Surplussing the old Hardy School, again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they make Hardy a test in school? Is that a dumb/ naive question??

Test in schools before high school have been suggested and rejected for years (at least 20-25). Most believe it is a politicalnonstarter to focus on high achieving students until achievement gap has narrowed.

DCPS is opening a test-in MS in Ward 7. It is projected to open during the 2016-17 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they make Hardy a test in school? Is that a dumb/ naive question??

Test in schools before high school have been suggested and rejected for years (at least 20-25). Most believe it is a politicalnonstarter to focus on high achieving students until achievement gap has narrowed.

DCPS is opening a test-in MS in Ward 7. It is projected to open during the 2016-17 school year.

It would be a political non-starter for a school located in Ward 3 because many people east of Rock Creek Park would see it as discriminatory and exclusionary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, I see the stats show that the IB % for Hardy MS is growing. It used to be 12% a year or two ago IIRC; now it's 15% according to the DCPS website. Much more of a concern though is the Hardy MS math and reading proficiency. They are 15-20 percentage points below that of Deale.

I hear the old Hardy/Lab building is too small for a modern DCPS school, whether elementary or middle school, so perhaps it works well as an overflow building for Lab. I agree with a prior poster who wondered about the to-be-sold GDS school on MacArthur -- I'd love to see DCPS buy that space and renovate it into a new school. While I'd like to see a new middle school as an option other than Hardy MS, perhaps what NW DC needs is another high school other than Wilson (Ellington doesn't "count" as a regular NW DCPS high school due to its arts focus). If NW DC had a high school option there, I think NWDC would be more accepting of Hardy MS out of a desire for continuity -- DCPS from K-12 -- and all at DCPS schools in NW DC. Some have said DCPS wouldn't buy a school (like GDS) because they already have too much excess real estate; however, that's not the case I don't think for NW DC. And, GDS would probably be a bargain compared to the recent renovation costs the city has recently been enduring, such as for Ellington and Dunbar (not to mention Wilson and others).

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, I see the stats show that the IB % for Hardy MS is growing. It used to be 12% a year or two ago IIRC; now it's 15% according to the DCPS website. Much more of a concern though is the Hardy MS math and reading proficiency. They are 15-20 percentage points below that of Deale.

I hear the old Hardy/Lab building is too small for a modern DCPS school, whether elementary or middle school, so perhaps it works well as an overflow building for Lab. I agree with a prior poster who wondered about the to-be-sold GDS school on MacArthur -- I'd love to see DCPS buy that space and renovate it into a new school. While I'd like to see a new middle school as an option other than Hardy MS, perhaps what NW DC needs is another high school other than Wilson (Ellington doesn't "count" as a regular NW DCPS high school due to its arts focus). If NW DC had a high school option there, I think NWDC would be more accepting of Hardy MS out of a desire for continuity -- DCPS from K-12 -- and all at DCPS schools in NW DC. Some have said DCPS wouldn't buy a school (like GDS) because they already have too much excess real estate; however, that's not the case I don't think for NW DC. And, GDS would probably be a bargain compared to the recent renovation costs the city has recently been enduring, such as for Ellington and Dunbar (not to mention Wilson and others).

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

Don't Eaton and Key boundaries join?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, I see the stats show that the IB % for Hardy MS is growing. It used to be 12% a year or two ago IIRC; now it's 15% according to the DCPS website. Much more of a concern though is the Hardy MS math and reading proficiency. They are 15-20 percentage points below that of Deale.

I hear the old Hardy/Lab building is too small for a modern DCPS school, whether elementary or middle school, so perhaps it works well as an overflow building for Lab. I agree with a prior poster who wondered about the to-be-sold GDS school on MacArthur -- I'd love to see DCPS buy that space and renovate it into a new school. While I'd like to see a new middle school as an option other than Hardy MS, perhaps what NW DC needs is another high school other than Wilson (Ellington doesn't "count" as a regular NW DCPS high school due to its arts focus). If NW DC had a high school option there, I think NWDC would be more accepting of Hardy MS out of a desire for continuity -- DCPS from K-12 -- and all at DCPS schools in NW DC. Some have said DCPS wouldn't buy a school (like GDS) because they already have too much excess real estate; however, that's not the case I don't think for NW DC. And, GDS would probably be a bargain compared to the recent renovation costs the city has recently been enduring, such as for Ellington and Dunbar (not to mention Wilson and others).

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

If in fact Key is over capacity (83% IB), then they should have redistricted some kids from Key to Hyde (41% IB). Some from Mann to Eaton (45% IB) and some Janney to Hearst (27% IB).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, I see the stats show that the IB % for Hardy MS is growing. It used to be 12% a year or two ago IIRC; now it's 15% according to the DCPS website. Much more of a concern though is the Hardy MS math and reading proficiency. They are 15-20 percentage points below that of Deale.

I hear the old Hardy/Lab building is too small for a modern DCPS school, whether elementary or middle school, so perhaps it works well as an overflow building for Lab. I agree with a prior poster who wondered about the to-be-sold GDS school on MacArthur -- I'd love to see DCPS buy that space and renovate it into a new school. While I'd like to see a new middle school as an option other than Hardy MS, perhaps what NW DC needs is another high school other than Wilson (Ellington doesn't "count" as a regular NW DCPS high school due to its arts focus). If NW DC had a high school option there, I think NWDC would be more accepting of Hardy MS out of a desire for continuity -- DCPS from K-12 -- and all at DCPS schools in NW DC. Some have said DCPS wouldn't buy a school (like GDS) because they already have too much excess real estate; however, that's not the case I don't think for NW DC. And, GDS would probably be a bargain compared to the recent renovation costs the city has recently been enduring, such as for Ellington and Dunbar (not to mention Wilson and others).

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

Don't Eaton and Key boundaries join?

Nyet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

Don't Eaton and Key boundaries join?

Nyet

Yes, but Key and Hyde do. Boundary commission tried to move some of Key to Hyde but Key put up a big stink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For what it's worth, I see the stats show that the IB % for Hardy MS is growing. It used to be 12% a year or two ago IIRC; now it's 15% according to the DCPS website. Much more of a concern though is the Hardy MS math and reading proficiency. They are 15-20 percentage points below that of Deale.

I hear the old Hardy/Lab building is too small for a modern DCPS school, whether elementary or middle school, so perhaps it works well as an overflow building for Lab. I agree with a prior poster who wondered about the to-be-sold GDS school on MacArthur -- I'd love to see DCPS buy that space and renovate it into a new school. While I'd like to see a new middle school as an option other than Hardy MS, perhaps what NW DC needs is another high school other than Wilson (Ellington doesn't "count" as a regular NW DCPS high school due to its arts focus). If NW DC had a high school option there, I think NWDC would be more accepting of Hardy MS out of a desire for continuity -- DCPS from K-12 -- and all at DCPS schools in NW DC. Some have said DCPS wouldn't buy a school (like GDS) because they already have too much excess real estate; however, that's not the case I don't think for NW DC. And, GDS would probably be a bargain compared to the recent renovation costs the city has recently been enduring, such as for Ellington and Dunbar (not to mention Wilson and others).

There aren't enough students that live in Ward 3/2 to justify any new schools. The enrollment pressure comes from oob students. Fix that issue (by making those student's home schools more attractive) and stop wishing that some magic enclave is going to fix this issue.

Wrong. Our W3 school is over capacity by 50 and there are a handful of OOB.

Your school boundaries should have been redistributed to Hearst and Eaton. This would instantly fix the overcrowding at Deal and Wilson by removing entry points by reducing OOB spots.

Send kids from Key to Hearst? Are you familiar with ward 3 geography?

If in fact Key is over capacity (83% IB), then they should have redistricted some kids from Key to Hyde (41% IB). Some from Mann to Eaton (45% IB) and some Janney to Hearst (27% IB).

Thanks for posting the numbers. They clearly show why we should spend untold millions to build a new school in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The Latin uniforms have a slightly different history, because the founder was consciously modeling it on Boston Latin and other private schools where uniforms were traditional. St. Albans has uniforms, too, but no one is going to confuse it with Hardy.

Boston Latin is public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but Key and Hyde do. Boundary commission tried to move some of Key to Hyde but Key put up a big stink.

During morning rush hour travel time from Key to Hyde is probably longer than Key to Eaton. Having to drive into Georgetown from the west is what sank that idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but Key and Hyde do. Boundary commission tried to move some of Key to Hyde but Key put up a big stink.

During morning rush hour travel time from Key to Hyde is probably longer than Key to Eaton. Having to drive into Georgetown from the west is what sank that idea.

Well Key is only 80% IB, so good thing they don't need to worry about commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they make Hardy a test in school? Is that a dumb/ naive question??

There are people who feel it is just fine the way it is.

They overwhelmingly don't live in Ward 3, however.

Wow, too bad the families from Ward 2 (where Hardy is located) don't all enroll their kids and then they can influence what happens at the school!

[Anonymous]

A reminder that the public meeting is next Tuesday, 6:30 PM, at the school, Foxhall and Q NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they make Hardy a test in school? Is that a dumb/ naive question??

There are people who feel it is just fine the way it is.

They overwhelmingly don't live in Ward 3, however.

Wow, too bad the families from Ward 2 (where Hardy is located) don't all enroll their kids and then they can influence what happens at the school!

They would get pushback from those who want to preserve Hardy's "unique culture."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't they make Hardy a test in school? Is that a dumb/ naive question??

There are people who feel it is just fine the way it is.

They overwhelmingly don't live in Ward 3, however.

Wow, too bad the families from Ward 2 (where Hardy is located) don't all enroll their kids and then they can influence what happens at the school!

They would get pushback from those who want to preserve Hardy's "unique culture."

Please stop implying that the current Hardy parents (IB or OOB) don't support changes to the school. They do - and have -for the last five years. They have supported change after change that improves the academics at the school. In fact, they have been the primary forces pushing those changes.

If you think there is something that they have not supported at the school in recent years (by that, I mean from 2012-present), please let us know. (And don't say "uniforms" - because 1. Current Hardy families have never been asked about changes to the uniform policy - my instinct is that they would not care that much if it was changed; and 2. Getting rid of uniforms would make no difference in the academic environment at the school - even advocates of getting rid of uniforms say that it is only about changing perceptions).