Stats about white students in DCPS being in top nationwide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank God there are white students in DCPS.

This is gross. First of all, white is just a proxy for SES in DC, so why not thank god for all middle-class or high SES families, who are not all exclusively white? Second, if the high scores are largely confined to white students, what are you so happy about? How is this improving the overall school system if the vast majority of DCPS students are *not* performing well? Does this not matter? Third, there are actually some schools that seem to do pretty well with minority students within the DCPS system.

The only way I'd take some solace in these data about white student performance would be if I were a white parent (I'm not) concerned about my child's future scholastic performance within DCPS, vs. some MD or VA school system--the data might provide some relief in suggesting that my child would likely still do well. But that's certainly not the end of the story, and not a reason to gloat, IMO, when the majority of students are not performing adequately for myriad social/environmental reasons. The attitude of the above poster would seems to suggest that *only* white students do well, and that current inequities are acceptable--not directly, of course, but by omission of the other relevant points above. I would hate for anyone to assume that my children will do poorly as they progress through DCPS simply because they are not white or Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God there are white students in DCPS.

This is gross. First of all, white is just a proxy for SES in DC, so why not thank god for all middle-class or high SES families, who are not all exclusively white? Second, if the high scores are largely confined to white students, what are you so happy about? How is this improving the overall school system if the vast majority of DCPS students are *not* performing well? Does this not matter? Third, there are actually some schools that seem to do pretty well with minority students within the DCPS system.

The only way I'd take some solace in these data about white student performance would be if I were a white parent (I'm not) concerned about my child's future scholastic performance within DCPS, vs. some MD or VA school system--the data might provide some relief in suggesting that my child would likely still do well. But that's certainly not the end of the story, and not a reason to gloat, IMO, when the majority of students are not performing adequately for myriad social/environmental reasons. The attitude of the above poster would seems to suggest that *only* white students do well, and that current inequities are acceptable--not directly, of course, but by omission of the other relevant points above. I would hate for anyone to assume that my children will do poorly as they progress through DCPS simply because they are not white or Asian.

I'm pretty sure that poster was being sarcastic. However I would be careful using white as a proxy for SES. Scores don't always correlate that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

White kids in DC are overwhelmingly from wealthy educated families. They will do well anywhere. It's teaching the rest of the kids that shows how strong a school system is. Also standardized tests aren't everything. Those white kids in DC may be passing at a higher rate than their counterparts (in everywhere else in the US where there are middle class and poor white kids) but that doesn't mean they are better off in dcps.

blah blah blah blah.

These are important data to refute the very specific group of law firm-type parents who insist that their progeny need to be educated in Bannockburn, Bradley Hills, Somerset, Pyle, Key Science Focus, Williamsburg MS, etc. This data shows that those children do not, in fact, need to flee the District with their white, highly educated parents because, schools.

(this is a different analysis than, say, "name the middle school in the entire region with the best math department.")

I guess if all you care about is whether your kid can do well on a standardized test then you're correct. And I'm sure there are some schools in DC that hold up well to schools in the burbs. But if you really think that your kid is going to get the same level of education at, for example, Brent as your kid would get in Somerset or Falls Church City, you're crazy. Teachers can do so much more with a class made up entirely of wealthy suburban kids than they can with a class made up of some wealthy kids and some really poor kids.

OK, so schools in wealthy suburbs are better than ours. But there are few really poor kids at neighborhood schools like Maury and Brent these days, and the PTAs pay for classroom aides to help them. I you think that your kid is getting a better all around education in Somerset or Falls Church city, you're crazy. Where are the Smithsonian museums and botanical gardens in the suburban hinterland? We walk down to the National Mall in 15 minutes. Where are the local libraries? We walk two minutes to reach ours. Where are the local theatres you can get to in a matter off minutes? We're off to Folger on our bikes. Where are the free military band concerts, the chances to greet lawmakers in local restaurants, the chance to rub shoulders with tourists from all over the world, the outdoor movies, the cultural festivals around the corner in those blah municipalities? Well-educated parents can do much more in rich urban environments and so kids come out ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

I'm not sure that MoCo and N. Arlington are better or worse, at least at the ES levels, but this test score comparison is highly misleading. DC's white population is overwhelmingly high SES and it is being compared to states (all states would have a much higher more diverse white SES populations when compared to DC). Interestingly, the opposite effect is happening to the Black population in DC. It is not dead last amongst all the states, but it is very low, so DC probably has a much more concentrated low SES population compared to the states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

White kids in DC are overwhelmingly from wealthy educated families. They will do well anywhere. It's teaching the rest of the kids that shows how strong a school system is. Also standardized tests aren't everything. Those white kids in DC may be passing at a higher rate than their counterparts (in everywhere else in the US where there are middle class and poor white kids) but that doesn't mean they are better off in dcps.

blah blah blah blah.

These are important data to refute the very specific group of law firm-type parents who insist that their progeny need to be educated in Bannockburn, Bradley Hills, Somerset, Pyle, Key Science Focus, Williamsburg MS, etc. This data shows that those children do not, in fact, need to flee the District with their white, highly educated parents because, schools.

(this is a different analysis than, say, "name the middle school in the entire region with the best math department.")

I guess if all you care about is whether your kid can do well on a standardized test then you're correct. And I'm sure there are some schools in DC that hold up well to schools in the burbs. But if you really think that your kid is going to get the same level of education at, for example, Brent as your kid would get in Somerset or Falls Church City, you're crazy. Teachers can do so much more with a class made up entirely of wealthy suburban kids than they can with a class made up of some wealthy kids and some really poor kids.

OK, so schools in wealthy suburbs are better than ours. But there are few really poor kids at neighborhood schools like Maury and Brent these days, and the PTAs pay for classroom aides to help them. I you think that your kid is getting a better all around education in Somerset or Falls Church city, you're crazy. Where are the Smithsonian museums and botanical gardens in the suburban hinterland? We walk down to the National Mall in 15 minutes. Where are the local libraries? We walk two minutes to reach ours. Where are the local theatres you can get to in a matter off minutes? We're off to Folger on our bikes. Where are the free military band concerts, the chances to greet lawmakers in local restaurants, the chance to rub shoulders with tourists from all over the world, the outdoor movies, the cultural festivals around the corner in those blah municipalities? Well-educated parents can do much more in rich urban environments and so kids come out ahead.

The aides are for the whole class, they aren't just "poor aides," wtf.

I live on the Hill and I'd rather have better schools then the opportunity for my kid to run into the congressman from wherever. Once jr high approaches, thise bike rides and military bands don't really mean much.

[Anonymous]

These stats are meaningless because they compare a city to states. All they do is show the very stark race-based income inequality that we already knew existed here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

White kids in DC are overwhelmingly from wealthy educated families. They will do well anywhere. It's teaching the rest of the kids that shows how strong a school system is. Also standardized tests aren't everything. Those white kids in DC may be passing at a higher rate than their counterparts (in everywhere else in the US where there are middle class and poor white kids) but that doesn't mean they are better off in dcps.

blah blah blah blah.

These are important data to refute the very specific group of law firm-type parents who insist that their progeny need to be educated in Bannockburn, Bradley Hills, Somerset, Pyle, Key Science Focus, Williamsburg MS, etc. This data shows that those children do not, in fact, need to flee the District with their white, highly educated parents because, schools.

(this is a different analysis than, say, "name the middle school in the entire region with the best math department.")

I guess if all you care about is whether your kid can do well on a standardized test then you're correct. And I'm sure there are some schools in DC that hold up well to schools in the burbs. But if you really think that your kid is going to get the same level of education at, for example, Brent as your kid would get in Somerset or Falls Church City, you're crazy. Teachers can do so much more with a class made up entirely of wealthy suburban kids than they can with a class made up of some wealthy kids and some really poor kids.

Your last sentence is often asserted on DCUM. No citation or evidence is ever provided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank God there are white students in DCPS.

This is gross. First of all, white is just a proxy for SES in DC, so why not thank god for all middle-class or high SES families, who are not all exclusively white? Second, if the high scores are largely confined to white students, what are you so happy about? How is this improving the overall school system if the vast majority of DCPS students are *not* performing well? Does this not matter? Third, there are actually some schools that seem to do pretty well with minority students within the DCPS system.

The only way I'd take some solace in these data about white student performance would be if I were a white parent (I'm not) concerned about my child's future scholastic performance within DCPS, vs. some MD or VA school system--the data might provide some relief in suggesting that my child would likely still do well. But that's certainly not the end of the story, and not a reason to gloat, IMO, when the majority of students are not performing adequately for myriad social/environmental reasons. The attitude of the above poster would seems to suggest that *only* white students do well, and that current inequities are acceptable--not directly, of course, but by omission of the other relevant points above. I would hate for anyone to assume that my children will do poorly as they progress through DCPS simply because they are not white or Asian.

I'm pretty sure that poster was being sarcastic. However I would be careful using white as a proxy for SES. Scores don't always correlate that way.

+1. White is white, folks. Either we get rid of this racial classification obsession, or we have to admit it as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

Yes, true, this compares DC to states, but you can compare DC to major highly-regarded school districts like NYC, San Diego, Austin, etc. and the result holds: white students in DC outperform white students in all other school districts for which I've seen data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

Yes, true, this compares DC to states, but you can compare DC to major highly-regarded school districts like NYC, San Diego, Austin, etc. and the result holds: white students in DC outperform white students in all other school districts for which I've seen data.

Can you share the data? It would be interesting to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

Yes, true, this compares DC to states, but you can compare DC to major highly-regarded school districts like NYC, San Diego, Austin, etc. and the result holds: white students in DC outperform white students in all other school districts for which I've seen data.

Me again. You can compare district-level data at this link: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/districts/

Select a district and go to the "Snapshot Report" on the right. That gives breakdown by race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

Yes, true, this compares DC to states, but you can compare DC to major highly-regarded school districts like NYC, San Diego, Austin, etc. and the result holds: white students in DC outperform white students in all other school districts for which I've seen data.

Me again. You can compare district-level data at this link: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/districts/

Select a district and go to the "Snapshot Report" on the right. That gives breakdown by race.

So, lucky us, we get the smartest white kids. Do we also get the smartest black ones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So why are people always claiming that MoCo and N. Arlington are so much better? Though true those are statewide scores...can we see a county breakdown

Yes, true, this compares DC to states, but you can compare DC to major highly-regarded school districts like NYC, San Diego, Austin, etc. and the result holds: white students in DC outperform white students in all other school districts for which I've seen data.

Me again. You can compare district-level data at this link: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/districts/

Select a district and go to the "Snapshot Report" on the right. That gives breakdown by race.

And that's not even counting the very very rich white kids as they are in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These results include a sample of all students in DC - DCPS, charter and private.

Nope. From the "state comparisons" page:

State Comparisons provides tables and maps that compare states and jurisdictions based on the average scale scores for selected groups of public school students within a single assessment year, or compare the change in performance between two assessment years.

Private schools also don't require common core testing used as the primary data point to evaluate public schools. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but private schools utilize NAEP testing but are not required to publish scores. Private students do not take an equivalent to the common core tests which have become common for public schools. Public/private data comparisons are not 1:1.

[Anonymous]

Resourced kids from wealthier, educated families are generally going to perform well. In DCPS, these kids are mostly white. This is true of any school system. DC is a bit unique in that a high # of its wealthy families are very educated; in wealthy pockets of Houston, or LA, or Miami, education probably isn't tied to wealth as closely. So DCPS' rich white students are the tops, academically.

WHO CARES.