Shaw Jr. High - vacant building?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what is happening with shuttered Shaw Jr. High?

This is a huge property that appears to be shuttered. It has lots of outdoor and green space as well as proximity to Metro and the Watha T. Daniel Library. I think there is even a pool inside. Is there a possibility that a charter school (or two) can have access to this property? Does DSPS plan to reclaim it?

[Anonymous]

I know - it's massive.

I think they have some offices in there now. It needs major renovations, but I agree, a charter or two should get a crack at it. They moved the kids from there over to another smaller school and even it is underenrolled I believe.

[Anonymous]

The outdoor space is amazing, just like at nearby Garrison Elementary. Seems like such a waste as many charters end up in basements, offices and less than ideal spaces with no outdoor play areas.

[Anonymous]

Shaw was supposed to have a MAJOR overhaul - kids were moved to Garnet-Patterson so it could happen. Clearly the overhaul has not occurred and a clear answer on what is going to happen has not been given (from the mayor or DCPS). I know that Jack Evans has been asking and asking about this (no, I don't work for Evans and am not a troll...just an involved parent in Ward 2 who has been asking DCPS and Evans what the heck is up) and he also has not been given an answer. Apparently he asked about it again at last week's budget hearings, although not sure what exactly the dialogue was.

I think that DCPS is trying to figure out what to do since enrollment at "Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson" is quite low.

Please contact DCPS and Jack Evans and Tommy Wells about this! (Shaw is now in ward 6 after the re-districting...it used to be in Ward 2, hence Jack Evans' involvement, plus that Shaw serves many Ward 2 students). It is definitely a waste of space.

[Anonymous]

They SHOULD award it to Latin, as it's a great school and is growing and could use the space very effectively.

Fat chance of that, I suppose. It makes too much sense for our elected nitwits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They SHOULD award it to Latin, as it's a great school and is growing and could use the space very effectively.

Fat chance of that, I suppose. It makes too much sense for our elected nitwits.

I agree. Good (proven with test scores) middle/high schools, such as Latin, should get surplus DCPS buildings. It makes me angry at city officials that a home grown school such as Latin continues to hold classes in a run down church when so many buildings sit empty.

[Anonymous]

Here are some numbers on enrollment from the DCPS website for Shaw.

School profile - enrollment = 188

FY 12 Initial allocation - enrollment = 166

FY 13 Projection - enrollment = 109, cost is over $20k/ student

Out of boundary lottery, for grades 6, 7 & 8, 50 seats were offered in each grade (note that this is greater than the budgeted enrollment of 109?)

Grade - number of seats assigned to a student - number on wait list

6th - 9 admitted - 10 on wait list
7th - 1 admitted - 2 on wait list
8th - 2 admitted - 3 on wait list

The students on wait list were not admitted most likely because they were admitted to one of their higher ranked choices.

So, when I see a school like this, I agree with Gray & Henderson -- close this school. Very expensive to run, for almost no one, and no one wants to come anyway.

The stats for MacFarland Middle School are very similar. A very small school, with more slots offered in the OOB lottery than applicants. So small, and getting smaller.

[Anonymous]

Wasn't it originally on the chopping block until Jack Evans swooped in when some parents freaked out? I seem to remember this - maybe I am wrong.

[Anonymous]

On the agenda for the next meeting of ANC 2C, which contains the school, is a proposal to allow churches to use the site for parking. Once they get their hooks in they'll never let go.

[Anonymous]

Wait - that is Ward SIX now!? Crazy. I had no idea that Ward One now shares a border with Ward 6.

As for Shaw... they already closed it. They combined it with Garnett-Patterson, which has the stats quoted above (it's a MUCH smaller facility).

The original plan was to remodel Shaw, but then enrollment at "Shaw @ Garnett-Patterson" has been so low, why invest the $$? So it sits.

[Anonymous]

As a facility it is a nightmare. It would take some heavy invested money to bring it up to par. The heating and air-conditioning system is completely ancient and there's a need for abestoes abatement. It was one of those nightmare architectural designed builidng that slipped through the cracke during the 70's.

I personally, don't think there is enough students within the neighborhood to make such a vast school viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a facility it is a nightmare. It would take some heavy invested money to bring it up to par. The heating and air-conditioning system is completely ancient and there's a need for abestoes abatement. It was one of those nightmare architectural designed builidng that slipped through the cracke during the 70's.

I personally, don't think there is enough students within the neighborhood to make such a vast school viable.

I don't think it is a matter of lack of students in the neighborhood. The real issue is that no one in their right mind would send a middle school kid to a poorly run DCPS school that would force attendence on rival gang members.

[Anonymous]

Just so I'm clear... They closed Shaw middle school? yes/no? Or did they just throw the kids into Garnett-Patterson with the idea of somewhere down the line reopening Shaw? I'm curious because this is the middle school we're zoned for (although I would never seriously consider sending my kids there). Both Garrison and Shaw have wonderful buildings and such great locations.

[Anonymous]

It would be so great if this facility could go to Latin so that they could remain in the center of the city. Does it have athletic fields?

[Anonymous]

7:58, what rival gang members. Are you serious everytime you see three or more students congregate doesn't mean they are with Cryps or the Bloods.

8:31, it was a consolidation effort with all intense purposes of rebuilding Shaw, just as they had rebuild(ing) Kelly Miller, Woodson and Dunbar. The latter were school design disaster as like Shaw, so the decision was to shuffle them off to Garnet-Patterson then eventually return them to the newly erected Shaw.

One of the jewels for the at school was their instrumental music facilities...as Shaw once had a phenomenal concert, jazz and marching band at the midddle school level. Their inventory alone in instruments would rival some college/universities.