Anyone else disillusioned with the whole process?

[Anonymous]

We felt similar to how you felt and left DC. DH and I are an interracial couple. We were very discouraged so we left for Howard County. I attended DCPS when I was a child but when I attended it was with mostly MD children whose parents worked in the city back when DCPS didn’t care to follow residency rules. I attended Stevens elementary (old building on L street), Francis and SWW. The lottery was supposed to bring “equity” but all it brought was stress and delusion for the masses. As we saw with the lottery related scandals those with access to power or wealth were able to navigate around “equitable” practices.

We decided to stop stressing and just move. We didn’t want to move but the idea of applying via lottery every year in hopes of “leveling up” would be stressful & time consuming.

Your numbers are pretty high but if your family is stuck on staying in the District I would suggest calling the school over the summer occasionally to see if a spot opens up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

Focused on academics, data, compliance. A regimented, "no excuses" school with stringent expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

Focused on academics, data, compliance. A regimented, "no excuses" school with stringent expectations.

ok thank you! I've heard the same about them focusing on test scores and all academics. So we may keep him at Friendship Chamberlain, but I was unable to to visit prior to covid shutting everything down. So just wanted to see how the school is overall (outside of what myschooldc and their own website states).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We felt similar to how you felt and left DC. DH and I are an interracial couple. We were very discouraged so we left for Howard County. I attended DCPS when I was a child but when I attended it was with mostly MD children whose parents worked in the city back when DCPS didn’t care to follow residency rules. I attended Stevens elementary (old building on L street), Francis and SWW. The lottery was supposed to bring “equity” but all it brought was stress and delusion for the masses. As we saw with the lottery related scandals those with access to power or wealth were able to navigate around “equitable” practices.

We decided to stop stressing and just move. We didn’t want to move but the idea of applying via lottery every year in hopes of “leveling up” would be stressful & time consuming.

Your numbers are pretty high but if your family is stuck on staying in the District I would suggest calling the school over the summer occasionally to see if a spot opens up.

A vast majority of residency or lottery fraud cases do not involve "those with access to power or wealth." For every Antwan Wilson, Rashad Young or Courtney Snowden, there are 100 Maryland residents who at best are middle class and simply try to cheat the system because it's convenient for their jobs (as city employees, MPD officers, whatever).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We felt similar to how you felt and left DC. DH and I are an interracial couple. We were very discouraged so we left for Howard County. I attended DCPS when I was a child but when I attended it was with mostly MD children whose parents worked in the city back when DCPS didn’t care to follow residency rules. I attended Stevens elementary (old building on L street), Francis and SWW. The lottery was supposed to bring “equity” but all it brought was stress and delusion for the masses. As we saw with the lottery related scandals those with access to power or wealth were able to navigate around “equitable” practices.

We decided to stop stressing and just move. We didn’t want to move but the idea of applying via lottery every year in hopes of “leveling up” would be stressful & time consuming.

Your numbers are pretty high but if your family is stuck on staying in the District I would suggest calling the school over the summer occasionally to see if a spot opens up.

A vast majority of residency or lottery fraud cases do not involve "those with access to power or wealth." For every Antwan Wilson, Rashad Young or Courtney Snowden, there are 100 Maryland residents who at best are middle class and simply try to cheat the system because it's convenient for their jobs (as city employees, MPD officers, whatever).

I watched the SWW video for the high school to get a sense of the school. They show kids arriving and departing. One kid gets out of a BMW with Maryland plates. The school really should have done a hard audit for anyone in the video as there were multiple kids getting in and out of cars with MMD plates.

[Anonymous]

Good observation, sharp-eyed, PP. We've had enough of DCPS' games, although oldest kid got a spot at Walls. Moving to Arlington but keeping our Hill house to return as empty nesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good observation, sharp-eyed, PP. We've had enough of DCPS' games, although oldest kid got a spot at Walls. Moving to Arlington but keeping our Hill house to return as empty nesters.

You are smart - much easier to get into VA schools (if this is a fit for your child) as a VA resident and you will get in state tuition. Win Win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

Focused on academics, data, compliance. A regimented, "no excuses" school with stringent expectations.

ok thank you! I've heard the same about them focusing on test scores and all academics. So we may keep him at Friendship Chamberlain, but I was unable to to visit prior to covid shutting everything down. So just wanted to see how the school is overall (outside of what myschooldc and their own website states).

What a world we live in when a focus on academics in a public school is seen as a negative thing!? No wonder the US is so far behind educationally. Its interesting how school test scores and results don't matter until suddenly they do for your individual child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

Focused on academics, data, compliance. A regimented, "no excuses" school with stringent expectations.

ok thank you! I've heard the same about them focusing on test scores and all academics. So we may keep him at Friendship Chamberlain, but I was unable to to visit prior to covid shutting everything down. So just wanted to see how the school is overall (outside of what myschooldc and their own website states).

What a world we live in when a focus on academics in a public school is seen as a negative thing!? No wonder the US is so far behind educationally. Its interesting how school test scores and results don't matter until suddenly they do for your individual child.

We want a school that educates the whole child, not sit in a chair all day and focus on test scores. We want a school where our child can experience arts, foreign language, sports, etc....and NOT just focus on academics. Those are the kids you see putting pressure on themselves, sitting in a room, being anti social, because they never had the opportunity to be creative and express themselves.

[Anonymous]

We've got a rising Pre-K 4 and have struck out again. Our mediocre charter is fine for another year or two (good even for ECE), but after that we're going to have to decide whether to keep playing and potentially move our kid multiple times in elementary or just leave DC. Now that friends' kids are getting into middle elementary at the HRCS (not to name names), I am just not wowed by what I'm seeing. It's fine, but is settling for fine really what we want to do? And honestly, looking at the middle and high school options, it may be a blessing in disguise if we don't "win" and feel that extra pressure to stick it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've got a rising Pre-K 4 and have struck out again. Our mediocre charter is fine for another year or two (good even for ECE), but after that we're going to have to decide whether to keep playing and potentially move our kid multiple times in elementary or just leave DC. Now that friends' kids are getting into middle elementary at the HRCS (not to name names), I am just not wowed by what I'm seeing. It's fine, but is settling for fine really what we want to do? And honestly, looking at the middle and high school options, it may be a blessing in disguise if we don't "win" and feel that extra pressure to stick it out.

Can you offset by adding extra curricular activities? Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side...I'm new to this blog, what does hrcs mean? Might be good for other parents to name name so we're aware of what school it is. You're anonymous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess maybe there are different ideas of what middle class or black middle class means. But, that is probably serveral different threads for that topic.
Most middle class and upper middle class African American families want progressive schools geared towards sending kids to good high schools and colleges.

OP here, I literally thought the same thing. I’m a AA middle class family and I wouldn’t send my kids to KIPP or DC Prep because of their approach to education. Lots of stereotypes being made here ?

What is the approach that DC Prep does? We got called off the waitlist for the edgewood location, but currently enrolled in Friendship Chamberlain. (prek 4).

Thanks.

Focused on academics, data, compliance. A regimented, "no excuses" school with stringent expectations.

ok thank you! I've heard the same about them focusing on test scores and all academics. So we may keep him at Friendship Chamberlain, but I was unable to to visit prior to covid shutting everything down. So just wanted to see how the school is overall (outside of what myschooldc and their own website states).

What a world we live in when a focus on academics in a public school is seen as a negative thing!? No wonder the US is so far behind educationally. Its interesting how school test scores and results don't matter until suddenly they do for your individual child.

We want a school that educates the whole child, not sit in a chair all day and focus on test scores. We want a school where our child can experience arts, foreign language, sports, etc....and NOT just focus on academics. Those are the kids you see putting pressure on themselves, sitting in a room, being anti social, because they never had the opportunity to be creative and express themselves.

So do honestly think there are schools in DC that do not offer specials and sports/PE and the children are sitting in a chair all day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've got a rising Pre-K 4 and have struck out again. Our mediocre charter is fine for another year or two (good even for ECE), but after that we're going to have to decide whether to keep playing and potentially move our kid multiple times in elementary or just leave DC. Now that friends' kids are getting into middle elementary at the HRCS (not to name names), I am just not wowed by what I'm seeing. It's fine, but is settling for fine really what we want to do? And honestly, looking at the middle and high school options, it may be a blessing in disguise if we don't "win" and feel that extra pressure to stick it out.

Can you offset by adding extra curricular activities? Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side...I'm new to this blog, what does hrcs mean? Might be good for other parents to name name so we're aware of what school it is. You're anonymous

HRCS = highly regarded charter schools is coded language for charter schools with a critical mass of self-described “woke” white families who can not afford to go private or buy west of the park WOTP and find test scores meaningless. Look up the racial demographics of charter schools to build your HRCS list and report back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've got a rising Pre-K 4 and have struck out again. Our mediocre charter is fine for another year or two (good even for ECE), but after that we're going to have to decide whether to keep playing and potentially move our kid multiple times in elementary or just leave DC. Now that friends' kids are getting into middle elementary at the HRCS (not to name names), I am just not wowed by what I'm seeing. It's fine, but is settling for fine really what we want to do? And honestly, looking at the middle and high school options, it may be a blessing in disguise if we don't "win" and feel that extra pressure to stick it out.

We feel for you. We too have big decisions. Currently happy at our ES, but upper ES and MS feeder are questionable. We have played the lottery and lost many times and are now looking at moving to be in-boundary for Deal MS or out of DC. It bothers me to "settle" when there are better options.