Inspired Teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kind of funny how a thread about a charter elementary/middle school has devolved into talking about School Without Walls.

In the end, all threads converge on school without walls. (Except the SWW thread.)

Other schools have walls and that keeps the threads out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In particular it matters to people who are choosing ITS, because they likely don't have a very good IB high school option.

Yes and there are complicating factors reading the data. Sounds like in 2020 ITDS 8th grade was half the size it is currently (and zero at some point before?), so that needs to be to be considered comparing how many from ITDS got in to any application school across years. Lots of comments on the board about how SWW admissions have varied the past couple years with the test. Banneker freshman class size jumped by a hundred or so last year. I don't understand Duke's various programs to understand the effects there. But, yeah, most at ITDS are looking for a HS option. SWW admissions is an easy stat to grab, but all of them have parts that cloud analysis.

[Anonymous]

Inspired Teaching did comparably very well in SWW admissions last year. It is a plus for those who are considering the middle school even if no one can remotely count on getting into SWW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inspired Teaching did comparably very well in SWW admissions last year. It is a plus for those who are considering the middle school even if no one can remotely count on getting into SWW.

Last year's class successfully sent several students to SWW and also several to Banneker. I know a number of current 8th graders were invited to interview at both this year (also to Duke Ellington and McKinley), and some have already been accepted to competitive local private (Catholic and independent) schools. The small middle school can have some drawbacks, but I think it's really a bonus that students can be well prepared for HS applications because teachers get to know them well, and they spend some time on both essay writing and interview skills, even one-on-one if requested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inspired Teaching did comparably very well in SWW admissions last year. It is a plus for those who are considering the middle school even if no one can remotely count on getting into SWW.

Last year's class successfully sent several students to SWW and also several to Banneker. I know a number of current 8th graders were invited to interview at both this year (also to Duke Ellington and McKinley), and some have already been accepted to competitive local private (Catholic and independent) schools. The small middle school can have some drawbacks, but I think it's really a bonus that students can be well prepared for HS applications because teachers get to know them well, and they spend some time on both essay writing and interview skills, even one-on-one if requested.

That's helpful--thank you!

[Anonymous]

I have an A student at ITDS whose middle school teachers give challenging work. I would say he definitely works hard for his grades. He is given/choses high school level work in several classes. It’s how they differentiate. Also, my DS is dreading a recommendation from one of his teachers. Not sure if you had any experiences at ITDS, but it’s not similar to ours.

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion: the new Walls application process benefits a school like ITS, where it isn't too difficult to get very good grades and the teachers have an interest in writing glowing recommendations (because the school likes the taut the walls admission rate at open houses).

Wonder how if it would change it Walls went back to test-in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an A student at ITDS whose middle school teachers give challenging work. I would say he definitely works hard for his grades. He is given/choses high school level work in several classes. It’s how they differentiate. Also, my DS is dreading a recommendation from one of his teachers. Not sure if you had any experiences at ITDS, but it’s not similar to ours.

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion: the new Walls application process benefits a school like ITS, where it isn't too difficult to get very good grades and the teachers have an interest in writing glowing recommendations (because the school likes the taut the walls admission rate at open houses).

Wonder how if it would change it Walls went back to test-in.

Very true. The recommendations from middle school teachers were not universally glowing. I feel confident of that. And the classes were not easy A's.

[Anonymous]

NP. I agree. Most of the Inspired Teaching middle school teachers grade on a curve. If your kid is not near the top of the class, it’s hard to get an A. Some of the tests have been so difficult in one of my kid’s classes that the teacher regularly throws out some questions to make sure some students get an A.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an A student at ITDS whose middle school teachers give challenging work. I would say he definitely works hard for his grades. He is given/choses high school level work in several classes. It’s how they differentiate. Also, my DS is dreading a recommendation from one of his teachers. Not sure if you had any experiences at ITDS, but it’s not similar to ours.

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion: the new Walls application process benefits a school like ITS, where it isn't too difficult to get very good grades and the teachers have an interest in writing glowing recommendations (because the school likes the taut the walls admission rate at open houses).

Wonder how if it would change it Walls went back to test-in.

Very true. The recommendations from middle school teachers were not universally glowing. I feel confident of that. And the classes were not easy A's.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the ability to get into selective schools is the one of the only positive things left of ITDS middle school. With the change in leadership, school has declined big time. A lot of attrition, inconsistencies in the way situations are handled, not so exciting new teachers, massive amounts of kids leaving changes the culture. Lower grades is awesome. ITDS is a good place until about 3rd grade, and then, it is mediocre on many fronts. The new extra curriculars have been nice though. If I had a choice to go elsewhere, I would move my kids in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the ability to get into selective schools is the one of the only positive things left of ITDS middle school. With the change in leadership, school has declined big time. A lot of attrition, inconsistencies in the way situations are handled, not so exciting new teachers, massive amounts of kids leaving changes the culture. Lower grades is awesome. ITDS is a good place until about 3rd grade, and then, it is mediocre on many fronts. The new extra curriculars have been nice though. If I had a choice to go elsewhere, I would move my kids in a heartbeat.

Attrition in current 5th doesn't seem to be as bad this year. It's suddenly really hard to get into Latin Cooper and that's probably why.

We'll see how it goes with the incoming middle school principal. I agree the staff is doing a nice job with the activities!

[Anonymous]

My child's new-to-the-school teachers at ITDS middle have been great and I would say on par with or better than some of their elementary school teachers. I'm curious what grade your child is in. The families I know at the school are very happy.

Previous admin at school weren't great (they allowed bullying, etc) but the new admin has been phenomenal. I've gotten a chance to talk with the Head of School at Morning Coffee days for parents and I was impressed. She was down a Principal for the school this year, so stepped in to do both jobs - the Principal and the Head of School until she could hire someone that was the right fit. She said she wanted to take the needed time to get the right person in versus hiring anybody. A new Principal for next year was just hired. Since the new Principal hasn't started the job, everyone loves the Assistant Middle School Principal, and the Head of School has been managing two jobs all year (due to the former Principal leaving) I'm not sure who you could be talking about.

My child's grade has not seen very little attrition and the ones I'm aware of are because of new jobs out of town, going private or moving for high schools.

I challenge the "good until 3rd grade" opinion. It sounds like you do not have a middle schooler at ITDS. I attend parent meetings and student activities often and haven't heard this. Is your child in middle school at ITDS? If so, what grade?

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the ability to get into selective schools is the one of the only positive things left of ITDS middle school. With the change in leadership, school has declined big time. A lot of attrition, inconsistencies in the way situations are handled, not so exciting new teachers, massive amounts of kids leaving changes the culture. Lower grades is awesome. ITDS is a good place until about 3rd grade, and then, it is mediocre on many fronts. The new extra curriculars have been nice though. If I had a choice to go elsewhere, I would move my kids in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

PP. I meant "my child's grade has seen very little attrition..."

Anonymous wrote:
My child's grade has not seen very little attrition and the ones I'm aware of are because of new jobs out of town, going private or moving for high schools.

[Anonymous]

I have a teen in ITDS middle school. He is having a good middle school experience thus far with great friends, teachers, and advanced learning. I have not heard complaints from middle school parents. The parents who complain are usually a small group in 4th-5th who are looking for a Basis-type experience for their kid. Most leave before reaching middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a teen in ITDS middle school. He is having a good middle school experience thus far with great friends, teachers, and advanced learning. I have not heard complaints from middle school parents. The parents who complain are usually a small group in 4th-5th who are looking for a Basis-type experience for their kid. Most leave before reaching middle school.

Oh FFS. In our cohort the vast majority of rising 5th graders who left, headed to Latin. And the people who complain tend to be those who want more effective differentiation, such as offering geometry in 8th which is standard for DCPS schools. Or they want behavior/violence to be dealt with more effectively than the school is willing to do, or have had a bad experience with so-called "restorative" practices not putting a stop to the bullying and violence.

There is a strong current of rationalization among parents who love ITDS, that nothing is in need of improvement and anyone who wants different doesn't belong at the school anyway. And people who leave either want a high school (so not ITDS's fault) or they're uptight tiger parents who are damaging their kids.

[Anonymous]

You're getting pushback because you said, the school "is only good up to 3rd grade." Many ITDS parents don't feel the way you do. The school offers us something that other schools don't and it is "good" for our kids. All DC schools are likely "in need of improvement" with something (and of course, ITDS can be improved), but it's about finding a school that works best for your child. This school works best for mine. Not everyone wants the same thing you do. My kid is learning and thriving. No bullying. Great teachers. I'm not rationalizing. I'm just happy my kid is happy. However, you made the claim that all grades after 3rd grade are bad, really? I don't agree with that.

Anonymous wrote:
There is a strong current of rationalization among parents who love ITDS, that nothing is in need of improvement and anyone who wants different doesn't belong at the school anyway. And people who leave either want a high school (so not ITDS's fault) or they're uptight tiger parents who are damaging their kids.