As always, every thread about Janney turns into a full-contact sport. A bunch of overfed, overbleached, hyper-competitive moms trying desperately to prove that the choice which makes them so miserable is the BEST THING EVER (else why be so insistent?). There's such a thing as trying too hard. No other school seems so pathologically needy to prove itself (because they all really want to be at a private but they spent so much for Janney that now they can't).

I think Hearst is an excellent school. In fact, I would rank it higher than Janney.

-signed, a Hearst Parent

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

Hardy is way diverse, and how many Janney parents would trade their right to send their kids to Deal for Hardy. Come on, raise your hands. We can't see them.

Good point. Hardy also has someone in every category, no 0%s; but, like Ross, it has a majority population (57% black), so it is not as diverse as Deal, Wilson, and Walls. Tiny too! I'd expect more families to be interested if they prefer small schools. It seems like everything people love about Hearst exists at Hardy.

Last I checked, this thread was about Janney. And while Hearst seems to be a nice, up-and-coming school, the fact is that there's no one in the Janney district who would choose Hearst over Janney. And it's certainly the case that no one with a right to go to Deal would give that up for Hardy. The qualitative difference there just can't be overlooked.

If by up and coming you mean superior sub group test scores, then you are correct.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Where are you moving from, OP?

Janney is one of the best DC public elementary schools, depending on what you are looking for and what you are measuring the school against. It is in an affluent area of DC, near a metro, with a parent demographic that is highly educated, with fairly high expectations in the school. I think you will find a similar demographic at Lafayette, but the feel is a little different there - it's not near a metro, so it has more of a suburban feel to it. Both these schools are very crowded - which suggests how highly sought after they are.

You should really visit the school, and maybe stick around at pick up; I think you will get a sense of whether this environment is the right fit for you. I think you have probably figured out by now that it is a mostly high SES, diverse in an international way kind of school.

If you are looking for an elementary school that more reflects the city as a whole, Janney is probably not your best bet. DC has many wonderful neighborhoods and elementary schools, each of which has its own character and strengths. You just have to look around and see what fits your idea of the kind of experience you want your child to have.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

Hardy is way diverse, and how many Janney parents would trade their right to send their kids to Deal for Hardy. Come on, raise your hands. We can't see them.

Good point. Hardy also has someone in every category, no 0%s; but, like Ross, it has a majority population (57% black), so it is not as diverse as Deal, Wilson, and Walls. Tiny too! I'd expect more families to be interested if they prefer small schools. It seems like everything people love about Hearst exists at Hardy.

Last I checked, this thread was about Janney. And while Hearst seems to be a nice, up-and-coming school, the fact is that there's no one in the Janney district who would choose Hearst over Janney. And it's certainly the case that no one with a right to go to Deal would give that up for Hardy. The qualitative difference there just can't be overlooked.

If by up and coming you mean superior sub group test scores, then you are correct.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

In DCPS, white students ARE the diversity.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

Hardy is way diverse, and how many Janney parents would trade their right to send their kids to Deal for Hardy. Come on, raise your hands. We can't see them.

Good point. Hardy also has someone in every category, no 0%s; but, like Ross, it has a majority population (57% black), so it is not as diverse as Deal, Wilson, and Walls. Tiny too! I'd expect more families to be interested if they prefer small schools. It seems like everything people love about Hearst exists at Hardy.

Last I checked, this thread was about Janney. And while Hearst seems to be a nice, up-and-coming school, the fact is that there's no one in the Janney district who would choose Hearst over Janney. And it's certainly the case that no one with a right to go to Deal would give that up for Hardy. The qualitative difference there just can't be overlooked.

It's very, very crowded. Some nice families but just too big.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

Hardy is way diverse, and how many Janney parents would trade their right to send their kids to Deal for Hardy. Come on, raise your hands. We can't see them.

Good point. Hardy also has someone in every category, no 0%s; but, like Ross, it has a majority population (57% black), so it is not as diverse as Deal, Wilson, and Walls. Tiny too! I'd expect more families to be interested if they prefer small schools. It seems like everything people love about Hearst exists at Hardy.

Anonymous wrote:All the Janney kids have to do is walk down the block to Wisconsin Ave. near the Metro when Wilson gets out and they will get to experience diversity in all its glory.

I'm sure it would be ok for your precious kids to wear their lacrosse helmets for protection in the unlikely event you walked, rather than drove your Audi, between Janney and the Whole Foods.

All the Janney kids have to do is walk down the block to Wisconsin Ave. near the Metro when Wilson gets out and they will get to experience diversity in all its glory.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

I'm a satisfied Janney parent but I can't believe an actual Janney parent believes that the school is diverse - sure there is some diversity in that there is a smattering of international kids and there are a few non white kids (many of whom are adopted) but the school is overwhelming upper middle class and white- as in probably 95% in each category.

And that is a major shortcoming of the school - my kids are going to have to adapt to and survive in a diverse and sometimes socially challenging world and they are certainly not getting exposed to that at Janney - standing between kids wearing Neymar and Messi jerseys at Jamboree does not qualify.

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Anonymous wrote:Despite being in the District, Janney is only 7% African American.

So? Most schools in DC are 90%+ AA, which doesn't represent the demographics of the District either. Not every school has to mirror the city as a whole. Janney is a neighborhood school and reflects the demographics of the neighborhood.

Exactly. I care most about the academics, the extracurriculars and how well run the school is. Too many schools in DC tout their "diversity" as the be-all and end-all, and they're mediocre at best. Diversity is way overrated, IMHO.

I hope you are keeping that perspective to your self and not teaching it to your children.

Really? Honestly, would you rather have your kids go to a great school or a diverse one?

No eye candy.

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Anonymous wrote:What are your experiences there? I have heard from multiple people that it's the best public (by far) in DC. Do you agree? I am debating a move at the moment.

Definitely not one of the best bay far. It's definitely top 5 in my opinion. Test scores wise it's top 5 but not #1. The thing it has going for it over other schools that score higher is that it feeds to Deal. If you compare subgroups, Hearst does better and also feeds to Deal but smaller and more diverse community. It's a great school. Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I had the choice. It's a little too crowded and not as diverse as I'd like.

Not "diverse" ???

Janney is very diverse. There are all types and many languages spoken there.

White, black, European, Indian, Asian, Hispanic ,and mixed race kids, how much more diverse do you want it ???

New PP. Yes, not diverse neither racially or socioeconomically.

Agree. Diverse means a good amount of everything not 75% of one thing and a smattering of others.

Deal, Wilson, and Walls are diverse -- no majority population at any of them. Hearst mirrors the city demographics almost to a kid -- also no majority population. Ross is 51% white, but still diverse. Interesting note, only Murch has someone in every category, no 0% categories (but still 62% white - very international, but still majority white).

Hardy is way diverse, and how many Janney parents would trade their right to send their kids to Deal for Hardy. Come on, raise your hands. We can't see them.

Who else that's IB for Deal would? But sure, keep pretending Janney parents are the only ones who aren't primarily after diversity.