I would visit Amidon, Payne, and Minor if I had a two year old now. I would also give my in-boundary a serious look even if I'd heard negative things about it.

Anonymous wrote:I have never, ever, seen a discussion about "behavior problems" that wasn't code for "I don't want my kid to go to school with too many black kids -- just enough that I can call the school diverse, but not so many that it's scary!!"

GAG ME.

I witnessed behavior problems at Garrison and am set to have my kid attend a 99% FARM, 99% non-white school next year.

I have never, ever, seen a discussion about "behavior problems" that wasn't code for "I don't want my kid to go to school with too many black kids -- just enough that I can call the school diverse, but not so many that it's scary!!"

GAG ME.

Where do people feel Takoma Education Campus is on the spectrum of desirability?

Burroughs. Neighborhood friendly principal, new playground, rapidly gentrifying area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, Barnard? The OP wanted up and coming schools that she had a possibility of getting a slot in the lottery. The train left a few years ago on that school.

Since the OP wants projections, I would look at neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying, like Riggs Park, Michigan Park, and Woodbridge. As others have mentioned, Burroughs is up and coming and I would suspect that LaSalle would be next or possibly Brookland. Brookland is very close to the new middle school, so that is big plus.

Change at schools lags behind gentrification by many years, if not decades. You don't want to look at places that are gentrifying just now, but at places that are several years past the beginning of the gentrification process.

That area is several years past the beginning of gentrification. It was the "It" school in the neighborhood before Powell and Bruce-Monroe and those two schools have surpassed it in popularity. Not in decades, but in about 3 years.

Anyway, I think the unified lottery makes it so that preferences - sibling, boundary or proximity - are your best shot at getting into any DCPS. There will be the few hundred families who get into charters, and then almost everyone else will get matched with their neighborhood school.

Anonymous wrote:Amidon... please? (they have new windows now!)

I work near there so I checked them out as a safety school..I actually liked what I saw in their preschool rooms. Not sure about the academics in upper grades, but the older kids seem fine when I've seen them on the playground. The behavior I see outside Jefferson gives me the occasional pause.

Anonymous wrote:Huh, Barnard? The OP wanted up and coming schools that she had a possibility of getting a slot in the lottery. The train left a few years ago on that school.

Since the OP wants projections, I would look at neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying, like Riggs Park, Michigan Park, and Woodbridge. As others have mentioned, Burroughs is up and coming and I would suspect that LaSalle would be next or possibly Brookland. Brookland is very close to the new middle school, so that is big plus.

Change at schools lags behind gentrification by many years, if not decades. You don't want to look at places that are gentrifying just now, but at places that are several years past the beginning of the gentrification process.

Anonymous wrote:Garrison boosters can say what they want. I've talked to several families that toured and saw behavior problems. That is why we did not apply. It's great that the school works for some families; it is not a good fit for us.

+1. I also wasn't impressed by the chaotic classrooms and the condition of the building/teaching areas. I really can't understand why it gets so much buzz when Seaton, for example, is nearby.

We got in to a charter and turned down our inbound spot at Seaton, but not without some angst because we really liked Seaton and found it very promising with a great sense of community and enthusiastic teaching staff. But we'd always have the chance to go to our inbound school should the charter not work out. Except, now it looks like Seaton may no longer be our inbound if the changes go through. I hope I don't regret turning it down.

Anonymous wrote:Huh, Barnard? The OP wanted up and coming schools that she had a possibility of getting a slot in the lottery. The train left a few years ago on that school.

Since the OP wants projections, I would look at neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying, like Riggs Park, Michigan Park, and Woodbridge. As others have mentioned, Burroughs is up and coming and I would suspect that LaSalle would be next or possibly Brookland. Brookland is very close to the new middle school, so that is big plus.

If you live near Brookland, Burroughs for better or worse appears to have more momentum. They also have recent rennovations and a new playground.

Amidon... please? (they have new windows now!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Garrison boosters can say what they want. I've talked to several families that toured and saw behavior problems. That is why we did not apply. It's great that the school works for some families; it is not a good fit for us.

damning with faint praise

my child has behavior problems and gets along well with children with similar problems so perhaps this is the school for us!

Anonymous wrote:Garrison boosters can say what they want. I've talked to several families that toured and saw behavior problems. That is why we did not apply. It's great that the school works for some families; it is not a good fit for us.

damning with faint praise

Huh, Barnard? The OP wanted up and coming schools that she had a possibility of getting a slot in the lottery. The train left a few years ago on that school.

Since the OP wants projections, I would look at neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying, like Riggs Park, Michigan Park, and Woodbridge. As others have mentioned, Burroughs is up and coming and I would suspect that LaSalle would be next or possibly Brookland. Brookland is very close to the new middle school, so that is big plus.

Anonymous wrote:What about Barnard ES? We toured it and fell in love! Test scores look good- on the rise, admin team seems great, and good diversity. Do others have experience with this school?

I have also heard good things. It was too far for us, so didn't check it out. Are you heading there next year?