Anonymous wrote:We are currently facing this dilemma. DC at great charter but we live IB for a Deal feeder and have been contemplating if/when to move IB. After debate with DH about test scores, I found out that my charter currently outperforms most JKLMs in testing when breaking it down to white students. Now the difference is a matter of 1-3% points and its not enough by itself to overlook commute and convenience of a IB school, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that our charter seems to be doing so well (in that area).

Anonymous wrote:We are currently facing this dilemma. DC at great charter but we live IB for a Deal feeder and have been contemplating if/when to move IB. After debate with DH about test scores, I found out that my charter currently outperforms most JKLMs in testing when breaking it down to white students. Now the difference is a matter of 1-3% points and its not enough by itself to overlook commute and convenience of a IB school, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that our charter seems to be doing so well (in that area).

Anonymous wrote:Recognize that this is similar to the public v. private debate, those who made a choice think they made the right choice and bristle at criticism. There is no more right answer here than there is in the WOHM v SAHM debate, it all depends on the specifics of the circumstances.

I cannot recommend one over the other because I have made a choice for my family to go with our neighborhood school and am extremely happy with that decision for my children. Therefore, I have no basis to tell you what it would be like to attend a different school with a different set of circumstances.

I recommend visiting schools, trying out commutes and making informed decisions that way.

Charter was never a consideration for me because I am risk averse and unwilling to not know where I was sending my kids well in advance.

Anonymous wrote:HRCS
I don't want my kid to be one of like 28 in a kindergarten class

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the kid and family circumstances. But like one other poster I would add a whole range of other DCPS schools that are as good if not better. These include Ross, Stoddert, Hyde, Eaton, Hearst, Shepherd, Oyster, Capital Hill schools, and potentially several center city schools that are up and coming. If you are IB and not deperate for immersion, you should go to these schools over most charters.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the kid and family circumstances. But like one other poster I would add a whole range of other DCPS schools that are as good if not better. These include Ross, Stoddert, Hyde, Eaton, Hearst, Shepherd, Oyster, Capital Hill schools, and potentially several center city schools that are up and coming. If you are IB and not deperate for immersion, you should go to these schools over most charters.

Anonymous wrote:HRCS
I don't want my kid to be one of like 28 in a kindergarten class

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HRCS.

Here's why:
- JKLMs are 'traditional' schools while many of the HRCS's offer progressive models of education such as expeditionary learning, Montessori, etc.
- JKLMs are not socio-economically diverse because you have to have a lot of $$$ to live inbounds and secure a spot.
- As a result of the high premium to get into a JKLM, some of the kids at JKLMs are entitled and look down on those with less money.
- JKLMs are BIG schools -- your child will not feel like they know everyone at school as they might at a smaller charter.
- 2 out of 5 JKLMs badly need a renovation.
- Charters function more independently than traditional public schools, including teaching to the test less.

Signed,
Parent IB at a JKLM whose child attends an HRCS

Has your child actually attended your JKLM?

My child's JKLM implements a progressive educational approach, does not teach to the test and has an extremely strong sense of community. I also take issue at the broad entitlement claims. These are public school kids. People live there for the schools and reasonable commute, there is no fancy lifestyle because, as is much discussed on DCUM, the premium is paid for the location, not the great housing stock. My kids envy the "mansions" in flyover country that relatives live in.

Are there really charters with better facilities than the JKLM's even without the renovations?

I don't take issue with your choice to send your child to a charter, I have neighbors that do the same for reasons I understand. But I would never make the statements you have made about the school my children attend except for the high cost of housing.

Here is the definition of progressive that I am using: any of various reformist educational philosophies and methodologies since the late 1800s, applied especially to elementary schools, that reject the rote recitation and strict discipline of traditional, single-classroom teaching, favoring instead more stimulation of the individual pupil as well as group discussion, more informality in the classroom, a broader curriculum, and use of laboratories, gymnasiums, kitchens, etc., in the school.

No dog it fight, but yes there are quite a few charters that I can think of that have better facilities than the non-renovated JKLMs. ITS, MV, LAMB, Cap City, Latin, Haynes and Stokes all have good facilities. CMI looks very promising next year with great green space. Bridges new location as well.