SWS - as an IB School? L-T prospects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it needs to be Prospect neighbors leading the charge, not SWS. That should be do-able. And I think it's clear there won't be a true IB catchment option, just a proximity preference which helps keep SWS a Hill school but also gives them more control over enrollment. Yes?

But if there's proximity preference, then essentially it will become in IB school for everyone around LT. You're making a distinction without a difference.

That was going to be my question, wouldn't proximity mean that it would essentially be filled exclusively with siblings and neighbors?

From the school's perspective, the difference would be that they could keep the size of the school stable because no one, even those with proximity preference, would be guaranteed a spot at the school. They would just get preference in the lottery.

Do any of the current SWS parents who are clued in to how the process has unfolded so far know the explanation for why DCPS wants this school to be a city-wide school? What is the reasoning they are using for opposing neighborhood preference? I understand that they are, but I can't figure out what they think the advantage is for them.

[Anonymous]

I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

[Anonymous]

I do not know, but it seems that DCPS does not want to take students away from LT. Insanely maddening since DCPS will also not do anything to help LT either. ie. fire the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

Agree. Neighborhood preference would allow for the stability that people are mentioning (i.e. no students added by rights at K), but it would essentially carve off a chunk of the LT catchment and leave very few (or no) spaces for citywide kids.

[Anonymous]

Other schools on the Hill offer proximity. How did they make a case for these, but can't do it for SWS?

[Anonymous]

Citywide programs, like Logan Montessori, have no IB or proximity preference.

[Anonymous]

For all those that are clamoring for the LT principal to be fired, have you actually emailed Kaya Henderson and asked her to remove the principal (listing your involvement with the school and your concerns)? Posting here does nothing to get you towards your goal of having a high-functioning LT - and worse, it undermines LT's ability to become high-functioning with so many nay-sayers. Get off this forum and actually do something!

The Chancellor can't do anything unless she hears actual facts about ways that the school/principal has not performed. If you've gone to an Open House and not been pleased, then lay out the ways that the Open House fell short. If you've not been pleased with the way the principal handled a concern regarding your child at the school, then detail that experience for Kaya. Just stop spreading unsupported gossip about the school on this forum and do something constructive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it needs to be Prospect neighbors leading the charge, not SWS. That should be do-able. And I think it's clear there won't be a true IB catchment option, just a proximity preference which helps keep SWS a Hill school but also gives them more control over enrollment. Yes?

But if there's proximity preference, then essentially it will become in IB school for everyone around LT. You're making a distinction without a difference.

That was going to be my question, wouldn't proximity mean that it would essentially be filled exclusively with siblings and neighbors?

From the school's perspective, the difference would be that they could keep the size of the school stable because no one, even those with proximity preference, would be guaranteed a spot at the school. They would just get preference in the lottery.

Do any of the current SWS parents who are clued in to how the process has unfolded so far know the explanation for why DCPS wants this school to be a city-wide school? What is the reasoning they are using for opposing neighborhood preference? I understand that they are, but I can't figure out what they think the advantage is for them.

And this is a benefit to DCPS, how? With city-wide admission and no neighborhood preference they can also keep the size of the school stable, and that way they get to say they've created another special offering for the entire system. And again, not undermining L-T.

It is quite clear why it's a benefit to the neighbors who don't care for L-T, to get neighborhood preference at SWS. However, it is a net loss to both DCPS and the city population in general, to accommodate that particular desire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

No. It very oddly does not give proximity preference at only two elementary schools, both in the same part of Capitol Hill. The fact that the only two city-wide schools are located within blocks of each other is maddening to people who live across the street from these schools. If there are other city-wide schools, please name then here because I am unaware of any other DCPS school that does not give neighborhood preference. I do not understand why people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS. If all the sudden Murch or Janney became city-wide schools there would be holy hell unleashed by the residents of upper NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

No. It very oddly does not give proximity preference at only two elementary schools, both in the same part of Capitol Hill. The fact that the only two city-wide schools are located within blocks of each other is maddening to people who live across the street from these schools. If there are other city-wide schools, please name then here because I am unaware of any other DCPS school that does not give neighborhood preference. I do not understand why people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS. If all the sudden Murch or Janney became city-wide schools there would be holy hell unleashed by the residents of upper NW.

The Montessori program was always a citywide program. It was co-located at Watkins until the move to the unused Logan building. The SWS program was a small, early elementary program co-located at Peabody with IB preference for Cluster families. Last year it moved to trailers at Logan, and next year it will be located in the Prospect building and will expand to 5th grade.

The comparison to Murch or Janney is ridiculous, since those are neighborhood elementary schools. Both the CHM and the SWS programs have expanded into space near your house, but you never had any rights to attend them. Like me, you purchased a house in the L-T catchment. Don't pretend that something has been taken away from us that we never had. The Cluster families are the only ones who have the right to complain; they've lost their IB access to SWS except through their sibling preferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

No. It very oddly does not give proximity preference at only two elementary schools, both in the same part of Capitol Hill. The fact that the only two city-wide schools are located within blocks of each other is maddening to people who live across the street from these schools. If there are other city-wide schools, please name then here because I am unaware of any other DCPS school that does not give neighborhood preference. I do not understand why people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS. If all the sudden Murch or Janney became city-wide schools there would be holy hell unleashed by the residents of upper NW.

The Montessori program was always a citywide program. It was co-located at Watkins until the move to the unused Logan building. The SWS program was a small, early elementary program co-located at Peabody with IB preference for Cluster families. Last year it moved to trailers at Logan, and next year it will be located in the Prospect building and will expand to 5th grade.

The comparison to Murch or Janney is ridiculous, since those are neighborhood elementary schools. Both the CHM and the SWS programs have expanded into space near your house, but you never had any rights to attend them. Like me, you purchased a house in the L-T catchment. Don't pretend that something has been taken away from us that we never had. The Cluster families are the only ones who have the right to complain; they've lost their IB access to SWS except through their sibling preferences.

I am not pretending that something has been taken away from me. What I am saying is that a new school is opening across the street from my house and I don't see why my child wouldn't have preference to attend it. It is much closer to my house than LT and it is a better school. Of course I want preference. I think that most people would advocate for preference at a good school in neighborhood. The real question is: why don't you want to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

No. It very oddly does not give proximity preference at only two elementary schools, both in the same part of Capitol Hill. The fact that the only two city-wide schools are located within blocks of each other is maddening to people who live across the street from these schools. If there are other city-wide schools, please name then here because I am unaware of any other DCPS school that does not give neighborhood preference. I do not understand why people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS. If all the sudden Murch or Janney became city-wide schools there would be holy hell unleashed by the residents of upper NW.

The Montessori program was always a citywide program. It was co-located at Watkins until the move to the unused Logan building. The SWS program was a small, early elementary program co-located at Peabody with IB preference for Cluster families. Last year it moved to trailers at Logan, and next year it will be located in the Prospect building and will expand to 5th grade.

The comparison to Murch or Janney is ridiculous, since those are neighborhood elementary schools. Both the CHM and the SWS programs have expanded into space near your house, but you never had any rights to attend them. Like me, you purchased a house in the L-T catchment. Don't pretend that something has been taken away from us that we never had. The Cluster families are the only ones who have the right to complain; they've lost their IB access to SWS except through their sibling preferences.

I am not pretending that something has been taken away from me. What I am saying is that a new school is opening across the street from my house and I don't see why my child wouldn't have preference to attend it. It is much closer to my house than LT and it is a better school. Of course I want preference. I think that most people would advocate for preference at a good school in neighborhood. The real question is: why don't you want to?

You can want preference. You can want anything. I want a million dollars. That doesn't mean I'm entitled to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's pretty obvious. "Neighborhood preference" is just another way of saying inbounds. (I realize that DCPS has "OOB with proximity" for the lottery, but if there is no IB option, like at SWS, then a proximity preference would essentially be IB.) They don't want another IB school practically right next to Ludlow Taylor. They are pouring a lot of money into LT to renovate it-- why would they then go ahead and undermine it by plopping another IB school next to it? People get pissy enough when they don't get a spot in the PS/PK lottery-- you think folks are going to be happy when they are shut out of their quasi-inbounds school and have to go to the "less than" LT?

There is no upside for DCPS to make this an IB (or if you prefer, "neighborhood preference") school. None.

If DCPS allows OOB with proximity preference at all other city schools (except CHM) why should this school be different? I have OOB with proximity preference at Maury and it hasn't undermined my IB school (Peabody). Proximity preference is much smaller than an IB catchment area and doesn't affect that many kids.

There you go - the exception that probed the rule. DCPS does not have proximity preference for all other city schools.

No. It very oddly does not give proximity preference at only two elementary schools, both in the same part of Capitol Hill. The fact that the only two city-wide schools are located within blocks of each other is maddening to people who live across the street from these schools. If there are other city-wide schools, please name then here because I am unaware of any other DCPS school that does not give neighborhood preference. I do not understand why people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS. If all the sudden Murch or Janney became city-wide schools there would be holy hell unleashed by the residents of upper NW.

The Montessori program was always a citywide program. It was co-located at Watkins until the move to the unused Logan building. The SWS program was a small, early elementary program co-located at Peabody with IB preference for Cluster families. Last year it moved to trailers at Logan, and next year it will be located in the Prospect building and will expand to 5th grade.

The comparison to Murch or Janney is ridiculous, since those are neighborhood elementary schools. Both the CHM and the SWS programs have expanded into space near your house, but you never had any rights to attend them. Like me, you purchased a house in the L-T catchment. Don't pretend that something has been taken away from us that we never had. The Cluster families are the only ones who have the right to complain; they've lost their IB access to SWS except through their sibling preferences.

I am not pretending that something has been taken away from me. What I am saying is that a new school is opening across the street from my house and I don't see why my child wouldn't have preference to attend it. It is much closer to my house than LT and it is a better school. Of course I want preference. I think that most people would advocate for preference at a good school in neighborhood. The real question is: why don't you want to?

You are, in fact, pretending that something has been taken away from you when you claim that "people on Capitol Hill are turning a blind eye to the outsourcing of their quality elementary schools when no other neighborhood in the city has stood for this kind of treatment at the hands of DCPS." You are willfully misunderstanding the definition of a citywide program, and you are claiming that DCPS is opening a *new* school across the street from your house, which is not true. An existing program is being located there. I am quite certain that you were not interested in attending the existing program at Prospect, even though it is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET!

I get it; you don't want to send your kid to L-T. You should lobby DCPS for it, and I'm sure you will. Just understand that others of us are not going to manufacture outrage on your behalf.