Anonymous wrote:Many OOB kids get into Hardy and Hobson. Everyone gets into Basis. There are options.

So far BASIS has had lots of slots, but the new reality is that they have only so much space in that building and they will have 5-12 next year, even with the smaller leading grades. Word is that they will be shrinking the 5th grade class cohort to stay within the fire code limit.

Anonymous wrote:We are at a DCI feeder. Scores were on par with Hardy but they weren't great. Only a 1/3 proficient or above. Hoping DCI works out but I am having trouble committing to a school where 2/3 of the student are not considered proficient. Would feel more comfortable at Hardy, which appears to be on the upswing, than DCI, which is still so new.

The scores make sense if you look at the rate of ESL and FARMS (and test scores) at all the DCI feeders. By far DC Bilingual is sending the largest number of students to DCI each year. By all accounts they do a great job with the students they have, who make gains each year. YY and LAMB are the only Tier 1 schools of the bunch, and their students are only about 20-25% of each class.

We are at a DCI feeder. Scores were on par with Hardy but they weren't great. Only a 1/3 proficient or above. Hoping DCI works out but I am having trouble committing to a school where 2/3 of the student are not considered proficient. Would feel more comfortable at Hardy, which appears to be on the upswing, than DCI, which is still so new.

Anonymous wrote:I can't wait for CMI or ITS or Lee. DO NOT want a traditional MS experience for my kids (I had one - god good!). So hoping there are enough middle-class parents like me to fill these schools - then we are off to a application or private high school. Wouldn't touch Deal with a ten foot pole.

ITS here. They will go through 8th next year. We plan on applying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You mean, what do most high SES families EOTP do when they don't get into DEAL, BASIS or Latin.

Move.

I would put DCI on that list, assuming your kid can handle IB and the languages.

Aside from moving, there are lots of privates you can consider, if you can afford it. Moving might be the best option for most.

Didn't DCI have bad PARCC scores?

You can also homeschool or do an online program like K12 which is pretty decent.

Anonymous wrote:I can't wait for CMI or ITS or Lee. DO NOT want a traditional MS experience for my kids (I had one - god good!). So hoping there are enough middle-class parents like me to fill these schools - then we are off to a application or private high school. Wouldn't touch Deal with a ten foot pole.

Go check out the middle school at Capitol Hill Montessori. Yikes! Those poor kids.

I can't wait for CMI or ITS or Lee. DO NOT want a traditional MS experience for my kids (I had one - god good!). So hoping there are enough middle-class parents like me to fill these schools - then we are off to a application or private high school. Wouldn't touch Deal with a ten foot pole.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You mean, what do most high SES families EOTP do when they don't get into DEAL, BASIS or Latin.

Move.

Despite what you have read and written, not all high SES families would choose Deal. Middle school is a critical time of development. Having 1300 middle schoolers in an overcrowded building is less than ideal.

In that case they should probably avoid Pyle in Bethesda as well.

Anonymous wrote:You mean, what do most high SES families EOTP do when they don't get into DEAL, BASIS or Latin.

Move.

Despite what you have read and written, not all high SES families would choose Deal. Middle school is a critical time of development. Having 1300 middle schoolers in an overcrowded building is less than ideal.

Our family moved to Montgomery County when our 6th grader was discourage with the MS after one year. An OOB school with unacceptable feeder HS (won't say). Unacceptable inbounds HS (Coolidge). So, sticking out the MS would have meant hoping/ praying for an application HS to work out.

Now in bounds for Westland MS/ BCC HS, and wishing we had moved years earlier. Very happy to be in the MCPS system!

Anonymous wrote:I take it there is zero thinking that DCPS will find a way to turn an existing middle school into something workable.

Any hope for the new Brookland Middle to grow into a viable option?

its takes decades to turn a middle school around. Bottom line is that a middle is only as good as its feeders. If the best students bails on the feeders after 4th (Cap Hill, Brent clears out after fourth grade and the all high SES families send their kids Basis, private, latin or move-which is why Cap Hill middle schools still stink after decades of effort). Brookalnd is shiny and new. A lot of people hyped it up. The feeders to it are very mediocre at best. Sure some high SES families will rave about the preschool but almost none of the will be there after K. So the poorly performing kids continue to be the only ones feeding to brook land. Brookline only managed to attact one white kid in the entire school.

I do think in 5-7 years there will be more options -- the demographics suggest it. MacFarland is one to watch and maybe Brookland middle.

But if your child is now in 3rd or higher I think the ones mentioned above are your best bet.

I take it there is zero thinking that DCPS will find a way to turn an existing middle school into something workable.

Any hope for the new Brookland Middle to grow into a viable option?

Anonymous wrote:What about el haynes and cap city charters? Dont they go througb ms and hs?
Both seem to be decent options.

The test scores and demographics (pretty high poverty) have scared many (not all) mid- to high-SES people off from these MS to a certain degree and to a high degree in their high schools.