Hopefully the kids are all settled. I hear a few had to transfer to different schools. For the most part, are you and your children happy where you are? Do you think you need to be else where next year? If so, why?

DD got into Cooke (OOB with sibling) after two weeks at another school and we took the spot. She is thriving there. However, it is disconcerting that Cooke is now in such high demand that those of us with kids already there end up worrying that the younger sibs won't get in. It's great that the school is so popular, but it was a harrying summer.

My impression is that the senior vice principal and aftercare coordinator are very hands on and are at the heart of the quality at Barnard. The school facility is very nice and the teachers are good. The aftercare could use some cash infusion to bring in some more impressive "specials."
When I read parents complaining about crowded classrooms, crazy traffic at drop off, lack of aftercare options, and principal turnover other higher ranked schools I thank my lucky stars.

Anonymous wrote:

We are inboundary for Barnard and the story you describe is one of the reasons we have a hard time making the jump to Barnard, even though that simple two block walk is very .

And yet, there is demand for Barnard, at least at the PS level. We applied OOB for PS at Barnard and did not get in. We were quite impressed with the tour, administration etc. PTA indeed sounds like it could use some improvement.

Anonymous wrote:We stayed at Barnard DCPS and are satisfied, although the rookie but well educated teacher we got this year is hard to compare with last year's more experienced teacher, who left to teach other teachers at a foundation.
Lost a couple of DD's best pals to Yu Ying and a couple west of the park OOB schools, they had involved parents and were good students, we will miss them.

We are inboundary for Barnard and the story you describe is one of the reasons we have a hard time making the jump to Barnard, even though that simple two block walk is very tempting. We've heard reasonably good things about Barnard (although the PTA situation doesn't sound so great) but then when you have families jumping ship up until October it's kind of heartbreaking. Last year we ended up taking the spot we were offered at a DCPS west of the park where the student and teacher turn-over isn't significant and are very happy, except for that crazy commute. Baby number two may end up at Barnard in a couple of years, but then again, maybe not. DC is an interesting place.

We stayed at Barnard DCPS and are satisfied, although the rookie but well educated teacher we got this year is hard to compare with last year's more experienced teacher, who left to teach other teachers at a foundation.
Lost a couple of DD's best pals to Yu Ying and a couple west of the park OOB schools, they had involved parents and were good students, we will miss them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's a bubble class?

An unusually large group of students that won't be replicated in future years. The group just matriculates together and the subsequent years go back to normal size.

YY did it this year to get the funding necessary for their building. More students == more $$$ for the school.

Anonymous wrote:What's a bubble class?

An unusually large group of students that won't be replicated in future years. The group just matriculates together and the subsequent years go back to normal size.