Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 12:19     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:We will be prek4 in bounds for Barnard. Please let me know if this list is totally unrealistic and, if so, what schools I should be listing instead. But, please be nice. I really can't deal with the bitter, unhelpful nonsense on this listserve.

My 1st choice is:: DC Bilingual PCS
My 2nd choice is:: Washington Yu Ying PCS
My 3rd choice is:: Creative Minds International PCS
My 4th choice is:: Bridges PCS
My 5th choice is:: Powell Dual Language
My 6th choice is:: E.L. Haynes PCS – Elementary School
My 7th choice is:: West Education Campus
My 8th choice is:: Shepherd Elementary School
My 9th choice is:: Lafayette Elementary School
My 10th choice is:: Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (Oyster)
My 11th choice is:: Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS
My 12th choice is:: Barnard Elementary School


It would help to understand what your objective for your child is? I.e., what were your criteria in creating this list? Proximity? Curriculum/focus? Reputation? Faculty makeup?
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 12:11     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of anyone putting DC Bilingual first. Ever.



I hate to agree with this, because I want to like DC Bi. I've heard anecdotally from parents that their math instruction is relatively poor, especially by 3rd grade. Otoh, now that they're a DCI feeder (not to mention the Columbia Heights and Petworth gentrification) this will likely swing upwards, and continue to. Especially by the time OP's PreKer is in the middle ES grades.


We are actuality putting DCB as our #1 as well because of there feeder pattern and the proximity to our home. We live in Takoma.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:44     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is West above Shepherd? Better feeder pattern at Shepherd (Deal/Wilson).


Yes def would rank Shepherd a lot higher. It's a great school. Where do you work? I would move Bridges a lot down on your list or risk losing access to the others if/when you get in. They are moving campuses and will likely admit a bunch this year. Agree with PP, I imagine YY isn't walking distance did giu and if that's on the way to work (as well as Bridges), I imagine IT is not far off the path. But then you have Lafayette which I imagine is not walkable or on the way to work. I agree with removing Lafayette all together as its a wasted pick, same with Oyster.

Final:
Lower Bridges to 11th or 12th depending on how much you want Barnard.
Remove Lafayette, Oyster
Add IT, Lee and/or MV
Rank Shepherd higher


Thanks, I really appreciate it!




MV is way down in NoMa. Unless they have one of those parent shuttles like YY, she has to really want to join the downtown commute to get there.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:41     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of anyone putting DC Bilingual first. Ever.



I hate to agree with this, because I want to like DC Bi. I've heard anecdotally from parents that their math instruction is relatively poor, especially by 3rd grade. Otoh, now that they're a DCI feeder (not to mention the Columbia Heights and Petworth gentrification) this will likely swing upwards, and continue to. Especially by the time OP's PreKer is in the middle ES grades.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:38     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of anyone putting DC Bilingual first. Ever.


They have pretty solid results given their demographic. Close to OP and has a feeder to a promising middle school.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:35     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:You will get into Bridges for sure. Why no Cap City?



Bridges is building a permanent facility, it will go the same fate as all charters with good buzz and a permanent facility: very difficult to get into.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:31     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
I have never heard of anyone putting DC Bilingual first. Ever.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:29     Subject: Re:Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:My new rankings based on everyone's suggestions. Better?

DC Bilingual PCS
Washington Yu Ying PCS
Creative Minds International PCS
Powell Dual Language
Shepherd Elementary School
E.L. Haynes PCS – Elementary School
West Education Campus
Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS
Lee Montessori PCS
Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS
Bridges PCS
Barnard Elementary School


This looks solid to me!
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:27     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Will you need aftercare? If so, I heard bad things about Bridges aftercare a couple years ago but it may have improved. After care does vary a lot in terms of cost and quality so it's worth considering if you will need it.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:23     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Since you are weighing commute heavily, the only other thing I'd not is that SSMA hasn't announced its location for next year, yet. I don't know that I'd necessarily change your rankings, but it is something I'd keep in mind.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 11:20     Subject: Re:Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
My new rankings based on everyone's suggestions. Better?

DC Bilingual PCS
Washington Yu Ying PCS
Creative Minds International PCS
Powell Dual Language
Shepherd Elementary School
E.L. Haynes PCS – Elementary School
West Education Campus
Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS
Lee Montessori PCS
Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS
Bridges PCS
Barnard Elementary School
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 10:51     Subject: Re:Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Have you visited all of these schools? Just curious why you ranked them the way you did and why you left some of the usual suspects off your list.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 10:47     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is West above Shepherd? Better feeder pattern at Shepherd (Deal/Wilson).


Yes def would rank Shepherd a lot higher. It's a great school. Where do you work? I would move Bridges a lot down on your list or risk losing access to the others if/when you get in. They are moving campuses and will likely admit a bunch this year. Agree with PP, I imagine YY isn't walking distance did giu and if that's on the way to work (as well as Bridges), I imagine IT is not far off the path. But then you have Lafayette which I imagine is not walkable or on the way to work. I agree with removing Lafayette all together as its a wasted pick, same with Oyster.

Final:
Lower Bridges to 11th or 12th depending on how much you want Barnard.
Remove Lafayette, Oyster
Add IT, Lee and/or MV
Rank Shepherd higher


I agree with all these recs
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 10:05     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is West above Shepherd? Better feeder pattern at Shepherd (Deal/Wilson).


Yes def would rank Shepherd a lot higher. It's a great school. Where do you work? I would move Bridges a lot down on your list or risk losing access to the others if/when you get in. They are moving campuses and will likely admit a bunch this year. Agree with PP, I imagine YY isn't walking distance did giu and if that's on the way to work (as well as Bridges), I imagine IT is not far off the path. But then you have Lafayette which I imagine is not walkable or on the way to work. I agree with removing Lafayette all together as its a wasted pick, same with Oyster.

Final:
Lower Bridges to 11th or 12th depending on how much you want Barnard.
Remove Lafayette, Oyster
Add IT, Lee and/or MV
Rank Shepherd higher


Thanks, I really appreciate it!
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2015 10:05     Subject: Would love your help with rankings but please be nice...
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is West above Shepherd? Better feeder pattern at Shepherd (Deal/Wilson).


Yes def would rank Shepherd a lot higher. It's a great school. Where do you work? I would move Bridges a lot down on your list or risk losing access to the others if/when you get in. They are moving campuses and will likely admit a bunch this year. Agree with PP, I imagine YY isn't walking distance did giu and if that's on the way to work (as well as Bridges), I imagine IT is not far off the path. But then you have Lafayette which I imagine is not walkable or on the way to work. I agree with removing Lafayette all together as its a wasted pick, same with Oyster.

Final:
Lower Bridges to 11th or 12th depending on how much you want Barnard.
Remove Lafayette, Oyster
Add IT, Lee and/or MV
Rank Shepherd higher


Thanks, I really appreciate it!