Moving to Capitol Hill/2017 PARCC scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

All the schools have an acheivemenf gap - if you actually care about that kind of thing. I believe that only Ludlow Taylor has really made strides in closing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

All the schools have an acheivemenf gap - if you actually care about that kind of thing. I believe that only Ludlow Taylor has really made strides in closing it.

Whatever. Brent and Maury have few poor kids left in the lower grades. The demographics are what they are due to fast-rising real estate values and a city that has stuck with a by-right schools paradigm. Not the case in Boston or San Fran, where all families must lottery for spots in clusters of neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

[Anonymous]

I'm seen several people post this about the upper NW schools so I'll post it here. Just find a house that you like and go from there. I'm not saying the Capitol Hill schools are as good as NW but in the big picture I think most of the schools will work for most of the people in the neighborhood. Regarding the Middle Schools, I wouldn't let that sway your decision. I think all three are going to be in a different place in 5 years that is unknowable now.

We are IB for Brent but know families at every school that has been mentioned and all are happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

Aides in upper elementary are overrated. Good teachers can handle adequately sized classrooms in upper elementary and deal with a range of learning abilities. Some schools have had success with graduate students doing practicum for credit from Catholic and Gallaudet. It's more important to have supports for children with learning differences which is an entirely different pot of funding.

Brent had 20 students in 3rd grade score 5 (35% of 3rd as 41% of overall test takers). Compare with 6 4th graders (10% 5 for 4th as 43% of overall test takers) and 5 5th graders (23% 5 for 5th as 16% of overall test takers). Brent's hyper gentrification has simply reached the lower testing grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

All the schools have an acheivemenf gap - if you actually care about that kind of thing. I believe that only Ludlow Taylor has really made strides in closing it.

Whatever. Brent and Maury have few poor kids left in the lower grades. The demographics are what they are due to fast-rising real estate values and a city that has stuck with a by-right schools paradigm. Not the case in Boston or San Fran, where all families must lottery for spots in clusters of neighborhood schools.

Right, so you don't care about the "poor kids." Good to see that put out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

First of all, can we please strike the phrase "use a school"? YOU don't "use" a school. It's a public good. Your CHILD attends a school -- the school of the community in which you've chosen to live.

Second of all, it's clear you think race and income are the metric by which a school is "viable" for a white person, and likely the primary factor is race (since you concede you'd never "use" KIPP). That's just gross and I sure hope you weren't emoting all over facebook about how terrible Charlottesville was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No demographic or in-boundary-out of boundary info on the DCPS school profiles right now, which must mean that they're updating the site. Look again in a week or two. It's common knowledge on the Hill that the SH student body is around 80% OOB. The % may have dropped a tad this year, to the high 70s or even 75% - too early to tell.

You can also go on the School Digger.com site and click Stuart Hobson and Students to track demographic changes at the school in the last 20 years. Changes are a slow moving train. There were more in-boundary kids at Hobson when I moved to the Hill 15 years ago than now (partly because 5th grade was moved out of SH to Watkins, also because of increasingly untenable leadership challenges brought by the one principal for three Cap Cluster schools arrangement, which ended last year).

Funny how lots of people forget that OOB can mean people who are on the Hill. If your kid, for example, lives within the Brent or Maury boundaries and goes to S-H, your kid is OOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

First of all, can we please strike the phrase "use a school"? YOU don't "use" a school. It's a public good. Your CHILD attends a school -- the school of the community in which you've chosen to live.

Second of all, it's clear you think race and income are the metric by which a school is "viable" for a white person, and likely the primary factor is race (since you concede you'd never "use" KIPP). That's just gross and I sure hope you weren't emoting all over facebook about how terrible Charlottesville was.

not PP but eww . . . You genuinely had me agreeing until that line. I'm not sure I see the connection with being disgusting by overt racist/anti-semitic demonstration, including violence and intimidation, is in any way equatable to choosing or not choosing a given school for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

I posted about viable schools and I'm not white. I actually thought seriously about enrolling my kid at KIPP school for PreS3, after getting shut out in the lottery all around the Hill. I was told by admins at the school that KIPP schools "don't serve my demographic." Seriously.

OP, I'd visit the three schools before buying real estate in a particular school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

First of all, can we please strike the phrase "use a school"? YOU don't "use" a school. It's a public good. Your CHILD attends a school -- the school of the community in which you've chosen to live.

Second of all, it's clear you think race and income are the metric by which a school is "viable" for a white person, and likely the primary factor is race (since you concede you'd never "use" KIPP). That's just gross and I sure hope you weren't emoting all over facebook about how terrible Charlottesville was.

You enroll, we'll use, thank you. To each her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, this is all super helpful! I wasn't aware of the demographic distinctions a couple people mentioned. It's extra impressive that Maury and Ludlow have improved so much and reached the Brent levels given those factors.

Ludlow and Maury haven't reached Brent level demographics. Brent is around 70% white and in-boundary, with a FARMs percentage that's dropped into the single digits this year (after nearly 15 years of steady change). Maury is more than half white with around 30% FARMs. Ludlow is still majority FARMs and around 25% white this year.

You can look at test scores all you want, but changing demographics and FARMs rates probably tell you more about the viability of a school for neighborhood newcomers. You can find high test scores at schools you wouldn't touch, like KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. The real difference between Brent and Maury and Ludlow is PTA bucks. The former have the dough to pay for teachers aides past K, which can make all the difference to parents seeking adequate differentiation in the classroom. Ludlow's PTA will raise six figures eventually, enough to start paying for classroom aides, but not for a few years. Ludlow is still a Title 1 school (40%+ FARMs) getting around 100K a year from the federal government to cover costs.

so what makes a school "viable" for "newcomers" in your opinion?

You're being cute or want an honest answer? Answer: two instructors in the classroom (the second paid for by the PTA) most of the time in all classes, along with strong art, music, performing arts, PE and a designated science teacher (paid for by the PTA for the first couple of years, now by DCPS). Also advanced math from 3rd grade up, one-two years above grade level. DC is probably math gifted (did Johns Hopkins CTY math camp this summer). Yes, we're at Brent. I'd also use Maury if in-boundary.

First of all, can we please strike the phrase "use a school"? YOU don't "use" a school. It's a public good. Your CHILD attends a school -- the school of the community in which you've chosen to live.

Second of all, it's clear you think race and income are the metric by which a school is "viable" for a white person, and likely the primary factor is race (since you concede you'd never "use" KIPP). That's just gross and I sure hope you weren't emoting all over facebook about how terrible Charlottesville was.

not PP but eww . . . You genuinely had me agreeing until that line. I'm not sure I see the connection with being disgusting by overt racist/anti-semitic demonstration, including violence and intimidation, is in any way equatable to choosing or not choosing a given school for whatever reason.

the point is that is easy to be "horrified" by open displays of racism, while not examining what you're doing yourself in your own life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No demographic or in-boundary-out of boundary info on the DCPS school profiles right now, which must mean that they're updating the site. Look again in a week or two. It's common knowledge on the Hill that the SH student body is around 80% OOB. The % may have dropped a tad this year, to the high 70s or even 75% - too early to tell.

You can also go on the School Digger.com site and click Stuart Hobson and Students to track demographic changes at the school in the last 20 years. Changes are a slow moving train. There were more in-boundary kids at Hobson when I moved to the Hill 15 years ago than now (partly because 5th grade was moved out of SH to Watkins, also because of increasingly untenable leadership challenges brought by the one principal for three Cap Cluster schools arrangement, which ended last year).

Funny how lots of people forget that OOB can mean people who are on the Hill. If your kid, for example, lives within the Brent or Maury boundaries and goes to S-H, your kid is OOB.

Students living inbound for Brent and Maury aren't getting into SH. Fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No demographic or in-boundary-out of boundary info on the DCPS school profiles right now, which must mean that they're updating the site. Look again in a week or two. It's common knowledge on the Hill that the SH student body is around 80% OOB. The % may have dropped a tad this year, to the high 70s or even 75% - too early to tell.

You can also go on the School Digger.com site and click Stuart Hobson and Students to track demographic changes at the school in the last 20 years. Changes are a slow moving train. There were more in-boundary kids at Hobson when I moved to the Hill 15 years ago than now (partly because 5th grade was moved out of SH to Watkins, also because of increasingly untenable leadership challenges brought by the one principal for three Cap Cluster schools arrangement, which ended last year).

Funny how lots of people forget that OOB can mean people who are on the Hill. If your kid, for example, lives within the Brent or Maury boundaries and goes to S-H, your kid is OOB.

Students living inbound for Brent and Maury aren't getting into SH. Fail.

+1 - the OOB kids are coming from Watkins, JO and Ludlow. And nobody IB for Brent and Maury are sending their kids there.