Anonymous
04/29/2025 15:26
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It looks like neither campus attracts Hispanic families. Any thoughts on why that is?
Maybe 2nd Street did not, because they do not offer Spanish, but that's not true for Cooper. There is a fairly decent number of kids who self-identify as such.
The MySchool DC page says Cooper is only 8% Hispanic. Is that off somehow?
Does Cooper plan to offer anything for the native Spanish speakers in the school like Latin American history in Spanish?
No, there isn't anything for native Spanish speakers, at least not now. (In high school, they do occasionally offer small classes based on students' interests, so it's possible it might happen in the future.)
See if you can find the most recent data for Cooper. I know recently in DCUM someone posted links to newly released data and they included the demographic breakdowns. I want to say Cooper was around 20%, but it's possible I'm misremembering.
It’s amazing that Latin doesn’t offer Spanish, especially given how many languages they do offer. Only conclusion I can reach is the obvious one: racism.
They do offer Spanish.
Anonymous
04/29/2025 10:20
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It looks like neither campus attracts Hispanic families. Any thoughts on why that is?
Maybe 2nd Street did not, because they do not offer Spanish, but that's not true for Cooper. There is a fairly decent number of kids who self-identify as such.
The MySchool DC page says Cooper is only 8% Hispanic. Is that off somehow?
Does Cooper plan to offer anything for the native Spanish speakers in the school like Latin American history in Spanish?
No, there isn't anything for native Spanish speakers, at least not now. (In high school, they do occasionally offer small classes based on students' interests, so it's possible it might happen in the future.)
See if you can find the most recent data for Cooper. I know recently in DCUM someone posted links to newly released data and they included the demographic breakdowns. I want to say Cooper was around 20%, but it's possible I'm misremembering.
It’s amazing that Latin doesn’t offer Spanish, especially given how many languages they do offer. Only conclusion I can reach is the obvious one: racism.
When I was looking at schools, I did not like that 2nd Street didn't offer Spanish. Cooper does, and that was a big pro for me. Next school year will be the first year Cooper expands beyond MS grades. Something like a history class taught in a language besides English I wouldn't expect at any non-immersion school until HS if at all, maybe 11th-12th grades. This seems like a weird thing to pick on Cooper for.
Anonymous
04/29/2025 10:19
Subject: Re:Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:
No, there isn't anything for native Spanish speakers, at least not now. (In high school, they do occasionally offer small classes based on students' interests, so it's possible it might happen in the future.)
See if you can find the most recent data for Cooper. I know recently in DCUM someone posted links to newly released data and they included the demographic breakdowns. I want to say Cooper was around 20%, but it's possible I'm misremembering.
It’s amazing that Latin doesn’t offer Spanish, especially given how many languages they do offer. Only conclusion I can reach is the obvious one: racism.
Oh please. The original 2nd Street campus deliberately chose to offer languages that were not offered at other schools. In addition, Latin initially received some type of funding from the Embassy of Qatar to help create the Arabic program.
Anonymous
04/29/2025 10:07
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It looks like neither campus attracts Hispanic families. Any thoughts on why that is?
Maybe 2nd Street did not, because they do not offer Spanish, but that's not true for Cooper. There is a fairly decent number of kids who self-identify as such.
The MySchool DC page says Cooper is only 8% Hispanic. Is that off somehow?
Does Cooper plan to offer anything for the native Spanish speakers in the school like Latin American history in Spanish?
No, there isn't anything for native Spanish speakers, at least not now. (In high school, they do occasionally offer small classes based on students' interests, so it's possible it might happen in the future.)
See if you can find the most recent data for Cooper. I know recently in DCUM someone posted links to newly released data and they included the demographic breakdowns. I want to say Cooper was around 20%, but it's possible I'm misremembering.
It’s amazing that Latin doesn’t offer Spanish, especially given how many languages they do offer. Only conclusion I can reach is the obvious one: racism.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 19:38
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Current Cooper family, since the first year it opened. Overall, happy with teachers. The one type you won't find here is the burned-out teacher who's been teaching for decades and is cynical/tired.
IMHO, teachers tend to be either young and idealistic/full of energy or more experienced and very very good/on the strict side. There is some teacher turnover (including a beloved teacher who fell seriously ill), but it's generally well handled.
Strongest teachers have been in the social sciences and math.
There is some struggle in 7th and 8th grade with discipline, but I think that's everywhere, and I don't think it's much different between the two campuses.
In years past, the Cooper kids were known to 2nd Street kids as Cooper Troopers, and I think there was some feeling of less-than, but now 2nd street is looking at the new campus in envy.
If I had to pick, I'd go based on where friends are going (if you know your kid's friend's sibling goes to one school or the other, you'll know the pathway, for example), the commute, etc.
Especially if your kid is starting 5th, by the time they get older, they'll probably end up cross-pollinating with the other campus in some way, either through sports or high school classes. There is a plan for that in the medium term.
Thank you! Very helpful.
Anonymous
04/28/2025 10:54
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Current Cooper family, since the first year it opened. Overall, happy with teachers. The one type you won't find here is the burned-out teacher who's been teaching for decades and is cynical/tired.
IMHO, teachers tend to be either young and idealistic/full of energy or more experienced and very very good/on the strict side. There is some teacher turnover (including a beloved teacher who fell seriously ill), but it's generally well handled.
Strongest teachers have been in the social sciences and math.
There is some struggle in 7th and 8th grade with discipline, but I think that's everywhere, and I don't think it's much different between the two campuses.
In years past, the Cooper kids were known to 2nd Street kids as Cooper Troopers, and I think there was some feeling of less-than, but now 2nd street is looking at the new campus in envy.
If I had to pick, I'd go based on where friends are going (if you know your kid's friend's sibling goes to one school or the other, you'll know the pathway, for example), the commute, etc.
Especially if your kid is starting 5th, by the time they get older, they'll probably end up cross-pollinating with the other campus in some way, either through sports or high school classes. There is a plan for that in the medium term.
IMHO, teachers tend to be either young and idealistic/full of energy or more experienced and very very good/on the strict side. There is some teacher turnover (including a beloved teacher who fell seriously ill), but it's generally well handled.
Strongest teachers have been in the social sciences and math.
There is some struggle in 7th and 8th grade with discipline, but I think that's everywhere, and I don't think it's much different between the two campuses.
In years past, the Cooper kids were known to 2nd Street kids as Cooper Troopers, and I think there was some feeling of less-than, but now 2nd street is looking at the new campus in envy.
If I had to pick, I'd go based on where friends are going (if you know your kid's friend's sibling goes to one school or the other, you'll know the pathway, for example), the commute, etc.
Especially if your kid is starting 5th, by the time they get older, they'll probably end up cross-pollinating with the other campus in some way, either through sports or high school classes. There is a plan for that in the medium term.
Anonymous
04/26/2025 14:07
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For the Cooper families, what is the general feedback on the teachers? Has there been much turnover?
I don't understand the point of this question. There has been a ton of turnover in the teaching profession over the last 5-6 years. Only on DCUM is this used as an indictment of specific schools.
You don’t understand the point of asking about feedback on teachers? They are kind of important for a school?
Anonymous
04/26/2025 08:35
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:For the Cooper families, what is the general feedback on the teachers? Has there been much turnover?
I don't understand the point of this question. There has been a ton of turnover in the teaching profession over the last 5-6 years. Only on DCUM is this used as an indictment of specific schools.
Anonymous
04/25/2025 21:11
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
They want your spot.
Anonymous
04/25/2025 17:12
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Don’t do it. Enroll somewhere else.
Why? Please say more!
Anonymous
04/25/2025 16:27
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Don’t do it. Enroll somewhere else.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 13:21
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It looks like neither campus attracts Hispanic families. Any thoughts on why that is?
Maybe 2nd Street did not, because they do not offer Spanish, but that's not true for Cooper. There is a fairly decent number of kids who self-identify as such.
The MySchool DC page says Cooper is only 8% Hispanic. Is that off somehow?
Does Cooper plan to offer anything for the native Spanish speakers in the school like Latin American history in Spanish?
No, there isn't anything for native Spanish speakers, at least not now. (In high school, they do occasionally offer small classes based on students' interests, so it's possible it might happen in the future.)
See if you can find the most recent data for Cooper. I know recently in DCUM someone posted links to newly released data and they included the demographic breakdowns. I want to say Cooper was around 20%, but it's possible I'm misremembering.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 09:16
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
Anonymous wrote:For the Cooper families, what is the general feedback on the teachers? Has there been much turnover?
Cooper family here and we have been at Cooper since it opened, with an 8th grader now. I would say that my DD has “mostly” had consistent teachers in most subjects. Math teachers have changed midway through the year in 6th grade and also midway through the year in 7th grade. This year in Algebra 1, she has had the same wonderful teacher, who happens to have taught some of the teachers that teach at Cooper currently, so no issues there this year! And she is the absolute best! A few teachers have come from the 2nd street location to help out and it has worked out great. The history/civics teacher is superb, going to Latin themselves as a kid. He definitely understands and relates to the kids that way. He’s the “coolest” teacher, so I’ve heard! Overall feedback on teachers would be very positive. At first, I had reservations about not having a consistent Math teacher for the kids but it taught them resilience and got them ready for having different teachers that teach different etc….Although we will be moving onto a different high school, if we weren’t leaving then we would definitely choose to stay at Cooper. We will absolutely do the lottery for our younger son to attend Latin in two years for 5th grade. No preference but fingers crossed!
Anonymous
04/22/2025 20:19
Subject: Choosing between the Latins
For the Cooper families, what is the general feedback on the teachers? Has there been much turnover?