Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 14:49     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:OP I will just say that was my list and...we didn't get into any of them (which really happens to a lot of people; look closely at the length of the wait lists). I was really glad my partner researched and put some last-minute additional schools on the list. We are at a different charter with a high achiever, and it's been fine, but if I had done it again I probably would have tried for a Deal feeder or moved for 6th.


Second this -- I would keep the charters and then fill out your entire 12 spots for Deal and Hardy feeders (or possibly Francis feeders, if that's an acceptable school for you).
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 14:24     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the ITDS Middle School is pretty great. It's a warm, nurturing place with a lot of opportunities considering how small it is. Good sports, a great school musical every year, great teaching. They just added a program so that kids who want to can take Algebra 1 and Geometry by the time the graduate. They also do a great job of getting kids into selective high schools - private and public. It's not stressful or overly rigorous, but kids learn a lot and are cared for well.

I think it might be harder to get a spot at ITDS than Basis so if you think you'd be more likely to want a spot at ITDS than Basis, I'd swap those two.


I don't think so, ITDS makes a lot of late offers. we know a family that was deep in the 100s for BASIS and got an offer from ITDS for 5th.


ITDS admissions are pretty variable year to year.

The current 4th grade cohort has some widespread behavior issues and the school has tried various interventions but nothing has been very effective. There may be more attrition this year because of it.


This is very concerning, as 4th grade would be our cohort.


Of course, there's no reason to think any particular kid in that cohort would or wouldn't stay for 5th... and what kids will come in for 5th is also pretty random. ITDS tends to have 15-20% turnover between 4th and 5th.

This was the situation when my son was moving from 4th to 5th as well (on particular child with major discipline problems). He left the next year, so we're glad with stuck with it.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 14:17     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

OP I will just say that was my list and...we didn't get into any of them (which really happens to a lot of people; look closely at the length of the wait lists). I was really glad my partner researched and put some last-minute additional schools on the list. We are at a different charter with a high achiever, and it's been fine, but if I had done it again I probably would have tried for a Deal feeder or moved for 6th.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 13:11     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

can parents with kids in basis comment the "natural light" part? is it true?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My mathy kids loves BASIS too. Don't discard it so quickly! He runs cross country and track on the mall 4 days a week after school, has lots of friends, no FOMO here at all.
\

Discard BASIS quickly if your kid loves anything but math and science (I won't go as far as STEM since there's hardly any tech or engineering, school can't afford them). Avoid if your kid enjoys foreign languages, visual arts (painting, pottery, sculpting) singing, acting, dancing, serious sports, playing music. Oh and natural light, if that matters, don't bother.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 12:45     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.

Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this

Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.

Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.

Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.


If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.


Same.



Above is the answer with a mathy kid. Latin isn’t going to cut it even if you get in which is unlikely. You should really consider moving to the burbs.


So Latin didn’t cut it for math for the Latin grad from last year that is now at MIT for…checks notes….mathematics!


There's another kid from Latin who is going to MIT this fall.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 12:26     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.

Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this

Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.

Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.

Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.


If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.


Same.



Above is the answer with a mathy kid. Latin isn’t going to cut it even if you get in which is unlikely. You should really consider moving to the burbs.


So Latin didn’t cut it for math for the Latin grad from last year that is now at MIT for…checks notes….mathematics!
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 20:55     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

I’d considering where you live do Deal feeders this year too. High likelihood? No. But you get 12 lottery spots so you might as well use them and 5th grade is super unpredictable at the elementary school feeder level.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 17:01     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no experience with either of these schools other than what I read on DCUM, so this isn't a recommendation, just a maybe you should do some preliminary research, but I see Truth and Stuart Hobson mentioned here a lot.

Those don't start in fifth, so it would be Stuart Hobson feeders for next year and lottery for Truth next year if you decide it's an option you'd consider.


Thanks, we are in Adams Morgan so both of those schools are too far.



Put some Hardy feeders on your list these year -- you never know.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 16:37     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no experience with either of these schools other than what I read on DCUM, so this isn't a recommendation, just a maybe you should do some preliminary research, but I see Truth and Stuart Hobson mentioned here a lot.

Those don't start in fifth, so it would be Stuart Hobson feeders for next year and lottery for Truth next year if you decide it's an option you'd consider.


Thanks, we are in Adams Morgan so both of those schools are too far.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 16:26     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

I have absolutely no experience with either of these schools other than what I read on DCUM, so this isn't a recommendation, just a maybe you should do some preliminary research, but I see Truth and Stuart Hobson mentioned here a lot.

Those don't start in fifth, so it would be Stuart Hobson feeders for next year and lottery for Truth next year if you decide it's an option you'd consider.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 16:09     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.

Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this

Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.

Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.

Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.


If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.


Same.



Above is the answer with a mathy kid. Latin isn’t going to cut it even if you get in which is unlikely. You should really consider moving to the burbs.


This is OP, can you share more details on why Latin won't work? I was thinking we can supplement with RSM during middle school if it's really not challenging.


PP above, weak in math and science. Does not offer very advance math tracking. EOTP the only school I would recommend for STEM kid is Basis and DCI.


Both Latin campuses have a significant portion of the 8th grade class (about 1/3) taking Geometry with the meets/exceeds on CAPE over 80%.

Can't really compare success directly with BASIS and DCI because they don't have their students take the CAPE that corresponds to the course studied.


Right but dci has a big proportion of kids takin algebra 2 in 8th and an even bigger cohort taking geometry in 8th.

I don’t have a kid in Latin but we have lots of close friends (who are so so happy there). I think it is not a stem focused school based on what they tell me and the courses their kids are taking.


Big like how many Algebra 2 in 8th?

So this means they reliably get a bunch of kids through pre algebra in 5th?


Two classrooms for algebra 2 in 8th.

There are definitely kids who do not get through pre algebra in 5th. DCI does very well in ensuring they have remedial and advanced classes in math. Many parents have supplemented in math whose kids are ready to be challenged. Others have not.

This placement is based on the NWEA MAP test and teacher recommendation.


And even more classes below that for “Geometry”. So lots and lots of kids who do pretty well in math.

I put it in quotes because math in an IB curriculum is not compartmentalized. It is integrated so the content taught in class could be both Geometry and Algebra integrated but you get the gist that the highest math track gets you to AP Cal in 10th.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 16:04     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.

Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this

Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.

Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.

Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.


If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.


Same.



Above is the answer with a mathy kid. Latin isn’t going to cut it even if you get in which is unlikely. You should really consider moving to the burbs.


This is OP, can you share more details on why Latin won't work? I was thinking we can supplement with RSM during middle school if it's really not challenging.


PP above, weak in math and science. Does not offer very advance math tracking. EOTP the only school I would recommend for STEM kid is Basis and DCI.


Both Latin campuses have a significant portion of the 8th grade class (about 1/3) taking Geometry with the meets/exceeds on CAPE over 80%.

Can't really compare success directly with BASIS and DCI because they don't have their students take the CAPE that corresponds to the course studied.


Right but dci has a big proportion of kids takin algebra 2 in 8th and an even bigger cohort taking geometry in 8th.

I don’t have a kid in Latin but we have lots of close friends (who are so so happy there). I think it is not a stem focused school based on what they tell me and the courses their kids are taking.


Big like how many Algebra 2 in 8th?

So this means they reliably get a bunch of kids through pre algebra in 5th?


Two classrooms for algebra 2 in 8th.

There are definitely kids who do not get through pre algebra in 5th. DCI does very well in ensuring they have remedial and advanced classes in math. Many parents have supplemented in math whose kids are ready to be challenged. Others have not.

This placement is based on the NWEA MAP test and teacher recommendation.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 16:00     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My mathy kids loves BASIS too. Don't discard it so quickly! He runs cross country and track on the mall 4 days a week after school, has lots of friends, no FOMO here at all.
\

Discard BASIS quickly if your kid loves anything but math and science (I won't go as far as STEM since there's hardly any tech or engineering, school can't afford them). Avoid if your kid enjoys foreign languages, visual arts (painting, pottery, sculpting) singing, acting, dancing, serious sports, playing music. Oh and natural light, if that matters, don't bother.


Troll alert.

Discard the above comment quickly.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 15:59     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My mathy kids loves BASIS too. Don't discard it so quickly! He runs cross country and track on the mall 4 days a week after school, has lots of friends, no FOMO here at all.
\

Discard BASIS quickly if your kid loves anything but math and science (I won't go as far as STEM since there's hardly any tech or engineering, school can't afford them). Avoid if your kid enjoys foreign languages, visual arts (painting, pottery, sculpting) singing, acting, dancing, serious sports, playing music. Oh and natural light, if that matters, don't bother.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2026 15:49     Subject: Judge my lottery list for MS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our inbound is CHEC, which is a no go for 2 reasons main reasons - child doesn't speak a lick of Spanish, and is interested in math and science and they have 11% and 1% proficiency.

Our list for 5th is:
1. Latin 1
2. Latin 2
3. Basis (but not sure we would take - seems like a joyless place)
4. ITDS - also not sold on this

Plan B: wait for 6th and then lottery into Hardy, or maybe Francis if they get geometry for 8th. Or apply to St Anselms.

Plan C: move into Deal boundary in 6th.

Am i missing any other options? Kid is super super mathy, but we are looking for a well-rounded education with arts and books and sports and low tech.


If you really have a math kid, take a harder look at BASIS (talk to current families). It's not joyless for math kids, in our experience. My kid is very happy.


Same.



Above is the answer with a mathy kid. Latin isn’t going to cut it even if you get in which is unlikely. You should really consider moving to the burbs.


This is OP, can you share more details on why Latin won't work? I was thinking we can supplement with RSM during middle school if it's really not challenging.


PP above, weak in math and science. Does not offer very advance math tracking. EOTP the only school I would recommend for STEM kid is Basis and DCI.


Both Latin campuses have a significant portion of the 8th grade class (about 1/3) taking Geometry with the meets/exceeds on CAPE over 80%.

Can't really compare success directly with BASIS and DCI because they don't have their students take the CAPE that corresponds to the course studied.


Right but dci has a big proportion of kids takin algebra 2 in 8th and an even bigger cohort taking geometry in 8th.

I don’t have a kid in Latin but we have lots of close friends (who are so so happy there). I think it is not a stem focused school based on what they tell me and the courses their kids are taking.


Big like how many Algebra 2 in 8th?

So this means they reliably get a bunch of kids through pre algebra in 5th?