Washington Latin Replication?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Washington Latin and so I'm curious - are the people who are criticizing the school current parents (or students or teachers)? What are the specific complaints/downsides from people with an inside view? Or are these folks above just offering their perspective based on test scores and demographic data that is public? Thank you.

The same complaint about Latin’s so-called lack of rigor and historic college acceptance have surfaced every spring for the last few years. I think it is a hater.

However the WL student body has become steadily more affluent. You can see this by comparing the Latin MS and HS demographics (its HS less affluent with more at-risk students).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Washington Latin and so I'm curious - are the people who are criticizing the school current parents (or students or teachers)? What are the specific complaints/downsides from people with an inside view? Or are these folks above just offering their perspective based on test scores and demographic data that is public? Thank you.

The same complaint about Latin’s so-called lack of rigor and historic college acceptance have surfaced every spring for the last few years. I think it is a hater.

However the WL student body has become steadily more affluent. You can see this by comparing the Latin MS and HS demographics (its HS less affluent with more at-risk students).

I think the people criticizing Latin have no personal connection to the school. Around 50% of each Latin 5th grade class consists of siblings. That alone should let you know how parents feel about the school. It's an amazing place.

[Anonymous]

Before complaining about charter demographics, realize that charters don't actually get to pick and choose who they accept. Apart from sibling preference, it's all by lottery, and the lottery is not controlled by the charters.

The student make-up at any charter is self-selected. The charters have no say in acceptance.

Where skew comes in relates more to which kids stay. And there will no doubt unfortunately be cases with high-performing charters, where students coming from underperforming schools find themselves far behind and underprepared for the curriculum and workload. Some kids will feel overwhelmed and will leave. But again, that isn't so much the fault of the charter, either, it's more the fault of their previous schools which did not have them prepared and functioning at an appropriate level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before complaining about charter demographics, realize that charters don't actually get to pick and choose who they accept. Apart from sibling preference, it's all by lottery, and the lottery is not controlled by the charters.

The student make-up at any charter is self-selected. The charters have no say in acceptance.

Where skew comes in relates more to which kids stay. And there will no doubt unfortunately be cases with high-performing charters, where students coming from underperforming schools find themselves far behind and underprepared for the curriculum and workload. Some kids will feel overwhelmed and will leave. But again, that isn't so much the fault of the charter, either, it's more the fault of their previous schools which did not have them prepared and functioning at an appropriate level.

Few students leave Latin. Being unable to keep up there isn’t a thing. Some students do, however, take 5 years to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Any intel on where the second location will be? (or where they are hoping to locate it?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any intel on where the second location will be? (or where they are hoping to locate it?)

They have not shared that -- what their application says:

"We are seeking to increase our enrollment to open a second school and are actively searching for property, either temporary/swing space or a permanent home."

In their 2016-21 strategic plan, http://latinpcs.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/WashLatin_StrategicPlan_2016_LR-WEB-FINAL.pdf they say that there are 6 challenges facing the school, including:

"In fact, we face challenges and opportunities, both immediate and longer term. These include:

? Ensuring the academic success of all our students, regardless of their background;
? Sustaining our diversity among our students to reflect the racial and socioeconomic diversity of the District;"

[Anonymous]

I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

That will certainly be what the PCSB is hoping for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Washington Latin and so I'm curious - are the people who are criticizing the school current parents (or students or teachers)? What are the specific complaints/downsides from people with an inside view? Or are these folks above just offering their perspective based on test scores and demographic data that is public? Thank you.

The same complaint about Latin’s so-called lack of rigor and historic college acceptance have surfaced every spring for the last few years. I think it is a hater.

However the WL student body has become steadily more affluent. You can see this by comparing the Latin MS and HS demographics (its HS less affluent with more at-risk students).

Hmmm fairly hot topic amongst parents I know. I don’t think it’s a hater. FWIW I wish WL was stronger, but it’s one of the best middle school choices in dc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering Washington Latin and so I'm curious - are the people who are criticizing the school current parents (or students or teachers)? What are the specific complaints/downsides from people with an inside view? Or are these folks above just offering their perspective based on test scores and demographic data that is public? Thank you.

The same complaint about Latin’s so-called lack of rigor and historic college acceptance have surfaced every spring for the last few years. I think it is a hater.

However the WL student body has become steadily more affluent. You can see this by comparing the Latin MS and HS demographics (its HS less affluent with more at-risk students).

Hmmm fairly hot topic amongst parents I know. I don’t think it’s a hater. FWIW I wish WL was stronger, but it’s one of the best middle school choices in dc

What about HS choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

That will certainly be what the PCSB is hoping for.

And then what? Will they force kids to travel across town sp both campuses are integrated or will they end up with two demographically and SES different schools? They should go for a central or semi -central location IMO. Their current (semi central) campus was kind of inconvenient for almost everyone...in a weird way, that worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

That will certainly be what the PCSB is hoping for.

And then what? Will they force kids to travel across town sp both campuses are integrated or will they end up with two demographically and SES different schools? They should go for a central or semi -central location IMO. Their current (semi central) campus was kind of inconvenient for almost everyone...in a weird way, that worked.

I asked about this during our tour - they said they will be two completely separate campuses and prospective students can lottery for one or both. Much like Stokes and MV are doing now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

That will certainly be what the PCSB is hoping for.

And then what? Will they force kids to travel across town sp both campuses are integrated or will they end up with two demographically and SES different schools? They should go for a central or semi -central location IMO. Their current (semi central) campus was kind of inconvenient for almost everyone...in a weird way, that worked.

It really didn't if you look at it from the perspective of economic diversity (one of the challenges WL says it is facing it is strategic plan). Since moving WL has lost significant numbers of non-affluent kids. Look at the demographic differences from the MS and Upper School today. Most of the Upper School students came from the previous location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
However the WL student body has become steadily more affluent. You can see this by comparing the Latin MS and HS demographics (its HS less affluent with more at-risk students).

When Latin first opened, it was in AU Park, one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the entire country. It opened at the same time that Hardy MS was being renovated and was swinging over by Gallaudet. Latin became the de facto middle school for Palisades and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Latin used to be much more affluent than it is now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got the impression that they were looking in Wards 7 or 8.

That will certainly be what the PCSB is hoping for.

And then what? Will they force kids to travel across town sp both campuses are integrated or will they end up with two demographically and SES different schools? They should go for a central or semi -central location IMO. Their current (semi central) campus was kind of inconvenient for almost everyone...in a weird way, that worked.

It really didn't if you look at it from the perspective of economic diversity (one of the challenges WL says it is facing it is strategic plan). Since moving WL has lost significant numbers of non-affluent kids. Look at the demographic differences from the MS and Upper School today. Most of the Upper School students came from the previous location.

There have long been more options for high school than middle. Until a few years ago more kids in-bounds for Hardy went to Latin than Hardy. They would often do Latin for middle and Wilson or Walls for high.