Dumb WaPoo Article on Public Schools

[Anonymous]

Most upper income families in good DC school paths do NOT leave DCPS at 3rd grade, this is a pattern that ended a few years back. Our 5th grader is going to Deal next year along with over 90% of her elementary school cohort and I fully expect her to go to Wilson or an application school for high school.

I realize that this is not an option for the majority of the city and that is the problem. But the generalization or "broad brush" that was made in this thread that most UMC families leave at 3rd is simply incorrect for those families that are lucky (or resourceful) enough to have good public options. There simply are not enough such options and there is a lack of will to make the hard decisions that would create more high quality secondary schools but also offend large politically powerful constituencies in the city. Is there a way to bring together the many successful elementary school cohorts into another successful middle school? Absolutely, but it means you are making decisions to exclude feeder elementary schools based on their level of success and that will be perceived as racist so it will never happen.

Higher levels of resources in DC are being directed at high poverty/high minority schools. Strong schools leaders are being deployed. This is a really tough nut to crack, but DC will not lose in court due to lack of honest effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most upper income families in good DC school paths do NOT leave DCPS at 3rd grade, this is a pattern that ended a few years back. Our 5th grader is going to Deal next year along with over 90% of her elementary school cohort and I fully expect her to go to Wilson or an application school for high school.

I realize that this is not an option for the majority of the city and that is the problem. But the generalization or "broad brush" that was made in this thread that most UMC families leave at 3rd is simply incorrect for those families that are lucky (or resourceful) enough to have good public options. There simply are not enough such options and there is a lack of will to make the hard decisions that would create more high quality secondary schools but also offend large politically powerful constituencies in the city. Is there a way to bring together the many successful elementary school cohorts into another successful middle school? Absolutely, but it means you are making decisions to exclude feeder elementary schools based on their level of success and that will be perceived as racist so it will never happen.

Higher levels of resources in DC are being directed at high poverty/high minority schools. Strong schools leaders are being deployed. This is a really tough nut to crack, but DC will not lose in court due to lack of honest effort.

+1.

If anything, DCPS is more vulnerable to a lawsuit by white/ Asian/ Latino parents than by black ones. Just look at the capital investments or per-capita funds. It may be counterintuitive given national trends, but it's right there for anyone to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most upper income families in good DC school paths do NOT leave DCPS at 3rd grade, this is a pattern that ended a few years back. Our 5th grader is going to Deal next year along with over 90% of her elementary school cohort and I fully expect her to go to Wilson or an application school for high school.

I realize that this is not an option for the majority of the city and that is the problem. But the generalization or "broad brush" that was made in this thread that most UMC families leave at 3rd is simply incorrect for those families that are lucky (or resourceful) enough to have good public options. There simply are not enough such options and there is a lack of will to make the hard decisions that would create more high quality secondary schools but also offend large politically powerful constituencies in the city. Is there a way to bring together the many successful elementary school cohorts into another successful middle school? Absolutely, but it means you are making decisions to exclude feeder elementary schools based on their level of success and that will be perceived as racist so it will never happen.

Higher levels of resources in DC are being directed at high poverty/high minority schools. Strong schools leaders are being deployed. This is a really tough nut to crack, but DC will not lose in court due to lack of honest effort.

This deck may be helpful. Among other things it shows DC population growth among children by race and age. There is still a significant ex-migration among families with kids in the 8-14 year old range -- and those families are not all white.

http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Office%20of%20Planning%20Presentation%20for%20CSCTF%204%2026%2016.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most upper income families in good DC school paths do NOT leave DCPS at 3rd grade, this is a pattern that ended a few years back. Our 5th grader is going to Deal next year along with over 90% of her elementary school cohort and I fully expect her to go to Wilson or an application school for high school.

I realize that this is not an option for the majority of the city and that is the problem. But the generalization or "broad brush" that was made in this thread that most UMC families leave at 3rd is simply incorrect for those families that are lucky (or resourceful) enough to have good public options. There simply are not enough such options and there is a lack of will to make the hard decisions that would create more high quality secondary schools but also offend large politically powerful constituencies in the city. Is there a way to bring together the many successful elementary school cohorts into another successful middle school? Absolutely, but it means you are making decisions to exclude feeder elementary schools based on their level of success and that will be perceived as racist so it will never happen.

Higher levels of resources in DC are being directed at high poverty/high minority schools. Strong schools leaders are being deployed. This is a really tough nut to crack, but DC will not lose in court due to lack of honest effort.

This deck may be helpful. Among other things it shows DC population growth among children by race and age. There is still a significant ex-migration among families with kids in the 8-14 year old range -- and those families are not all white.

http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Office%20of%20Planning%20Presentation%20for%20CSCTF%204%2026%2016.pdf

Fascinating deck, thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok let me try again and again apologies for broad brushes

If you are high SES in DC you aren't even in public schools unless you are in NW (the rich white part or a tiny piece of capitol hill)

Most upper middle income people (largely white but other races as well leave DC at 3rd grade at the latest)

So who is left mostly poor people who are black and more and more Hispanics several years below education level this is why DC public schools suck and will always suck

Some of the charters are doing a bit better but there aren't enough good ones to make a dent in the system

And I agree with the PP since most of the students in Public Schools in DC are poor and black you are never going to have actual diversity in the current system

Unless you bus people out of rich white upper NW (which will never happen)

DC schools spend double to triple what other jurisdictions spend per student.

What does the average DCUM high SES person do? Get the heck out of DC or send their kids to privates like any other parent would if they could afford to

[Anonymous]

"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok let me try again and again apologies for broad brushes

If you are high SES in DC you aren't even in public schools unless you are in NW (the rich white part or a tiny piece of capitol hill)

Most upper middle income people (largely white but other races as well leave DC at 3rd grade at the latest)

So who is left mostly poor people who are black and more and more Hispanics several years below education level this is why DC public schools suck and will always suck

Some of the charters are doing a bit better but there aren't enough good ones to make a dent in the system

And I agree with the PP since most of the students in Public Schools in DC are poor and black you are never going to have actual diversity in the current system

Unless you bus people out of rich white upper NW (which will never happen)

DC schools spend double to triple what other jurisdictions spend per student.

What does the average DCUM high SES person do? Get the heck out of DC or send their kids to privates like any other parent would if they could afford to

Thank you. These facts (and I think they are all accepted facts on this board) show that the problem with under-performing student outcomes in DC has literally nothing to do with DCPS and its policies, personnel, or implementation.

right, DCPS has nothing at all to do with it! It's perfect! Those poor black kids are just destined to fail anyway.

Well, the parents of kids in these terminally low-performing neighborhoods could either move to a better neighborhood; or be lucky enough to be accepted to a high-performing charter school; or (if not wealthy) seek a scholarship to a private school. Otherwise, truly unfortunately, yes, PP is correct about the fate of these kids.

So you think simply moving the low performing kids to a high performing school will turn the low-performing kids into high-performing kids? It sounds like magic -- and like something Michelle Rhee would say. And we saw how that worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok let me try again and again apologies for broad brushes

If you are high SES in DC you aren't even in public schools unless you are in NW (the rich white part or a tiny piece of capitol hill)

Most upper middle income people (largely white but other races as well leave DC at 3rd grade at the latest)

So who is left mostly poor people who are black and more and more Hispanics several years below education level this is why DC public schools suck and will always suck

Some of the charters are doing a bit better but there aren't enough good ones to make a dent in the system

And I agree with the PP since most of the students in Public Schools in DC are poor and black you are never going to have actual diversity in the current system

Unless you bus people out of rich white upper NW (which will never happen)

DC schools spend double to triple what other jurisdictions spend per student.

What does the average DCUM high SES person do? Get the heck out of DC or send their kids to privates like any other parent would if they could afford to

Thank you. These facts (and I think they are all accepted facts on this board) show that the problem with under-performing student outcomes in DC has literally nothing to do with DCPS and its policies, personnel, or implementation.

right, DCPS has nothing at all to do with it! It's perfect! Those poor black kids are just destined to fail anyway.

Well, the parents of kids in these terminally low-performing neighborhoods could either move to a better neighborhood; or be lucky enough to be accepted to a high-performing charter school; or (if not wealthy) seek a scholarship to a private school. Otherwise, truly unfortunately, yes, PP is correct about the fate of these kids.

So you think simply moving the low performing kids to a high performing school will turn the low-performing kids into high-performing kids? It sounds like magic -- and like something Michelle Rhee would say. And we saw how that worked.

Agreed. We have the whole "feeder" system thanks to Rhee. Time to stop it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok let me try again and again apologies for broad brushes

If you are high SES in DC you aren't even in public schools unless you are in NW (the rich white part or a tiny piece of capitol hill)

Most upper middle income people (largely white but other races as well leave DC at 3rd grade at the latest)

So who is left mostly poor people who are black and more and more Hispanics several years below education level this is why DC public schools suck and will always suck

Some of the charters are doing a bit better but there aren't enough good ones to make a dent in the system

And I agree with the PP since most of the students in Public Schools in DC are poor and black you are never going to have actual diversity in the current system

Unless you bus people out of rich white upper NW (which will never happen)

DC schools spend double to triple what other jurisdictions spend per student.

What does the average DCUM high SES person do? Get the heck out of DC or send their kids to privates like any other parent would if they could afford to

Thank you. These facts (and I think they are all accepted facts on this board) show that the problem with under-performing student outcomes in DC has literally nothing to do with DCPS and its policies, personnel, or implementation.

right, DCPS has nothing at all to do with it! It's perfect! Those poor black kids are just destined to fail anyway.

Well, the parents of kids in these terminally low-performing neighborhoods could either move to a better neighborhood; or be lucky enough to be accepted to a high-performing charter school; or (if not wealthy) seek a scholarship to a private school. Otherwise, truly unfortunately, yes, PP is correct about the fate of these kids.

So you think simply moving the low performing kids to a high performing school will turn the low-performing kids into high-performing kids? It sounds like magic -- and like something Michelle Rhee would say. And we saw how that worked.

The "magic" is not the move itself -- but the intent and effort required to make a change in location to occur. That act alone distinguishes the student's parents from most all of the others, and thereby increases the likelihood (dramatically, I'd say) of the student doing well in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

What you hear is the cry of the parent whose private school tuition payment is due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

What you hear is the cry of the parent whose private school tuition payment is due.

got it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok let me try again and again apologies for broad brushes

If you are high SES in DC you aren't even in public schools unless you are in NW (the rich white part or a tiny piece of capitol hill)

Most upper middle income people (largely white but other races as well leave DC at 3rd grade at the latest)

So who is left mostly poor people who are black and more and more Hispanics several years below education level this is why DC public schools suck and will always suck

Some of the charters are doing a bit better but there aren't enough good ones to make a dent in the system

And I agree with the PP since most of the students in Public Schools in DC are poor and black you are never going to have actual diversity in the current system

Unless you bus people out of rich white upper NW (which will never happen)

DC schools spend double to triple what other jurisdictions spend per student.

What does the average DCUM high SES person do? Get the heck out of DC or send their kids to privates like any other parent would if they could afford to

Thank you. These facts (and I think they are all accepted facts on this board) show that the problem with under-performing student outcomes in DC has literally nothing to do with DCPS and its policies, personnel, or implementation.

right, DCPS has nothing at all to do with it! It's perfect! Those poor black kids are just destined to fail anyway.

Well, the parents of kids in these terminally low-performing neighborhoods could either move to a better neighborhood; or be lucky enough to be accepted to a high-performing charter school; or (if not wealthy) seek a scholarship to a private school. Otherwise, truly unfortunately, yes, PP is correct about the fate of these kids.

So you think simply moving the low performing kids to a high performing school will turn the low-performing kids into high-performing kids? It sounds like magic -- and like something Michelle Rhee would say. And we saw how that worked.

The "magic" is not the move itself -- but the intent and effort required to make a change in location to occur. That act alone distinguishes the student's parents from most all of the others, and thereby increases the likelihood (dramatically, I'd say) of the student doing well in school.

but you would be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

What you hear is the cry of the parent whose private school tuition payment is due.

Actually I think suck poster is one of the many teenagers who lurk and troll the site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

What you hear is the cry of the parent whose private school tuition payment is due.

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"DC public schools suck and will always suck"


What does that mean?

What you hear is the cry of the parent whose private school tuition payment is due.

+ 1

PP, what makes you assert that DC public schools such and always will? No need to convince me that most such schools do in fact suck, really suck. That said, I've been pleasantly surprised by how good my little kids' DCPS elementary school is proving, EotP no less. The school's "specials"--art, music, science, PE, Spanish--are better than expected, along with well-thought-out monthly field trips and extra-curriculars. And I'm a tough customer (Ivy Leaguer, lawyer).