson


But then, I’m a person who likes to start with the full list and then narrow.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 11:23     Subject: Middle school options
BASIS if your kid is academically advanced.

You are then set for MS and HS.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 10:53     Subject: Re:Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc


ITDS. Truth if you're looking for 6th.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 10:37     Subject: Re:Middle school options
Anonymous wrote:If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc


Latin or BASIS
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 10:36     Subject: Re:Middle school options
If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc