Anonymous
Post 02/16/2012 17:15     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Anonymous wrote:Yikes. As a parent looking for PS3 options, I am worried about responses like 11:57. My son is also very bright, but I want pre-school to be a good mix of "academics," free play and social learning - I do not think 3 and 4 year olds, no matter how bright, need to be in a pressure-filled academic environment and that they learn best through play. Emotional and behavioral self-regulation are incredibly important skills to learn before they enter kindergarten. Mind you - I'm not suggesting 11:57 is a bad parent, but I wonder how much of this attitude exists amongst other parents in the city and how much that impacts the instructional model, because it's just not a philosophy I share.

Did you see that the post you're concerned about was from the spring of 2010? Things might have changed, particularly since the Center City system has only operated as a charter for a few years.

The latest charter school report card also praises some CC campuses and pans others--so what was true at the Cap Hill campus may never have been true at Brightwood, Petworth, Trinidad or elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2012 16:21     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Anonymous wrote:Yikes. As a parent looking for PS3 options, I am worried about responses like 11:57. My son is also very bright, but I want pre-school to be a good mix of "academics," free play and social learning - I do not think 3 and 4 year olds, no matter how bright, need to be in a pressure-filled academic environment and that they learn best through play. Emotional and behavioral self-regulation are incredibly important skills to learn before they enter kindergarten. Mind you - I'm not suggesting 11:57 is a bad parent, but I wonder how much of this attitude exists amongst other parents in the city and how much that impacts the instructional model, because it's just not a philosophy I share.


You need not worry. Center City does not offer PS3.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2012 13:06     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Yikes. As a parent looking for PS3 options, I am worried about responses like 11:57. My son is also very bright, but I want pre-school to be a good mix of "academics," free play and social learning - I do not think 3 and 4 year olds, no matter how bright, need to be in a pressure-filled academic environment and that they learn best through play. Emotional and behavioral self-regulation are incredibly important skills to learn before they enter kindergarten. Mind you - I'm not suggesting 11:57 is a bad parent, but I wonder how much of this attitude exists amongst other parents in the city and how much that impacts the instructional model, because it's just not a philosophy I share.
Anonymous
Post 06/15/2011 11:36     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Anonymous wrote:Center City's online application:

www.centercitypcs.org/application/

They have 6 campuses (Brightwood, Capitol Hill, Congress Heights, Petworth, Shaw and Trinidad) that are PreK4 through 8th grade. They were former Catholic schools who converted to charters last school year.
Anonymous
Post 06/14/2011 10:11     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
sound to me that your real problem is with race and not with the school i have been to the trinidad campus and even the staff is diverse...sounds like a personal problem to me all races have behavioral problems with there kids but it starts at home not at school.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2011 19:54     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Anonymous wrote:I find it inappropriate for the principal to respond as such on a parent blog. I think we have read and get your POV, so please move on and work with corporate to make changes that the parents and/or former faculty are referencing. Once that occurs, let’s use the test scores as our measure oppose to the cheerleading.



This is crazy, I wish principals would post more often. These debates need multiple voices, not just parents. Yes it is their spin, but putting their name down allows one to hold them accountable in a way all of us random anonymous posts don't.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2011 09:25     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
I am a Center City-Trinidad Mom and [/b]I LOVE IT!!!

I am reassured EVERYDAY that I made the best decision for MY child.

Like anything else, everything is not for everybody. Do your research and go to open houses to decide which institution is best suited for YOUR child as opposed to listening to others personal experiences/prejudices/biases.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2011 07:41     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
17:52...if you don't know the FACTS, you should NOT post! The information provided are NOT correct.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2011 19:58     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
The Catholic versions of these schools closed because of decreasing enrollment, yes. The enrollment decreased because fewer and fewer people were able to afford the schools, the voucher program which provided the education for many kids was dying, and the parishes were resistant to continuing to pay for the education of other people's kids in addition to paying their own taxes (I mean individual parishioners would also pay taxes, not the church). So they hit upon the smart idea of turning them into charter schools. I have nothing to do with any of this and have no idea about the quality of the schools after (I know they were decent, not fabulous before, but certainly in keeping with the other ADW parish schools). I am sure some are happy with them and others are not, but I don't think we need to cry conspiracy on behalf of the ADW. Those buildings undoubtedly would have been snatched up by other charter schools if the particular situation that worked out had not worked out. The ADW has every right to make use of their buildings and also to decide not to continue to fund the education of massive numbers of non-Catholics/non-parishioners.

signed, not Catholic, kids not in a Catholic or charter school, no dog in this fight
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2011 17:57     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
I am a parent of two children at CCPCS Brightwood Campus. I can only speak to the Brightwood Campus experience. Overall I am very satisfied with the progress my children have made at the school. They are in Kindergarten. I also have a child in a JKLM (intentionally vague) school that attended CCPCS/Brightwood. The teachers we have had for our children have been very good and caring. The most outstanding attributes we have noticed is the special attention our children have recieved in regards to advanced work. When our children have not been sufficiently challenged, the teacher and principle have worked to give them more advanced work. In the past we found this to be the case with our older child. In terms of comparing the two schools we found that our older child is doing well at the JKLM school and did not find the work much harder (to our chagrin). She was a top student at Brightwood and is one now at the JKLM school. We like both schools and think the biggest difference is peer groups. i would suggest you stop by and make your own choice.

PS there have beend waitlists in some grades but I don't know which ones.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2011 12:36     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
I find it inappropriate for the principal to respond as such on a parent blog. I think we have read and get your POV, so please move on and work with corporate to make changes that the parents and/or former faculty are referencing. Once that occurs, let’s use the test scores as our measure oppose to the cheerleading.

Anonymous
Post 03/11/2011 12:28     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Unfortunately, much of the criticism is more true than false. My child started on the Catholic side and transitioned into the Charter and there is a clear divide between the curriculums at the respective entities. The Catholic side is more advanced and stable with curriculum and for that there is never a response for the disparity when confronting CCPS—just lots of promises and smiles. I am a great believer in that I pay taxes for education; however, it seems quality education in DC is found where tuition must be paid or hope for a spot on the waitlist with a reputable charter school. I will be sending my child to another school starting this fall. I hate to see a school building with no children, but we must not wait for the school to get its act together at the expense of a child’s education.

Sorry CCPS.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2011 22:04     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
You sound like a public relations person for the Archdiocese of Washington. By the way, there are plenty of former faculty members from these rotten schools who will tell you about the fraudulent nature of all six of them.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2011 05:56     Subject: Re:Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
Oh you sound like a scorned former faculty member. Tsk,tsk, tsk. how sad.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2011 00:32     Subject: Center City Public Charter Schools - Apply Online
To the Trinidad Campus Principal: Did the DC Charter Board give Center City Public Charter Schools special treatment with regard to the closing of your Brentwood Campus? Why was there not one peep about this closing at the Charter Board web site? Also, what did you think about the scolding that Dr. Beverly Wheeler, the third Chief Executive Officer of Center City, received from City Council Chairman Kwame Brown with regard to the low test scores all six of your schools posted? The only value your schools have is to the Archdiocese of Washington which collects rent for the use of its former schools. You do not represent and educational institution, you represent a rent collection scheme. You are not exactly a "new kid on the block" either. In fact, the major selling point for the conversion of your schools was that they had a long established record for "excellence" That turned out to be a joke. I'm sure the Archdiocese is still collecting rent despite the low test scores and the rampant truancy that are so common at your schools. There are more than just a few of us who are disgusted with the Center City Public Cheater Schools!