Anonymous wrote:Eaton
Hyde
Ross
Janey
Murch

Curious first poster at the geographic range. Capital hill and Upper Northwest? I am a bit stressed about my list because I will be traveling about 45 minutes each way. How are others thinking about the drive issue?

OP here. I know it's a wide geographic range, but these are the schools I liked the most. For example, I did not like the other schools on Capitol Hill, nor did I like all of the JKLM's, regardless of the hype. So, wherever we get accepted, I'm open to the commute. Capitol Hill would be the closest, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we weren't already in Haynes (PK3), our list would be:
1. Oyster
2. Eaton
3. Bancroft
4. Cleveland (dual immersion)
5. Hearst
6. Cooke (in-bounds)

As is, we'll probably list just Oyster, which I know is a total waste of time for an English-dominant OOB PK4 applicant with no preferences, but it only takes five minutes to fill out the form online and Oyster is probably the only DCPS for which we'd even consider pulling DC from Haynes (with no guarantees one way or the other, but we'd at least consider it).

I wouldn't leave Haynes for any of those schools, even Oyster. If a second language is important to you, apply to Yu Ying and Stokes for their Pre-K 4 programs instead.

All else equal, I'd totally agree. But we drive to Haynes (as we would to Yu Ying or Stokes), while we'd walk to Oyster and then Metro to work. It makes enough of a difference to keep Oyster in the game for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we weren't already in Haynes (PK3), our list would be:
1. Oyster
2. Eaton
3. Bancroft
4. Cleveland (dual immersion)
5. Hearst
6. Cooke (in-bounds)

As is, we'll probably list just Oyster, which I know is a total waste of time for an English-dominant OOB PK4 applicant with no preferences, but it only takes five minutes to fill out the form online and Oyster is probably the only DCPS for which we'd even consider pulling DC from Haynes (with no guarantees one way or the other, but we'd at least consider it).

I wouldn't leave Haynes for any of those schools, even Oyster. If a second language is important to you, apply to Yu Ying and Stokes for their Pre-K 4 programs instead.

I agree. Haynes and Stokes are our top school choice of both DCPS and Charter. If we're lucky enough to get a spot and Haynes, I wouldn't leave for any other school.

Anonymous wrote:If we weren't already in Haynes (PK3), our list would be:
1. Oyster
2. Eaton
3. Bancroft
4. Cleveland (dual immersion)
5. Hearst
6. Cooke (in-bounds)

As is, we'll probably list just Oyster, which I know is a total waste of time for an English-dominant OOB PK4 applicant with no preferences, but it only takes five minutes to fill out the form online and Oyster is probably the only DCPS for which we'd even consider pulling DC from Haynes (with no guarantees one way or the other, but we'd at least consider it).

I wouldn't leave Haynes for any of those schools, even Oyster. If a second language is important to you, apply to Yu Ying and Stokes for their Pre-K 4 programs instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe both Ludlow and JO Wilson have high test scores and serious racial diversity in the preschool and preK classes.

Ludlow-Taylor has the best test scores of any school on the Hill. The closest second is Watkins, and they're literally 20 percentage points behind in both English and Math. It's amazing considering the school is almost 90% FARMS (free and reduced priced meals). Unfortunately, the school is not diverse: 94% AA, less than 1% White.

Why do you think the scores are so much higher and there are more FARMS? Teacher quality? Supplemental instruction? Involved parents?

My inclination is to say it's the principal, the amazing turnaround has all been since 2008. However, to be fair, there are differing opinions on this:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/96108.page

If we weren't already in Haynes (PK3), our list would be:
1. Oyster
2. Eaton
3. Bancroft
4. Cleveland (dual immersion)
5. Hearst
6. Cooke (in-bounds)

As is, we'll probably list just Oyster, which I know is a total waste of time for an English-dominant OOB PK4 applicant with no preferences, but it only takes five minutes to fill out the form online and Oyster is probably the only DCPS for which we'd even consider pulling DC from Haynes (with no guarantees one way or the other, but we'd at least consider it).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe both Ludlow and JO Wilson have high test scores and serious racial diversity in the preschool and preK classes.

Ludlow-Taylor has the best test scores of any school on the Hill. The closest second is Watkins, and they're literally 20 percentage points behind in both English and Math. It's amazing considering the school is almost 90% FARMS (free and reduced priced meals). Unfortunately, the school is not diverse: 94% AA, less than 1% White.

Why do you think the scores are so much higher and there are more FARMS? Teacher quality? Supplemental instruction? Involved parents?

Anonymous wrote:I believe both Ludlow and JO Wilson have high test scores and serious racial diversity in the preschool and preK classes.

Ludlow-Taylor has the best test scores of any school on the Hill. The closest second is Watkins, and they're literally 20 percentage points behind in both English and Math. It's amazing considering the school is almost 90% FARMS (free and reduced priced meals). Unfortunately, the school is not diverse: 94% AA, less than 1% White.

I forgot about Wilson!! They also have a great language program. Thanks for reminding me.

I believe both Ludlow and JO Wilson have high test scores and serious racial diversity in the preschool and preK classes.

Anonymous wrote:Powell is not on Capitol hill. It is in NW off of Georgia Ave. And there are no white kids at that school. Majority are Hispanic and others are Black. There are no white kids at Cleveland. the majoruty there are Black and the others are Hispanic.

Ludlow is the school near H Street.

Powell is not on Capitol hill. It is in NW off of Georgia Ave. And there are no white kids at that school. Majority are Hispanic and others are Black. There are no white kids at Cleveland. the majoruty there are Black and the others are Hispanic.

As I look at these lists I see the same schools. Is it because these schools are the only high performers? I know part of my personal issue is that I don't want my kid to be the only white kid in the class and even more likely in the grade. It is not that I want a predominantly white school I would settle for about 20% but it seems really hard to find with test scores above 50%. I can think of two, Powell between Capital Hill and H street and Cleveland ES. Are there other schools with diversity and high performing options out there?

Anonymous wrote:Ross
Oyster
Murch
Eaton
Heart
? A JKLM that we have no chance of getting into.

But, I'd take Stokes, Cap City, El Haynes over any of those.

can you say why you prefer the charters? scores are about comparable to your dcps choices. culture? curriculum?

Anonymous wrote:Why not Mann?

Why bother? The principal won't take OOB students. It's a waste of a lottery choice.