Stuart Hobson MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One SH grad, one in 8th now -- very different kids but a good fit for both. SH prepared them both well for HS. Some great teachers, some meh, but that's true everywhere. On average, more good than bad. I won't say they loved MS, because who does, but the fantastic extracurriculars really made it for them. CityYear, sports, drama, band, debate, History Day, Science Fair, etc. They had lots of ways to feel successful and included even when there was friend drama and the usual MS disappointments. Lots and lots of neighborhood friends to walk to school with in the Before Times. Honestly, Stuart's main problem going forward will be overcrowding. There are over 500 kids enrolled this year and I have no idea where they would have put them all in-person.

Where did your grad go to HS afterwards? Where do most kids go? Not everyone will get into Walls.

[Anonymous]

Walls isn't the only test-in DC option for your garden variety white UMC Ward 6 family with a decent student. Banneker seems to be on the verge of finally de-segregating, and McKinley Tech is steadily improving.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Did you send a kid to SH? How do you know? And like I said, my kid is unique. Maybe the smaller size and greater diversity would be better for him (not to mention staying in the neighborhood and forming ties.) SH's scores are solid enogugh - 50% proficiency in English and 25% proficiency in math.

[Anonymous]

Great school if you have super low expectations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great school if you have super low expectations!

I mean, if your kid needs to be surrounded by exclusively PARCCs 4s and 5s to succeed, maybe you're the one with low expectations? I frankly don't know if SH is right for my kid, but there are plenty of kids doing well academically in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Curious, other than Deal which I am sure also has some "lower" performing students, which school in DC is up to standards? Someone mentioned DCI, Basis and Hardy. I get Basis. But the other schools I am sure also have a variety of academic levels. The behavior is what I am questioning in person. Adams perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great school if you have super low expectations!

I mean, if your kid needs to be surrounded by exclusively PARCCs 4s and 5s to succeed, maybe you're the one with low expectations? I frankly don't know if SH is right for my kid, but there are plenty of kids doing well academically in the school.

Not really. The minority there is on grade level. I wouldn’t call that well academically. That’s average. You, not the PP, have low expectations.

You can bet the kids at a much higher performing school is going to be better prepared for high school.

Don’t kid yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Did you send a kid to SH? How do you know? And like I said, my kid is unique. Maybe the smaller size and greater diversity would be better for him (not to mention staying in the neighborhood and forming ties.) SH's scores are solid enogugh - 50% proficiency in English and 25% proficiency in math.

No, I did not send a child to SH. But it’s not hard to talk to neighbors who do and then leave.

Your child is unique because your child has an IEP. That is not the majority and norm in Capitol Hill and not the population most on here are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One SH grad, one in 8th now -- very different kids but a good fit for both. SH prepared them both well for HS. Some great teachers, some meh, but that's true everywhere. On average, more good than bad. I won't say they loved MS, because who does, but the fantastic extracurriculars really made it for them. CityYear, sports, drama, band, debate, History Day, Science Fair, etc. They had lots of ways to feel successful and included even when there was friend drama and the usual MS disappointments. Lots and lots of neighborhood friends to walk to school with in the Before Times. Honestly, Stuart's main problem going forward will be overcrowding. There are over 500 kids enrolled this year and I have no idea where they would have put them all in-person.

What is causing the overcrowding if only a minority of the students are in bound. Is the pendulum swinging for more in bound attendance?

Where does your older child attend high school? What is your HS plan for the middle schooler ?

[Anonymous]

Enrollment from the several feeder schools--Ludlow-Taylor, Watkins and JO Wilson--is rising, along with IB enrollment.

What bothers me about Hobson's improvement is that DCPS is obviously in no rush to see the place emerge as a true neighborhood school, with majority IB enrollment. Ed leaders push to attract IB parents to Hardy, but take a laissez-faire approach at Hobson. Yet another example of egregious preferential treatment for Upper NW parents in the system.

[Anonymous]

Stuart Hobson is what is is, with only little tweaks on the horizon.

If your kid is an on-grade-level or advanced learner in 5th grade and you're considering the school for 6th, know that you can make the schol work by pushing teachers for tougher assignments and supplementing a certain amount.

The school enrolls blacks, white and a small number of Latinos, but very few Asians. But that's the same story in every DC public MS but Deal, Hardy, BASIS and Washington Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Did you send a kid to SH? How do you know? And like I said, my kid is unique. Maybe the smaller size and greater diversity would be better for him (not to mention staying in the neighborhood and forming ties.) SH's scores are solid enogugh - 50% proficiency in English and 25% proficiency in math.

No, I did not send a child to SH. But it’s not hard to talk to neighbors who do and then leave.

Your child is unique because your child has an IEP. That is not the majority and norm in Capitol Hill and not the population most on here are talking about.

The fact that he has an IEP means that he needs a better functioning school. not a worse functioning school because his education is an after-thought, if that's what you're thinking. And again, there's a strong cohort of high-performing SH students, so you don't seem to really be talking to all parents; certainly not to the extent that you can form a judgment like "those of us with above grade level kids and options don't buy into SH."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Did you send a kid to SH? How do you know? And like I said, my kid is unique. Maybe the smaller size and greater diversity would be better for him (not to mention staying in the neighborhood and forming ties.) SH's scores are solid enogugh - 50% proficiency in English and 25% proficiency in math.

No, I did not send a child to SH. But it’s not hard to talk to neighbors who do and then leave.

Your child is unique because your child has an IEP. That is not the majority and norm in Capitol Hill and not the population most on here are talking about.

Two years ago, Stuart-Hobson had a 93% re-enrollment rate, the 3rd highest in DCPS. That doesn't really align with the "neighbors who leave" theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many negative threads. The school seems great this year virtually. Is there a lot of differentiation in-person, how are the teachers, are there fights in the school?

. The IB % is only around a quarter. Unless you think PR is the main problem, that’s all you really need to know. You can make the best of the school, or avoid it. Those are your choices. It’s only going to so good with kids who read 2 or 3 grade levels behind yours in the same science and social studies classes.

IB% doesn’t mean much on the Hill. Brent and Maury students who go to SH are OOB.

Come on, it does when most of the OOB students are coming from Wards 5, 7 and 8. That's been the story at SH since the 1970s. More students still come from outside Ward 6 than in. DCPS focuses on making Deal and Hardy work for IB families, not Hobson. Arghhhh.

And what's wrong with kids from those wards? We're a ward 8 family there and mine is above grade level in reading and math. From the virtual classes that I overhear at home, there sounds like a lot of bright kids in the school.

Ok but the overwhelming majority of kids, no matter where they come from, are not. Only 1 out of 4 kids are on grade level or above in math. Pretty dismal numbers.

Sadly those actually are great numbers for a DC middle school. We’re a Hill family and will definitely be trying for SH OOB. 1/4 on grade level is enough to ensure there will be appropriate classes for our kid. But that’s a minumum - I also need to learn a lot more about how SH handles IEPs, enrichment activities, the social environment, etc. And I also really don’t know what makes a good MS for a kid like mine. I don’t really have any basis to believe right now that a place like Deal would be better just because it has more PARCC 4s and 5s.

Your standards are too low just like DC’s. This is especially in regards to middle school and how important it is to set the basis for high school.

Those of us with above grade level kids and options don’t buy into SH.

You are kidding yourself if you think Deal is not better than SH for higher performing kids. Peer group gets more important and behavioral issues gets more disruptive to learning in the classroom.

Did you send a kid to SH? How do you know? And like I said, my kid is unique. Maybe the smaller size and greater diversity would be better for him (not to mention staying in the neighborhood and forming ties.) SH's scores are solid enogugh - 50% proficiency in English and 25% proficiency in math.

No, I did not send a child to SH. But it’s not hard to talk to neighbors who do and then leave.

Your child is unique because your child has an IEP. That is not the majority and norm in Capitol Hill and not the population most on here are talking about.

Two years ago, Stuart-Hobson had a 93% re-enrollment rate, the 3rd highest in DCPS. That doesn't really align with the "neighbors who leave" theory.

Well... it does when most of the neighbors aren’t in the school in the first place. Would be interesting to see a breakdown of that 7%.