Yes, the unvarnished truth.

+1. Most IB families think of LT has only being good for PreK and maybe K, not an option for elementary grades. The school gets decent test scores for one that's mostly low-income kids, half FARM kids, but this doesn't impress many IB parents, who are mainly white and upper-middle-class.

LT is not a school that serves its district as much as a Wards 7 and 8 school on Capitol Hill. Lots of PG County address cheaters who are territorial about the school because they attended, before being pushed out by gentrification as adults. Say any of this at a PTA meeting and prepare to get clobbered.

Shut the school down and start over with IB kids and all would be well.

Old post, from more than a year ago, wonder why it's started up again.

I'm an IB LT PreK parent, but not a PTA parent. Am leaving after PreK 3 for Maury, along with some other parents. No regrets about PreK 3 (great teacher) but, like many other parents, feel I should quit while I'm ahead.

Seems that the PTA has been talking about trying to get rid of the lazy principal, who has generally been unresponsive to the concerns of parents - don't know if this will happen, but some PTA parents seem to think it will, and soon. She's not the most gentrification friendly of heads.

A big chunk of the IB kids (read white) in PreK 3 are leaving for Peabody for PreK 4, which had something like 45 extra open spots this spring because of the SWS program being relocated and a proximity preference for many LT IB parents. Rumor has it that about more than half of the original 2 dozen IB PreK 3 kids will be gone for PreK 4.

Very little PTA fundraising was done this year, but the movement to fundraise is starting up again.

Building isn't in great shape outside (better inside), but will be renovated in 2014. There's a small group of IB parents with high hopes for the school and determination to battle on, but most still look for alternatives after PreK, or K. There are only a handful of white kids in the school in grades 1 and 2 and, to my knowledge, none above. Stanton Park neighborhood/school district is majority white (probe the 2010 census maps/data for confirmation).

A big special ed program in the school and giant group of FARM OOB kids, mostly from Anacostia, scare increasingly affluent neighborhood parents away in the absence of any TAG programs in LT and DCPS.

LT as the next Brent or Maury...maybe in a decade. The PTA can be pretty militant and PC, explaining why I didn't get involved. You're either with them or against them and it's wearying. Somebody will surely respond saying that the school is on the move with fantastic momentum and great leadership, but the IB enrollment stats above PreK don't bear these claims out. Good luck with LT.

What other school are you hoping to hear from?

Would love to hear some more current thoughts on this school. We are enrolled for preschool, as it is our inbounds school, but I am anticipating a call from another neighborhood school and am not sure what to do. My husband and I have both been to open houses there and felt like the principal was a mess, which likely means she isn't getting the school what it could have in regards to their arts integration status, etc. BUT liked many things about it otherwise, including the other families whose children attend or will be attending.

Positive and negative responses welcome, but am mainly interested in hearing from current or former parents or staff.

Thank you!

Anyone know anything about the autism program there?

Are you in bounds? Out of bounds?

After the open house, I'm adding it to my list. But I'm just not sure where it should be. LT seemed to say that last year most families got off the waitlist - does that mean I should put it last? Trying to get handle on my lottery strategy.

There's another Open House this Wed at 9am. Think I'm going to see for myself, & rely less on opinions of people who don't even have kids at the school.

Ludlow-Taylor is going to be the next Maury and Brent on the Hill.

I think that this is the blog post that an earlier poster referred to. I'm not really into union politics, and given that I have no idea what the special education team was like before the principal came there, I have no comment. But I do know that overall enrollment of students has increased and test scores have increased and there has been significant investment in early childhood education there. That is enough for me to consider it for my dc.

http://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/search/label/ludlow%20taylor%20elementary%20dc

13:12 - You so casually say in an absolute way that the principal gets rid of good teachers.

I posted earlier. I would not send my child to a school where the principal capriciously fires good teachers.

However, since this is my inboundary school, I urge you to send your child, gentrify the school, and raise the value of my house.

Good luck!

The people expressing a concerns are covertly undermining an insurgent movement by neighborhood families at L-T.

I went to the open house for LT and have to say that I was pretty impressed by the early childhood education teacher. The principal seemed great too - what am I missing? For those that expressed concerns about the principal, can you be a bit more clear. Thanks