New Report on Racial and Economic Diversity in DC public and charter schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

Yes. Destroying the IB neighborhood schools that are working (and many of which are doing pretty ok on diversity) would be atavistic and stupid. And would result in more segregation, just like San Francisco. Find a different way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

I think the number of "functional" schools, however defined, is growing. Schools like Powell, West, etc. are attracting more IB families. Yes, some of them will peel off before middle school, but many will stay. Why dismantle neighborhood schools when they finally have some momentum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

I think the number of "functional" schools, however defined, is growing. Schools like Powell, West, etc. are attracting more IB families. Yes, some of them will peel off before middle school, but many will stay. Why dismantle neighborhood schools when they finally have some momentum?

Agreed. And it's a big arrogant to assume that parents in neighborhoods with lower performing IB schools think the solution is to completely destroy neighborhood schools. Maybe what they want is for their own school to be improved? The ONLY authentic thing that has increased diversity in DC schools is for SCHOOLS to improve their offerings to attract a diverse student body -- charters and IB schools that respond to the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

I think the number of "functional" schools, however defined, is growing. Schools like Powell, West, etc. are attracting more IB families. Yes, some of them will peel off before middle school, but many will stay. Why dismantle neighborhood schools when they finally have some momentum?

If a few mor at-risk kids would destroy your school, is it really so functional?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

I think the number of "functional" schools, however defined, is growing. Schools like Powell, West, etc. are attracting more IB families. Yes, some of them will peel off before middle school, but many will stay. Why dismantle neighborhood schools when they finally have some momentum?

If a few mor at-risk kids would destroy your school, is it really so functional?

I think most people are fine with a set-aside to include more at risk kids. Getting rid of IB rights obviously is what would destroy a school.

[Anonymous]

San Francisco is scrapping it's all-city lottery to return to a more geographically based system: https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/SF-school-board-plans-to-replace-failing-school-13461014.php

It would be extremely foolish for DC to go down a path that's already been proven not to work.

We need *thoughtful* solutions, not "ed reform" pro-charter crap. Set asides, carefully thought out choice sets for some places, and other measures that encourage integration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:San Francisco is scrapping it's all-city lottery to return to a more geographically based system: https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/SF-school-board-plans-to-replace-failing-school-13461014.php

It would be extremely foolish for DC to go down a path that's already been proven not to work.

We need *thoughtful* solutions, not "ed reform" pro-charter crap. Set asides, carefully thought out choice sets for some places, and other measures that encourage integration.

It wouldn't be the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

But the report notes that even if students aren't attending their IB DCPS, "in practice, students attend schools that are on average a 10- to 16-minute drive from home, depending on their grade."

A 10 minute drive is pretty far, and I don't want to drive, and we don't need more traffic on the streets. I have no issue with methods like set-asides to increase diversity, but destroying functioning neighborhood schools would be shameful.

Very few neighborhood schools are functional. Why should we preserve an entire dysfunctional system to just save a few unicorns?

I think the number of "functional" schools, however defined, is growing. Schools like Powell, West, etc. are attracting more IB families. Yes, some of them will peel off before middle school, but many will stay. Why dismantle neighborhood schools when they finally have some momentum?

If a few mor at-risk kids would destroy your school, is it really so functional?

I think most people are fine with a set-aside to include more at risk kids. Getting rid of IB rights obviously is what would destroy a school.

I don't like what Betsy Devos is doing with for-profit colleges, but I agree with her emphasis on discipline and values in struggling schools and to improve at-risk kids' performance. DC needs to do more of that!

[Anonymous]

Why are discipline and values only issues for struggling schools and at-risk students?

I would put required values education in every university school of finance in the country - i think that is where it's needed most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are discipline and values only issues for struggling schools and at-risk students?

I would put required values education in every university school of finance in the country - i think that is where it's needed most.

+1. Just feels paternalistic to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:San Francisco is scrapping it's all-city lottery to return to a more geographically based system: https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/SF-school-board-plans-to-replace-failing-school-13461014.php

It would be extremely foolish for DC to go down a path that's already been proven not to work.

We need *thoughtful* solutions, not "ed reform" pro-charter crap. Set asides, carefully thought out choice sets for some places, and other measures that encourage integration.

Integration is such a liberal white folks things. Have you actually talked to any black folks almost none actually want it. In fact most people are fine with the current DC education landscape.

The key for schools is always the principal. There are several success stories with public and charters getting real results with at-risk kids. Its time to take some of the assistant principals at these schools and give them their own schools. That's the only change that needs to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is inevitable that DC will have to adopt a random lottery placement system for public schools, like in San Francisco. Neighborhood-based schools are inherently exclusionary. Only with a true DC-wide lottery (with diversity adjustments) will DC achieve equity.

"have to"? how so? NOBODY who is happy with their IB school wants that destroyed. And that's not just high SES white parents.

Per the DME in 2017 (cited in the report this thread is about) only 27% of students even go to their IB school, and I doubt 100% of them are happy.

Agree, but a lot of us are. Destroying functioning (and diverse!) neighborhood schools in the name of diversity would be crazy. Also, what's the IB rate for elementary school? Neighborhood schools are even more important for elementary school, since the proximity allows parents to be more involved (more important in early years).

Did you read the report or at least the executive summary? None of the Wilson feeder schools (or Wilson) are economically diverse. That is as significant as racial and ethnic diversity.

Also the data in this report is 2 years old. Wilson is less diverse now than it was in 2016 and the trend isn't good.

I'm surprised by this, at least based on experience with our IB, Shepherd. It seems pretty economically diverse to me.

The test for economic diversity wasn't very complex- it was simply a binary- at-risk or not. I doubt Shepherd as as many at-risk students as those who qualify for FARM but are not at-risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Integration is such a liberal white folks things. Have you actually talked to any black folks almost none actually want it. In fact most people are fine with the current DC education landscape.

The key for schools is always the principal. There are several success stories with public and charters getting real results with at-risk kids. Its time to take some of the assistant principals at these schools and give them their own schools. That's the only change that needs to happen.

In fact, many of the black folks I have talked to about school options have specifically mentioned an integrated school as important to them. And it certainly a focus of black writers/reporters like Nikole Hannah-Jones.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/magazine/the-resegregation-of-jefferson-county.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:San Francisco is scrapping it's all-city lottery to return to a more geographically based system: https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/SF-school-board-plans-to-replace-failing-school-13461014.php

It would be extremely foolish for DC to go down a path that's already been proven not to work.

We need *thoughtful* solutions, not "ed reform" pro-charter crap. Set asides, carefully thought out choice sets for some places, and other measures that encourage integration.

Integration is such a liberal white folks things. Have you actually talked to any black folks almost none actually want it. In fact most people are fine with the current DC education landscape.

The key for schools is always the principal. There are several success stories with public and charters getting real results with at-risk kids. Its time to take some of the assistant principals at these schools and give them their own schools. That's the only change that needs to happen.

I am the PP you're responding to - I agree with you by and large. The integration I'm more concerned about is where white gentrifiers refuse to attend their zoned schools. Totally agree about the role of principals - with their key role being ensuring quality teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Integration is such a liberal white folks things. Have you actually talked to any black folks almost none actually want it. In fact most people are fine with the current DC education landscape.

The key for schools is always the principal. There are several success stories with public and charters getting real results with at-risk kids. Its time to take some of the assistant principals at these schools and give them their own schools. That's the only change that needs to happen.

In fact, many of the black folks I have talked to about school options have specifically mentioned an integrated school as important to them. And it certainly a focus of black writers/reporters like Nikole Hannah-Jones.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/magazine/the-resegregation-of-jefferson-county.html

Cannot stand Nikole Hannah Jones. She's also a hypocrite, as she rejected her own zoned school in favor of one that was more functional. Not on the basis of race, true, but goes to show that all parents try to maximize their school choice. And wait and see where she sends her kid to MS ...