Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

OP here. Thanks so much for this information. I will do some research on Van Ness. Sounds very interesting.

NP here, we are in bounds for Van Ness and will be attending next year for PK3. Our neighbors are African American and have a child currently in PK4 there and have great things to say about it.

Anonymous wrote:Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.

Not for kindergarten - 5th. This only applies to PS3 and PK4.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

OP here. Thanks so much for this information. I will do some research on Van Ness. Sounds very interesting.

Also you should try your luck at the lottery! Who knows, maybe you will have incredible luck and get into CMI. Then, since you are flexible with renting, you can just find a place in Petworth ...

Oh god CMI? There are literally 12 other options I would take over CMI. It doesn't even know what it is with its total joke of "international" curriculum. Or is it also stem? Or special needs? Or Mandarin or Spanish or or or or or... Pick a better charter with better test scores with a real curriculum over CMI- there are lots to choose from.

OP, please take another look at Brent. It's less diverse in PS/PK than many would like, but from what I hear, the same is true for Maury.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

Really? Does its profile on myschooldc need to be updated then?

http://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/360/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.

OP here - I thought that was the case for pk3/4 but not for K onwards?

Yes, that is correct - for the neighborhood schools, you have the right to your zoned school starting in K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

OP here. Thanks so much for this information. I will do some research on Van Ness. Sounds very interesting.

Also you should try your luck at the lottery! Who knows, maybe you will have incredible luck and get into CMI. Then, since you are flexible with renting, you can just find a place in Petworth ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

OP here. Thanks so much for this information. I will do some research on Van Ness. Sounds very interesting.

Anonymous wrote:Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.

OP here - I thought that was the case for pk3/4 but not for K onwards?

Anonymous wrote:We have a child at Maury and I'm surprised no one has mentioned the STEM or Visual Arts programs. If you haven't done so, check out their blogs. The STEM program is http://maurythinktank.blogspot.com and the Visual Arts program is https://studiomaury.wordpress.com/ .

Mainly though I would say schedule a tour and come see for yourself!

OP here - thanks for these links! Much appreciated.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maury is also looking to renovate and expand in 2017.

Lots of schools would like to renovate and expand. Has Maury's been budgeted? This is DC - approved and budgeted are NOT the same thing.

+1! Please cite some numbers and/or schedule.

PP here. I'm not sure--saw it on the newhilleast listserv awhile back. We're not zoned for Maury but if I remember correctly they were asking for ideas from the neighborhood about what they'd like to see in the improved school. I assumed it was already budgeted because Maury is so overcrowded as it is, but I guess I was wrong?

We have a child at Maury and I'm surprised no one has mentioned the STEM or Visual Arts programs. If you haven't done so, check out their blogs. The STEM program is http://maurythinktank.blogspot.com and the Visual Arts program is https://studiomaury.wordpress.com/ .

Mainly though I would say schedule a tour and come see for yourself!

Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.

You should call Maury and ask for a tour! They are very small and friendly, so you could probably see for yourself and discuss the K classrooms & diversity. Even if the classroom is big, there are a lot of great specials, a fun (small) playground, and the school is small enough that other teachers and admins might know your child by name. Teachers and staff and upper grades are diverse, so even if the K classroom is less diverse than you would hope, it's not like your kid is going to feel out of place in general. Depending on the kind of kid you have, the big class might on balance be OK. The Maury neighborhood is definitely more practical than Shepherd because you can walk to the metro, shopping, etc.