A good friend pulled her PK3-er out before the end of the first semester - put her back in a private daycare. Not sure of the specifics but I recall something about the teacher and screaming. I have also heard rumors of fudged test scores.

Anonymous wrote:Reasons we're not considering Marie Reed... test scores, as I said. My impression of the teachers I've met. My impression of the Principal. The facilities. Lots of things. I'm comparing these impressions to some of the JKLMM schools, and privates I visited. We are not going private - just don't want to. I would love to hear several years down the line that this school improved. I am honestly heart-broken to be leaving our house. The only thing wrong with it is the school we are zoned to.

At least wait until the charter lotteries are over. You might get into Cap City or Yu Ying or Haynes or Stokes. You could move to a new neighborhood only to meet people who have abandoned their JKLM for a unique charter experience.

Anonymous wrote:A friend who taught there (lower grades) left due to clashes with principal. Principal did not advocate enough to get materials they needed. Also, played off teachers against each other. Facilities poor. She too was impressed until she got there and then quit after 2 years under this principal. Experienced DCPS teacher, so it wasn't the general problems with the system. Loved her kids, but decided not to deal with pettiness any longer. I have been hoping that a parent who has a kid at Marie Reed would post, as to their impression, but so far nothing.

It couldn't of beenthe same principal. This is his first year at the school. He was at headquarters last year.

A friend who taught there (lower grades) left due to clashes with principal. Principal did not advocate enough to get materials they needed. Also, played off teachers against each other. Facilities poor. She too was impressed until she got there and then quit after 2 years under this principal. Experienced DCPS teacher, so it wasn't the general problems with the system. Loved her kids, but decided not to deal with pettiness any longer. I have been hoping that a parent who has a kid at Marie Reed would post, as to their impression, but so far nothing.

I guess it depends on your defnition of "transforming." I read somewhere else on DCUM that white wealthy kids in DC outperform the rest of the country on test scores REGARDLESS of the school they're at. So, I guess if that's the case, having a bunch of white wealthy kids in your school basically means test scores go up no matter what, and that it doesn't really matter (for this cohort) where they go to school. But, who does the better job of educating the rest of the kids? What are the breakdowns of test scores for the underpriveledged kids in those schools? It seems to me that this should be the true measure of how a school is performing.

Right, but if you look at the demographics of the neighborhoods for both Reed and Cooke the schools would be very different if all the inbounds families went to the school and showed as much commitment to the school as a middle class stokes families show at Stokes.

Is there actual data that proves if only the middle class families sent their kids to these schools, they would be magically transformed into high-performing schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reasons we're not considering Marie Reed... test scores, as I said. My impression of the teachers I've met. My impression of the Principal. The facilities. Lots of things. I'm comparing these impressions to some of the JKLMM schools, and privates I visited. We are not going private - just don't want to. I would love to hear several years down the line that this school improved. I am honestly heart-broken to be leaving our house. The only thing wrong with it is the school we are zoned to.

Why move before playing the lotteries?

Good question... I guess, mostly because we would be cutting it way too close to the start of the school year, potentially. And my impression was that our odds were next to zero at any of the schools we visited and liked... those were really Mann, Janney, and Murch for us. I'm still so sad about it...

Well, I tried to go to the open house this morning but apparently they changed it to tomorrow (2/17) last week after I looked at the date. I can't go tomorrow (9:30 am - 11:30 am) so if anyone here goes I'd love to hear your thoughts on the school.

Anonymous wrote:Reasons we're not considering Marie Reed... test scores, as I said. My impression of the teachers I've met. My impression of the Principal. The facilities. Lots of things. I'm comparing these impressions to some of the JKLMM schools, and privates I visited. We are not going private - just don't want to. I would love to hear several years down the line that this school improved. I am honestly heart-broken to be leaving our house. The only thing wrong with it is the school we are zoned to.

Why move before playing the lotteries?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't hear about Marie Reed b/c there are no white middle class parents at the school. Same reason you did not hear about Cooke 3 years ago. Same reason you did not hear about Stokes 3 years ago. Stokes now has 250+ applications for 8 slots and the PK/PS is majority white -- change happens fast.

True, but people have to make the effort to seek out Stokes and apply. Cooke & Marie Reed have to take everyone inbounds. I think we'd find a different level of parent engagement and expectations at a school they've sought out and drive to, in order that their children can be bilingual in French.

Right, but if you look at the demographics of the neighborhoods for both Reed and Cooke the schools would be very different if all the inbounds families went to the school and showed as much commitment to the school as a middle class stokes families show at Stokes.

I was left with a good impression.

Why? Do you mind sharing? Not trying to be combative, I would just like to know.

I'm not into either berating or shaking pom-poms for Michelle Rhee. I just know I did not have a good impression of the Marie Reed Principal.

Hmm, is this the new principal? A Michelle Rhee appointee? How could you not be impressed? She only hired the best, most impressive school leaders.

Reasons we're not considering Marie Reed... test scores, as I said. My impression of the teachers I've met. My impression of the Principal. The facilities. Lots of things. I'm comparing these impressions to some of the JKLMM schools, and privates I visited. We are not going private - just don't want to. I would love to hear several years down the line that this school improved. I am honestly heart-broken to be leaving our house. The only thing wrong with it is the school we are zoned to.