Watkins Parents

[Anonymous]

No, that figure comes from the School Chooser handbook.

Perhaps it has printed incorrect information, but that data for Watkins (hard copy page 83, pdf version page 85) says 7%.

[Anonymous]

Then the School Chooser handbook has incorrect info. Official data is here: http://www.nclb.osse.dc.gov/ (choose "report card" for the specific schools).

In 2008, Watkins ES had about 62% proficient or advanced in reading; about 57% proficient or advanced in math. 234 students were tested.

Haynes had 60% proficient or advanced in reading; just over 67% proficient or advanced in math. 140 students were tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then the School Chooser handbook has incorrect info. Official data is here: http://www.nclb.osse.dc.gov/ (choose "report card" for the specific schools).

In 2008, Watkins ES had about 62% proficient or advanced in reading; about 57% proficient or advanced in math. 234 students were tested.

Haynes had 60% proficient or advanced in reading; just over 67% proficient or advanced in math. 140 students were tested.

Well that's a relief. In that case, Haynes only out-performed Watkins by one order of magnitude instead of ten. In the meantime, how do we explain the fact that 2/3 of Haynes students are Title I and only 1/5 of Watkins students are? And yet the Haynes students are completely out-performing their Watkins "peers" academically. In-born socio-economic disadvantage is the backbone of the teacher's union excuse for why poor children (such as those at E.L. Haynes) are "uneducatable" vis the socio-economically privileged students at Watkins (oh, wait...). It's enough to make you wonder how fast we can replace DCPS with good charter schools...

[Anonymous]

Well, Haynes is a year-round program and claims to provide 1000 hours of additional educational programming (for free to Title I kids). Presumably, that's how Haynes's kids outperform Watkins's kids in math. The fact that they don't outperform the Watkins kids in reading does make me wonder how many of the 1000 hours (and the data-driven instructional methods) focus on drill and test prep. It's easier to raise math scores than reading scores with that kind of approach.

I think that year-round options and afterschool/break-time enrichment programs are good things. I'm glad to see Haynes offers them. But you aren't really making a case for charters over DCPS schools generally, based on this one comparison involving a very small data set (one year, not many kids). Out of curiosity, was Haynes PreK-6 in 2008 or was it PreK-3 at that point?

[Anonymous]

Haynes has a math/science focus and a substantial number of ESL kids -- that could explain why the math scores are higher than the reading scores.

Scores don't tell the whole story about a school and the Haynes "cheerleader" has been doing the school a disservice by focussing on them (and dissing Watkins). Sounds more like a pro-charter ideologue than a Haynes parent.

[Anonymous]

Speaking as an inbounds family for the Capitol Hill cluster schools, Watkins is to be avoided - especially at the higher grade levels. If you must go into the system, try to get into SWS at Peabody or at least the Montessori program at Watkins. Having said that, if you want a local school, you're much better off at Two Rivers (the charter to the north that was founded by some disillusioned cluster parents). Or Capitol Hill Day School.

The problems at Watkins will not improve and the test scores don't illuminate the whole story. The real low down is that while there may be well-educated families with middle and upper-middle class incomes in the primary classes, they start pulling their children out as the kids approach the elementary grades. By the time students are taking standardized tests such as those reflected in the data, the income pyramid (and home education scenario) is skewed towards the low end in the higher grades.

Not many Hill parents choose Haynes, not because of reputation but because of the distance. If you can get into Two Rivers, Washington Yu Ying, or CHDS you'll find yourself in a LOT of good company with former cluster students/families.

[Anonymous]

I strongly disagree with these assessments of Watkins! My child went through SWS at Peabody and is now in third grade, along with almost all of her SWS classmates (there has been no exodus). She is testing at advanced level in her subjects. The third grade team of teachers is outstanding at Watkins--featuring one of the of the District's first nationally certified teachers--with a strong team, whole-school, flexible approach. The fourth grade team appears to be very strong, too. Other than support staff who are trying to control the entire student body in the acoustically-challenged cafeteria before school begins, I don't hear yelling at the school. There is a very high level of parent involvement at the school, and I generally hear a lot of satisfaction from fellow parents.

The school has some challenges, particularly in second grade and the specials. There isn't a lot of outside or free time, almost no structured outdoor time, and, because of the heavy testing schedule, not a lot of time for students to pursue their own interests and passions as they relate to classroom activities. This may be true of all DCPS. It's also a large school, so easy for a child to feel anonymous, but I've found the teachers and administrators to be very caring of students. I think it is difficult for parents to complain and feel they are being heard, the administration is strapped managing the three campuses, and the buildings are in need of maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I strongly disagree with these assessments of Watkins! My child went through SWS at Peabody and is now in third grade...

Strongly disagree all you like.

Even a blind man could point you to the local charters and privates that have scooped up former cluster school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly disagree with these assessments of Watkins! My child went through SWS at Peabody and is now in third grade...

Strongly disagree all you like.

Even a blind man could point you to the local charters and privates that have scooped up former cluster school kids.

And I am one of them!

[Anonymous]

A blind man? A charter school? or a Former cluster school kid?

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to learn more about the Capitol Hill schools and it seems that Watkins is bigger than the others. Is that true? How do the other neighborhood schools compare? Brent? Taylor? Is it difficult to go to another school on the Hill if you are out of bounds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been trying to learn more about the Capitol Hill schools and it seems that Watkins is bigger than the others. Is that true? How do the other neighborhood schools compare? Brent? Taylor? Is it difficult to go to another school on the Hill if you are out of bounds?

Watkins is bigger than many of the other schools on the Hill. Five classes per grade. I think it allows Watkins to offer more in terms of specials and in first grade they are able to offer five reading groups. I believe Brent has two classes per grade. I am not sure about Taylor or Maury. Many children thrive in a big school environment where others might not. So, you really need to figure out how your child might do in such an environment.

Your question about how difficult it is to move to another out of bounds schools depends on which grade. I think anything above second is probably very easy, while the lower grades are more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your question about how difficult it is to move to another out of bounds schools depends on which grade. I think anything above second is probably very easy, while the lower grades are more difficult.

Very true. By 2nd grade, a lot of the families that can have already left. But, Peabody SWS is still very desirable for Pre-K.