Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does each and every thread turn into something about YY? Sigh...

+1

because cap city needs a break sometimes too....everybody needs a sacrificial charter to flay to feel good about their choices. such is life.

Anonymous wrote:To the person who turned down the slot at Barnard, thank you! We were accepted to Meridian and Apple Tree and got a decent waitlist slot at Barnard and several others, but Barnard is one of our top choices.

You are going to love it!

To the person who turned down the slot at Barnard, thank you! We were accepted to Meridian and Apple Tree and got a decent waitlist slot at Barnard and several others, but Barnard is one of our top choices.

Anonymous wrote:Trying to decide between Stokes, MV and IT for K (yes, we did get into all...).

I have a strong preference for bilingual, and Stokes permanent location and great outdoor space are stong pluses. But, I'm worried about Stokes' commitment and willingness to be part of the DCI. Whereas, MV has a middle school and is apparently joining the DCI initiative.

Of course, IT seems the most professionally managed for all of the schools.

IT parents report it has awesome school-family communication, too.

To be clear, yet MV nor IT have a middle school - their charters just allow them to expand to that grade. A lot could change in 8 years for MV (and 4 for IT) on its way to fully educating PS through 8th grade students.

Where do you live? Does that factor in?

Anonymous wrote:Trying to decide between Stokes, MV and IT for K (yes, we did get into all...).

I have a strong preference for bilingual, and Stokes permanent location and great outdoor space are stong pluses. But, I'm worried about Stokes' commitment and willingness to be part of the DCI. Whereas, MV has a middle school and is apparently joining the DCI initiative.

Of course, IT seems the most professionally managed for all of the schools.

In this case, you're deciding between schools that are entering their second year, and a school entering ~12th year (if not longer). Stokes is a known entity. The other 2 have potential. I'd probably pick Stokes.

As for DCI, for your child, that is 6 school years away, it will start in 6th grade. Anything could happen. That school is a concept school right now, not legally approved by the charter board, and not financed. The Walter Reed location is a strong hope, but I drive by and see no evidence of the needed environmental remediation happending. I would not base your current decision about k on DCI for 6th. It's not the same as an OOB at Janney (which there aren't any more apparently) and a Deal feeder. Deal exists. DCI does not.

Trying to decide between Stokes, MV and IT for K (yes, we did get into all...).

I have a strong preference for bilingual, and Stokes permanent location and great outdoor space are stong pluses. But, I'm worried about Stokes' commitment and willingness to be part of the DCI. Whereas, MV has a middle school and is apparently joining the DCI initiative.

Of course, IT seems the most professionally managed for all of the schools.

Turning down Creative Minds for Cap City - PK4

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am likely to have a choice between Stokes (very low waitlist number) and Yu Ying K. Very hard decision....

I'm curious: are you a current YY parent, or do you just know that you have an awesome waitlist #?

Our child is currently at YY, and we're struggling whether to stay there or move to the school that was our first choice last year. I hate to dishonor the hard work my child put in this past year by taking Chinese instruction away--and yet we're considering it, because this other school may be a better fit for his personality.

This.
So many parents send their kids to schools that THE PARENTS like - not that fit the children. Many kids might not succeed with a Chinese immersion or bilingual expeditionary or bilingual montessori approach - yes, it's worth a try, and ultimately, you need to think about who your children are and what works for them. My DD got into LAMB last year and we turned it down - because although it's an in-demand school by DC and DCUM standards, when it came time for it, we didn't think a Spanish immersion model would work for her. Instead, she's thriving at another non-language charter (we got in at the end of the summer) that's in all likelihood a much better fit.

Consider: just because it's an option and just because your lottery number was picked, it doesn't mean it's necessarily the right school for your child.

This.

Anonymous wrote:What didnt you like about Shining Stars (if anything)? Just curious since I applied.

I am also curious as I also applied

Parent of a YY preKer who will be staying. We really love the school. PreK has been both academically and socially a wonderful experience for our child. DC is SN which we discovered when he started school at YY and he has an IEP. We have found the school, preK, to be warm and nurturing and our child likes going to school. No complaints here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am likely to have a choice between Stokes (very low waitlist number) and Yu Ying K. Very hard decision....

I'm curious: are you a current YY parent, or do you just know that you have an awesome waitlist #?

Our child is currently at YY, and we're struggling whether to stay there or move to the school that was our first choice last year. I hate to dishonor the hard work my child put in this past year by taking Chinese instruction away--and yet we're considering it, because this other school may be a better fit for his personality.

This.
So many parents send their kids to schools that THE PARENTS like - not that fit the children. Many kids might not succeed with a Chinese immersion or bilingual expeditionary or bilingual montessori approach - yes, it's worth a try, and ultimately, you need to think about who your children are and what works for them. My DD got into LAMB last year and we turned it down - because although it's an in-demand school by DC and DCUM standards, when it came time for it, we didn't think a Spanish immersion model would work for her. Instead, she's thriving at another non-language charter (we got in at the end of the summer) that's in all likelihood a much better fit.

Consider: just because it's an option and just because your lottery number was picked, it doesn't mean it's necessarily the right school for your child.

To answer the original question, I'm turning down a slot a Appletree-Columbia Heights, and hoping for Mundo Verde, LAMB or DC Bilingual. Currently enrolled at a decent DCPS as back-up. Good luck all!

Anonymous wrote:Why does each and every thread turn into something about YY? Sigh...

+1

Why does each and every thread turn into something about YY? Sigh...

Parent in an upper grade at YY and I would agree that the school culture is problematic and the administration is tone deaf when it comes to facing the situation. If you have other options, I suggest looking into them. I know we are.