Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

I’m in Brookland. Bunker Hill is my IB. My kids are middle school and I don’t know anyone who sends their kids there. But I have heard second and third hand of the little kids going there.

So we’re here on this board. I just didn’t have anything productive to say.

No. You don't send your kid to Bunker Hill but instead opted out for a charter, just as the PP stated. Certain families in that neighborhood don't send their dc's to their inbound school, Bunker Hill, but rather flee to charter schools or overcrowded WOTP schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

I’m in Brookland. Bunker Hill is my IB. My kids are middle school and I don’t know anyone who sends their kids there. But I have heard second and third hand of the little kids going there.

So we’re here on this board. I just didn’t have anything productive to say.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

This. My kid is in first grade and we are IB for BH. When we did lottery we couldn’t find a single parent to tell us about BH, so we did not go. By this point I do know some who tried it for PK, but lotteried out before K or 1. Most got into MV its first year when it took tons of kids. You may find there are none here with kids in those grades and indeed very small school population overall.

If you are IB talk to your neighbors, particularly neighbors that are life time or 20+ years in their home. They may have gone to Bunker Hill, or have kids or grand kids there. There are a lot o neighbors who grandkids are attending because it is easier for grandparents to help or it is better other options. It is a small school compared to many and that is an advantage in elementary school.
There are lots of middle class families, government employees, grocery story works, medical professionals, ups drivers, frost generation immigrant families, Ben here before dc was DC families. Some new but many extremely well qualified teachers.
Test scores have improved over the years, the school has tired to bring in more arts and other activities. The staff do a LOT more than they are required to because they care and want to invest in their community. I like that it is a small school knowing each other makes a difference. If you stick around past Prk and give it time you will start to meet other parents and build a community. But, there are less "transplants" than are charters and Now schools. So, don't expect to jump in and "make things better" before investing time and listening. It is a good school that does a lot with a little. And if folks with resources didn't keep leaving after their free prke it would grow faster and be more diverse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

This. My kid is in first grade and we are IB for BH. When we did lottery we couldn’t find a single parent to tell us about BH, so we did not go. By this point I do know some who tried it for PK, but lotteried out before K or 1. Most got into MV its first year when it took tons of kids. You may find there are none here with kids in those grades and indeed very small school population overall.

Anonymous wrote:We had a great Prk experience at Bunker Hill. I can't speak to the staff though. It was a great small neighborhood school where can be a active volunteer if you want. Bonus we loved being able to walk, bike or bus to school.

Sorry I met I can't speak to the new staff. The old staff and teachers were great I assume many of the same teachers are still at the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

Agree. Also for those of us who do check in here now and then, we might not want to post identifying information about us or our school that could then be taken out of context. But I have happily jumped on a few calls with parents who asked questions about my kids' school on the email list. In fact, I made one good friend that way. In my view, the suggestions to try the local facebook or email list are more likely to help create community and open up candid conversations. It's not to be dismissive.

FWIW I have friends who are still very happy at Bunker Hill after several year and also have friends who have left with mixed feelings. It sounds like early childhood education was great there. I'd be happy to connect you if we met at Turkey Thicket or something. This forum just doesn't work well for that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

PP, candidly, I think it's unlikely you would find a Bunker Hill 1st grade parent on this board. The Brookland parents here are mostly charter school parents (hence 32 pages on LAMB). DCUM in general skews heavily towards WOTP Deal feeders and charter schools. If you're worried about not getting candid feedback on the public FB group maybe ask to set up a phone call with a parent, so it's a bit more private?

Anonymous wrote:Rather than Bunker I’d see if you could go with Langdon ES or Burroughs ES. Those are the best public schools in Ward 5.

+1 My child goes to Langdon, I love the school and the admin there really care. The school is renovated and has a large outdoor space.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.

I know that folks are trying to be helpful, but I feel like every time a Brookland question gets asked, we immediately get told to go elsewhere. The Brookland list serv is wonderful if you are looking to pick up second hand kid stuff, less helpful if you are looking for a candid opinion on schools. It might not be a 30-something page LAMB or TR thread, but even a few answers here is helpful.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the kindergarten or first grade at Bunker Hill? It’s our IB school but we haven’t lived in DC in years so we’re pretty out of touch.

I'd ask around on the https://groups.io/g/brookland-kids/topics group or the Brookland Kids Facebook group.