3. Safety at Dismissal. All schools can be crazy at dismissal. DCI should consider strategies to prevent door rushing and bottlenecks at doors and metro buses at dismissal.

Suggestion: Staggered dismissal times by grade level ( High school Juniors and Seniors 3:30, 9/10 3:40, Middle School 7/8 3:50, 6th Grade 4:00)

DCI 6th Grade parent here, there are areas of concern.

1. 6th Grade Teachers : Of my child’s 7 teachers, english and math are strongest. Language: 50/50. Highly punitive environment at times (silent,no work, no reading detentions). Subjective IB grading with children being rated low without authentic support to teach toward high IB expectations or a support plan to teach kids how to reach higher IB expectations.

2. DCI Documentation : I have encountered three programs so far that require student academic achievement documents for application. Upon receiving my child’s DCI documents, admissions staff have been puzzled by high test scores but numerous 3/4/5 ratings in multiple areas given the highest standard is 8. We then have to attempt to explain the IB system and try to justify that our child is not slacking off and is a hard worker.

We have seen how the documents will be a potential barrier to opportunities.

So many DCI haters! Sounds like someone is trying to start fake news rumors to reserve their space for next year. DCI has it's fair share of bumps as does Deal and Latin. No one is happy at any Middle school but no one is willing to give their neighborhood DCPS Middle school a try either. Brookland Middle, McFarland and McKinley Middle have plenty of spaces. Anyone willing to send their precious snowflakes there? I think not! Create fake news about DCI all you want, they will be full with a very long wait list for many years to come.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has significantly different demographics from Latin and BASIS which is just plain harder. It is also significantly larger with 804 students (and it's still growing/adding a grade).

It is also a newer school.

From the beginning DCI intended to allow students an option not to pursue an IB diploma (read their charter application). They know a significant portion of their students may not ever attend college, and are supposed to be offering them the IB career diploma and training.

So why not just make DCI a vocational program with a bit of language instruction? Sheesh. We really need more high-performing schools in this city to serve taxpayers, not skim milk IB program BS. DCI can't built a critical mass of strong students without a more serious curriculum, teaching and higher standards.

Theres’s nothing inherently skim milk or not-rigorous about the IB diploma or career track programs. DCI is offering both.

But like all start up schools, it will probably take a few years at full capacity before they hit their stride. The bleeding edge kids (and their parents) are always in for a bumpy ride.

Anonymous wrote:DCI has significantly different demographics from Latin and BASIS which is just plain harder. It is also significantly larger with 804 students (and it's still growing/adding a grade).

It is also a newer school.

From the beginning DCI intended to allow students an option not to pursue an IB diploma (read their charter application). They know a significant portion of their students may not ever attend college, and are supposed to be offering them the IB career diploma and training.

So why not just make DCI a vocational program with a bit of language instruction? Sheesh. We really need more high-performing schools in this city to serve taxpayers, not skim milk IB program BS. DCI can't built a critical mass of strong students without a more serious curriculum, teaching and higher standards.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure but this kind of instability is making me concerned as we consider DCI for the lottery. DCI is our safe school option if my kid doesn’t get into one of her top choice privates. *hugs to you OP & the DCI Community*

What year? DCI won’t have spots
For kids who aren’t coming up through the feeders.

DCI has significantly different demographics from Latin and BASIS which is just plain harder. It is also significantly larger with 804 students (and it's still growing/adding a grade).

It is also a newer school.

From the beginning DCI intended to allow students an option not to pursue an IB diploma (read their charter application). They know a significant portion of their students may not ever attend college, and are supposed to be offering them the IB career diploma and training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

Mostly needy low SES kids in the schol. No real honors MS classes. No requirement that students who stay through HS do International Bacclaureate Diploma work.

What did you expect, DCI is a lottery admissions school in the District serving mostly low SES kids (unlike Wash Latin or BASIS).

Washington Latin and BASIS are also lottery admission public charter schools who must take everyone.

Right. From what I gather, those charters have higher standards than DCI, along with better teaching and higher expectations for behavior. They also support majority high SES enrollment.

At BASIS, kids who fail end-of-year comprehensive exams in 6th, 7th and 8th grades must retake after the summer. Fail again and a kid's only option to stay in the program is to repeat the grade. No such system at DCI. Social promotion is the rule as per usual in DC public before high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. PP. Yes, I know my kid will do a visit day soon but it would be really helpful for me to actually take a tour of the school, like I was able to do at Latin a few weeks ago. I plan to attend the info session/open house. I just find it a bit odd to get no response at all from anyone at the school as a feeder parent asking for what seems pretty normal to me.

You SHOULD find it odd. I had the same experience last year. They have a very disdainful attitude towards parents. I wish I had followed my gut last year.

So you are there and are unhappy? If you don't mind, what language track and what feeder?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

Mostly needy low SES kids in the schol. No real honors MS classes. No requirement that students who stay through HS do International Bacclaureate Diploma work.

What did you expect, DCI is a lottery admissions school in the District serving mostly low SES kids (unlike Wash Latin or BASIS).

Washington Latin and BASIS are also lottery admission public charter schools who must take everyone.

NP. The PP was putting the emphasis on the "serving mostly low SES kids" part.

DCI has 50% economically disadvantaged students last year.
WL middle had 18.8%
BASIS had 18.6%

The PP's sentence construction certainly didn't make it seem as if the point was about percent disadvantaged.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. PP. Yes, I know my kid will do a visit day soon but it would be really helpful for me to actually take a tour of the school, like I was able to do at Latin a few weeks ago. I plan to attend the info session/open house. I just find it a bit odd to get no response at all from anyone at the school as a feeder parent asking for what seems pretty normal to me.

You SHOULD find it odd. I had the same experience last year. They have a very disdainful attitude towards parents. I wish I had followed my gut last year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

Mostly needy low SES kids in the schol. No real honors MS classes. No requirement that students who stay through HS do International Bacclaureate Diploma work.

What did you expect, DCI is a lottery admissions school in the District serving mostly low SES kids (unlike Wash Latin or BASIS).

Washington Latin and BASIS are also lottery admission public charter schools who must take everyone.

NP. The PP was putting the emphasis on the "serving mostly low SES kids" part.

DCI has 50% economically disadvantaged students last year.
WL middle had 18.8%
BASIS had 18.6%

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

Mostly needy low SES kids in the schol. No real honors MS classes. No requirement that students who stay through HS do International Bacclaureate Diploma work.

What did you expect, DCI is a lottery admissions school in the District serving mostly low SES kids (unlike Wash Latin or BASIS).

How is that unlike Washington Latin ... they don't have testing requirements and use the lottery too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

Mostly needy low SES kids in the schol. No real honors MS classes. No requirement that students who stay through HS do International Bacclaureate Diploma work.

What did you expect, DCI is a lottery admissions school in the District serving mostly low SES kids (unlike Wash Latin or BASIS).

Washington Latin and BASIS are also lottery admission public charter schools who must take everyone.

Anonymous wrote:The MS principal seems to have resigned suddenly. There was an incident a few weeks ago where a MS student apparently tried to commit suicide on campus. Another teacher resigned abruptly. Bullying. Surly attitudes, and dangerous behavior are prevalent. I thought this was supposed to be the best MS in DC? If this is the best the City has to offer, we are in trouble! I know MS is tough but something seems really off. Anyone have better insight? I’m concerned.

What grade is your child (or grades are your children)? What have you found out as a parent at the school about what is going on? Is there no communication?

I never heard it was the best MS in DC ... aren't Deal, Hardy, and Latin considered much more attractive (for those that don't care about language)?