Upper elementary at a Title 1 school

[Anonymous]

No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

[Anonymous]

This entire thread is exhausting to read and sums up why we moved WOTP. It feels great that we can now can use this head space for other things.

To summarize: if you are unable to move, you can work really hard to make the public schools work for your kid. If you are able to move but you have the time, energy, and interest in making the title 1 public schools work for your family, that is wonderful and you might be able to lift up some others along the way. If you are able to move and don’t want to have to put your family through all this, just do it. You will be so much happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is exhausting to read and sums up why we moved WOTP. It feels great that we can now can use this head space for other things.

To summarize: if you are unable to move, you can work really hard to make the public schools work for your kid. If you are able to move but you have the time, energy, and interest in making the title 1 public schools work for your family, that is wonderful and you might be able to lift up some others along the way. If you are able to move and don’t want to have to put your family through all this, just do it. You will be so much happier.

But you actually DONT need to work at some of these EOTP DCPS schools. they are good schools with incredible teachers. you can do nothing and the teachers will teach your kids beautifully. but the demographics make many white parents confused and think that they need to do work. This is not based on DCUM people, this is based on years of observation and conversations with white parents who think I am like-minded at one of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

Is it a Title 1 school though? You call it "high performing"... going to a high performing IB DCPS is a no brainer. Our IB school is Title 1, not high performing, and really struggles to retain students of any race. We moved to another Title 1 DCPS via lottery this year. It has a much better administration and a very committed parent group. I sometimes feel guilty about leaving our old school, but you have to be realistic about what is possible. Criticizing people for choosing a charter or OOB DCPS over their IB school doesn't always make sense.

I also have extremely limited patience for people who have great IB schools and then want to be mad at people with struggling IB schools for making other choices. The system sucks if you are IB for a really struggling school -- you have no good options. Not all of us have the options you have. Plus I note you started at CMI. So your opinion on this evolving too. Which is fine. But don't assume you know what motivates everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to a HRCS and have had friends leave every year. It's not just at Title I schools, though it may be worse there. DC is a transient place.

DC is only a transient place for SOME of the city. There are PLENTY of long term residents, PLENTY of middle class educated long term residents. But, yes just like any big city, college town, military or DOD high employment dependent cities there are lots of people coming and going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire thread is exhausting to read and sums up why we moved WOTP. It feels great that we can now can use this head space for other things.

To summarize: if you are unable to move, you can work really hard to make the public schools work for your kid. If you are able to move but you have the time, energy, and interest in making the title 1 public schools work for your family, that is wonderful and you might be able to lift up some others along the way. If you are able to move and don’t want to have to put your family through all this, just do it. You will be so much happier.

If you just ignore the majority population of the city you live in, and surround yourself by other UMC white people, you’ll be so much happier. Your kids will end up exactly as white washed as you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

Is it a Title 1 school though? You call it "high performing"... going to a high performing IB DCPS is a no brainer. Our IB school is Title 1, not high performing, and really struggles to retain students of any race. We moved to another Title 1 DCPS via lottery this year. It has a much better administration and a very committed parent group. I sometimes feel guilty about leaving our old school, but you have to be realistic about what is possible. Criticizing people for choosing a charter or OOB DCPS over their IB school doesn't always make sense.

I also have extremely limited patience for people who have great IB schools and then want to be mad at people with struggling IB schools for making other choices. The system sucks if you are IB for a really struggling school -- you have no good options. Not all of us have the options you have. Plus I note you started at CMI. So your opinion on this evolving too. Which is fine. But don't assume you know what motivates everyone else.

Yes, it’s a Title 1 and it’s also high performing. Not as high as the Ward 3 DCPS, but as good as the charters. That’s my point. It’s actually not a no brainer because almost everyone chooses charters over the handful of “high performing” DCPS in our area. Nobody should feel guilty for leaving a low performing school that can’t serve kids well, but people need to look at their assumptions (all DCPS are the same, all Title 1 are the same, MC families can’t stay in DCPS past second grade, any charter is better than any DCPS). I think you and I are on the same page since you also moved to another DCPS. But many people on this thread and in our neighborhood don’t ever question their assumptions and, even worse, judge others for making decisions differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

Is it a Title 1 school though? You call it "high performing"... going to a high performing IB DCPS is a no brainer. Our IB school is Title 1, not high performing, and really struggles to retain students of any race. We moved to another Title 1 DCPS via lottery this year. It has a much better administration and a very committed parent group. I sometimes feel guilty about leaving our old school, but you have to be realistic about what is possible. Criticizing people for choosing a charter or OOB DCPS over their IB school doesn't always make sense.

I also have extremely limited patience for people who have great IB schools and then want to be mad at people with struggling IB schools for making other choices. The system sucks if you are IB for a really struggling school -- you have no good options. Not all of us have the options you have. Plus I note you started at CMI. So your opinion on this evolving too. Which is fine. But don't assume you know what motivates everyone else.

Yes, it’s a Title 1 and it’s also high performing. Not as high as the Ward 3 DCPS, but as good as the charters. That’s my point. It’s actually not a no brainer because almost everyone chooses charters over the handful of “high performing” DCPS in our area. Nobody should feel guilty for leaving a low performing school that can’t serve kids well, but people need to look at their assumptions (all DCPS are the same, all Title 1 are the same, MC families can’t stay in DCPS past second grade, any charter is better than any DCPS). I think you and I are on the same page since you also moved to another DCPS. But many people on this thread and in our neighborhood don’t ever question their assumptions and, even worse, judge others for making decisions differently.

You are the one judging people for not making the same decision as you. Every family situation is different and everyone decide what they think is better for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

Is it a Title 1 school though? You call it "high performing"... going to a high performing IB DCPS is a no brainer. Our IB school is Title 1, not high performing, and really struggles to retain students of any race. We moved to another Title 1 DCPS via lottery this year. It has a much better administration and a very committed parent group. I sometimes feel guilty about leaving our old school, but you have to be realistic about what is possible. Criticizing people for choosing a charter or OOB DCPS over their IB school doesn't always make sense.

I also have extremely limited patience for people who have great IB schools and then want to be mad at people with struggling IB schools for making other choices. The system sucks if you are IB for a really struggling school -- you have no good options. Not all of us have the options you have. Plus I note you started at CMI. So your opinion on this evolving too. Which is fine. But don't assume you know what motivates everyone else.

Yes, it’s a Title 1 and it’s also high performing. Not as high as the Ward 3 DCPS, but as good as the charters. That’s my point. It’s actually not a no brainer because almost everyone chooses charters over the handful of “high performing” DCPS in our area. Nobody should feel guilty for leaving a low performing school that can’t serve kids well, but people need to look at their assumptions (all DCPS are the same, all Title 1 are the same, MC families can’t stay in DCPS past second grade, any charter is better than any DCPS). I think you and I are on the same page since you also moved to another DCPS. But many people on this thread and in our neighborhood don’t ever question their assumptions and, even worse, judge others for making decisions differently.

You are the one judging people for not making the same decision as you. Every family situation is different and everyone decide what they think is better for their kids.

“What they think is best.” Sounds like someone’s going with those gut feelings and not really examining their implicit biases, hmm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I think it is racism. We left CMI to go back to our much higher performing Ward 4 IB and people thought we were crazy. We got so many perplexed comments and looks, like we were crazy for choosing a DCPS over any charter. What's the difference between CMI and the DCPS in our neighborhood? Demographics. Even though CMI is a MUCH weaker school and feeds into an equally poor middle school. There's another thread that is asking for charter seats for kindergarten. Not good DC kindergarten seats - only charters. Because the underlying bias is that all charters are better than all EOTP DCPS and it's not because pre-K3 parents are worried about central office or middle school. It's because of the kids and their assumptions about those kids.

Is it a Title 1 school though? You call it "high performing"... going to a high performing IB DCPS is a no brainer. Our IB school is Title 1, not high performing, and really struggles to retain students of any race. We moved to another Title 1 DCPS via lottery this year. It has a much better administration and a very committed parent group. I sometimes feel guilty about leaving our old school, but you have to be realistic about what is possible. Criticizing people for choosing a charter or OOB DCPS over their IB school doesn't always make sense.

I also have extremely limited patience for people who have great IB schools and then want to be mad at people with struggling IB schools for making other choices. The system sucks if you are IB for a really struggling school -- you have no good options. Not all of us have the options you have. Plus I note you started at CMI. So your opinion on this evolving too. Which is fine. But don't assume you know what motivates everyone else.

Yes, it’s a Title 1 and it’s also high performing. Not as high as the Ward 3 DCPS, but as good as the charters. That’s my point. It’s actually not a no brainer because almost everyone chooses charters over the handful of “high performing” DCPS in our area. Nobody should feel guilty for leaving a low performing school that can’t serve kids well, but people need to look at their assumptions (all DCPS are the same, all Title 1 are the same, MC families can’t stay in DCPS past second grade, any charter is better than any DCPS). I think you and I are on the same page since you also moved to another DCPS. But many people on this thread and in our neighborhood don’t ever question their assumptions and, even worse, judge others for making decisions differently.

You are the one judging people for not making the same decision as you. Every family situation is different and everyone decide what they think is better for their kids.

“What they think is best.” Sounds like someone’s going with those gut feelings and not really examining their implicit biases, hmm?

Oh, if you can only see me, you will know how stupid your comment is.

[Anonymous]

For those who had bad experiences at Title 1 schools, what would you have done differently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who had bad experiences at Title 1 schools, what would you have done differently?

I wouldn't say I had a bad experience. DD's needs were amply met and she loved school. I was constantly stressing about her being adequately challenged etc., but she always was. In retrospect I wish I had crunched some lottery data and realized how easy it is to get into a path to a decent middle school if you keep lotterying. I would have been a lot less stressed about the future if I had wrapped my mind around that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

This is why one of the many reasons I don’t send my brown kid to my IB. He is not there to make you feel good about yourself. also, please don’t say “hola” to me when you see me in the neighborhood, I speak English.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Would you rather OP cross the street and send their kid to an all white suburb?

Not the PP, but I'd rather the OP get real about DCPS's problems, which go way beyond racism and are in many ways the fault of the adults who work for DCPS. That's what I would rather OP do.

+100. The incompetence of DCPS leaves parents and families to squabble about racism. They prefer it that way so the pressure is not on them to do their dang jobs. Don't fall for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

Thank you. I have found, over many years, that the clueless parents screaming about others' racism based on their school choices demonstrate a shockingly high level of paternalistic, white-saviour-type thinking about their children's classmates. They also have no understanding at all of the way that middle and upper class people of color go about making their schooling decisions. They'd rather not think about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We changed our older child from a title 1 dcps dual language to oyster adams in 4th. The difference was mostly in a more prepared and (wealthy) peer group. Teaching in core subjects was equally strong in both schools, but the specials were much better at oyster adams. The kids’ behavior was not much better, but academically the kids were much stronger at Adams.

Thank you. How do you think the difference in academic strength translated into a different experience for your child? Do you mind sharing which school you switched from?

Bump (DP)

Are you still deciding or already regretting your decision?

OP here. Actually we’re at the Title 1 and I’m convinced it’s mostly racism scaring people away. They look at a playground of brown kids and assume they’re below grade level and misbehaved. They’re not. The games the big kids play with the little kids are adorable and sweet, and all of the 3rd-4th graders I know (classmates siblings and kids from activities) seem bright and are certainly well spoken. I understand not all Title 1 schools are created equal, but I’m happy my child has the experience of seeing kids that don’t look like her being leaders and doing better in some things than her. Those are life lessons that really can change how a person interacts with the world going forward.

I say give it up. Your explanation is as clear as mud. What IS your point anyway?
Accusing everyone else but themselves of racism but then saying the Black and Brown kids are "well spoken" -- the classic condescending compliment that white people use toward Black and Brown people and only Black and Brown people -- is quite a flex.

Let's be honest here: no white person has ever described another white person as "well spoken."

I bet PP has "a lot of Black friends," too.

OP here. No, you misunderstood and my apologies if I was speaking unclearly. Absolutely not all of those big kids I referred to are black and brown, and it's not ONLY the white or ONLY the black and brown kids that seem bright and well spoken from what I've seen so far. Any kid that wants to chat your ear off about a topic that interests them is "well spoken" to me, yes even the white kids. Because I'm not talking about adults, I'm talking about kids. And some kids can hold a conversation with an adult better than others. But the point is that the claim that the achievement gap gets huge in second grade and your advanced child will be in a small group of one doesn't seem inevitable based on the older kids that are at the school now. But whatever small groups we end up in, it's highly unlikely it will be a cohort of white kids at the top and not white kids below, like I've heard about in other schools. And that's a good thing for all kids, not just mine.

But I get the defensiveness and assumptions and why people want to attack me. When we were lotterying I assumed we'd end up at a charter like all of our neighbors. And if we had gotten into a small handful of charters easily, we probably would have. But when we saw what our options were, we really dug down and looked past the waitlist numbers and overall PARCC scores, and were surprised that the school that seemed to fit best was one that most people would turn down for other options. That's why I started this thread months ago, and it's been very helpful. People have mixed experiences depending on their school, the available alternatives, and their child. It's not one size fits all, but just like not all HRCS are created equal, neither are all DCPS.