Petition to keep School-Within-School (SWS) a true neighborhood school!

[Anonymous]

All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

[Anonymous]

I'm an SWS parent and love the neighborhood feeling of the school. And by chance, we own a house that would be given neighborhood preference, so it would probably increase the value of our property. But I just can't imagine a single reason that neighborhood preference is good public policy. It would create a bizarre reverse-ghetto of very high-priced houses right around the school. And it would seriously harm L-T, which seems to be a promising school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

Blah, blah, blah, you've said all this before on the SWS thread. You continue to post this hoping that people will somehow take pity on this tiny slice of the Hill, which was not part of the neighborhood catchment of SWS at any point. DCPS is not going to do it, so you should reconcile yourself to your other options or try the lottery like everyone else. Sorry you bought in-bounds for a crappy school. Join the club and get over yourselves already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

Isn't there a Montessori DCPS that is also city-wide?

And I get why Hill people want it changed back--it's totally in your self-interest to do so. I can't imagine that people would be staritng petitions to keep L-T a neighborhood school if that was what DCPS had done. The issue here is that SWS is a good school. Those of us who live off the Hill but east of Rock Creek Park would also like to have some good options. I appreciate that DCPS leaves us two possibilities at the elementary level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

Blah, blah, blah, you've said all this before on the SWS thread. You continue to post this hoping that people will somehow take pity on this tiny slice of the Hill, which was not part of the neighborhood catchment of SWS at any point. DCPS is not going to do it, so you should reconcile yourself to your other options or try the lottery like everyone else. Sorry you bought in-bounds for a crappy school. Join the club and get over yourselves already.

Um, I don't know who you think I am, but you're not at all correct. I bought inbounds for a very good school, and will not be affected by this decision. I do believe that SWS will be stronger being supported by the neighborhood in which it is located. I also happen to think its insane to have parents dragging their kids all over the city to go to preschool. Further, I think that the Hill needs more quality school slots, not fewer.

If you're so bored by the arguments, why are you reading and responding in this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

Isn't there a Montessori DCPS that is also city-wide?

And I get why Hill people want it changed back--it's totally in your self-interest to do so. I can't imagine that people would be staritng petitions to keep L-T a neighborhood school if that was what DCPS had done. The issue here is that SWS is a good school. Those of us who live off the Hill but east of Rock Creek Park would also like to have some good options. I appreciate that DCPS leaves us two possibilities at the elementary level.

The Montessori DCPS (at Logan) has always been citywide. It also happens to be located on the Hill, but it has always had a citywide draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an SWS parent and love the neighborhood feeling of the school. And by chance, we own a house that would be given neighborhood preference, so it would probably increase the value of our property. But I just can't imagine a single reason that neighborhood preference is good public policy. It would create a bizarre reverse-ghetto of very high-priced houses right around the school. And it would seriously harm L-T, which seems to be a promising school.

Is there a "bizarre reverse-ghetto" on the line between, say, Brent and Tyler? I hadn't noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an SWS parent and love the neighborhood feeling of the school. And by chance, we own a house that would be given neighborhood preference, so it would probably increase the value of our property. But I just can't imagine a single reason that neighborhood preference is good public policy. It would create a bizarre reverse-ghetto of very high-priced houses right around the school. And it would seriously harm L-T, which seems to be a promising school.

Is there a "bizarre reverse-ghetto" on the line between, say, Brent and Tyler? I hadn't noticed.

I have heard talk of the "Brent premium," but I'm not a realtor. Houses in neighborhoods with good schools are typically more expensive than those without. This should not be news to anyone in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you who are trying to compare this situation to charters or other citywide schools are off-base. This is the first time that DCPS has taken away the neighborhood status of a school and made it citywide. There's no reason that giving SWS neighborhood preference would create some sort of precedent. This school has already been treated differently than every other school in the city.

As a Hill resident, I think it's unfair that one of our good options was essentially removed from our neighborhood. You may choose not to cry for Hill school options, but there's ample evidence (see: wait lists at Maury, Peabody, Brent) that the neighborhood is still short of good preschool and elementary school options. There's no good reason that SWS should have been removed as a neighborhood school. Yes, there are other areas of the city that underserved. But making the 12 open seats in preschool citywide really isn't going to solve that problem.

Blah, blah, blah, you've said all this before on the SWS thread. You continue to post this hoping that people will somehow take pity on this tiny slice of the Hill, which was not part of the neighborhood catchment of SWS at any point. DCPS is not going to do it, so you should reconcile yourself to your other options or try the lottery like everyone else. Sorry you bought in-bounds for a crappy school. Join the club and get over yourselves already.

Um, I don't know who you think I am, but you're not at all correct. I bought inbounds for a very good school, and will not be affected by this decision. I do believe that SWS will be stronger being supported by the neighborhood in which it is located. I also happen to think its insane to have parents dragging their kids all over the city to go to preschool. Further, I think that the Hill needs more quality school slots, not fewer.

If you're so bored by the arguments, why are you reading and responding in this thread?

Not the PP you are responding to, but come on--we all want our neighborhood to have good schools, not just Hill families. Where I live (Adams-Morgan), we have NO good options outside of charters and SWS/Logan Montessori, where at least we have a shot. You may think it's "insane" to want to go outside your neighborhood area for a school, but many of us don't have a choice--and of course we have to do it for preschool, or we would never get our kids into the good schools in the upper grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an SWS parent and love the neighborhood feeling of the school. And by chance, we own a house that would be given neighborhood preference, so it would probably increase the value of our property. But I just can't imagine a single reason that neighborhood preference is good public policy. It would create a bizarre reverse-ghetto of very high-priced houses right around the school. And it would seriously harm L-T, which seems to be a promising school.

Is there a "bizarre reverse-ghetto" on the line between, say, Brent and Tyler? I hadn't noticed.

You haven't noticed that houses inbounds for Brent sell for a premium? Because all the realtors seem to have. Do you really believe that neighborhood preference wouldn't affect property values?

[Anonymous]

The reverse ghetto argument is ridiculous. The schools close to Goding are already very expensive.

[Anonymous]

If you don't like L-T as your option, please put your house on the market. Houses prices continue to increase in that area and selection is low. I would love to buy a house IB for L-T, but nothing is on the market right now.

I don't like the idea of city wide admission elementary schools, but I am also not going to sign off in favor of some windfall to those that are trying to avoid the school catchment they bought for-- L-T.

[Anonymous]

Can we make all the schools west of the Park neighborhood-only please? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we make all the schools west of the Park neighborhood-only please? Thank you!

They already are. The only citywide DCPS schools (NOT charter) are on the Hill - Montessori @ Logan and SWS. Every other DCPS school has an inbounds catchment with an additional preference for those within 1500 feet from the school.

But for some reason Hill dwellers should have no problem with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It just makes me very sad that my son has vitually no chance of attending a good school that is next to our house. If the only option is L-T he will be going to private school instead...

Well, you are lucky that you can afford private. Many of us have crappy DCPS options and can't afford private. Having SWS be city-wide gives everyone a chance to get in. Your argument is the same that I hear from people who live near sought-after charters.

+1

Haha, I am not sure if we can really afford it, we are relatively young and work in the public sector. The other option would to to move to another party of DC or the close-in suburbs... or somewhere else in the country.

Sounds like lots and lots of other folks, I don't see how this makes you any more deserving.