Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 22:26     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
Wow PP. Not a Maury parent, but your attitude is alarming. I do live in th neighborhood and know of some committed parents who are sending their children to Eliot-Hine. It takes people like that to change a school, and I'm impressed at their tenacity.

As far as your comment about "getting the popcorn", it is neither cute nor original.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 21:43     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:OP, you're asking for an assessment of Maury ES in terms of a well-rounded education and school culture, or roughly that's what I understand. My children went/go to Maury. One is now in a high performing middle school with children from other excellent elementary schools in the mix. S/he is consistently scoring at or near the top of the class. Starting with the first year in middle school, we were extremely reassured that Maury had prepared our child so well academically, in all subjects, including (in fact especially) in science. Maury provides a truly well-rounded and robust education, I can now affirm that for you in hindsight.
As for school culture, and that really extends into the parent culture (I can tell you because I'm exposed to more than one school now, three to be exact): Maury is a singularly nurturing place to be. The vast majority of children (and parents) are smart, focused, empathetic, cheerful, and 100% invested in their education and school, in a very constructive way. The same goes for administrators and teachers, who are hugely committed across the board, whether they just started or have been there for several decades. As everywhere, Maury is not void of "high maintenance" parents and children that can get on your nerves and there are also many students and parents who struggle on all ends and need a lot of help. But it's an very inclusive and not a divisive environment.

Since you'll inevitably hear the "no acceptable middle school" mantra, let me say that if someone can get that remedied, the Maury community can, and indeed does.


Please enlighten us as to the manner by which the Maury community has managed to remedy the middle school situation and, in particular, Eliot-Hine. I'll get some popcorn.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 20:34     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:OP, you're asking for an assessment of Maury ES in terms of a well-rounded education and school culture, or roughly that's what I understand. My children went/go to Maury. One is now in a high performing middle school with children from other excellent elementary schools in the mix. S/he is consistently scoring at or near the top of the class. Starting with the first year in middle school, we were extremely reassured that Maury had prepared our child so well academically, in all subjects, including (in fact especially) in science. Maury provides a truly well-rounded and robust education, I can now affirm that for you in hindsight.
As for school culture, and that really extends into the parent culture (I can tell you because I'm exposed to more than one school now, three to be exact): Maury is a singularly nurturing place to be. The vast majority of children (and parents) are smart, focused, empathetic, cheerful, and 100% invested in their education and school, in a very constructive way. The same goes for administrators and teachers, who are hugely committed across the board, whether they just started or have been there for several decades. As everywhere, Maury is not void of "high maintenance" parents and children that can get on your nerves and there are also many students and parents who struggle on all ends and need a lot of help. But it's an very inclusive and not a divisive environment.

Since you'll inevitably hear the "no acceptable middle school" mantra, let me say that if someone can get that remedied, the Maury community can, and indeed does.


Op here - thanks so much for taking the time to write this very insightful post. I truly appreciate it. I will contact the school and request a tour. I'm very happy to hear how well your middle schooler is doing and how impressed you've been with the elementary education that you received at Maury.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 16:56     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:OP, you're asking for an assessment of Maury ES in terms of a well-rounded education and school culture, or roughly that's what I understand. My children went/go to Maury. One is now in a high performing middle school with children from other excellent elementary schools in the mix. S/he is consistently scoring at or near the top of the class. Starting with the first year in middle school, we were extremely reassured that Maury had prepared our child so well academically, in all subjects, including (in fact especially) in science. Maury provides a truly well-rounded and robust education, I can now affirm that for you in hindsight.
As for school culture, and that really extends into the parent culture (I can tell you because I'm exposed to more than one school now, three to be exact): Maury is a singularly nurturing place to be. The vast majority of children (and parents) are smart, focused, empathetic, cheerful, and 100% invested in their education and school, in a very constructive way. The same goes for administrators and teachers, who are hugely committed across the board, whether they just started or have been there for several decades. As everywhere, Maury is not void of "high maintenance" parents and children that can get on your nerves and there are also many students and parents who struggle on all ends and need a lot of help. But it's an very inclusive and not a divisive environment.

Since you'll inevitably hear the "no acceptable middle school" mantra, let me say that if someone can get that remedied, the Maury community can, and indeed does.



Sure, by going to Latin, Basis, or DCI - exactly like Brent has done before them.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 16:05     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.


Not for kindergarten - 5th. This only applies to PS3 and PK4.


Sorry I missed the fact that this was for K. Yes no wait list for K and up, of course!

We are very happy with Maury!
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 15:31     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
Kindergarten classes at Maury are smaller this year due to the addition of a K/1 split class. The two full K classes have 23-25 kids and the K/1 split is a little smaller (maybe 21-22). All the classes have a teacher and an aide.

Check the Maury website if you want more details on modernization planning. Maury got $5.8M in the FY16 budget for a classroom addition that would replace the trailers, but DCPS and DGS later decided more would be needed for ADA compliance for the historic building and possibly modernization of the multipurpose room. DCPS has started the School Improvement Team (SIT) process and a feasibility study is underway to inform estimates the FY17 budget. Construction won't start until June 2017 at the earliest.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 12:17     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
OP, you're asking for an assessment of Maury ES in terms of a well-rounded education and school culture, or roughly that's what I understand. My children went/go to Maury. One is now in a high performing middle school with children from other excellent elementary schools in the mix. S/he is consistently scoring at or near the top of the class. Starting with the first year in middle school, we were extremely reassured that Maury had prepared our child so well academically, in all subjects, including (in fact especially) in science. Maury provides a truly well-rounded and robust education, I can now affirm that for you in hindsight.
As for school culture, and that really extends into the parent culture (I can tell you because I'm exposed to more than one school now, three to be exact): Maury is a singularly nurturing place to be. The vast majority of children (and parents) are smart, focused, empathetic, cheerful, and 100% invested in their education and school, in a very constructive way. The same goes for administrators and teachers, who are hugely committed across the board, whether they just started or have been there for several decades. As everywhere, Maury is not void of "high maintenance" parents and children that can get on your nerves and there are also many students and parents who struggle on all ends and need a lot of help. But it's an very inclusive and not a divisive environment.

Since you'll inevitably hear the "no acceptable middle school" mantra, let me say that if someone can get that remedied, the Maury community can, and indeed does.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 11:57     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
Maury is an amazing school in a wonderful neighborhood. Everyone I know is very happy there.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 10:47     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.


You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.


Really? Does its profile on myschooldc need to be updated then?

http://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/360/


I'm not sure why it's listing Van Ness as a Title I school, but the Head of School (during her presentation at the open house) clearly stated that the school was not a Title I school this year.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2016 08:57     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Even if you are inbounds for Maury you might not get in because of sibling preference.
Same holds true for Brent.


OP here - I thought that was the case for pk3/4 but not for K onwards?


That's right. For K, you are guaranteed.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 23:21     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:It has been budgeted...but DGS turned down the amount given and a new amount (and later start year) is being approved in this cycle. RFP is completed and the feedback was for the conceptual architects as feedback. We heard that a final design will be voted on, as well as proposed budget, this month.



Then it isn't in the budget. If DGS turned it down, then it's not in the budget. If there's a new amount with an RFP, awaiting feedback, then it's still a proposal. That's what RFP means - Request for Proposal. It's not in the budget until it shows up as a line item in the city budget.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 23:06     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Would you consider JO Wilson or Ludlow-Taylor? I think the class sizes are much smaller - about 18-20 in K with a teacher and aide.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 21:16     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
It has been budgeted...but DGS turned down the amount given and a new amount (and later start year) is being approved in this cycle. RFP is completed and the feedback was for the conceptual architects as feedback. We heard that a final design will be voted on, as well as proposed budget, this month.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 17:01     Subject: 2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maury is also looking to renovate and expand in 2017.




Lots of schools would like to renovate and expand. Has Maury's been budgeted? This is DC - approved and budgeted are NOT the same thing.


+1! Please cite some numbers and/or schedule.


PP here. I'm not sure--saw it on the newhilleast listserv awhile back. We're not zoned for Maury but if I remember correctly they were asking for ideas from the neighborhood about what they'd like to see in the improved school. I assumed it was already budgeted because Maury is so overcrowded as it is, but I guess I was wrong?




If they're asking for ideas, it has definitely not been budgeted. Budgeted means the RFPs, plans, proposals, have been completed and (most critically) been approved. Maury is in line with everyone else, and with Bowser's last budget, school improvements requests were far too long. Don't expect anything in time for your child to actually attend there. Don't believe me - look at the Janney/Murch fiasco.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 16:56     Subject: Re:2016 Views on Maury
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - those class sizes are huge! 30 kids in one classroom? With 1 teacher and 1 aid I presume? That sounds so large. I can't recall how many kids were in my elementary classes growing up but there were two classes in each grade and I don't recall it being that many (non-DCPS school). We would be starting in K not pk unfortunately (although I hear there is no guarantee that one would get in at the pk3/4 level). Would prefer not to have my little one be the only non-white kid in the class and preferably not the only black kid in the class. Don't know anything about Shepherd - I'll do some preliminary research.


You may want to check out Van Ness Elementary School in the Capitol Riverfront. There are literally thousands of new housing being build right now (Apartments and Condos), and Van Ness Elementary WILL be totally renovated for the upcoming 2016-2017 School Year. The school will be serving PK3, PK4, K and 1st grade in 2016-2017. I went to the open house and the Demographics were 50% white, 35% African-American, 10% hispanic, and 5% Asian. Also, the school is NOT a Title I school.


OP here. Thanks so much for this information. I will do some research on Van Ness. Sounds very interesting.


Also you should try your luck at the lottery! Who knows, maybe you will have incredible luck and get into CMI. Then, since you are flexible with renting, you can just find a place in Petworth ...


Oh god CMI? There are literally 12 other options I would take over CMI. It doesn't even know what it is with its total joke of "international" curriculum. Or is it also stem? Or special needs? Or Mandarin or Spanish or or or or or... Pick a better charter with better test scores with a real curriculum over CMI- there are lots to choose from.


Calm down.