The "More" Child

As predicted, the question of where Sasha and Malia Obama will attend school is heating up. Two days after the election, Huffington Post was right on it, with this helpful slide show of some of the area’s prep schools…with two DC public schools thrown in for good measure. Now this morning the Post’s Jay Mathews weighs in: A Crucial Decision for the Obamas: Public or Private. He puts in a plug for DCPS’s Strong Thomson Elementary School.

Sixty-nine percent of Thomson’s 355 students are from low-income families. Forty percent are Hispanic, 34 percent black, 22 percent Asian American and 5 percent white. That demographic mix often means remedial instruction and little enrichment, but parents say the school offers a feast of music, art and foreign languages as good as what they would find in a private school. Katina Wilson said her 5-year-old “has been inspired by her oral and written Chinese instruction.” Charlotte Osborn-Bensaada, mother of a second-grader, said “there is a very strong strategic focus on making sure these kids are not just doing okay, but excelling.

The comments in the comment section are interesting, even in the wee hours of the morning. Some implore the Obamas to “save their daughters” and worry about security for the children of the first black president while others say things like, “Public schools for Obama and his administration leaders. Don’t promise to bring us hope and change, then enroll your children in elite, mostly-white, private schools. Let your children experience and grow in our community.”

The new first couple has already come under huge pressure about whether to adopt a pound puppy or a purebred (Malia has allergies). Should be interesting to see which way this decision goes.

For the record, Barack attended the private Punahou School from 5th grade to high school graduation. Michelle went to public schools. And I was interested to see in her Wikipedia entry that both she and her brother skipped 2nd grade!

I’ve actually visited the upper school campuses of both schools under serious consideration: Sidwell Friends School and Georgetown Day School. GDS is gorgeous. Small classes. Beautiful new building. Diverse and the history of being the first integrated private school in DC. Nice vibe, with everyone on a first name basis. Sidwell wasn’t quite as warm somehow. C. had very strong opinions about her visits: LOVED GDS. Felt Sidwell was too “preppy.”

My money is on GDS.

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