What is happening with the old Shaw Middle School at Rhode Island & 11th, NW?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Allegedly is is the site of a "planned" middle school, or is being held for office space, according to this http://dme.dc.gov/DC/DME/Publication%20Files/Surplus_Building_Inventory.pdf

I have heard that the renovations are supposed to begin in 2014, but I am not holding my breath. They closed Shaw and moved the kids to Garnet-Patterson. Now they're closing Garnet-Patterson for underenrollment and moving those kids to Cardozo.

Why DCPS would choose to renovate a school for 80 kids, I don't know. But then again, they spent something like $90 million on Cardozo for 240 students, so who knows what logic they use.

In the Shaw/U Street area, Meyer, Garnet-Patterson, Shaw, and Grimke will all be vacant next year (not clear on what is going on with Grimke - it's not on the list). It is pretty outrageous that not one of these properties is up for bid.

Old thread but here is the latest on the Grimke school, as of a month ago:
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/sorg_roadside_get_the_go-ahead_to_redevelop_grimke_again/9762

[Anonymous]

Center City MS has no funds allocated in Bowser's budget, which means the plan is to let Shaw sit there decaying for another 5+ years.

Garnett-Patterson & Meyer are currently "swing space" for Ellington students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is supposed to be the new Center City Middle School, mentioned in the new boundaries process documents. There are about 4-5 elementary schools that will feed into it.

Funding was cut.

Bowser hates mid-city.

+1000 Feeling no love here near U Street, especially regarding education.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Muriel hates mid-city. This area needs a new middle school.

[Anonymous]

She never comes here, doesn't want to be seen with us. That space will rot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. Muriel hates mid-city. This area needs a new middle school.

Would your send your children there if they renovated and reopened the school?

[Anonymous]

There is no point to open the City Center MS. Not enough kids to fill it.

[Anonymous]

And there never will be enough kids to fill it so long as it doesn't exist. Kids will continue to peel off for other schools to set them up for a decent path to middle school in upper ES.

[Anonymous]

We would send our child there if they opened it. There are plenty of families in the neighborhoods that would feed into it. But like the PP said - as long as it doesn't exist families will find other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point to open the City Center MS. Not enough kids to fill it.

Have you looked at the Seaton and Garrison feeder demographics under the new boundary proposals? Currently more than 500 ES-aged students in each catchment...and projected to go to over 700 in the next 4 years, but it's just that neither is good enough to retain them. Add in Thomson and the Cleveland English-track and you'd have ~200 students per grade if there were 60% participation. If you don't ever provide quality neighborhood elementaries, the middle school is an illusion.

And that's just the way a variety of lobbies (From developers to charters) like it.

[Anonymous]

We went charter because there is was no middle school. As Kaya says "let charters do what they do best" and now they Mayor is following it up by not even giving my child a middle school to go too. It's ok, I didn't vote for her, figure it was revenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no point to open the City Center MS. Not enough kids to fill it.

Have you looked at the Seaton and Garrison feeder demographics under the new boundary proposals? Currently more than 500 ES-aged students in each catchment...and projected to go to over 700 in the next 4 years, but it's just that neither is good enough to retain them. Add in Thomson and the Cleveland English-track and you'd have ~200 students per grade if there were 60% participation. If you don't ever provide quality neighborhood elementaries, the middle school is an illusion.

And that's just the way a variety of lobbies (From developers to charters) like it.

Where are these kids going now? Cardozo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no point to open the City Center MS. Not enough kids to fill it.

Have you looked at the Seaton and Garrison feeder demographics under the new boundary proposals? Currently more than 500 ES-aged students in each catchment...and projected to go to over 700 in the next 4 years, but it's just that neither is good enough to retain them. Add in Thomson and the Cleveland English-track and you'd have ~200 students per grade if there were 60% participation. If you don't ever provide quality neighborhood elementaries, the middle school is an illusion.

And that's just the way a variety of lobbies (From developers to charters) like it.

Where are these kids going now? Cardozo?

They are assigned to Cardozo but only a tiny handful go (maybe 2-3 year from Garrison; 5-6 from Seaton). Most bail by 3rd or 4th to Hardy/Deal feeders Hearst, Stoddert, Hyde or Francis Steven, though FS is now in the Cardozo feeder so probably less attractive, even though is it a MS safety school.

Privates (in droves), Latin, Basis, even Jefferson, CHECH, or SH and EH. Anywhere but Cardozo for MS or HS.

[Anonymous]

Too bad. Whether there is enough demand to fill a new middle school I do not know. But letting a prime piece of real estate go vacant for 5 years rAther than leasing it out for use by a nonprofit, a charter or some other entity is wasteful on the part of the DC government.

[Anonymous]

Middle school terrifies me. It's a huge piece that's missing. I honestly avoid thinking about it. We have the time ahead (kids are kindergarten-age) to live in denial a few more years, but oh does it scare me!