Hi all, new parent here, so I’m having some trouble deciphering all the the acronym lingo! I was hoping to clarify something I’m learning as I do more research. DCPs emailed me back about a question I had and said that Powell is a feeder school for Deal and McFarland, and that based on my address we would have the option to attend either. My hunch is that it’s not that simple? And that it ends up being an unpredictable lottery where most families opt for Deal as their first choice (since it feeds into Wilson) and often may not get in? I guess I was a little thrown off by one of the comments in this thread about how Powell’s feeder pattern is hands down not a good one...

PS am happy to hear good things about Powell!

Anonymous wrote:Powell is a great school. We are UMC and have kids in the upper grades. If you are interested, speak one on one with families who are currently there. I think those that put down the EOTP schools such as Powell are trying to make themselves feel better about their decision to spend 30+ minutes in the car each way driving to and from their HRC or WOTP school only to find out that the grass really isn't that much greener. There are so many things to love about Powell. There are some minor concerns, but all schools have those.

And some people had major concerns and had to find a new option. I'm so glad it's working out for you and your family, but it doesn't hurt to honestly acknowledge that some kids had/have major issues that the school wasn't addressing well. I wish Powell and its students the very best, but I'm not just trying to make myself feel better -- even with lots of work it wasn't serving my kid well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Powell is a great school. We are UMC and have kids in the upper grades. If you are interested, speak one on one with families who are currently there. I think those that put down the EOTP schools such as Powell are trying to make themselves feel better about their decision to spend 30+ minutes in the car each way driving to and from their HRC or WOTP school only to find out that the grass really isn't that much greener. There are so many things to love about Powell. There are some minor concerns, but all schools have those.

I am EoTP parent at Bruce Monroe. Since you have kids in the upper grades are you committed to McFarland? if not, then I think you are basically saying the same thing as most other people. the middle school feeder is a HUGE issue.

Yes, we plan to send our kids to MacFarland. People said what you are saying about MacFarland when we started at Powell. Everyone is making MacFarland out to be the boogie man. Why not explore it and see what it has to offer instead of making assumptions based on the demographics of kids who attend. Not everyone can go to Deal or DCI or Latin...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Powell is a great school. We are UMC and have kids in the upper grades. If you are interested, speak one on one with families who are currently there. I think those that put down the EOTP schools such as Powell are trying to make themselves feel better about their decision to spend 30+ minutes in the car each way driving to and from their HRC or WOTP school only to find out that the grass really isn't that much greener. There are so many things to love about Powell. There are some minor concerns, but all schools have those.

I am EoTP parent at Bruce Monroe. Since you have kids in the upper grades are you committed to McFarland? if not, then I think you are basically saying the same thing as most other people. the middle school feeder is a HUGE issue.

This

Hey I am a Powell parent and a big fan of Mr. Sanders, MacFarland principal. He has a good history at Powell. I think he really has the best interests of the whole community in mind and - not to call him out or anything - but when my kids are there in a couple years I expect him to have that seat in Algebra class ready for them.

Anonymous wrote:Powell is a great school. We are UMC and have kids in the upper grades. If you are interested, speak one on one with families who are currently there. I think those that put down the EOTP schools such as Powell are trying to make themselves feel better about their decision to spend 30+ minutes in the car each way driving to and from their HRC or WOTP school only to find out that the grass really isn't that much greener. There are so many things to love about Powell. There are some minor concerns, but all schools have those.

I am EoTP parent at Bruce Monroe. Since you have kids in the upper grades are you committed to McFarland? if not, then I think you are basically saying the same thing as most other people. the middle school feeder is a HUGE issue.

Powell is a great school. We are UMC and have kids in the upper grades. If you are interested, speak one on one with families who are currently there. I think those that put down the EOTP schools such as Powell are trying to make themselves feel better about their decision to spend 30+ minutes in the car each way driving to and from their HRC or WOTP school only to find out that the grass really isn't that much greener. There are so many things to love about Powell. There are some minor concerns, but all schools have those.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard it’s. Great school.

It is a great school and we absolutely love it after being there for 3 years. While the neighborhood is changing, I do fear our PTA is ignoring some of the families as they toot their horns to what they want.

I’ve heard it’s. Great school.

Anonymous wrote:Gentrifying white parents like Powell and the kids seem to have good experiences. Gentrifying black parents do not like Powell.

Do tell why? There aren’t that many black families to begin with who attend Powell so not sure how you came up with that. However, I can see your point about the white families because they need the Hispanic population for the dual-language program to make it work and they deal with that aspect of it all.

Nothing like a program to ween out folks who can’t keep up.

Gentrifying white parents like Powell and the kids seem to have good experiences. Gentrifying black parents do not like Powell.

Our kids currently attend Powell and we love it there! However, as the pp mentioned, the feeder pattern gives many of us pause.

We, not like many others have the opportunity to move in my in-laws house WOTP when they retire to Florida in a few years. This will be our path for MS once the time comes and hopefully they’ll be able to continue their Spanish instruction.

We left Powell last year for a HRCS, and every day I think about going back. We probably won't, because of the feeder pattern, but it's a great neighborhood school with excellent teachers and a fabulous PTA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Families in Petworth love Powell, especially the fact that it’s Spanish-immersion. But the middle path is an obvious drawback. If you plan to move again for middle school anyway, I’d say Powell would be a great choice, especially if immersion is important to you.

Im at Bruce Monroe spanish immersion and we love it too but not for upper grades. Keep trying the lottery but shut out every year. Powell and Bruce Monroe are very similar in demographics and test scores. You will love Powell initally but you would be crazy to plan on McFarland over Deal and Wilson. stay where you are.

Powell parent here, there is a handful of UMC students in 3rd and 4th grades. It will be interesting to see where they end up for MS. The lottery is no guarantee, and they all may end up at McFarland if they don't move.

Anonymous wrote:Families in Petworth love Powell, especially the fact that it’s Spanish-immersion. But the middle path is an obvious drawback. If you plan to move again for middle school anyway, I’d say Powell would be a great choice, especially if immersion is important to you.

Im at Bruce Monroe spanish immersion and we love it too but not for upper grades. Keep trying the lottery but shut out every year. Powell and Bruce Monroe are very similar in demographics and test scores. You will love Powell initally but you would be crazy to plan on McFarland over Deal and Wilson. stay where you are.