9:34 again. Correction--I've heard about problems in upper grades at a lot of non-JKLM schools, not just EOTP schools.

I think younger cohorts are going to have a better experience in coming years. Upper grades at many schools are a bit of a roll of the dice in many cases.

I think a lot of EOTP schools have had some problems in upper grades. I've heard similar comments about MV, IT, and others. That said, I also know some families at these schools who are happy in upper grades. Probably depends a lot on the kid and circumstance.

I think Shepherd is a fantastic school, and I like the teachers and the principal. That being said, it has not worked at all for us in the upper grades, and we're not staying. Maybe it's the large percentage of kids from out of the zone that makes the community sort of tenuous. Or maybe it's just that our family never connected properly. (Maybe that's my fault, or my child's--and maybe not.) I have a friend at ITS who is not thrilled with it there--and she and I have sort of opposite problems: she's worried about the academics, and I'm worried about the social aspects. All I know in the end is, my child has been miserable at Shepherd. Learned a lot, but now hates going to school. Has very few friends.

Our time there has basically made me change my mind from thinking that a public neighborhood school can serve the needs of all students, to thinking that maybe some kids need something more. I think if you have a well-adjusted, not very quirky kid they will do well at Shepherd. But I don't have a kid like that.

Anonymous wrote:On an IT tour I privately asked about disadvantaged (at risk?) population and was told about 16%.

FARM is not the same as at risk. Why don't people get this? One can qualify for reduced lunch and not be on snap.

On an IT tour I privately asked about disadvantaged (at risk?) population and was told about 16%.

Anonymous wrote:If there is a school doing a better job than Shepherd educating the economically disadvantaged population I am interested in that information because I am highly impressed by Shepherd. Maybe somebody knows how to get it faster than sorting through the learndc.org website.

I haven't done a direct comparison of the two schools, but I think Cleveland is educating at-risk and economically disadvantaged kids better than just about anywhere in the city. 50% at-risk (vs 15% at Shepherd) and quite high proficiency rates.

At risk: Students who are in foster care or homeless, who are receiving welfare benefits or food stamps, or who are performing at least a year behind in high school

Shepherd currently has 19% at-risk students, as seen here:

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/ABOUT%20DCPS/Budget%20-%20Finance/FY16%20documents/Final%20School%20Allocations-FY16/DCPS-SHEPHERD-Allocation-FY16.pdf

Shepherd was one of the many schools who had their budget cut because funding now needs to follow at-risk students. "At-risk" is different than FARMS but I'm not able to find the exact definition currently--anyone?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd.

Thanks. Any reasoning? Do you have any experience with either school? Why don't I see that many posts about Shepherd?

13:37. Not convinced the IT model is sustainable for upper grades (beyond 1st). I also think Shepherd is doing the best job in the city educating at risk and minority kids which is their majority population.

Minority, yes. At-risk, no. Shepherd is 15% at-risk (as of 14-15) and is a case where it is absolutely not appropriate to conflate the two terms.

And I think ITS has some pretty good evidence behind their model (at least in terms of student test scores), but it is a young school and certainly less established than Shepherd. Which is probably good and bad.

Why are assuming conflation of at-risk and minority? Shepherd has consistently reported economically disadvantaged kids performing at levels of proficiency 15-20% higher than the DC average which says something about the quality of the education and teachers. Shepherd Elementary is a solid, well performing school that is almost certainly doing the best job educating minority kids in the city. Separately, Shepherd is a doing a superior job (relative to other DC schools) in educating economically disadvantaged (at risk kids.) True, Shepherd's economically disadvantage population is about 33% - 2013 from learndc.org which is the only place I could find solid numbers so I shouldn't have grouped them into the "majority population" classification. If there is a school doing a better job than Shepherd educating the economically disadvantaged population I am interested in that information because I am highly impressed by Shepherd. Maybe somebody knows how to get it faster than sorting through the learndc.org website.

NP. Tough choice. I'm a Shepherd parent so perhaps not totally objective, but I also have a good friend who is happy with kids at IT. Shepherd is solid in the lower grades and has a higher % of IB families, although I also know a few IB parents in the upper grades who are happy. I was really impressed with IT when I toured, and I loved their principal--I liked it the most of all the non-immersion HRCS. However, in the end I ranked Shepherd ahead of IT for PK in the lotto since we're in the neighborhood, so convenience trumped all else. We've actually been really happy and involved at Shepherd, and also while not immersion we've been pleasantly surprised with the language emphasis (French or Spanish 3-4x weekly). I'd say that many of the other lower grade families I've encountered are awesome people, and similarly engaged. It really does feel like a family. Of course, IT also seems to have an enthusiastic and engaged parent community. And I know that there are several families IB for Shepherd who chose IT, so there's that. OTOH, Shepherd has a Deal and Wilson feed, which if you're risk-averse at all seems a safer bet.

I think it really depends on which learning model resonates with you more, International Baccalaureate or IT's inquiry-based model. Have you toured the schools? Seen the classes in action? Spoken to the principals?

The good news is, it sounds like you've got two great choices. Good luck!

My guess is the FARM rate (when finally released) will be closer to low 20s. I believe that is on par with ITS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd.

Thanks. Any reasoning? Do you have any experience with either school? Why don't I see that many posts about Shepherd?

13:37. Not convinced the IT model is sustainable for upper grades (beyond 1st). I also think Shepherd is doing the best job in the city educating at risk and minority kids which is their majority population.

Is this really true? I though the Shepherd neighborhood is largely middle class. I've heard nothing but great things about the neighborhood and school.

The at risk part is not true. Yes, it has 78% AA students that all do rather well. The IB% is rather low but growing (historically many SP kids go private or WOTP due to proximity). FARM rate last year was 33%, I expect that to go down even futher this year with the PK3 class starting and all students were IB (i.e., likely not FARM).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd.

Thanks. Any reasoning? Do you have any experience with either school? Why don't I see that many posts about Shepherd?

13:37. Not convinced the IT model is sustainable for upper grades (beyond 1st). I also think Shepherd is doing the best job in the city educating at risk and minority kids which is their majority population.

Is this really true? I though the Shepherd neighborhood is largely middle class. I've heard nothing but great things about the neighborhood and school.

PP here. I see someone corrected the incorrect statement previously in this thread. Minority and "at-risk" are definitely two different things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd.

Thanks. Any reasoning? Do you have any experience with either school? Why don't I see that many posts about Shepherd?

13:37. Not convinced the IT model is sustainable for upper grades (beyond 1st). I also think Shepherd is doing the best job in the city educating at risk and minority kids which is their majority population.

Is this really true? I though the Shepherd neighborhood is largely middle class. I've heard nothing but great things about the neighborhood and school.

IT's model - aside from project-based learning - is essentially "do what works and is linked to good solid teaching practices." That's what I like about them. They research the best tea hint practices and implement them. If something doesn't work, they try something else. So far, my DC's teachers have been outstanding. I'm sure we will have an ok teacher or year as time goes on but I'm happy my child can get a solid education from very good teachers.