Jefferson-Houston School
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I'm jumping in here vs starting a new thread. Are we crazy to consider sending our 5 year old to j-h? Why is it ranked so so so low?
Thanks. |
Anonymous
|
Go take a tour and meet with the principal and ask him that question. He started this past September and is implementing a lot of changes. There's also an FAQ posted on the JH website.
http://www.acps.k12.va.us/houston/ You'll notice that the first statement at the top of the page is info on visiting the school. |
Anonymous
Thanks. It was late when I posted that question and now I've looked through the abysmal scores and the faq. We are coming in from out of state with a kindergartener who is used to this ib style of learning from public pre-k (out of state). Are you (anyone?) familiar with these changes? Will it improve the school? It seems like they are making good changes but that's from what I'm reading. We will be visiting in April; should I bother visiting or is it something that really is changing and they are on the verge of being great? I really know nothing about this school other than what I've read. I'm not sooo scared of low test scores if there is a plausible reason but I'm not seeing something in the demographics that necessarily give them a plausible reason, and it just looks like the school sucks at teaching or is hamstrung by no academic needs. It's just kindergarten, but kindergarten is important too! |
Anonymous
Go visit the school in April, including asking to sit in on class if they even allow that anymore. Talk with parents of kids there and teachers. Walk around the neighborhood. Visit other ACPS elementary schools. Talk with parents. are on the verge of being great
|
Anonymous
|
My son attended J-H for kindergarten years ago, before we moved into Fairfax county (not because of J-H). He had a fine experience. All of the teachers we interacted with seemed lovely and committed to the kids.
In spite of the fancy building and the various curricular reforms, they've never been able to break out of the cycle of bad reputation > most involved parents opting out > low test scores > bad reputation, exacerbated by a ridiculous level of principal turnover. Maury, which looked pretty similar 15 years ago, was able to break out of that cycle with the combination of an experienced principal and a group of local parents making the commitment to stay with it together. If I were there now, I'd send my kindergartener without hesitation, and see what comes out of the redistricting. |
Anonymous
While the parent community is not embracing the new school administration, which is dominated by Regent University (Pat Robertson) alums, JH has improved to at least some degree in the last few years. The new building may be expensive and controversial, but it was necessary. The current doubts seem to focus on (1) the administration (and the ACPS central office), which seems overbearing and erratic to some parents who had been big boosters to pull out of JH, and (2) the ACPS redistricting, which is a completely open issue but might impact the West End more than JH. |
Anonymous
The overall demographics stats for JH may paint a false picture, because it includes the preschool, which is not the same demographic mix as the K-5. Traditionally, it's been mostly african-american from public housing in the K-5. In the last two years (especially this year), there's been a pretty significant influx of immigrant families. It adds some ELL challenges, but I think it's a good thing, because it mixes things up a little. Before, you had a very small school population (maybe 250 in K-5) that was mostly from public housing families. That's a much harder population to educate successfully (ACPS was still doing a poor job, but it's not an easy job.) The school has already become much more diverse and hopefully will continue. JH is also actively recruiting kids from other elementary schools for the middle-school program. |
Anonymous
|
The previous poster makes good points. There is little choice however, given the overcrowding in elementary schools and the big vacancy at J-H, that re-districting does other than fill this new 800 seat school.
Why else put $45 million dollars of the City taxpayer's money into J-H, if not to be fully utilized? We are facing tough fiscal times in Alexandria City with many new expensive projects on the agenda. We have a brand new school: it's a no-brainer to populate to capacity while other schools are re-modeled and/or plans made for new schools. We need to take a deep breath on spending in the City. We need to think more utilitarian and pragmatically. |
Anonymous
| I've assumed that redistricting would be nothing but good for J-H. Is that not the general consensus? |
Anonymous
| Why are all the people in charge from Regent University? That is not a respected school. |
Anonymous
The new principal got is Ed.D. from Regents (while he was principal of an elementary in Suffolk.) I'm not sure who the other people are that PP is referring to. |
Anonymous
| That's it. I don't think that degree is legit. |