DC White flight - what will it mean for education?

[Anonymous]

What I wouldn't give to be a young student in DC. You can have such enriching experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

You and I have very different views of what’s important in education. I hope you find what you’re looking for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

You and I have very different views of what’s important in education. I hope you find what you’re looking for

It doesn't matter what your or my view is. It matters what the market's view is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

You and I have very different views of what’s important in education. I hope you find what you’re looking for

It doesn't matter what your or my view is. It matters what the market's view is.

Your poor children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

Former STEM college professor here. I don’t think students from India and China are better at math than American students. I think they perform better on exams than American students. American students are far better at creative problem solving than foreign students. They have different, yet equally important, strengths. Now I work in AI and some of my best employees are liberal arts majors who can code! You sell American students short while thinking too highly of Indian and Chinese students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, a lot of my DD’s 1st grade classmates on the Hill are moving to the burbs this summer. Not sure if it’s more than usual or not (certainly more than past summers though). At least 4 of 19 in her class alone.

This always happens. People stay in DC to get the free preschool and then they go where they really want to raise kids.

Exactly. These people were never going to stay anyway. They came to DC as young professionals, "played city" for a while (which was super progressive and cool), then are returning to the suburbs where they were raised themselves.

I seriously will never understand what’s wrong with this. It’s fun and easy to live in a city when you’re young and don’t have kids. And it’s easy and nice to live in the suburbs when you do have kids. What’s so evil and wrong about this that you say it with such disdain?

DP but the problem is when these born-and-bred suburbanites breed and move back to the suburbs (like they were always bound to do) and then talk about how they had to leave DC because of how scary and dangerous and terrible DCPS is over drinks with their suburban neighbors and then come spew it on these boards like "well I did live in The City but I HAD TO LEAVE because THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" Just say you like well-stocked Targets and HOAs and driving to dog parks. You want cool kid cred for having been here at one point and some kind of superior parent cred for moving when you couldn't afford it anymore. You were never going to stay, and DC is not in any way deficient for failing to keep you here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

Your kid wants to be the manager of those software engineers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, a lot of my DD’s 1st grade classmates on the Hill are moving to the burbs this summer. Not sure if it’s more than usual or not (certainly more than past summers though). At least 4 of 19 in her class alone.

This always happens. People stay in DC to get the free preschool and then they go where they really want to raise kids.

Exactly. These people were never going to stay anyway. They came to DC as young professionals, "played city" for a while (which was super progressive and cool), then are returning to the suburbs where they were raised themselves.

I seriously will never understand what’s wrong with this. It’s fun and easy to live in a city when you’re young and don’t have kids. And it’s easy and nice to live in the suburbs when you do have kids. What’s so evil and wrong about this that you say it with such disdain?

DP but the problem is when these born-and-bred suburbanites breed and move back to the suburbs (like they were always bound to do) and then talk about how they had to leave DC because of how scary and dangerous and terrible DCPS is over drinks with their suburban neighbors and then come spew it on these boards like "well I did live in The City but I HAD TO LEAVE because THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" Just say you like well-stocked Targets and HOAs and driving to dog parks. You want cool kid cred for having been here at one point and some kind of superior parent cred for moving when you couldn't afford it anymore. You were never going to stay, and DC is not in any way deficient for failing to keep you here.

I have sent my kid to a high farms and then a low farms school and I have worked and volunteered in both too (not the same ones, just both high and low farms)
You have no idea what you are talking about

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, a lot of my DD’s 1st grade classmates on the Hill are moving to the burbs this summer. Not sure if it’s more than usual or not (certainly more than past summers though). At least 4 of 19 in her class alone.

This always happens. People stay in DC to get the free preschool and then they go where they really want to raise kids.

Exactly. These people were never going to stay anyway. They came to DC as young professionals, "played city" for a while (which was super progressive and cool), then are returning to the suburbs where they were raised themselves.

I seriously will never understand what’s wrong with this. It’s fun and easy to live in a city when you’re young and don’t have kids. And it’s easy and nice to live in the suburbs when you do have kids. What’s so evil and wrong about this that you say it with such disdain?

DP but the problem is when these born-and-bred suburbanites breed and move back to the suburbs (like they were always bound to do) and then talk about how they had to leave DC because of how scary and dangerous and terrible DCPS is over drinks with their suburban neighbors and then come spew it on these boards like "well I did live in The City but I HAD TO LEAVE because THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" Just say you like well-stocked Targets and HOAs and driving to dog parks. You want cool kid cred for having been here at one point and some kind of superior parent cred for moving when you couldn't afford it anymore. You were never going to stay, and DC is not in any way deficient for failing to keep you here.

I have sent my kid to a high farms and then a low farms school and I have worked and volunteered in both too (not the same ones, just both high and low farms)
You have no idea what you are talking about

That doesn't have anything to do with what I wrote but congrats on your Teach For America stint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think living in DC is education itself. These kids have access to American history, culture, politics, sports and a lot more. Being able to take public transport opens up so many opportunities for teens. You experience all sort of diversity here.

You've access to so many internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities. For a go getter kid, sky is the limit here. You can have great education, have amazing experiences and build great resume to get into any college you want. Elite colleges value these experiences and have best financial aid programs to avoid debt.

I don't know if this is a troll, mild sarcasm, or just complete idiocy. An education riding on public transportation?! LMAO. You realize of course that there are plenty of kids in diverse cities in Europe and Asia (I'm assuming you don't just think skin color = diversity since the important thing here is diversity of thought and experience) and they are also actually EDUCATING their children. Most countries trounce us the international standards exams.

Not sure if this is what the PP meant, but there are tons of unique experiences my ES students get to take part of. We partner with a different embassy every year and visit and learn about their culture. We work with the nationals to understand the connections between STEM and baseball. We go to the Kennedy Center for FREE multiple times per year. When you include all the free museum access it is pretty cool to be a kid in DC

That's great but it doesn't make your kid a better candidate for a software engineer than a kid in India or China who actually got a good math and science education. How many Kennedy center visits does it take to equal two extra years of math?

You and I have very different views of what’s important in education. I hope you find what you’re looking for

It doesn't matter what your or my view is. It matters what the market's view is.

There is no single market. There are managers who only hire their own.
Then there are managers who value diversity. Then there are different workplaces with different needs.
Don’t be too focused on math like so many immigrant parents are. It’s important but it’s not the only important thing, and lack of math skills can be compensated in a variety of ways, including extra college classes. But no one will compensate the lack of enrichment due to spending too much time in math classes, and high levels of stress due to exam related anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, a lot of my DD’s 1st grade classmates on the Hill are moving to the burbs this summer. Not sure if it’s more than usual or not (certainly more than past summers though). At least 4 of 19 in her class alone.

This always happens. People stay in DC to get the free preschool and then they go where they really want to raise kids.

Exactly. These people were never going to stay anyway. They came to DC as young professionals, "played city" for a while (which was super progressive and cool), then are returning to the suburbs where they were raised themselves.

I seriously will never understand what’s wrong with this. It’s fun and easy to live in a city when you’re young and don’t have kids. And it’s easy and nice to live in the suburbs when you do have kids. What’s so evil and wrong about this that you say it with such disdain?

DP but the problem is when these born-and-bred suburbanites breed and move back to the suburbs (like they were always bound to do) and then talk about how they had to leave DC because of how scary and dangerous and terrible DCPS is over drinks with their suburban neighbors and then come spew it on these boards like "well I did live in The City but I HAD TO LEAVE because THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" Just say you like well-stocked Targets and HOAs and driving to dog parks. You want cool kid cred for having been here at one point and some kind of superior parent cred for moving when you couldn't afford it anymore. You were never going to stay, and DC is not in any way deficient for failing to keep you here.

I have sent my kid to a high farms and then a low farms school and I have worked and volunteered in both too (not the same ones, just both high and low farms)
You have no idea what you are talking about

That doesn't have anything to do with what I wrote but congrats on your Teach For America stint.

Can’t get your head out of the sand for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. As a Black middle class parent, I cringe when I read DCUM posts about race and schools. I have never had any conversations with my white friends about these matters but I imagine they happen, just not when I’m around. It then makes it awkward when I’m in a group and wonder what they are really thinking. Can anyone else relate?

Yes! I USUALLY resist engaging. I am hyperaware that many of these posters are fellow parents who smile in our faces and talk trash about Black people on anonymous forums.

Curious. Do you live in NW? If not, are you cool with the middle school status quo in the rest of the city? Do you think it’s racist to offer advanced classes in middle school? I genuinely care about your perspective.

I’m the person you are responding to above. No, I do not live in NW. What I will say is that I do not want my children to be an “other” or referred to that way. It is very divisive and can wreak havoc on my children’s self esteem. Most kids are capable. Some need more help than others - both black kids AND white kids, and kids of other ethnicities who are often left out of these discussions. We teach our children to respect others, find similarities whenever they can and champion the causes of others. We build. We do not tear down.

The comments on here do champion a cause but I feel like my children are not part of the “we.” Instead, it’s “us” and “you people” or “well, not really you people but those other people that look like you and you identify with culturally.” I realize those thoughts may come from a minority, but these types of thoughts can spread like wild fire. History tell us how dangerous they can be.

Yes, my children will likely stay in DC Public for middle school. Yes, we are aware that the majority of DC kids are behind in core subjects. We think the teachers are great and they challenge our kids when feasible. Whenever there are groups of kids who are excelling in a subject, teachers find a way to differentiate. We absolutely hope and pray that DC Middle Schools increase in rigor and challenge all kids. Yes, I want the same things that you do for your kids - but I want them for your kids, my kids and everybody’s kids.

I can only deal with DCUM in small doses. So, I just came back to read responses. I don’t usually post here but someone out there is being influenced by this

I am a new poster. I think you are very idealistic, I respect that, but it still doesn’t change it. I was like you before I was able to compare the inner workings of different types of schools. I would never keep my kids at “less desired” schools as free choice, only out of necessity. But I am not trying to convince you or anyone else