Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I’ve seen other references to the low test scores at Lee and Montessori across the board. Can anyone truly speak to this? Or speak to how their child transitioned into traditional middle school after montessori? As for other child, she doesn’t currently have a waitlist spot at Lee bc she got into a school we ranked higher bc we foolishly just wanted a spot - any spot - for IPL pre-K. I don’t know if I can add a request for a waitlist spot now. Do I ask Lee or someone at the school board about this? There must be someone who can officially offer guidance.

You can fill out a posy lottery application. If you choose it will move your preschooler to either "sibling accepted" or sibling enrolled category. Lee, like most school i assume, will always accommodate siblings.

Yes, concur with the advice above about post lottery application. I would think it's early enough in the summer you have a pretty good chance of getting your PK kid in if you enroll your older kid. Lee definitely wants to try to get siblings in together (have heard it multiple times from the head of school).

We know people at Breakthrough that seem to like it a lot (though none of our close friends, so can't give super detailed advice). We just finished our second year at Lee (kid in primary and kid in lower el) and have been really happy with the school, even through the pandemic. There is transience as there is everywhere in DC, but there are also a lot of long term families that have been there since the founding. I know a few kids that finished 5th grade this year decided to go to Truth for 6th instead of staying at Lee, and some others are staying for 6th. But pretty much everyone we're friends with is continuing in upper el.

As to the test scores, I don't have a kid in a testing grade yet, so admittedly haven't done a lot of due diligence. Although Lee is the more established school between the two, it is still relatively young in terms of testing grades. So when you're working with a smallish sample size, take it for what it's worth. For us, the socialization, classroom consistency, etc was a driving factor in our decision.

The question about progression is an interesting one. Again I don't have upper el experience, but I have witnessed the differentiation in primary and lower el classrooms. My son has a kid in his class who is extremely bright in many ways (math, writing, drawing, music, etc) and is probably functioning at least 2 grades above his age. And I have seen how the teachers are able to challenge him using the materials available because they are able to progress the lessons and individualize.

That's good to hear how they differentiate with the younger kids. Does anyone have experience with the quality of the elementary Lee teachers and how effectively they challenge the older kids? Do most older kids stay at Lee or leave for other schools?

I have a kid in Elementary at Lee and we are concerned about academic progress. I think some of the Elementary teachers are good and some not as good or at least not as experienced. Our kid was flailing for years and it was brushed off as “one day it will just click.” While that may be true for some kids, when our 9 year old wasn’t reading at grade level and didn’t have basic math understanding, we got concerned. A year ago we proactively had him evaluated and he was found to have several learning disabilities. We haven’t given up on the school, but are keeping a close eye on what happens academically. We think it’s overall a good place and hope things can turn around for our kid.

Another side consideration is that there has been a lot of community disagreement this year about including gender identity and anti-racism lessons. I understand that this issue inspires passion on all sides. For us, our primary concern is whether our kid is learning anything at all.

I’m a Lee parent opposed to the ABAR curriculum solely because of the bandwidth it has required. I would prefer the administration and teachers focus on the basics like reading and writing. Montessori didn’t translate well virtually and I predict lots of learning loss next year that will continue to widen their achievement gap.

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

LOL. We have had experience at three schools now and Lee is far and away the most open and honest with almost an over-willingness to listen to parents and open themselves up to dialogue. If you aren't participating in the dialogue, you aren't paying attention to the opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

LOL. We have had experience at three schools now and Lee is far and away the most open and honest with almost an over-willingness to listen to parents and open themselves up to dialogue. If you aren't participating in the dialogue, you aren't paying attention to the opportunities.

One of the items I have paid attention to is that Lee used to allow some Q&A at their Board meetings. This year when the questions became more complex they stopped the Q&A. They were very explicit during their last Board meeting that they would only listen to comments and not answer questions. It was a very closed minded approach. I am used to schools that foster more dialogue and not less. Glad to hear Lee’s level of openness works for your family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

LOL. We have had experience at three schools now and Lee is far and away the most open and honest with almost an over-willingness to listen to parents and open themselves up to dialogue. If you aren't participating in the dialogue, you aren't paying attention to the opportunities.

One of the items I have paid attention to is that Lee used to allow some Q&A at their Board meetings. This year when the questions became more complex they stopped the Q&A. They were very explicit during their last Board meeting that they would only listen to comments and not answer questions. It was a very closed minded approach. I am used to schools that foster more dialogue and not less. Glad to hear Lee’s level of openness works for your family.

And I’m sure you turned a blind eye to the invitation that’s was distributed this week literally ENCOURAGING you to join the equity and inclusion group. It makes me squirm to know my children are in a school where you think your opinion matters beyond all others…the excuses (and your own bias) are beyond comprehension.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what will happen if you don’t get your PK into Lee? your chances may be better at breakthrough which is a very good school. no drama and one campus starting this year with a true outdoor space. I would not drop your PK spot at breakthrough unless Lee can get your younger child in.

Where will the outdoor space be at Takoma?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundamentally, Lee is not focused on traditional academics. Their test results speak for themselves. They do not welcome diverse points of view. Their Board meetings do not allow for robust dialogue and they have refused to respond in public to questions. A lot of parents are leaving or are considering it. During their last Board meeting they highlighted their SEL work when low reading/ELA scores were mentioned. If you are a parent who would like a school that focuses on reading, math, and science Lee is not the best school for your family. Lee appears to mean well, but keep in mind their executive director is not a professional educator. They have had issues dealing with parents who have a more robust epistemic understanding of pedagogy and academic content.

Montessori is inherently and intentionally not traditional education.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework. Lee has struggled with academics where other Montessori based constructs have succeeded in the domains of math
and reading. Also, the lack of a willingness for an open and honest dialogue is a systematic issue with Lee, not the Montessori framework.

LOL. We have had experience at three schools now and Lee is far and away the most open and honest with almost an over-willingness to listen to parents and open themselves up to dialogue. If you aren't participating in the dialogue, you aren't paying attention to the opportunities.

One of the items I have paid attention to is that Lee used to allow some Q&A at their Board meetings. This year when the questions became more complex they stopped the Q&A. They were very explicit during their last Board meeting that they would only listen to comments and not answer questions. It was a very closed minded approach. I am used to schools that foster more dialogue and not less. Glad to hear Lee’s level of openness works for your family.

And I’m sure you turned a blind eye to the invitation that’s was distributed this week literally ENCOURAGING you to join the equity and inclusion group. It makes me squirm to know my children are in a school where you think your opinion matters beyond all others…the excuses (and your own bias) are beyond comprehension.

Excuse the grammatical errors. Seeing red over here.

Lee imbeds constructs that are beyond the efficacy demonstrated through the empirical based Montessori framework.