Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ not sure about that. I think a terrible year was the one where current 7th graders were in 4th or 5th. That was when the ED called the cops on student and family protesters (not exaggerating; you can look it up.) However, the ED is transitioning out and there's someone new, so I don't know how long the shadow of the dysfunction goes. There are always smart people there willing to work -- it's just a question of whether that gets squashed.

Current 3rd grade parent here and we are transitioning out after this year. Everyone’s experience is different and I am a teacher so I know that first hand. Current ED has transitioned in already and is a parent so hopefully it’s a positive change. For our family and a few others that I have a great relationships with, we are pretty much done with the circus. Don’t want to wait around for DCI grades because from what I’ve heard, it’s a bigger MV. Dysfunction, lack of communication, lack of discipline and an overall headache. There’s no real excitement or great incentive saying that our child goes to MV or will be going to DCI. There’s Spanish immersion and that’s great but in reality, who cares if your child or family isn’t happy. The shadow of dysfunction didn’t miss this year at MV for some and will probably continue into DCI! Good luck to all!

I guess different experiences for different families because we know a family with kid at DCI who is having a great experience. She actually got into Walls for the fall and they have chosen to decline and stay at DCI.

Anonymous wrote:You need to talk to parents with older kids at MV (3rd grade and above). We left in 2nd grade and were glad we did. Our friends who stayed and now have kids at DCI are not thrilled with it and other friends whose kids graduated from DCI and went on to good colleges felt like their math background was lacking for college-level STEM classes.

Well, we are a current upper grade family at Calle Ocho and love it. Teachers and staff are fantastic. Even admin. Everyone is so dedicated to the mission, school, but especially the kids.

My kid is doing great in all subjects. He rocks in math and scores really high on standardized tests.

BTW, DCI is really advancing their math program. They actually look at teacher recommendations and standardized test scores to place the kids appropriately. They now have different levels of math classes and the highest is 2 years ahead. I don’t know of any middle school that advance that far except Basis and WOTP schools. They said at the open house that they need to expand the advance math offerings because kids coming up their middle are stronger cohort.

We did not stay at MV for DCI. We stayed because we think it’s a great school. Sure coming back after Covid was rough and we have lost teachers. No school is perfect and that happens everywhere. But we have not played the lottery and looking forward to going to DCI which has had such an upward trajectory of improvement the past few years. It will be such a game changer to not drive anywhere after school since so many clubs, sports, activities at the school too.

Anonymous wrote:^^ not sure about that. I think a terrible year was the one where current 7th graders were in 4th or 5th. That was when the ED called the cops on student and family protesters (not exaggerating; you can look it up.) However, the ED is transitioning out and there's someone new, so I don't know how long the shadow of the dysfunction goes. There are always smart people there willing to work -- it's just a question of whether that gets squashed.

Current 3rd grade parent here and we are transitioning out after this year. Everyone’s experience is different and I am a teacher so I know that first hand. Current ED has transitioned in already and is a parent so hopefully it’s a positive change. For our family and a few others that I have a great relationships with, we are pretty much done with the circus. Don’t want to wait around for DCI grades because from what I’ve heard, it’s a bigger MV. Dysfunction, lack of communication, lack of discipline and an overall headache. There’s no real excitement or great incentive saying that our child goes to MV or will be going to DCI. There’s Spanish immersion and that’s great but in reality, who cares if your child or family isn’t happy. The shadow of dysfunction didn’t miss this year at MV for some and will probably continue into DCI! Good luck to all!

^^ not sure about that. I think a terrible year was the one where current 7th graders were in 4th or 5th. That was when the ED called the cops on student and family protesters (not exaggerating; you can look it up.) However, the ED is transitioning out and there's someone new, so I don't know how long the shadow of the dysfunction goes. There are always smart people there willing to work -- it's just a question of whether that gets squashed.

You need to talk to parents with older kids at MV (3rd grade and above). We left in 2nd grade and were glad we did. Our friends who stayed and now have kids at DCI are not thrilled with it and other friends whose kids graduated from DCI and went on to good colleges felt like their math background was lacking for college-level STEM classes.

I am a current MV parent (C8) of a PK3 and K. Both my kiddos are thriving and love going to school. My DD in K who has been at MV since PK3, is reading in English (we taught her) and Spanish (MV taught her). Both my kiddos have had excellent teachers and they have all been native speakers. I really like the setting of the C8 campus. Its tree lined, lots of grass, and a peaceful location. We are looking forward to the campus expansion and plan to stay through 5th.

Anonymous wrote:No horse in the MV race but wanted to chime in to say that teacher attrition and mid-year departures is certainly not a MV specific issue. All schools at all levels are dealing with this. Finding qualified mid-year replacements is always a challenge, made more so I would imagine by need to find Spanish speakers.

+1. I work in a NOVA public and we lost two teachers mid year. It’s fairly common these days. No one wants to teach right now.

No horse in the MV race but wanted to chime in to say that teacher attrition and mid-year departures is certainly not a MV specific issue. All schools at all levels are dealing with this. Finding qualified mid-year replacements is always a challenge, made more so I would imagine by need to find Spanish speakers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will take my 50% chance at DCI than my 100% chance at MacFarland.

THIS. My kid is in 2nd now at Calle Ocho and we well knew that there wasn't a guarantee for DCI but Im am still happy to have a shot at DCI over Brookland Middle. And fwiw- DCI is not what keeps us at Mundo, we are very happy there.

+1000. Plus if you are serious about spanish, it’s no secret that MV has the strongest spanish program with a very large portion of educated native speaking families.

Also, we don’t speak any spanish and was shocked to learn how many non-hispanic families in our class when we started had at least 1 parent who was fluent in the language (study abroad, lived abroad, peace corps, etc…)

But their test scores in Math and ELA kinda stink, relative to demographics...

You obviously have no kids at the school. They are serious about spanish and math and english is also taught in spanish 50% of the time, unlike most of the other schools in the city where spanish takes a back seat in the upper grades and it’s english.

So if your kid is weak in spanish, then they will struggle to get concepts in math and it won’t be a good fit.

Immersion is not for everyone. If your kid is struggling in core subjects, it won’t be a good fit because less time is spent in core subjects and english.

Also walk the halls at the school. Spanish, not english is spoken by the staff because all teachers and admin are native speakers. we are at Calle ocho and I can only think of 3 staff out of hundreds who are not native speakers.

Anonymous wrote:60% chance at DCI - absolutely will take it.

100% chance at Brookland Middle or some other very poorly performing DCPS middle school - no thanks, non-starter.

BTW, even with the expansion, all kids will get in for the fall from both campuses. What DCI is doing is if there are left over spanish seats for 1 feeder then they will use it for another feeder who needs more seats then interested students.

So there is 0 chance anyone not in a feeder will get a spanish spot at DCI.

It's more a question of ranking the DCI feeders. Comparing to DCPS Title I middle schools is missing the point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will take my 50% chance at DCI than my 100% chance at MacFarland.

THIS. My kid is in 2nd now at Calle Ocho and we well knew that there wasn't a guarantee for DCI but Im am still happy to have a shot at DCI over Brookland Middle. And fwiw- DCI is not what keeps us at Mundo, we are very happy there.

+1000. Plus if you are serious about spanish, it’s no secret that MV has the strongest spanish program with a very large portion of educated native speaking families.

Also, we don’t speak any spanish and was shocked to learn how many non-hispanic families in our class when we started had at least 1 parent who was fluent in the language (study abroad, lived abroad, peace corps, etc…)

But their test scores in Math and ELA kinda stink, relative to demographics...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will take my 50% chance at DCI than my 100% chance at MacFarland.

THIS. My kid is in 2nd now at Calle Ocho and we well knew that there wasn't a guarantee for DCI but Im am still happy to have a shot at DCI over Brookland Middle. And fwiw- DCI is not what keeps us at Mundo, we are very happy there.

+1000. Plus if you are serious about spanish, it’s no secret that MV has the strongest spanish program with a very large portion of educated native speaking families.

Also, we don’t speak any spanish and was shocked to learn how many non-hispanic families in our class when we started had at least 1 parent who was fluent in the language (study abroad, lived abroad, peace corps, etc…)

60% chance at DCI - absolutely will take it.

100% chance at Brookland Middle or some other very poorly performing DCPS middle school - no thanks, non-starter.

BTW, even with the expansion, all kids will get in for the fall from both campuses. What DCI is doing is if there are left over spanish seats for 1 feeder then they will use it for another feeder who needs more seats then interested students.

So there is 0 chance anyone not in a feeder will get a spanish spot at DCI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will take my 50% chance at DCI than my 100% chance at MacFarland.

THIS. My kid is in 2nd now at Calle Ocho and we well knew that there wasn't a guarantee for DCI but Im am still happy to have a shot at DCI over Brookland Middle. And fwiw- DCI is not what keeps us at Mundo, we are very happy there.

Of course. It's just so important that incoming parents understand that it's a preference not a guarantee.

I am a MV parent and I think the school is very transparent about this as are other schools with more students than DCI seats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will take my 50% chance at DCI than my 100% chance at MacFarland.

THIS. My kid is in 2nd now at Calle Ocho and we well knew that there wasn't a guarantee for DCI but Im am still happy to have a shot at DCI over Brookland Middle. And fwiw- DCI is not what keeps us at Mundo, we are very happy there.

Of course. It's just so important that incoming parents understand that it's a preference not a guarantee.