Why aren’t KIPP schools popularity on this board

[Anonymous]

They are high performing charters but it seems all the students are low-income minorities. Why aren’t gentrifiers using these schools too?

[Anonymous]

Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

Basically, this. I'd add that most MC/UMC parents don't -want- their kids in such highly regimented environments, and they often aren't necessary because the kids already have sufficient structure, stability, and parental involvement in education. What KIPP does well is provide structure and high expectations for kids who might not otherwise have that, either at school or at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

UMC don't THINK their kids need or would benefit from that kind of structure. Also there is absolutely a stigma surrounding schools like KIPP, deserved or not. In a different context, "required family participation" is seen as a wonderful thing -- for example, cooperative schools. But because it is an urban, minority school, that is seen as "too rigid."

Also I now laugh at people assuming that just because your kid is UMC they don't need structure that you'll find at places like KIPP (and in the classrooms of old-school DCPS teachers). My kid is absolutely thriving in such a structured environment. It REALLY made me rethink my prejudices about programs like KIPP. If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have considered KIPPs for PK, and I will keep an open mind for middle and high school.

I also get input from a broader range of people than UMC DCUMers ... my neighbors pulled their kids from our sought-after "flipped" DCPS and put them in KIPP. They report that the kids are loving it and can't wait to go back after vacations. These are bright, nice kids, hard-working parents, kids that I would have zero worries about having in class with mine.

Of course some of the stories about harshness and rigidity give me pause. But I feel like now I have a much better framework for how schools "work" and my particular child. If the classroom is overall warm and positives, the teachers good, the admins solid, and everyone is focused on learning ... then having to walk silently in the hallways is not the main thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

Basically, this. I'd add that most MC/UMC parents don't -want- their kids in such highly regimented environments, and they often aren't necessary because the kids already have sufficient structure, stability, and parental involvement in education. What KIPP does well is provide structure and high expectations for kids who might not otherwise have that, either at school or at home.

Disagree. The parents I know who send their kids to KIPP (or might) absolutely have high expectations for their kids. That's why they send them to KIPP. It's absolutely false that only UMC parents have structure and expectations in DC.

[Anonymous]

Based on some of the behavior at our WOTP JKLM, I'd say some of those UMC kids could use some serious structure and discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

UMC don't THINK their kids need or would benefit from that kind of structure. Also there is absolutely a stigma surrounding schools like KIPP, deserved or not. In a different context, "required family participation" is seen as a wonderful thing -- for example, cooperative schools. But because it is an urban, minority school, that is seen as "too rigid."

Also I now laugh at people assuming that just because your kid is UMC they don't need structure that you'll find at places like KIPP (and in the classrooms of old-school DCPS teachers). My kid is absolutely thriving in such a structured environment. It REALLY made me rethink my prejudices about programs like KIPP. If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have considered KIPPs for PK, and I will keep an open mind for middle and high school.

I also get input from a broader range of people than UMC DCUMers ... my neighbors pulled their kids from our sought-after "flipped" DCPS and put them in KIPP. They report that the kids are loving it and can't wait to go back after vacations. These are bright, nice kids, hard-working parents, kids that I would have zero worries about having in class with mine.

Of course some of the stories about harshness and rigidity give me pause. But I feel like now I have a much better framework for how schools "work" and my particular child. If the classroom is overall warm and positives, the teachers good, the admins solid, and everyone is focused on learning ... then having to walk silently in the hallways is not the main thing.

Thanks for posting this pp. I'm a parent of a 3 year old and honestly didn't go to any of the KIPP open houses because we decided to go the parochial route based on what we were looking for. I will say, I wonder how many people who actually comment on KIPP schools have ever set foot in one/gone to an open house? I can't imagine many have - yet one consistently hears the same comments over and over about why UMC parents aren't interested in even exploring it. For the number of open houses many of us attended (myself included) it's a shame we don't at least visit a school in order to form our own opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

UMC don't THINK their kids need or would benefit from that kind of structure. Also there is absolutely a stigma surrounding schools like KIPP, deserved or not. In a different context, "required family participation" is seen as a wonderful thing -- for example, cooperative schools. But because it is an urban, minority school, that is seen as "too rigid."

Also I now laugh at people assuming that just because your kid is UMC they don't need structure that you'll find at places like KIPP (and in the classrooms of old-school DCPS teachers). My kid is absolutely thriving in such a structured environment. It REALLY made me rethink my prejudices about programs like KIPP. If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have considered KIPPs for PK, and I will keep an open mind for middle and high school.

I also get input from a broader range of people than UMC DCUMers ... my neighbors pulled their kids from our sought-after "flipped" DCPS and put them in KIPP. They report that the kids are loving it and can't wait to go back after vacations. These are bright, nice kids, hard-working parents, kids that I would have zero worries about having in class with mine.

Of course some of the stories about harshness and rigidity give me pause. But I feel like now I have a much better framework for how schools "work" and my particular child. If the classroom is overall warm and positives, the teachers good, the admins solid, and everyone is focused on learning ... then having to walk silently in the hallways is not the main thing.

This!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

Basically, this. I'd add that most MC/UMC parents don't -want- their kids in such highly regimented environments, and they often aren't necessary because the kids already have sufficient structure, stability, and parental involvement in education. What KIPP does well is provide structure and high expectations for kids who might not otherwise have that, either at school or at home.

Disagree. The parents I know who send their kids to KIPP (or might) absolutely have high expectations for their kids. That's why they send them to KIPP. It's absolutely false that only UMC parents have structure and expectations in DC.

Great. But most don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

UMC don't THINK their kids need or would benefit from that kind of structure. Also there is absolutely a stigma surrounding schools like KIPP, deserved or not. In a different context, "required family participation" is seen as a wonderful thing -- for example, cooperative schools. But because it is an urban, minority school, that is seen as "too rigid."

Also I now laugh at people assuming that just because your kid is UMC they don't need structure that you'll find at places like KIPP (and in the classrooms of old-school DCPS teachers). My kid is absolutely thriving in such a structured environment. It REALLY made me rethink my prejudices about programs like KIPP. If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have considered KIPPs for PK, and I will keep an open mind for middle and high school.

I also get input from a broader range of people than UMC DCUMers ... my neighbors pulled their kids from our sought-after "flipped" DCPS and put them in KIPP. They report that the kids are loving it and can't wait to go back after vacations. These are bright, nice kids, hard-working parents, kids that I would have zero worries about having in class with mine.

Of course some of the stories about harshness and rigidity give me pause. But I feel like now I have a much better framework for how schools "work" and my particular child. If the classroom is overall warm and positives, the teachers good, the admins solid, and everyone is focused on learning ... then having to walk silently in the hallways is not the main thing.

Thanks for posting this pp. I'm a parent of a 3 year old and honestly didn't go to any of the KIPP open houses because we decided to go the parochial route based on what we were looking for. I will say, I wonder how many people who actually comment on KIPP schools have ever set foot in one/gone to an open house? I can't imagine many have - yet one consistently hears the same comments over and over about why UMC parents aren't interested in even exploring it. For the number of open houses many of us attended (myself included) it's a shame we don't at least visit a school in order to form our own opinions.

Exactly. Too many people giving their opinion with no experiences to back it up. I can't comment on KIPP because we don't go there but I can comment that people here largely don't know what they are talking about when they tell people so stay away from schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

Basically, this. I'd add that most MC/UMC parents don't -want- their kids in such highly regimented environments, and they often aren't necessary because the kids already have sufficient structure, stability, and parental involvement in education. What KIPP does well is provide structure and high expectations for kids who might not otherwise have that, either at school or at home.

Disagree. The parents I know who send their kids to KIPP (or might) absolutely have high expectations for their kids. That's why they send them to KIPP. It's absolutely false that only UMC parents have structure and expectations in DC.

Great. But most don't.

Not today, Satan.

[Anonymous]

They are specifically targeting underprivileged kids.

KIPP Foundation Mission

To create a respected, influential, and national network of public schools that are successful in helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, character, and habits needed to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond.

[Anonymous]

I moved my child from one well-regarded DCPS to another one because DC needed LESS structure. DC is highly self-motivated, wants time and space to explore, and is a lot happier without too much rigidity.

So whatever. Kids are different. Count me as an UMC who *knows* that KIPP would not work well for my child. Kids are different. Some (me!) thrive in structure; some don't. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I moved my child from one well-regarded DCPS to another one because DC needed LESS structure. DC is highly self-motivated, wants time and space to explore, and is a lot happier without too much rigidity.

So whatever. Kids are different. Count me as an UMC who *knows* that KIPP would not work well for my child. Kids are different. Some (me!) thrive in structure; some don't. To each his own.

But the point is it's not BECAUSE you are UMC. It's because it's what your child needs. He just happens to be in an UMC family

[Anonymous]

I enrolled my (UMC, white) kid in a KIPP school in the spring before their PK3 year, but we ultimately got into (and ended up attending) another school over the summer. I think my kid absolutely would have thrived at KIPP. My spouse and I attended the new parent orientation and there were many, many parents there who seemed absolutely committed to their childrens' success. The classrooms were warm and kid-friendly. The teachers that I met (including those who came to our house for a home visit) seemed kind. I know a KIPP graduate who is a terrific kid.

The main things that gave me pause were the longer educational day and the school's mission to "actively recruit and serve students in underserved communities" because I was wary about the school perceiving my family as "taking" a KIPP slot from an underserved kid who needed it more.

I think my kids would have had a good educational experience at KIPP, though a different one than they are having at the charter where we ended up.