Hill Middle Schools

[Anonymous]

Soooo why are there three? Seems like both EH and SH are getting super traction, but wouldn’t that work better that is bigger overall so a cohort of high achieving kids comes together faster? I imagine it’s hard to fix since the three are already separate schools. Just curious about the history and thinking around this.

[Anonymous]

Mmmmm... popcorn

There's a very long history here that people will soon tell you. But the important thing to remember is that creating a cohort of high achieving kids is not the only purpose of a school district. If they did create that, the school would swiftly become overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

All 3 appear to have some increasing in-bound traction. All 3 have at least one feeder that is now sending 25-30 students a year to the feeder middle school. Big is not necessarily better. Deal (or a suburban middle school) is great for the top kids because there is a large cohort of high-achieving peers. A large school also often means more money that can be used for different extracurricular activities and programs. But a giant middle school is not necessarily all-around so great for everyone else. There is really no reason all 3 schools cannot now have a strong cohort of kids (along w the social advantages of a smaller school).

[Anonymous]

Jefferson is higher-performing than EH and has a nice renovated building and stable leadership; I think the main thing holding it back is how far it is from most of its feeders. If I were in charge, I would change the feeder pattern so everyone IB for Eastern would have rights to SH for 5th and 6th grade and JA for 7th and 8th. EH would keep its IB focus and require an essay, a teacher recommendation, and a (low) minimum gpa and PARCC score. Nothing too demanding to get into, but for kids who are making some level of effort in school and are interested in IB. Priority to kids IB for Eastern feeders and then open to OOB.

I think this would help address the 5th grade peel-off for BASIS and Latin (and the situation where some schools have tiny 5th grades and huge PK waitlists--it could potentially allow for another PK classroom), increase buy-in among kids at feeder schools, and possibly increase the number of kids at grade level going on to Eastern.

[Anonymous]

No, the main thing that's holding Jefferson back is the lack of definite rigor. They don't seem to offer many true honors/intensified classes. Few UMC feeder parents are sold on their vague "we differentiate marvelously!" pledge. The lack of diversity doesn't help either. Where are the Asian students? There seem to be zero and only a tiny number of whites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jefferson is higher-performing than EH and has a nice renovated building and stable leadership; I think the main thing holding it back is how far it is from most of its feeders. If I were in charge, I would change the feeder pattern so everyone IB for Eastern would have rights to SH for 5th and 6th grade and JA for 7th and 8th. EH would keep its IB focus and require an essay, a teacher recommendation, and a (low) minimum gpa and PARCC score. Nothing too demanding to get into, but for kids who are making some level of effort in school and are interested in IB. Priority to kids IB for Eastern feeders and then open to OOB.

I think this would help address the 5th grade peel-off for BASIS and Latin (and the situation where some schools have tiny 5th grades and huge PK waitlists--it could potentially allow for another PK classroom), increase buy-in among kids at feeder schools, and possibly increase the number of kids at grade level going on to Eastern.

EH and Jefferson have basically indistinguishable PARCC scores and both have newly renovated buildings. EH’s administration is very stable. I don’t really see any basis to claim Jefferson is “higher-performing.”

[Anonymous]

Unless and until DCPS allows MS on the Hill to do actual tracking (call it what you will) those schools will not progress beyond a certain point. People are not going to send their kids to schools where they are in classes with kids 2+ grade levels behind the material and grade level. As long as DCPS cares more about faux "equity" than academic rigor, nothing will change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless and until DCPS allows MS on the Hill to do actual tracking (call it what you will) those schools will not progress beyond a certain point. People are not going to send their kids to schools where they are in classes with kids 2+ grade levels behind the material and grade level. As long as DCPS cares more about faux "equity" than academic rigor, nothing will change.

This. Nailed it.

Lowering academic standards due to equity and social promotion is why DCPS high school have single digit percentages of kids on grade level on math.

It’s shocking that 95% kids are performing below grade level with majority way, way below grade level.

[Anonymous]

DCPS also very strategically cracked the Hill into three separate middle schools to prevent any critical mass of high achieving kids. Many parents have been lobbying for one consolidated MS for years, but Charles Allen and DCPS are completely opposed because it wouldn't fit their "fairness" and "equity" narrative if there suddenly was a MS that started to perform well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless and until DCPS allows MS on the Hill to do actual tracking (call it what you will) those schools will not progress beyond a certain point. People are not going to send their kids to schools where they are in classes with kids 2+ grade levels behind the material and grade level. As long as DCPS cares more about faux "equity" than academic rigor, nothing will change.

This. Nailed it.

Lowering academic standards due to equity and social promotion is why DCPS high school have single digit percentages of kids on grade level on math.

It’s shocking that 95% kids are performing below grade level with majority way, way below grade level.

Well … given that PARCC 3s were considered proficient in some states, most of the Hill MS have 50+ grade level for ELA, 30-40% for math. It’s not that bad. If what you envision for a school is majority above grade level, no, you won’t get that.

[Anonymous]

Well...given that we could all move around 7 miles to North Arlington where public schools track extensively for math from 6th grade (my nephew takes pre-calc in 6th grade at an Arlington school) and track for English from 7th, it's not that great either. You seem to forget that DCPS Hill school compete with our near neighbors, along with DC charters and privates. Most Hill denizens still leave for them after 5th grade. Your analysis isn't cold comfort, it's no comfort at all.

[Anonymous]

make that pre-algebra, pre-calc not offered until 8th grade!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well...given that we could all move around 7 miles to North Arlington where public schools track extensively for math from 6th grade (my nephew takes pre-calc in 6th grade at an Arlington school) and track for English from 7th, it's not that great either. You seem to forget that DCPS Hill school compete with our near neighbors, along with DC charters and privates. Most Hill denizens still leave for them after 5th grade. Your analysis isn't cold comfort, it's no comfort at all.

ok have fun in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

You seem to be missing the point. Having fun in Arlington just isn't the point. You're OK with most kids not testing proficient in your child's middle school classes. Hardly anybody else on the Hill is. That's why Latin Cooper's 5th grade waiting list is around five times longer than it was last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You seem to be missing the point. Having fun in Arlington just isn't the point. You're OK with most kids not testing proficient in your child's middle school classes. Hardly anybody else on the Hill is. That's why Latin Cooper's 5th grade waiting list is around five times longer than it was last year.

I mean, I wish it was magically better. But my point is that 30-50% are considered proficient by some measures (3 was considered proficient in many states). It’s not as dire as you say. TBH the only thing that would drastically change the percentages would be more IB families enrolling. Things that are under the school’s control may be more along the line of moving more kids from 2 to 3. I don’t fault anyone who wants their kid to be in a different environment but your catastrophizing isn’t helpful.