Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 17:09     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.


What will be the target size for each team and for each class?


I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.


Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.


Where did you hear that, heard 8th was expanding because the current students moving up. Agree where are they going to go?


Current 6th grade Deal parent - there are already 5, 6th grade teams. I believe there are only 4, 7th grade teams, so maybe the expansion you are referring to would be 5, 8th grade teams next year?
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 13:13     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.


What will be the target size for each team and for each class?


I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.


Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.


Where did you hear that, heard 8th was expanding because the current students moving up. Agree where are they going to go?
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 13:07     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal or outside the city.

Hardy has great teachers


agree look at hardy.


I wouldn't intentionally move in bounds for hardy. It's one thing if you've lived there for 15 years and you just want to stay in your neighborhood. OP has choices.


There are plenty of Deal houses that are cheaper, especially if you find the ones EOTP


where? Mnt Pleasant? or Sheperd Park? OP I hope you have at least 800k for a house, if you are lucky.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 08:54     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:CMI, ITS, cap city. 2Rivers? Those are all into 6th, right. Op, these are charters parents love for their PK and elementary but are less trusted at teh middle school level, often because the middle school is brand new. But if you are moving in time to go lottry, I'd check them out. Deal is an really expensive cachement.


We are at ITS in middle and love it!! It’s not that new, I think this is our 4th year. It’s now on very solid ground with a stellar principal. Although she is going to be assistant HOS next year. She’s principal of the year quality, she’s that good. Anyhow, worth a lottery pick bit if your kid is going into 6th it may be tougher since our current 5th grade class is the largest cohort of middle school (45+ kids).
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 08:41     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal or outside the city.

Hardy has great teachers


agree look at hardy.


I wouldn't intentionally move in bounds for hardy. It's one thing if you've lived there for 15 years and you just want to stay in your neighborhood. OP has choices.

I have choice too and wouldn't move to Deal.The size of the school is the reason.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 08:36     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal is excellent. It is an IB MYP program. They are expanding the 6th and 7th grade classes next year -- adding new "Teams" so individual classes will be smaller. They are also adding a 4th language: Arabic.


What will be the target size for each team and for each class?


I don't know. Principal just said they are adding teams, so the current 4 6th grade teams will become 5 7th grade teams, which means 4 more core class teachers. You can assume that with 535 students (I think), this puts about 107-110 per team, divided among 6 classes per day -- that can make for some classes as small as 17 depending on how they divide it up, but probably a little bigger than that so they don't swamp the foreign language and arts/PE teachers. Just a guess though.


Is there classroom space for adding four more class teachers, in each grade? That does not sound realistic.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 06:42     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Personally I wouldn't even look to move into deal. I'd move into Hardy.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2018 06:31     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Though the HS gets a lot of bad press on the forum, Columbia Heights has a dual language middle school program. If your child already knows some spanish, and/or isn't intimidated by latino culture, this could work for them... however if they aren't in advanced classes with good students and the better teachers, I wouldn't even bother touring.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2017 12:42     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.


How did you not know this before entering the lottery? It's been around for 5 years and they run tours every other week for prospective parents and are very transparent about the schedule during Open Houses.


Indeed. As transparent as their website and grading policy.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2017 12:11     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Hardy. Small size. Strong math curriculum and teachers. English has now become stronger. Top notch music and figurative art programs. All teachers and administrators know the kids by name.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2017 07:30     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.


How did you not know this before entering the lottery? It's been around for 5 years and they run tours every other week for prospective parents and are very transparent about the schedule during Open Houses.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2017 01:37     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.

Totally agree. Very dull education.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2017 00:04     Subject: Re:Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Super stressed out. My child is at Basis with 90% of worksheets and no library or recess.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2017 23:23     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal or outside the city.

Hardy has great teachers


agree look at hardy.


I wouldn't intentionally move in bounds for hardy. It's one thing if you've lived there for 15 years and you just want to stay in your neighborhood. OP has choices.


There are plenty of Deal houses that are cheaper, especially if you find the ones EOTP
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2017 23:02     Subject: Moving to DC with a 6th grader
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Deal or outside the city.

Hardy has great teachers


agree look at hardy.


I wouldn't intentionally move in bounds for hardy. It's one thing if you've lived there for 15 years and you just want to stay in your neighborhood. OP has choices.