Ward 2/3 High School proposal in the NW Current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's simple, really: many people can clearly foresee a looming overcrowding issue at Wilson. You have several choices:
1. Remove some feeder schools
2. Build greater capacity at Wilson
3. Create a new school.

If choosing 1., which feeder schools? ....

New poster. I'm not sure I buy your premise that some of the current Wilson feeders need to be removed under Choice #1. My understanding is that there are lots of OOB students at Wilson who are not coming through the Deal/Hardy/Oyster feeders.

The DME's analysis (http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Feeder%20Pattern%20Analysis%20of%20DCPS%20High%20Schools_4.2.14.pdf) shows that of the 559 9th graders at Wilson, 73 (13%) came from non-feeders. Another 86 (15%) have no data available, so presumably some subset of those (maybe 11-12 more?) also came from non-feeders. 11 of those (2%) came from Jefferson, which might mean they are within Wilson's current boundary, even though Jefferson is not a feeder, because Wilson's boundary covers part of the Jefferson area. If you look at the students arriving to Wilson's feeders Deal/Hardy/Oyster (http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Feeder%20Pattern%20Analysis%20of%20DCPS%20Middle%20or%20MS%26HS%20Education%20Campuses_4.2.14.pdf), you'll see a similar pattern suggesting lots of non-feeder, OOB students are attending these schools.

Another way to see this same issue is with maps prepared by the 21st Century Foundation for DME (http://www.21csf.org/csf-home/DocUploads/DataShop/DS_23.pdf), which show lots of OOB students attending Wilson from all over the city. By comparing the middle school boundary map with the high school boundary map, I can see that some of those OOB for Wilson are students in-bounds for the feeder middle schools (for example, parts of 16th Street Heights are in-bounds for Deal, but OOB for Wilson, but those students presumably continue on to Wilson as feeder students). But those border students are clearly a small subset of the total OOB population shown on the 21st Century map.

I'd offer two suggestions:

1. Stop admitting non-feeder, OOB ("NF-OOB") students to overcrowded schools. That applies not only for Wilson, but also for any other middle schools which are over-capacity. If a school it under-capacity, it can accept NF-OOB students via lottery, but those NF-OOB students get feeder rights for the next school stage only if they do not put the school over-capacity. Based on DME's maps and charts, I predict this step alone will reduce enrollment at Wilson by about 10%, which is enough to bring Wilson back within its capacity parameters.

2. Harmonize the boundaries for elementary, middle, and high schools. Right now, because of feeder-rights, the "true" boundary for Wilson is actually much bigger than it shows on a map. The "true" boundary for Wilson is actually the maximum area encompassed by not only Wilson's boundary, but also the areas encompassed by the various middle and elementary. So as one example, Wilson's "true" boundary effectively includes Colonial Heights, Shepard Park, and much of 16th Street Heights, even though those neighborhoods don't fall within Wilson's actual zone of attendance. Wilson's boundary also includes part of Jefferson's area, even though Jefferson is not a feeder. Wherever these overlapping and inconsistent boundaries apply, it is very difficult for DCPS to manage enrollment. To properly manage each school's enrollment, the overlap in boundaries should be removed. I don't know whether Wilson's boundary should be extended to match Deal's, or alternatively whether the Deal boundary should shrink to match Wilson's. The answer depends on how over-capacity Wilson is after suggestion #1 above is implemented.

some of the kids entering Wilson from non-feeders may be people who moved into the school zone, kids who were in private schools, charter schools or homeschooled. You can't assume they are not in-bounds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a fascinating posting on this forum showing the post-Brown 1950s boundaries for junior and high schools. The reason why Wilson's boundaries are so extended into SW is that the old Western HS boundaries (SW and the southern half of the WOTP area) was absorbed into Wilson. The diagrams make a very compelling and clear case for re-opening Western HS, which would certainly take some of the pressure off Wilson.

It is a simple fact that some families/neighborhoods need to be zoned out of Wilson, to relieve overcrowding. There's lots of debate about which neighborhoods that should be. I personally think that no matter how the ultimate plan is structured, it should be families/neighborhoods farther away from Wilson (such as SW, 16th St Heights, Petworth, Shepard Park) because of the significance of geography. If those families will support an EotP school, then something like Roosevelt or Cardozo makes sense because of it's central location. If those zoned-out families will refuse to support any EotP school, then I agree Western makes a lot of sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a fascinating posting on this forum showing the post-Brown 1950s boundaries for junior and high schools. The reason why Wilson's boundaries are so extended into SW is that the old Western HS boundaries (SW and the southern half of the WOTP area) was absorbed into Wilson. The diagrams make a very compelling and clear case for re-opening Western HS, which would certainly take some of the pressure off Wilson.

It is a simple fact that some families/neighborhoods need to be zoned out of Wilson, to relieve overcrowding. There's lots of debate about which neighborhoods that should be. I personally think that no matter how the ultimate plan is structured, it should be families/neighborhoods farther away from Wilson (such as SW, 16th St Heights, Petworth, Shepard Park) because of the significance of geography. If those families will support an EotP school, then something like Roosevelt or Cardozo makes sense because of it's central location. If those zoned-out families will refuse to support any EotP school, then I agree Western makes a lot of sense.

Given that Wilson is almost half OOB you could argue that it's not a boundary problem at all, it's an OOB problem. Why should anyone be zoned out so that someone who once won a lottery for pre-K can continue to have rights 14 years later?

And therein lies the rub: there just isn't a compelling argument for who stays and who goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a fascinating posting on this forum showing the post-Brown 1950s boundaries for junior and high schools. The reason why Wilson's boundaries are so extended into SW is that the old Western HS boundaries (SW and the southern half of the WOTP area) was absorbed into Wilson. The diagrams make a very compelling and clear case for re-opening Western HS, which would certainly take some of the pressure off Wilson.

It is a simple fact that some families/neighborhoods need to be zoned out of Wilson, to relieve overcrowding. There's lots of debate about which neighborhoods that should be. I personally think that no matter how the ultimate plan is structured, it should be families/neighborhoods farther away from Wilson (such as SW, 16th St Heights, Petworth, Shepard Park) because of the significance of geography. If those families will support an EotP school, then something like Roosevelt or Cardozo makes sense because of it's central location. If those zoned-out families will refuse to support any EotP school, then I agree Western makes a lot of sense.

Given that Wilson is almost half OOB you could argue that it's not a boundary problem at all, it's an OOB problem. Why should anyone be zoned out so that someone who once won a lottery for pre-K can continue to have rights 14 years later? And therein lies the rub: there just isn't a compelling argument for who stays and who goes.

I agree with you that Wilson is almost half OOB, but I think a lot of those OOB students are admitted via feeder rights from the middle schools. So yes, another way DCPS could deal with the Wilson over-crowding problem is to eliminate middle school feeder rights to Wilson, so only those actually in-bounds for Wilson can attend. If middle school feeder rights are restricted, then most of the neighborhoods removed from Wilson will be ones near Roosevelt (16th St Heights, Petworth and Shepard Park). So that brings us back to the question: Are those EotP families are willing to attend an EotP school? Or will those EotP families insist their children need to attend a school WotP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're an idiot. Nobody wants a high school bottleneck in the western part of the city.

It's simple, really: many people can clearly foresee a looming overcrowding issue at Wilson. You have several choices:
1. Remove some feeder schools
2. Build greater capacity at Wilson
3. Create a new school.

If choosing 1., which feeder schools? Proponents of 3. realize that it may not be reasonable to remove east of the park feeder schools.

So, tell me again why I want?!? a bottleneck in my neighborhood. Or, stop denying the reality of the situation and tell me what you'd do.

NP -- I'd do #3 -- a new school, but outside of ward 3, e.g. the revitalized Roosevelt idea.

Thank you. Who would go to the new school? That is, how would this solution ease overcrowding at Wilson? Which feeders are you removing. (That's the hard question, so don't hide from it.)

Not PP, but I think the answer is easy: Powell, Oyster, Bancroft, maybe Shepherd. I'm sure I'm missing a few. This would be predicated on have quality MS and HS destinations.

Powell already feeds Raymond Education Campus for MS and Roosevelt for HS. This has no effect on the over-crowding at Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a fascinating posting on this forum showing the post-Brown 1950s boundaries for junior and high schools. The reason why Wilson's boundaries are so extended into SW is that the old Western HS boundaries (SW and the southern half of the WOTP area) was absorbed into Wilson. The diagrams make a very compelling and clear case for re-opening Western HS, which would certainly take some of the pressure off Wilson.

It is a simple fact that some families/neighborhoods need to be zoned out of Wilson, to relieve overcrowding. There's lots of debate about which neighborhoods that should be. I personally think that no matter how the ultimate plan is structured, it should be families/neighborhoods farther away from Wilson (such as SW, 16th St Heights, Petworth, Shepard Park) because of the significance of geography. If those families will support an EotP school, then something like Roosevelt or Cardozo makes sense because of it's central location. If those zoned-out families will refuse to support any EotP school, then I agree Western makes a lot of sense.

Given that Wilson is almost half OOB you could argue that it's not a boundary problem at all, it's an OOB problem. Why should anyone be zoned out so that someone who once won a lottery for pre-K can continue to have rights 14 years later? And therein lies the rub: there just isn't a compelling argument for who stays and who goes.

I agree with you that Wilson is almost half OOB, but I think a lot of those OOB students are admitted via feeder rights from the middle schools. So yes, another way DCPS could deal with the Wilson over-crowding problem is to eliminate middle school feeder rights to Wilson, so only those actually in-bounds for Wilson can attend. If middle school feeder rights are restricted, then most of the neighborhoods removed from Wilson will be ones near Roosevelt (16th St Heights, Petworth and Shepard Park). So that brings us back to the question: Are those EotP families are willing to attend an EotP school? Or will those EotP families insist their children need to attend a school WotP?

This completely ignores the third rail of DC politics.

[Anonymous]

Families that drop out of the DCPS system and choose to attend charters should lose their feeder rights to attend Wilson.

Because the schools are so popular, I - as a pratical matter - lose my right to attend Basis or Latin after 5th grade. Let's take the same approach to Wilson, which is equally as popular.

This would reduce Wilson overcrowding, and have the beneficial impact of enticing a few more IB families to stay with Deal or Hardy instead of heading to charters - so it would make those two schools - Hardy in particular - stronger.

[Anonymous]

^^all children need a school of right at each stage. I just don't see that happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Families that drop out of the DCPS system and choose to attend charters should lose their feeder rights to attend Wilson[b].

Because the schools are so popular, I - as a pratical matter - lose my right to attend Basis or Latin after 5th grade. Let's take the same approach to Wilson, which is equally as popular.

This would reduce Wilson overcrowding, and have the beneficial impact of enticing a few more IB families to stay with Deal or Hardy instead of heading to charters - so it would make those two schools - Hardy in particular - stronger.

there isn't an issue of feeder rights, it's a matter of home address

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a fascinating posting on this forum showing the post-Brown 1950s boundaries for junior and high schools. The reason why Wilson's boundaries are so extended into SW is that the old Western HS boundaries (SW and the southern half of the WOTP area) was absorbed into Wilson. The diagrams make a very compelling and clear case for re-opening Western HS, which would certainly take some of the pressure off Wilson.

Great idea, as long as you can find a campus. The fossil record of Western is now the living, breathing, Ellington. Who knows? The idea could work... just not at 35th & R NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else see the NW Current article regarding SWW@FS principal Richard Trogisch (RT) proposing a high school at FS or in the alternative taking over Duke Ellington? As reported in the Current RT believes he could run that school and continue to run SWW High School. Just so I'm clear, that would be a neighborhood PS3-12 school potentially at the Duke Ellington site on 35th and Reservoir NW, and the selective admission high school on the GW campus at 21 and G NW.

He also stated, according to the Current, that the FS school needs to renovated before other schools because he is attracting top talent teachers. It sounds like he already has a head start, shouldn't other schools get something like a renovation if he is taking all the good teachers? He specifically mentions that his school should be moved ahead of Garrison's renovation.

Just let him run The Trogisch School (K-12) at Francis-Stevens and give SWW a real principal again, please....

[Anonymous]

What nobody seems to be able to get into their head, much less accept, is that Wilson is NOT going to be exclusively white and high SES. If that means gerrymandering Hardy into Cardozo, then so be it.

There is no education plan that eliminates Ellington, or removes Shepherd from Deal. (Not without suicide.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What nobody seems to be able to get into their head, much less accept, is that Wilson is NOT going to be exclusively white and high SES. If that means gerrymandering Hardy into Cardozo, then so be it.

There is no education plan that eliminates Ellington, or removes Shepherd from Deal. (Not without suicide.)

Non-sequiturs R Us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What nobody seems to be able to get into their head, much less accept, is that Wilson is NOT going to be exclusively white and high SES. If that means gerrymandering Hardy into Cardozo, then so be it.

There is no education plan that eliminates Ellington, or removes Shepherd from Deal. (Not without suicide.)

Exactly. And the sooner the hyperventilating Janney parents understand that, the better. Seriously - the better for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What nobody seems to be able to get into their head, much less accept, is that Wilson is NOT going to be exclusively white and high SES. If that means gerrymandering Hardy into Cardozo, then so be it.

There is no education plan that eliminates Ellington, or removes Shepherd from Deal. (Not without suicide.)

You mean if Bowser committed suicide?