Thank you to PPs who responded with more details about the culture at OA.

My biracial daughter presents as white; I most definitely do not. I guess I'm relieved (and saddened) that girls have an easier time than boys. I've just had to deal with so much sh*t from strangers already, and she's only 4. May just bite the bullet and accept that this is life.

The post about supplementing gives me pause. We have another child at Lafayette, and she has had an amazing year and learned a ton. Her teacher is really dynamic. How do you feel about OA teachers PP?

We travel across the city to attend OA, despite other options, and plan to do so going forward. This is despite being very dissatisfied with very limited re-opening. We also supplement heavily in math and grammar, but expect we would have to do this for almost any DCPS or charter. We also supplement with a Spanish tutor, because we are not Spanish speaking and because both kids have not been allowed in their school building in over a year, so supplement is necessary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son attended Oyster since kindergarten (he is in high school now). Our experience was terrible. We are one of the FEW black families who have attended OA, and we have been diminished and unsupported. Oyster Adams calls themselves an engine of change, but the reality is they brutalize black families. I won't name them, but the administration of the school called my son the n-word. I will admit that he was not being polite himself, but for grown non-black women to do this is terrifying. If you are black, do not go to this school. We must uplift ourselves.

I'd really like to hear more details about this. I've been very cautious about getting excited about OA because although I do not doubt that it is excellent academically, I have reservations about how black/mixed/non-traditional families might be received. Were you able to reach out to anyone? Did any of the other few black families have similar issues?

I’ve seen firsthand- not the friendliest atmosphere for black/poor Latinx kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son attended Oyster since kindergarten (he is in high school now). Our experience was terrible. We are one of the FEW black families who have attended OA, and we have been diminished and unsupported. Oyster Adams calls themselves an engine of change, but the reality is they brutalize black families. I won't name them, but the administration of the school called my son the n-word. I will admit that he was not being polite himself, but for grown non-black women to do this is terrifying. If you are black, do not go to this school. We must uplift ourselves.

I'd really like to hear more details about this. I've been very cautious about getting excited about OA because although I do not doubt that it is excellent academically, I have reservations about how black/mixed/non-traditional families might be received. Were you able to reach out to anyone? Did any of the other few black families have similar issues?

My experience has been that biracial (black/white) students, especially girls, are treated fine. Black students, with two Black parents, seem to have more challenges (implicit bias, hurtful comments, etc). This is what I’ve personally observed, and been told by affected families directly.

Anonymous wrote:Our daughter just got a spot for pk-4, to our surprise. Can any current or previous Oyster families give us feedback on your experience with the school? Thanks!

We are currently in the PK4 program and the teachers are truly incredible. I'm sad we missed out on a year of in person learning with them, because they are really good.

We are in our 6th year at Oyster- and very happy. We spent two yeas at DC charter schools and think that the wraparound supports, the preparation, and the environment are wonderful in comparison. No school is perfect- but we've had consistently positive experience with our teachers save one year when we were less than impressed with one teacher. What we have seen, and appreciated, is the willingness of the administration to see that students or teachers are having difficulties, and then provide solutions to help them and not just a cookie cutter approach to resolution.

Anonymous wrote:My son attended Oyster since kindergarten (he is in high school now). Our experience was terrible. We are one of the FEW black families who have attended OA, and we have been diminished and unsupported. Oyster Adams calls themselves an engine of change, but the reality is they brutalize black families. I won't name them, but the administration of the school called my son the n-word. I will admit that he was not being polite himself, but for grown non-black women to do this is terrifying. If you are black, do not go to this school. We must uplift ourselves.

I'd really like to hear more details about this. I've been very cautious about getting excited about OA because although I do not doubt that it is excellent academically, I have reservations about how black/mixed/non-traditional families might be received. Were you able to reach out to anyone? Did any of the other few black families have similar issues?

anybody know about the Adams/MS part? We're at another DCPS dual language school and looking at options.

OA is an excellent school. As a parent, I must recognize that the reopening efforts are based on the school capacity and current resources and this is not exclusive to OA but to the whole DCPS system. I was not offered a spot and would not have taken it anyway as our family does not yet feels confortable with sending our children back to school.