Experience with Macfarland?

[Anonymous]

So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MacFarland currently has 2 6th grade accelerated math classes. They are currently teaching algebra concepts in those classes.

Just attempting to be factual.

Half the sixth graders last year got 1s, 5 kids out of 168 passed, and they thought "you know what we need this year? two accelerated math classes!"

That's kind of amazing when you think of it.

Just attempting to be factual.

It’s obvious they are not teaching algebra. PP trying to make it seem positive by saying teaching algebra concepts. Plus doubt it’s really advance. Their advance is probably kids scoring 3 bs kids scoring 1 but all below grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

NP. First, the phrase “social experiment” in this context is both offensive and ridiculously cliche. Find another cheap phrase to toss around, please. Second, if you’re going to be trashing other people’s educational choices, how about you tell us where your kids go to school? Then those of us who have no experience with the school can explain to you why you should be unhappy with your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

This choice is completely up to PP and family, potentially including PP’s kid, and I certainly don’t see why anyone else on this board should worry about it — it’s not harming you if PP sends their kid to a school you think isn’t up to the task, so why would you get so agitated about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

This choice is completely up to PP and family, potentially including PP’s kid, and I certainly don’t see why anyone else on this board should worry about it — it’s not harming you if PP sends their kid to a school you think isn’t up to the task, so why would you get so agitated about it?

Not PP, but my parents had a lot of... values, which I guess sort of to their credit they lived out, but I was a lot more negatively affected than they were, and they also would have said I was fine. I absolutely think parents who are going down this statistically route should hear judgement, and so should other ones who are thinking about it. When you're going down the path that most parents in your position spend huge amounts of time and money to avoid, probably you are just wrong, and you should at least understand the alternative perspective. From the happy talk about advanced math classes, I think they genuinely are in denial.

[Anonymous]

I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

This choice is completely up to PP and family, potentially including PP’s kid, and I certainly don’t see why anyone else on this board should worry about it — it’s not harming you if PP sends their kid to a school you think isn’t up to the task, so why would you get so agitated about it?

Not PP, but my parents had a lot of... values, which I guess sort of to their credit they lived out, but I was a lot more negatively affected than they were, and they also would have said I was fine. I absolutely think parents who are going down this statistically route should hear judgement, and so should other ones who are thinking about it. When you're going down the path that most parents in your position spend huge amounts of time and money to avoid, probably you are just wrong, and you should at least understand the alternative perspective. From the happy talk about advanced math classes, I think they genuinely are in denial.

Well put. That said, I am enrolling my kid in a poor MS for a variety of reasons unique to our situation. Hoping for the best, but also fully planning to pay for math & writing tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I'm a PP and my kid is there. Absolutely true that the child can be a noticeable minority (by some lights at least) and this is not a choice all parents make. It was like this in elementary school for us too, so we have some experience here.

Child's experience is very good grades, being helpful to other students regularly. There are, as others are eager to inform, plenty of students who are not succeeding, (though I haven't seen many schools where family background isn't the driving factor in academic achievement). There are probably student body interactions I wouldn't like to see at release time and during school. But they seem to have never affected this child.

Our child has friends. Loves talking about child's teachers and things happening in sports, class, at lunch, field trips, etc., though plenty of time acts like a typical teenager. Isn't looking for change.

Certainly, I have counterfactuals in my mind. It would've been easy for our family to put our kids in private schools and I feel a twinge when I see suburban families talk about their kids in FIRST Robotics, enrichment, and sports teams that are not present at MacFarland or many other DCPS schools. Relatives have shown us the same test scores you talk about and we know there are alternatives.

But it is enough. The child is successful, happy, and not bored. For us, for now, it is enough. I understand the value many of you place on cohorts of succeeding students, strong discipline, developing work ethics, and acceleration opportunities. We have personal values that are countervailing that experience has shown us few share, but I don't want to bring anyone down by bringing them up.

I just say, if it's not off the table for you, come see. Talk to the Principal and staff. Not everyone is going to like what they learn, but I hope more do in the future.

And your HS plan is Walls or private, right?

I would really be concerned that PP’s kid will not be prepared at all for a test in school or private school. The playing field is much much higher than going to a failing middle school and your kid is at the top with no effort because all the other kids are so below grade level.

PP’s kid is going to struggle and will have to either sink or swim.

Why someone would put their kid in a failing school when they have other options is beyond me.

Stop judging, you know nothing about PP’s family.

I can judge all the hell I want. Who are you to tell me not too.

PP is doing his kid a big disservice when he has other options and that’s a fact. What exactly do you know about PP’s family to warrant him having his kid be a social experiment and jeopardizing his kids academic success if he really is above grade level.

Now if his kid is below grade level, well that’s a different story and he will fit right in, at least academically.

This choice is completely up to PP and family, potentially including PP’s kid, and I certainly don’t see why anyone else on this board should worry about it — it’s not harming you if PP sends their kid to a school you think isn’t up to the task, so why would you get so agitated about it?

Not PP, but my parents had a lot of... values, which I guess sort of to their credit they lived out, but I was a lot more negatively affected than they were, and they also would have said I was fine. I absolutely think parents who are going down this statistically route should hear judgement, and so should other ones who are thinking about it. When you're going down the path that most parents in your position spend huge amounts of time and money to avoid, probably you are just wrong, and you should at least understand the alternative perspective. From the happy talk about advanced math classes, I think they genuinely are in denial.

This. BTW, you should look at how DCPS and studies define fine when kids are placed in failing schools. It’s either high school graduation or admission to any college.

That is a really low, low bar. Going to college to many families like ours is the minimum and bottom of the bar, not the top

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an idea who 17:32 is and can’t believe they are still at MacFarland; our kids attended elementary school together until we left after 3rd grade. Their child is really bright and I’m surprised they are sticking it out for whatever reason.

hint: it’s called “grandma is paying for private high school and college, so we aren’t worried about MS.”

If that’s the reason then I think there are very compelling arguments for putting your child in an environment like MacFarland before they go to a private school bubble. You can supplement at home for a few years.

Sure. But the point is that people rarely tell you that the MS choice is so low risk for them. If you don’t have the money/ability to send your kid to private HS and pay full freight for college, then a bad MS stops seeming so cool and edgy.