Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

The turn-around at Hardy will take years, PP. We have a second grader at a Hardy feeder and don't believe that Hardy will improve fast enough for us.

Only if your kid is like the tale character "Baby Brain". For all the others (including my 5th grader who got all 4s in his latest report card from a top Hardy feeder) Hardy is ready for next year. We re just waiting for the call for the test-in placement in late May/early June...
Bye Baby Brain Parent!! See you at Harvard!

The fact that you believe it does not make it true. We will all watch Hardy's IB/OOB enrollment numbers and its DCCAS scores over the next few years.

By the way, how many kids does Wilson send to Harvard each year? How many of those attended Hardy?

As a parent who has put three kids in private school out of Key I have to say my experience has been very different. All of my kids are advanced on the DCCAS, fwiw. One child got every question right on the DCCAS and scored 99th percentiles on the SSAT. We applied to five private schools and were accepted at three and waitlisted at two. At Maret we were told there were 120 applicants for eight openings in the sixth grade class.

What is telling to me is that families who have a sibling already attending private school, who have a leg up on admissions, pretty much universally leave after third of fourth grades.

With the exception of Sidwell, all kids I know (and I know most of them) from Mann and Key who switched to the private school starting from 6th grade (and who were proficient or above, i.e. about 90% of the class -- see the DC CAS profiles) were able to go to the private middle school of their choice, St Albans, Nat. Cathedral, Maret, Holy Trinity (which is a very good school and is not pricey, so it is in high demand), Washington Episcopal, Washington International, Georgetown Day etc. None has been turned down (again, with the exception of Sidwell).

This is to say that hysterical parents, who started planning in 3rd grade and left in either 3rd or 4th grade to secure a spot in the top private schools, wasted money in 1-2 additional years of private school, annoyed the teachers and principals (these hyper-parents tend to apply to several schools, meaning multiple recommendation letters), stressed out their kids, annoyed and generated undue concerns in the other parents.

If your kid if a proficient kid, good report cards, good DC-CAS, I can guarantee that there's no need to start shaking from second grade (unless your kid is Baby Brain as the PP).

The outlook of enrollment in private schools in NW DC has dramatically changed in the past 5-7 years. Just take a look at the data from a dedicated topic of 1-2 weeks ago. With the raise in quality and attendance of local DCPS schools, enrollment numbers in private schools dropped by 30-70%, depending on grades. Inside sources tell me that the issue of decrease in applications (which reduces the possibility for private schools of cherry-picking the best students), and strategies to attract applications from good students, is nowadays in the agenda of all NW private schools.

So relax and enjoy your happy public elementary school experience until the end of 5th grade (and my recommendation is that there's no need to switch to private/charter if you are IB for Deal or Hardy -- two schools I am academically very familiar with).

PS: situation is different for the top charters. if your target is for instance BASIS or LATIN, then yes, go for it and apply one year ahead, for enrollment in 5th grade. Chances are much much higher by then, and specialized teaching make insertion in 5th grade (rather than 6th grade) smoother for kids.

Teacher and Parent, Ward 3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

The turn-around at Hardy will take years, PP. We have a second grader at a Hardy feeder and don't believe that Hardy will improve fast enough for us.

You know, middle school starts at 6th grade.

But if you're going to make the jump you have to make the decision way in advance. If you want your child to enroll in a private school in September, 2015, you need to be preparing now. You're kid needs to take the SSAT in September or October, which may mean that classes or tutoring needs to be booked now. You need to do the tour/interview/application process next fall and make a financial commitment next spring. If you're looking at a school that has an entry year at 5th grade, then if you're the parent of a 3rd grader the time is now. So the parents of a third grader should be having some serious discussions right now. The charters have a more relaxed schedule but if you're thinking Latin or Basis you've got about six months to get in gear.

So the parent of a second grader who's saying there isn't time isn't being over-dramatic, you've got a year before you have to decide.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

The turn-around at Hardy will take years, PP. We have a second grader at a Hardy feeder and don't believe that Hardy will improve fast enough for us.

Only if your kid is like the tale character "Baby Brain". For all the others (including my 5th grader who got all 4s in his latest report card from a top Hardy feeder) Hardy is ready for next year. We re just waiting for the call for the test-in placement in late May/early June...
Bye Baby Brain Parent!! See you at Harvard!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

The turn-around at Hardy will take years, PP. We have a second grader at a Hardy feeder and don't believe that Hardy will improve fast enough for us.

You know, middle school starts at 6th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

The turn-around at Hardy will take years, PP. We have a second grader at a Hardy feeder and don't believe that Hardy will improve fast enough for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Why? Hardy is already getting more in-boundary kids to attend, due to Principal Pride's efforts to diversify the programming at the school.

Anonymous wrote:There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

This is very, very optimistic at best. I wouldn't count on it.

Anonymous wrote:
Sidwell Friends has an entry point at the 6th grade, along with 5th.

Nope, 5th is not entry at Sidwell. 6th and 7th.

There will be less attrition once Hardy expands the availability of advanced classes. Before those classes began happening, families would not send their kids to Hardy because they would not be prepared to take the advanced classes available at Wilson. Those advanced classes at Wilson have an environment productive to learning, which is great; but if your kid is in the non-advanced classes, the environment doesn't really allow for learning to take place. Based on what Wilson kids and parents of graduates tell me, anyway.

But if you get Hardy's accelerated classes at the same level as Deal, you'll get more in-boundary parents staying for the cycle. Which would further increase the student enrollment at Wilson (unless the boundaries change), but that's another topic.

Anonymous wrote:
We do and moved our kid at 4 because of all the better privates have openings then - st A's, NCC, Holton etc. This year Maret let in just a few for 6 th so I am glad we didn't chance it. Not sure why pp is so angry about this.

We moved at 5th and found that our options were greatly reduced compared to if we had moved at 3rd or 4th. Don't understand the PP anger either.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to what some on the boards have said-- that even the DCPS elementary schools WotP have a great deal of attrition in the older grades-- 3rd grade + -- (to private schools and/or charter schools)? I'm especially curious to hear from parents who have kids in these schools about their experience.

Murch parent here. In short, the answer is no. I understand it was more common in the past, but my experience is that most kids stay until the end of 5th grade

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What % of JKLMM/Hearst/Eaton go on to Deal?

My understanding is over 90% of Janney, Murch and Lafayette go on to Deal, I would expect the same numbers from Eaton and Hearst but have not heard that specific assertion anywhere.

As is the case with other schools, over the past few years, there has been less and less attrition at Hearst across the board. Hearst has only two 5th grade classes of less than 20 students each and the vast majority of them move on to Deal. There are a few upper grade families each year who opt for Latin or Basis because of proximity or the family believes those schools are a better fit than Deal. This year I only know of two students who are headed to private school. The current 5th grade class has been together for a very long time. Really nice group of kids--and families. They will be missed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very few privates have admission years at 6th grade. The two charters that appeal to WOTP families, Latin and Basis, do almost all of their admissions in fifth grade. So at my WOTP school (a Hardy feeder) there is a steady bleed starting at third grade. The fifth grade is about 30% of the size of the kindergarten.

Parents have to make a decision about middle school in third or fourth grade, which means making a prediction about where Hardy is going to be 2-3 years out. So far few families have been willing to gamble on that.

Wrong ^^^

This is true at Key and Mann. Very small 5th grades. Not clear what pp thinks is wrong.

I am certain that it's patently wrong to assert that "very few" private schools in dc / close in "have admission" in 6th grade.

In fact, ALL the best independent schools admit students in 6th grade. In fact I'll go even further and state that for the best-known schools, 6th is one of their two most important intake years (with 9th being the other ).

Do you even live in dc?

We do and moved our kid at 4 because of all the better privates have openings then - st A's, NCC, Holton etc. This year Maret let in just a few for 6 th so I am glad we didn't chance it. Not sure why pp is so angry about this.