Looking for some feedback on Eastern HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been an interesting thread to follow, and a few thoughts have come to mind as I have read posts over the past few days. First, it is unfortunate that there is not consistent instruction/curriculum between schools - even within the same parts of the city. How much of that can be attributed to teacher experience, school leadership, or number of kids in the higher grades, I am not sure. My child will be finishing 5th grade at Payne this year, and has been writing essays, doing novel studies and having involved writing assignments on an almost daily basis since fourth grade. From this thread and others on DCUM it sounds like other schools are just sending home worksheets, which is frustrating.

For those people reading this thread who are still learning and exploring, I think it is valuable to shed light on the fact that schools in DC and families' experiences in schools in DC are a lot more nuanced than this forum would make it seem. We will be at Eliot Hine next year, along with most of my child's classmates. I know many families who are already at that school and their kids are having positive experiences both in the classroom and in the debate club, theatre productions, TV/Radio station, sports, etc. I think many schools that are 'off the DCUM radar' have students and families with similar positive experiences.

Lastly, as we talk about differentiation, advanced classes, etc - I think it is important to make sure kids are challenged, but also to think about how to make sure advanced classes are implemented .Good book I read years ago that I have been thinking about this week on this topic - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22104174-despite-the-best-intentions

What was the behavior like in the 5th grade classrooms? One of the reasons we are thinking of avoiding EH when our time comes is because the behavior in our school’s 5th grade classroom is alarming.

You should talk to EH about behavior. We aren’t there yet but I am super impressed with what the admins have told me. Don’t assume based on the 5th grade at a different school!

[Anonymous]

Any recent feedback on Eastern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

Kids don't take math cape every year. It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school..

It's also possible that nearly everyone in the school is below grade level at math and the honors classes are just the kids who are a little less below and a little better behaved. I don't know which applies to Eastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope.

That’s my feedback. Just … nope.

So what exactly didn’t you like about it when your kid was there. (I’m assuming you had a kid there since you felt qualified to provide feedback.)

Anyone is qualified to provide feedback if they didn’t choose eastern too. They can say they don’t have first hand experience but this is why we didn’t choose the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recent feedback on Eastern?

If you look on the website, there’s a fair amount of information about the EPIC Program, the IB Middle Years Program and the full IB program (look for the pdfs).

The principal is in his 3rd year there, after serving as an AP at JR/Wilson and Stuart-Hobson.

My kids aren’t old enough for HS, but I’ve been following with interest as a few people I know have kids at Eastern and have had really positive things to say about it.

The feeder middle schools are increasingly getting more in-bounds buy-in, which helps to create the conditions for Eastern to as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

Kids don't take math cape every year. It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school..

It's also possible that nearly everyone in the school is below grade level at math and the honors classes are just the kids who are a little less below and a little better behaved. I don't know which applies to Eastern.

"It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school.."

I don't like the way this is phrased, but this is what I came on here to write. There are tracks for kids to take algebra and geometry in middle school, and while I don't obviously have the data in front of me, it may be safe to assume that the kids applying to the honors EPIC track are the kids who took the advanced math classes in middle school so they would be removed from the high school data set.

The parents we know with kids in the EPIC program have been impressed, and I have attended open houses and it seems like there are good opportunities. As a parent of a middle schooler, it will be on our list when it is time to apply for high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

Kids don't take math cape every year. It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school..

It's also possible that nearly everyone in the school is below grade level at math and the honors classes are just the kids who are a little less below and a little better behaved. I don't know which applies to Eastern.

"It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school.."

I don't like the way this is phrased, but this is what I came on here to write. There are tracks for kids to take algebra and geometry in middle school, and while I don't obviously have the data in front of me, it may be safe to assume that the kids applying to the honors EPIC track are the kids who took the advanced math classes in middle school so they would be removed from the high school data set.

The parents we know with kids in the EPIC program have been impressed, and I have attended open houses and it seems like there are good opportunities. As a parent of a middle schooler, it will be on our list when it is time to apply for high schools.

Well, no. Right idea but the data doesn't bear it out. The CAPE tests Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. The feeder middles offer Algebra I and Geometry, so the top kids would come in to Algebra II in 9th grade. And if they're really so bright, they should be able to score a 4. There's also the cohort of kids who took Algebra I in 8th grade (so they're doing well) and should be able to provide Eastern with grade-level or better scores on Geometry and Algebra II CAPE tests in 9th and 10th grade. That's not what's happening in the data though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

Kids don't take math cape every year. It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school..

It's also possible that nearly everyone in the school is below grade level at math and the honors classes are just the kids who are a little less below and a little better behaved. I don't know which applies to Eastern.

"It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school.."

I don't like the way this is phrased, but this is what I came on here to write. There are tracks for kids to take algebra and geometry in middle school, and while I don't obviously have the data in front of me, it may be safe to assume that the kids applying to the honors EPIC track are the kids who took the advanced math classes in middle school so they would be removed from the high school data set.

The parents we know with kids in the EPIC program have been impressed, and I have attended open houses and it seems like there are good opportunities. As a parent of a middle schooler, it will be on our list when it is time to apply for high schools.

Well, no. Right idea but the data doesn't bear it out. The CAPE tests Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. The feeder middles offer Algebra I and Geometry, so the top kids would come in to Algebra II in 9th grade. And if they're really so bright, they should be able to score a 4. There's also the cohort of kids who took Algebra I in 8th grade (so they're doing well) and should be able to provide Eastern with grade-level or better scores on Geometry and Algebra II CAPE tests in 9th and 10th grade. That's not what's happening in the data though.

It also has only been a few years (maybe 2?) that all DCPS middle schools offer algebra and geometry, so trying to look at historic data to observe the current school is difficult.

Also has been said on this forum before, And the baby boom has passed and enrollment in younger grades (citywide) is going down, whole older grades are increasing. More families are staying put in DC and in public schools so enrollment is going up for that reason as well.

All that to say, if you are interested in any school, it is helpful to talk to people who are there because looking at data even from just a few years ago could not be the most accurate picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern high school suffers from all the same problems as all the non selective DCPS schools. If you send a kid there they will be in classes that are often half full for no reason, kids on devices all day barely engaging academically, leaving school early, smoking weed on campus, etc. There are good students and staff there but the experience of those who care is ruined by out of control students that DCPS refuses to address in any meaningful way. If your kid works really hard they will be bored because teachers spend half the time trying to catch up all the kids who were late/absent and dealing with behavior.

But the IB cohort is a good way of solving that problem, no? Kids are selecting into it. They want to be there. It may not solve the academic preparation problem, but I don't think these are kids with behavior issues.

Nobody is willing to clearly explain if the IB program actually is effectively an honors program/school within school.

I have heard from someone who is a long term sub there that it is basically two different schools that are pretty separated. Honors/IB and gen ed.

They are also in their 2nd year of an honors program for 9th & 10th.

How is it honors if their math CAPE scores are so low?

Kids don't take math cape every year. It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school..

It's also possible that nearly everyone in the school is below grade level at math and the honors classes are just the kids who are a little less below and a little better behaved. I don't know which applies to Eastern.

"It's possible that the kids taking it at Eastern are the ones who are bad at math and those who are good at math finished taking math capes in middle school.."

I don't like the way this is phrased, but this is what I came on here to write. There are tracks for kids to take algebra and geometry in middle school, and while I don't obviously have the data in front of me, it may be safe to assume that the kids applying to the honors EPIC track are the kids who took the advanced math classes in middle school so they would be removed from the high school data set.

The parents we know with kids in the EPIC program have been impressed, and I have attended open houses and it seems like there are good opportunities. As a parent of a middle schooler, it will be on our list when it is time to apply for high schools.

Well, no. Right idea but the data doesn't bear it out. The CAPE tests Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. The feeder middles offer Algebra I and Geometry, so the top kids would come in to Algebra II in 9th grade. And if they're really so bright, they should be able to score a 4. There's also the cohort of kids who took Algebra I in 8th grade (so they're doing well) and should be able to provide Eastern with grade-level or better scores on Geometry and Algebra II CAPE tests in 9th and 10th grade. That's not what's happening in the data though.

Above is the right analysis when you look at it critically and break things down.

[Anonymous]

OP I hate to ask but what race is your child? If white they may be the only white kid in the grade and that’s something you need to be sure your kid is comfortable with.