Eagle PCS was really informative too. There teachers were there and answered a ton of questions.

Stokes, Lee Montessori and Inspired Teaching were good too. I also spoke with the principal of John Burroughs. She was very enthusiastic but I haven't any buzz about Burroughs. Are they on anyone's radar? I live Ward 5 and trying to stay in the neighborhood.

I was most turned off by a Yu Ying rep -- really got the feeling that they didn't think anyone coming to the fair was good enough to be at their school.

Anonymous wrote:I was not impressed at all by Creative Minds--actually quite disappointed. The LAMB parent had no clue as to whether her school was AMS or AMI montessori--didnt know what I was talking about. And the LAMB administrator also seemed confused by the question. What a joke.

Curious to hear what disappointed you about Creative Minds. I didn't have a chance to go by there (was really focused on the schools in the common lottery). I agree that LAMB was not at all helpful. I found the parents to be very off-putting and unfriendly (but that may have just been when I went--it was pretty late in the day). Didn't ask any specific questions like you did because I was pretty turned off by them and didn't think they would be helpful.

I was not impressed at all by Creative Minds--actually quite disappointed. The LAMB parent had no clue as to whether her school was AMS or AMI montessori--didnt know what I was talking about. And the LAMB administrator also seemed confused by the question. What a joke.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there a single DCPS elementary school there?

Yes. Lots.

The PS-8 Education Campuses like West, Brightwood, Walker-Jones, and Francis Stevens were there. I can't recall seeing any of the stand-alone ES's, but per the Post article that came out tonight, John Davis says he thinks that DCPS's ES's should show up next year.

I didn't see Francis Stevens there.

Anonymous wrote:I thought Inspired Teaching, Stokes, Lee Montessori, and Creative Minds were great. I found LAMB (where the parents there when I went by were not friendly or helpful) and especially Haynes (where no one could answer an elementary school question, and there were no parents) to be on the opposite end.

I wasn't impressed by LAMB either.

I enjoyed talking with the new Head of School for Meridian. Her background was impressive and I thought she was dynamic... it will be interesting to see what happens with the school.

Anonymous wrote:Oyster, Raymond, and Takoma EC were also there. Some group called the Harmony School of Excellence in TX were there, with some impressive teenagers and a LEGO robot. They apparently have a set of charters in TX, and are trying to set up a school here. Sounds like they are trying to move into the same niche as BASIS. They may have lost the first mover advantage, though.

Wasn't Harmony just approved? Not sure if for 2014-15 or for 2015-16

I thought Inspired Teaching, Stokes, Lee Montessori, and Creative Minds were great. I found LAMB (where the parents there when I went by were not friendly or helpful) and especially Haynes (where no one could answer an elementary school question, and there were no parents) to be on the opposite end.

Oyster, Raymond, and Takoma EC were also there. Some group called the Harmony School of Excellence in TX were there, with some impressive teenagers and a LEGO robot. They apparently have a set of charters in TX, and are trying to set up a school here. Sounds like they are trying to move into the same niche as BASIS. They may have lost the first mover advantage, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there a single DCPS elementary school there?

Yes. Lots.

The PS-8 Education Campuses like West, Brightwood, Walker-Jones, and Francis Stevens were there. I can't recall seeing any of the stand-alone ES's, but per the Post article that came out tonight, John Davis says he thinks that DCPS's ES's should show up next year.

Maybe that's what I saw and forgot they were all education campuses. Noyes, Langdon, Burroughs, etc.

Keep them separated it was not a good fit. Many of the DCPS conglomerate felt it was more geared to the Charter school movement. No need to have the charter and dcps mix because they are still not interchangeable when it comes to funding. Also it was too long of a day and too late in the school year for this festival as it pertains to DCPS. Historically when DCPS was the primary host of the School Fair it was better. Quite frankly this event should've been held for DCPS at Dunbar in their great hall. DCPS wasted monies on this event and let's move on. I am a Kaya fan but she was MIA to my knowledge.

I've always heard good and great things about Bridges, so I expected to like what I heard/saw/experienced today, but I was really extra impressed. Just thought there was great energy in their group and the staff I spoke to answered my million questions. Also met the Principal and was very impressed by her.

Other schools that stood out: Inspired Teaching, Mundo Verde, Ingenuity Prep (I know they're in SE - they were very very cool). I do hope DCPS elementaries get there next year, although given how many there are (a lot), I can understand the space issues of having them ALL there.

Shining Stars parent reps were impressive - especially one who answered my questions for about 10 min.