Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Just wow. “Low SES families shouldn’t be encouraged to do this.” And I saw your further response justifying this position. Families that are not rich can only take advantage of what’s available in the public school system. If they don’t have the funds to enroll in a better program or supplement, your attitude is that they shouldn’t do anything. Are you for real? Do understand anything about the world other than your own little bubble? Please refrain from suggesting what “low ses” families should/should not do.

Knee jerk and unfair response. If DCPS and the DC immersion charters and DCI ran their immersion/partial immersion programs the way MoCo does, the argument wouldn't hold up. Unfortunately, it does. Unlike in MoCo, low SES kids in DC PS immersion are given insufficient institutional support to ensure that the immersion pays off for languages that their families don't speak at home, due in large part to severe charter funding constraints. The kids don't get outside tutoring in the language and other subjects and don't get sponsored to do regular immersion camps in the summers. Misguided DC ed policies and funding decisions diminish the comparative public school immersion and partial immersion experience for all the students. You can't wish these systemic problems away.

My main problem with DCI is the bad timing of IB Diploma exams (given in June of senior year) for kids applying to colleges. Most DCI parents don't seem to know or care about the problem. Your kid applies to college without standardized subject test scores unless they doubled up on APs sophomore and junior year, which DCI guidance counselors advice against. That approach might work for colleges that aren't too competitive, but for T20 schools, it's risky business. The "predicted" IBD exam scores DCI teachers give to send with applications seem like a joke. We wound up having our kid take 4 APs independently at other schools in the last couple years, which meant a lot of extra prep (AP curriculum and IBD are somewhat different). We won't know if the effort paid off for another couple months. Buyer beware. Our eldest didn't get into Walls but if your DCI teen does, go.

That’s an IB issue, not DCI.

DP. But other IB schools account for the timing of the IB exams and encourage kids to take APs. DCI doesn't do that, as PP mentions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Just wow. “Low SES families shouldn’t be encouraged to do this.” And I saw your further response justifying this position. Families that are not rich can only take advantage of what’s available in the public school system. If they don’t have the funds to enroll in a better program or supplement, your attitude is that they shouldn’t do anything. Are you for real? Do understand anything about the world other than your own little bubble? Please refrain from suggesting what “low ses” families should/should not do.

Knee jerk and unfair response. If DCPS and the DC immersion charters and DCI ran their immersion/partial immersion programs the way MoCo does, the argument wouldn't hold up. Unfortunately, it does. Unlike in MoCo, low SES kids in DC PS immersion are given insufficient institutional support to ensure that the immersion pays off for languages that their families don't speak at home, due in large part to severe charter funding constraints. The kids don't get outside tutoring in the language and other subjects and don't get sponsored to do regular immersion camps in the summers. Misguided DC ed policies and funding decisions diminish the comparative public school immersion and partial immersion experience for all the students. You can't wish these systemic problems away.

My main problem with DCI is the bad timing of IB Diploma exams (given in June of senior year) for kids applying to colleges. Most DCI parents don't seem to know or care about the problem. Your kid applies to college without standardized subject test scores unless they doubled up on APs sophomore and junior year, which DCI guidance counselors advice against. That approach might work for colleges that aren't too competitive, but for T20 schools, it's risky business. The "predicted" IBD exam scores DCI teachers give to send with applications seem like a joke. We wound up having our kid take 4 APs independently at other schools in the last couple years, which meant a lot of extra prep (AP curriculum and IBD are somewhat different). We won't know if the effort paid off for another couple months. Buyer beware. Our eldest didn't get into Walls but if your DCI teen does, go.

That’s an IB issue, not DCI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Just wow. “Low SES families shouldn’t be encouraged to do this.” And I saw your further response justifying this position. Families that are not rich can only take advantage of what’s available in the public school system. If they don’t have the funds to enroll in a better program or supplement, your attitude is that they shouldn’t do anything. Are you for real? Do understand anything about the world other than your own little bubble? Please refrain from suggesting what “low ses” families should/should not do.

Knee jerk and unfair response. If DCPS and the DC immersion charters and DCI ran their immersion/partial immersion programs the way MoCo does, the argument wouldn't hold up. Unfortunately, it does. Unlike in MoCo, low SES kids in DC PS immersion are given insufficient institutional support to ensure that the immersion pays off for languages that their families don't speak at home, due in large part to severe charter funding constraints. The kids don't get outside tutoring in the language and other subjects and don't get sponsored to do regular immersion camps in the summers. Misguided DC ed policies and funding decisions diminish the comparative public school immersion and partial immersion experience for all the students. You can't wish these systemic problems away.

My main problem with DCI is the bad timing of IB Diploma exams (given in June of senior year) for kids applying to colleges. Most DCI parents don't seem to know or care about the problem. Your kid applies to college without standardized subject test scores unless they doubled up on APs sophomore and junior year, which DCI guidance counselors advice against. That approach might work for colleges that aren't too competitive, but for T20 schools, it's risky business. The "predicted" IBD exam scores DCI teachers give to send with applications seem like a joke. We wound up having our kid take 4 APs independently at other schools in the last couple years, which meant a lot of extra prep (AP curriculum and IBD are somewhat different). We won't know if the effort paid off for another couple months. Buyer beware. Our eldest didn't get into Walls but if your DCI teen does, go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI is pretty good

+1. IB program is rigorous. Great facilities, beautiful campus, lots of extracurriculars, clubs, sports - similar to your typical suburban school.

The issue is that it’s very difficult to get in.

Uh, no

Yeah, we get it. Not enough white kids there for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Yes, yes, yes. DCI isn’t good. Don’t put it down on your lottery list so we have a better shot!

And this is it in a nutshell. Plenty of people are happy with what is available so there’s no need for these schools to improve. There are huge waitlists for them as they are.

+1

Feel free to put your kid in your DCPS IB high school and work on improving that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Yes, yes, yes. DCI isn’t good. Don’t put it down on your lottery list so we have a better shot!

And this is it in a nutshell. Plenty of people are happy with what is available so there’s no need for these schools to improve. There are huge waitlists for them as they are.

+1

Guess you don’t understand sarcasm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Yes, yes, yes. DCI isn’t good. Don’t put it down on your lottery list so we have a better shot!

And this is it in a nutshell. Plenty of people are happy with what is available so there’s no need for these schools to improve. There are huge waitlists for them as they are.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Yes, yes, yes. DCI isn’t good. Don’t put it down on your lottery list so we have a better shot!

And this is it in a nutshell. Plenty of people are happy with what is available so there’s no need for these schools to improve. There are huge waitlists for them as they are.

Anonymous wrote:Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Yes, yes, yes. DCI isn’t good. Don’t put it down on your lottery list so we have a better shot!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Just wow. “Low SES families shouldn’t be encouraged to do this.” And I saw your further response justifying this position. Families that are not rich can only take advantage of what’s available in the public school system. If they don’t have the funds to enroll in a better program or supplement, your attitude is that they shouldn’t do anything. Are you for real? Do understand anything about the world other than your own little bubble? Please refrain from suggesting what “low ses” families should/should not do.

Knee jerk and unfair response. If DCPS and the DC immersion charters and DCI ran their immersion/partial immersion programs the way MoCo does, the argument wouldn't hold up. Unfortunately, it does. Unlike in MoCo, low SES kids in DC PS immersion are given insufficient institutional support to ensure that the immersion pays off for languages that their families don't speak at home, due in large part to severe charter funding constraints. The kids don't get outside tutoring in the language and other subjects and don't get sponsored to do regular immersion camps in the summers. Misguided DC ed policies and funding decisions diminish the comparative public school immersion and partial immersion experience for all the students. You can't wish these systemic problems away.

Back to OP's question, it seems safe to assume that the best charter high school isn't DCI. Wow, just wow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Just wow. “Low SES families shouldn’t be encouraged to do this.” And I saw your further response justifying this position. Families that are not rich can only take advantage of what’s available in the public school system. If they don’t have the funds to enroll in a better program or supplement, your attitude is that they shouldn’t do anything. Are you for real? Do understand anything about the world other than your own little bubble? Please refrain from suggesting what “low ses” families should/should not do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Why dint you spend 50k a year to send your kid to WIS then. Oh, I forgot. Many families there don’t supplement either.

You are totally delusional to think there is a 100% or anywhere close to that with families supplementing, even in private.

It’s sad that you think immersion is only for the rich. Immersion is offered to everyone. Some kids might not be fluent in the language, some families might not be able to supplement. It doesn’t mean they don’t benefit from immersion. And language tracks at DCI so kids are placed in the appropriate class

Let's disagree without being disagreeable. This trilingual European parent knows that immersion language study only pays off if schools and families take it seriously, because that's the prevailing view where I come from, supported by a large corpus of academic lit. Unfortunately, immersion language study for children that isn't taken seriously invariably comes at the expense of development in the mother tongue. Not a great idea. In Europe, kids either learn languages through full-fledged two-way immersion (not just learning from teachers, but from peers and an ethnic community) or learn languages only after the mother tongue has been learned well, at age 9 or 10. Sadly, the jokey one-way "immersion" studies offered in most DCI feeders and at DCI doesn't represent educational best practices. Sorry, but claiming that one-way immersion works well on DCUM won't change things. Our kid was placed in the "appropriate class", the most advanced track for the target language at DCI, where most of the students could hardly speak the target language. We soon left for true immersion in a different program. DC public schools could do better.

Only 3 decent charters for high school: DCI, Latin, Basis

Pretty much impossible to get in like a previous PP said. Your chances are significantly higher with the DCPS high schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most families don't supplement or care about aiming high.

Most can’t afford to supplement in the ways mentioned. Do you think only rich parents care about their kids?

So why choose immersion/partial immersion if you can't afford for your kids to learn to speak a language not spoken at home? Arguably, low SES DC families shouldn't be encouraged to do this.

I'm not convinced that many of the "rich" parents at DCI are remotely serious about immersion, or academics in general. Their kids coast, fine by DCI. No advanced/honors/intensified classes in middle school (outside math and, supposedly, language) makes for an easy ride, particularly in 6th and 7th grades. Things are better in high school, but not by leaps and bounds. Plenty of unrealistic parents onboard at DCI.

Why dint you spend 50k a year to send your kid to WIS then. Oh, I forgot. Many families there don’t supplement either.

You are totally delusional to think there is a 100% or anywhere close to that with families supplementing, even in private.

It’s sad that you think immersion is only for the rich. Immersion is offered to everyone. Some kids might not be fluent in the language, some families might not be able to supplement. It doesn’t mean they don’t benefit from immersion. And language tracks at DCI so kids are placed in the appropriate class