Zoning Lafayette out of Deal/Wilson - is this real?

[Anonymous]

But Hardy still has the uniforms...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But Hardy still has the uniforms...

Let's just put uniforms in all schools in DCPS. Ward 3 are really the outliers here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But Hardy still has the uniforms...

Let's just put uniforms in all schools in DCPS. Ward 3 are really the outliers here.

No, most of DCPS is. Comparing the few decently-performing schools to the rest of poor performing DCPS and saying they need to follow the poor performing schools to fit in isn't the way to go. Let's start comparing DCPS to higher-performing schools across the country. It's embarrassing that DCPS is still using outdated methods such as uniforms, and it doesn't even work to control behavior. We should demand the more modern accepted practices for our kids. The general DCPS socio emotional quotient is very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

And you would want your kids to go to Coolidge too? It’s not just Deal we’re talking about - it’s access to Wilson too.

DP. I have a kid at Deal. Wilson has its issues too. It is a huge school. It has kids with behavior problems. Coolidge has less students and kids with behavior problems. There will always be kids with behavior problems. I went to a wealthy UMC public school (almost like Sixteen Candles) and there were fights and bad behavior. Teenagers aren’t so good with the impulse control. Eventually, DC will have numerous functioning high schools because people are given the options to move or go private, which aren’t real options. If you have young kids, it is scary to think about this stuff because your kid is small. As a parent of a MS kid, I don’t have any concerns if I had to send my kid to Wells tomorrow. I would, personally, try Coolidge but would pull for private if there were problems. For me, I have to see what is what... meaning we go into things with preconceived ideas of what it will be like and often it is totally different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But Hardy still has the uniforms...

Let's just put uniforms in all schools in DCPS. Ward 3 are really the outliers here.

No, most of DCPS is. Comparing the few decently-performing schools to the rest of poor performing DCPS and saying they need to follow the poor performing schools to fit in isn't the way to go. Let's start comparing DCPS to higher-performing schools across the country. It's embarrassing that DCPS is still using outdated methods such as uniforms, and it doesn't even work to control behavior. We should demand the more modern accepted practices for our kids. The general DCPS socio emotional quotient is very low.

It is easier for poor families to afford uniforms than supreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t tell who wants to kick Lafayette out more - Murch/Janey parents who just scream “I’m closer!” or Tacoma Park parents who think Lafayette kids will save Wells/Coolidge?

TaKoma (note spelling) Park (is in MD) has excellent schools. I doubt they care. Takoma (which is in DC), as well other EOTP feeder schools of course want other Ward 4 schools to check their white (or light) privilege and stop "but my property values"-ing and join them at Macfarland/Wells.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the key to reducing overcrowding in Deal/Wilson, and creating a very good middle school in the new Wells middle right of the bat, is the cohort of students at Lafayette, Bancroft, and Shepherd. Those three schools make a very well performing cohort (in terms of academics) of students. Push them over to Wells, and you've got a compelling new school. Take them out of Deal/Wilson, and the overcrowding problem is solved. I think it's a pretty good deal, from an outsider's perspective.

Except there is one problem - the boundary, review is not set to start until '22-'23 and it takes a year or so to implement and then there is a 5-year grandfathering period, so that leaves at least 10 years from when Wells opens. Wells cannot wait for these three schools to fix it right away.

[Anonymous]

There is not room for Lafayette, Bancroft and Shepherd at Wells.

If Bancroft loses Deal->Wilson, Oyster-Adams needs to too. Because equity. Both should go to Roosevelt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the key to reducing overcrowding in Deal/Wilson, and creating a very good middle school in the new Wells middle right of the bat, is the cohort of students at Lafayette, Bancroft, and Shepherd. Those three schools make a very well performing cohort (in terms of academics) of students. Push them over to Wells, and you've got a compelling new school. Take them out of Deal/Wilson, and the overcrowding problem is solved. I think it's a pretty good deal, from an outsider's perspective.

Except there is one problem - the boundary, review is not set to start until '22-'23 and it takes a year or so to implement and then there is a 5-year grandfathering period, so that leaves at least 10 years from when Wells opens. Wells cannot wait for these three schools to fix it right away.

I don’t envy the Wells principle. That school will be under tremendous pressure to perform. If the scores are on the right trajectory in 2023, rezoning WOTP school becomes more feasible. But the current feeder schools are significantly below the performance of WOTP Elementarys so Wells has its work cut out for the next five years.

[Anonymous]

*principal, I mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Note that this IS NOT A Lafayette parent. It’s someone who’s kid is not going to go to Wells/Coolidge who thinks the school is too overcrowded for her kid!

Yes, I'm not and never said I was. Just a Deal parent bringing the on-the-ground perspective that Deal isn't that great. That perhaps having an alternative might just be an improvement! I know, go ahead and write off what I'm saying because it seems self-serving. Well, don't worry
I have zero actual influence. What I'm saying is just my opinion for the purpose of this message board. I wish my kids had a different option and and knowing what Deal is like, I wouldn't fear if they were redistricted with a peer group to Hardy or Wells.

Thank you PP. We are going to Deal in fall and had similar concerns. We tried for Hardy but were not successful.

DP here:
It’s pretty crazy to read that people are trying to get out of Deal so they can lottery into the smaller Hardy. The tables have turned! Just 4 years ago, your post was unimaginable.

Not for me, but we are AA. We had Hardy on our radar for other child 6 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But Hardy still has the uniforms...

Let's just put uniforms in all schools in DCPS. Ward 3 are really the outliers here.

No, most of DCPS is. Comparing the few decently-performing schools to the rest of poor performing DCPS and saying they need to follow the poor performing schools to fit in isn't the way to go. Let's start comparing DCPS to higher-performing schools across the country. It's embarrassing that DCPS is still using outdated methods such as uniforms, and it doesn't even work to control behavior. We should demand the more modern accepted practices for our kids. The general DCPS socio emotional quotient is very low.

It's mostly you that hates uniforms and think they are outdated. My nephews/nieces in LA, Atl, and NY love their uniforms.

[Anonymous]

OP, to answer your original question. Yes, there is a very serious chance that Lafayette will be rezoned for Wells/Coolidge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, to answer your original question. Yes, there is a very serious chance that Lafayette will be rezoned for Wells/Coolidge.

Is there any hard evidence of this? I don't think this will happen. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but here.

-an SP parent with an early elementary kid who likes the Deal feed, but will "deal" if moved over to Wells

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, to answer your original question. Yes, there is a very serious chance that Lafayette will be rezoned for Wells/Coolidge.

Is there any hard evidence of this? I don't think this will happen. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but here.

-an SP parent with an early elementary kid who likes the Deal feed, but will "deal" if moved over to Wells

No evidence. But the closer we get to the supposed 2022-23 boundary review, the more organized and vocal Lafayette and Shepherd parents will get. The Shepherd families are already doing that, based on the sentiments they have heard expressed at many the Ward 3/Wilson feeder network meetings.