Creative Minds feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello! We have a very low WL number for prek3 at Creative Minds and would love some feedback. The location is good for us and like that it seems safe. Test scores are not great and I read here about over enrollment, plus there’s no HS feeder. We’d love Spanish immersion, but that didn’t pan out with our lottery numbers. Is this yet another school where upper middle class kids go for a few years and then bail when academics and behavior issues become an issue? I don’t think we will get off the waitlist anywhere else. Thoughts from parents whose kids attend? TIA!

Yup.

Tell us what your other options are and we can help you assess your chances.

If you really want Spanish, perhaps Bethune could work.

+1 People seem to speak highly of Bethune 16th st. Also, you can definitely get an immersion seat in K. A lot more seats open then.

I think CM is fine for PreK.

+2. Bethune 16th St, then LAMB, DCB, or Stokes if you get a good lottery number. MV, Powell, or Bruce Monroe if the lottery gods don’t come through (or if you prefer one of those schools).

Not good options option if OP cares about middle school. She might as well move sooner rather than later.

Because CMI gives a better middle school feed? If OP wants Spanish immersion in elementary, she has very solid options that don't require a winning lottery draw. And judging by MV's waitlist numbers (or lack thereof), not everyone is interested in an uncertain DCI lottery preference either. Starting Spanish now also leaves the option open for a lucky lottery draw in mid or upper elementary. Bethune 16th, Powell, and Bruce Monroe all have strong enough Spanish that OP's child would be able to transition to a DCI feeder later (or Oyster if she's really lucky) without being behind.

CMI emphatically does not give a better middle school feed, and if OP wants Spanish she won't stay at CMI anyway.

CMI's test scores, relative to their demographics, are appalling.

Tests scores are better than Langley and there is someone that recommends Langley all the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello! We have a very low WL number for prek3 at Creative Minds and would love some feedback. The location is good for us and like that it seems safe. Test scores are not great and I read here about over enrollment, plus there’s no HS feeder. We’d love Spanish immersion, but that didn’t pan out with our lottery numbers. Is this yet another school where upper middle class kids go for a few years and then bail when academics and behavior issues become an issue? I don’t think we will get off the waitlist anywhere else. Thoughts from parents whose kids attend? TIA!

Yup.

Tell us what your other options are and we can help you assess your chances.

If you really want Spanish, perhaps Bethune could work.

+1 People seem to speak highly of Bethune 16th st. Also, you can definitely get an immersion seat in K. A lot more seats open then.

I think CM is fine for PreK.

+2. Bethune 16th St, then LAMB, DCB, or Stokes if you get a good lottery number. MV, Powell, or Bruce Monroe if the lottery gods don’t come through (or if you prefer one of those schools).

Not good options option if OP cares about middle school. She might as well move sooner rather than later.

Because CMI gives a better middle school feed? If OP wants Spanish immersion in elementary, she has very solid options that don't require a winning lottery draw. And judging by MV's waitlist numbers (or lack thereof), not everyone is interested in an uncertain DCI lottery preference either. Starting Spanish now also leaves the option open for a lucky lottery draw in mid or upper elementary. Bethune 16th, Powell, and Bruce Monroe all have strong enough Spanish that OP's child would be able to transition to a DCI feeder later (or Oyster if she's really lucky) without being behind.

CMI emphatically does not give a better middle school feed, and if OP wants Spanish she won't stay at CMI anyway.

CMI's test scores, relative to their demographics, are appalling.

Tests scores are better than Langley and there is someone that recommends Langley all the time

As I said, relative to demographics, and for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello! We have a very low WL number for prek3 at Creative Minds and would love some feedback. The location is good for us and like that it seems safe. Test scores are not great and I read here about over enrollment, plus there’s no HS feeder. We’d love Spanish immersion, but that didn’t pan out with our lottery numbers. Is this yet another school where upper middle class kids go for a few years and then bail when academics and behavior issues become an issue? I don’t think we will get off the waitlist anywhere else. Thoughts from parents whose kids attend? TIA!

Yup.

Tell us what your other options are and we can help you assess your chances.

If you really want Spanish, perhaps Bethune could work.

+1 People seem to speak highly of Bethune 16th st. Also, you can definitely get an immersion seat in K. A lot more seats open then.

I think CM is fine for PreK.

+2. Bethune 16th St, then LAMB, DCB, or Stokes if you get a good lottery number. MV, Powell, or Bruce Monroe if the lottery gods don’t come through (or if you prefer one of those schools).

Not good options option if OP cares about middle school. She might as well move sooner rather than later.

Because CMI gives a better middle school feed? If OP wants Spanish immersion in elementary, she has very solid options that don't require a winning lottery draw. And judging by MV's waitlist numbers (or lack thereof), not everyone is interested in an uncertain DCI lottery preference either. Starting Spanish now also leaves the option open for a lucky lottery draw in mid or upper elementary. Bethune 16th, Powell, and Bruce Monroe all have strong enough Spanish that OP's child would be able to transition to a DCI feeder later (or Oyster if she's really lucky) without being behind.

Unless her child is Spanish dominant they will not get a seat at Bruce Monroe or Powell for prek. They can easily get a seat after that, but definitely not for prek. They do not historically take English dominant OOB students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

Isn't the real problem whatever is causing the sad test scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

Isn't the real problem whatever is causing the sad test scores?

it's more complicated then that because testing doesn't start till 3rd grade... and very few families coming in in prek make it that far -- so CMI is contending with a lot of kids that are Lottering in to the upper grades that may or may not be entering with math/reading proficiency

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

Isn't the real problem whatever is causing the sad test scores?

it's more complicated then that because testing doesn't start till 3rd grade... and very few families coming in in prek make it that far -- so CMI is contending with a lot of kids that are Lottering in to the upper grades that may or may not be entering with math/reading proficiency

And why are people leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

Isn't the real problem whatever is causing the sad test scores?

it's more complicated then that because testing doesn't start till 3rd grade... and very few families coming in in prek make it that far -- so CMI is contending with a lot of kids that are Lottering in to the upper grades that may or may not be entering with math/reading proficiency

And why are people leaving?

it's the same up hill battle that DCPS faces in the upper elementary grades -- once your kids hits 2nd+ grade you have to plan for the future... If your school doesn't have a viable middle/high school you will lottery every year and that doesn't pan out you will move or go private ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former CMI parent here -

generally feedback:
- CMI had a cult following from when it opened in 2012 till about 2019. In 2019 MV8 opened its doors and it was an obvious choice for a lot of the CMI current families or families that would have gone there otherwise (similar location, but plus Spanish immersion and DCI feeder ... no brainer).
- The biggest fault of CMI is that its its too "in the middle" -- no immersion, no feeder, sad test scores -- because of this there really isn't a good reason to go there over your DCPS and parents are really forced to take a shot at the lottery every year ... which causes an extreme amount of student turnover.
3. With all of that said, the campus is lovely and you will be completely happy there in prek3/4 .. you will just likely want to lottery out as you age up.

Isn't the real problem whatever is causing the sad test scores?

it's more complicated then that because testing doesn't start till 3rd grade... and very few families coming in in prek make it that far -- so CMI is contending with a lot of kids that are Lottering in to the upper grades that may or may not be entering with math/reading proficiency

And why are people leaving?

it's the same up hill battle that DCPS faces in the upper elementary grades -- once your kids hits 2nd+ grade you have to plan for the future... If your school doesn't have a viable middle/high school you will lottery every year and that doesn't pan out you will move or go private ...

Let me phrase it another way. Why does ITS have okay retention and okay test scores while CMI does not? They both have unviable middle and high schools. So why the difference?

[Anonymous]

Why does Wells Middle School have better scores than CMI?

[Anonymous]

Do not, not, not go to Bethune. Staff departures are like a revolving door over there. CEO is dysfunctional and has the place in a chokehold of dysfunction. Seriously. Not worth the Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello! We have a very low WL number for prek3 at Creative Minds and would love some feedback. The location is good for us and like that it seems safe. Test scores are not great and I read here about over enrollment, plus there’s no HS feeder. We’d love Spanish immersion, but that didn’t pan out with our lottery numbers. Is this yet another school where upper middle class kids go for a few years and then bail when academics and behavior issues become an issue? I don’t think we will get off the waitlist anywhere else. Thoughts from parents whose kids attend? TIA!

Yup.

Tell us what your other options are and we can help you assess your chances.

If you really want Spanish, perhaps Bethune could work.

+1 People seem to speak highly of Bethune 16th st. Also, you can definitely get an immersion seat in K. A lot more seats open then.

I think CM is fine for PreK.

+2. Bethune 16th St, then LAMB, DCB, or Stokes if you get a good lottery number. MV, Powell, or Bruce Monroe if the lottery gods don’t come through (or if you prefer one of those schools).

Not good options option if OP cares about middle school. She might as well move sooner rather than later.

Because CMI gives a better middle school feed? If OP wants Spanish immersion in elementary, she has very solid options that don't require a winning lottery draw. And judging by MV's waitlist numbers (or lack thereof), not everyone is interested in an uncertain DCI lottery preference either. Starting Spanish now also leaves the option open for a lucky lottery draw in mid or upper elementary. Bethune 16th, Powell, and Bruce Monroe all have strong enough Spanish that OP's child would be able to transition to a DCI feeder later (or Oyster if she's really lucky) without being behind.

Unless her child is Spanish dominant they will not get a seat at Bruce Monroe or Powell for prek. They can easily get a seat after that, but definitely not for prek. They do not historically take English dominant OOB students.

Which is where the Bethune suggestion came from. Pre-K at Bethune then K at whatever option seems best that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not, not, not go to Bethune. Staff departures are like a revolving door over there. CEO is dysfunctional and has the place in a chokehold of dysfunction. Seriously. Not worth the Spanish.

We had a good pre-K experience there a few years ago. The principal was Ms. Mamian (sp?) and she was lovely. I think the Brookland campus has a lot more issues. Can’t speak to the staff turnover, but if you’re only there for a year or two, does it really matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did you get in, OP?

OP here. We got offered a spot at Bethune. I had asked for feedback previously about that school, which was mostly positive, but I don’t love the space (they’re looking for a new space and will move soon) and heard about the recent turnover. Our inbound is Truesdell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did you get in, OP?

OP here. We got offered a spot at Bethune. I had asked for feedback previously about that school, which was mostly positive, but I don’t love the space (they’re looking for a new space and will move soon) and heard about the recent turnover. Our inbound is Truesdell.

I would take Bethune over CMI, especially if Spanish is important to you. You will definitely be able to lottery into a Spanish immersion school in kindergarten.