I wouldn't send my kid to KIPP (or Appletree for that matter) regardless of what color the students are. My kid is black and Latino (though appears white) and KIPP is not the type of environment in which I want my child to spend her school years.

I have no experience with CC so I cannot speak about that.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I would send them to KIPP because I think it's a high-quality curriculum with families that value education. I'd be more worried about whether the teaching approach is a good fit for my particular kid than race. I know there's a lot of skepticism about KIPP but as it turns out my high SES white kid LOVES structure, and absolutely floundered in a more touch-feely "play based" PK. He would likely have loved KIPP.

I feel the same way. Visit both schools and see how the classroom management and m.o. of the school (give homework or not, amount of playtime, outdoor time/space, schedule, etc.) matches or clashes with your preferences. About being "the only" -- I don't think this is an inherent problem, especially not for a white child. I would highly doubt a white three year old will experience any racial discrimination at school (and if so, it could be a good learning experience). Encourage the child to make friends in school. Meet other parents and arrange play dates. We did this when our child was literally the only white child in class and it was great; we made many new friends.

KIPP should be fine for a 3 year old. You can take the program month by month, year by year, see how it goes, keep an open mind as long as the arrangement works for your family.

Both Kipp and Center City use the Appletree model for pk3 and prek4. You’ll be fine at either one for those grades. K and up, I’d choose Kipp over CC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lady or man- children at that age don’t see in color, unless that is something you are teaching your 3yr old..and all black children in public schools are not low-income. Put your energy into what the schools have to offer your child, not what color the kids are. Your kid would be just fine, as for you, I don’t know.

This is categorically, scientifically, untrue.

NP: Nope, it's very true.

Btw, when you invoke science you should always be prepared to offer relevant references in top-quality journals. Please go ahead.

Another thing you could do is check the STAR system breakdown of each school. I guess personally I'd be more concerned about the teaching style and whether a lot of work was going into remediation of underperforming kids at upper grades (at CC). I visited one Appletree which is also targeted to low income kids and was impressed but also felt like I wanted my kid in a more free form PK. This is very personal and there are other threads on here about the preferences of various races for strict or more child led classrooms. We settled on Montessori after visiting several schools which is the polar opposite of the two you mention.

IF there were a montessori that got high marks AND was mostly children of color, I would not hesitate to send my daughter there.

But I am willing to admit that I did not add some schools, including my IB and nearby DCPS and charter schools, because she would have been the only white child.

I agree with the PP who said she prefers a mostly nonwhite school to a mostly white school - all else being equal. I just think it's better preparation for life. BUT not without working at it - note the other PP with the 3rd grade all white gifted class. It's complicated.

Anonymous wrote:Lady or man- children at that age don’t see in color, unless that is something you are teaching your 3yr old..and all black children in public schools are not low-income. Put your energy into what the schools have to offer your child, not what color the kids are. Your kid would be just fine, as for you, I don’t know.

This is categorically, scientifically, untrue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks, all! I'm actually wondering more about Center City than KIPP specifically. CC is in our neighborhood, has good scores, and gets good reviews (aside from the facilities) here. But was a little taken aback that the percent of caucasian/white kids is listed as 0%. Then second guessed my surprise, then thought about it more, still didn't know what to think, and posted here. Does CC have the same model as KIPP? I would definitely want to talk to parents and visit before making any decisions, but just wanted to get feedback on the experience of being at a 0% caucasian school versus 10-15% school.

All I can say is that you should visit both schools and see what you think about the vibe and talk to parents. It would be silly to miss out on a great school in your neighborhood just due to demographics.

As PP poster said go and see, personally I wouldn't send any kid to either school regardless of race!

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks, all! I'm actually wondering more about Center City than KIPP specifically. CC is in our neighborhood, has good scores, and gets good reviews (aside from the facilities) here. But was a little taken aback that the percent of caucasian/white kids is listed as 0%. Then second guessed my surprise, then thought about it more, still didn't know what to think, and posted here. Does CC have the same model as KIPP? I would definitely want to talk to parents and visit before making any decisions, but just wanted to get feedback on the experience of being at a 0% caucasian school versus 10-15% school.

All I can say is that you should visit both schools and see what you think about the vibe and talk to parents. It would be silly to miss out on a great school in your neighborhood just due to demographics.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks, all! I'm actually wondering more about Center City than KIPP specifically. CC is in our neighborhood, has good scores, and gets good reviews (aside from the facilities) here. But was a little taken aback that the percent of caucasian/white kids is listed as 0%. Then second guessed my surprise, then thought about it more, still didn't know what to think, and posted here. Does CC have the same model as KIPP? I would definitely want to talk to parents and visit before making any decisions, but just wanted to get feedback on the experience of being at a 0% caucasian school versus 10-15% school.

CC does not have the same model as KIPP. They've been profiled a couple times in the media, and the Brightwood school in particular gets high marks. They do use the Appletree curriculum for ECE and I think their focus is very much on under-served kids. That does not mean that your could wouldn't thrive there; it just isn't who has enrolled in the past.

The school population not only black and latino, it's relatively low-income. I think it's been that way going back to when that building was a parochial school (a bunch of old DC parochial schools converted to charters a decade or so back, keeping some of the team but breaking from the archdiocese financially and in terms of curriculum). White families in the neighborhood (I'm one of them but my kids are older) have tended to aim for the so-called HRC's, attend private, or try to lottery into Wilson feeders, particularly Shepherd.

Anonymous wrote:It should not be a concern. My child went to a private that was 1% minority and was horribly bullied. At the public school where dc is one of three white kids in the grade, it has been spectacular. Classmates are the nicest group of kids. There isn’t any bullying. I am not sure what you are worried about OP. Kids are kids. Refrain from mapping adult biases onto children. I would pick a minority majority school verses the alternative any day. There is something pretty toxic brewing in them.

My child is in upper elementary too. PreK? You shouldn’t even waste time thinking about this. Are you worried your child will be hurt by them or will be ostracized for being white? White people do that, not black people in my experience.

OP here - thanks, all! I'm actually wondering more about Center City than KIPP specifically. CC is in our neighborhood, has good scores, and gets good reviews (aside from the facilities) here. But was a little taken aback that the percent of caucasian/white kids is listed as 0%. Then second guessed my surprise, then thought about it more, still didn't know what to think, and posted here. Does CC have the same model as KIPP? I would definitely want to talk to parents and visit before making any decisions, but just wanted to get feedback on the experience of being at a 0% caucasian school versus 10-15% school.

It should not be a concern. My child went to a private that was 1% minority and was horribly bullied. At the public school where dc is one of three white kids in the grade, it has been spectacular. Classmates are the nicest group of kids. There isn’t any bullying. I am not sure what you are worried about OP. Kids are kids. Refrain from mapping adult biases onto children. I would pick a minority majority school verses the alternative any day. There is something pretty toxic brewing in them.

Lady or man- children at that age don’t see in color, unless that is something you are teaching your 3yr old..and all black children in public schools are not low-income. Put your energy into what the schools have to offer your child, not what color the kids are. Your kid would be just fine, as for you, I don’t know.

OP have you visited a KIPP classroom or met with teachers or talked to any parents?