Anonymous wrote:I'm currently looking for a middle school in DC. The three options are McKinley MS, Brookland MS, or Perry Street Prep. Any current information from parents on these particular schools would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You might want to start a new thread for this question. I know parents who work at and/or send kids to both McKinley and Brookland, and both seem like they have a lot of potential. I don't have first had experience with any (my kids are younger), and do not know anyone at Perry. But, Brookland has a lot of nice extra curriculars, and a nice facility, is a bit bigger, and the kid I know there is happy with the classes and culture. On the other hand, at McKinley, if your kid is advanced they can easily take McKinley Tech HS classes, and I think there are benefits to being attached to a selective HS. Neither of these schools has particularly impressive test scores, but has interesting partnerships and programs. I think the feeder schools going to McKinley are improving a bit more quickly than those for Brookland, BUT I don't think McKinley is capturing as many graduates of its feeder schools. McKinley, I hear, is getting a new principal this year, so that adds some uncertainty into the mix. Anyway, good luck!!

Ruffians !

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm currently looking for a middle school in DC. The three options are McKinley MS, Brookland MS, or Perry Street Prep. Any current information from parents on these particular schools would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

No one on DCUM sends their kids to any of these schools, PP.

So does everyone just send their kids to private schools for MS? What about parents that live in the Michigan Park, Riggs Park, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge Area? There are close options for them. I know everyone talks about Washington Latin, BASIS, Two Rivers, DCI, Friendship, etc... But if you didn't hit on the lottery then what?

If you want a spot at TR Middle School, you will get a spot. A LOT of families are leaving after 4th and 5th grades.

The charters get a lot of criticism for starting in 5th. Their stated reason has been that they need to have the chance to catch kids up in 5th, knowing that they will be coming from ESs from across the city with varying degrees of preparation. Then, their students are at least theoretically able to start 6th, when MS starts “for real”, at roughly the same place. Many parents will say this is BS. As a family that was shut out of basis or Latin but with many friends who attended, I can say that what the charter students reported learning inn5th was much more advanced than what my kid was learning at her highly regarded hill ES in 5th. We supplemented heavily during 5th grade, in prep for a move to the burbs. My kid is doing great at her new school but would have been way behind at her new public MS if we had not done that. I see how my younger child is currently receiving a much more rigorous academic education at his suburban ES - with opportunities for above-grade-level work, and I’m not concerned about his transition to MS.

Personally, I like that the charters start in 5th so that gives families a year to figure out their plan B if they strike out in the lottery.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So does everyone just send their kids to private schools for MS? What about parents that live in the Michigan Park, Riggs Park, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge Area? There are close options for them. I know everyone talks about Washington Latin, BASIS, Two Rivers, DCI, Friendship, etc... But if you didn't hit on the lottery then what?

Most middle schools in the city are basically open admission. Two Rivers generally clears their waitlist for 5th and 6th grades. Inspired Teaching generally clears for 5th. Capital City has open seats for 5th. EL Haynes has open seats for 5th and 6th. Sojourner Truth will likely clear their waitlist for 6th. Stuart Hobson has cleared their waiting list for 6th in each of the past 2 years.

The better question is which middle schools do you need a good lottery draw to get a seat? And then answer is BASIS, Latin, Hardy (increasingly impossible), and Deal (impossible).

I always wondered why BASIS and LATIN started in the 5th instead of 6th like most other MS. It must be some strategic advantage to the school. Some parents I spoke with were unaware they began in the 5th. The best chance you have at solidifying a seat is at 6th grade entry year. If you're trying to move your child in 7th or 8th grade its near impossible.

Is that true about stuart? I’m surprised that hill families would go for E Hine and Jefferson if Stuart were a possibility. I was under the impression that these schools were attracting the Maury and Brent families because they were shut out if stuart.

Anonymous wrote:
So does everyone just send their kids to private schools for MS? What about parents that live in the Michigan Park, Riggs Park, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge Area? There are close options for them. I know everyone talks about Washington Latin, BASIS, Two Rivers, DCI, Friendship, etc... But if you didn't hit on the lottery then what?

Most middle schools in the city are basically open admission. Two Rivers generally clears their waitlist for 5th and 6th grades. Inspired Teaching generally clears for 5th. Capital City has open seats for 5th. EL Haynes has open seats for 5th and 6th. Sojourner Truth will likely clear their waitlist for 6th. Stuart Hobson has cleared their waiting list for 6th in each of the past 2 years.

The better question is which middle schools do you need a good lottery draw to get a seat? And then answer is BASIS, Latin, Hardy (increasingly impossible), and Deal (impossible).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm currently looking for a middle school in DC. The three options are McKinley MS, Brookland MS, or Perry Street Prep. Any current information from parents on these particular schools would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

No one on DCUM sends their kids to any of these schools, PP.

So does everyone just send their kids to private schools for MS? What about parents that live in the Michigan Park, Riggs Park, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge Area? There are close options for them. I know everyone talks about Washington Latin, BASIS, Two Rivers, DCI, Friendship, etc... But if you didn't hit on the lottery then what?