MacArthur is the new Walls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can hope is that these posts turn off other families on the wait list, thereby increasing the odds that my kids gets a spot off the waitlist!

Haha this forum is always making Basis, Walls, JR and now MacArthur sound like horrible schools. But then you look at the waitlists and clearly people want to go there!

True but reality is that many EOTP families with no better options are desperate and willing to accept substandard schools and options.

They don’t want to move to the burbs which is an option for all and can’t afford private. It’s their reality.

But everyone knows the quality of public schools in the city is not very good and are willing to accept it. No one is moving from the burbs to the city for the schools while there is plenty for the reverse.

As someone who grew up in DC and the public schools here- these elitist takes are incredibly bizarre to me. My friends and I all went to JR, formerly Wilson and some are very high profile, all successful, and most still live in the dc area. The friend groups are all still extremely tight knit too. So much so that my kids are going through all the feeders at DCPS and having a similar experience to mine- they love it and all their friends.

I think a lot of people think they know a certain school well but they don’t. I find in actual conversations that people know very little about any school outside the one their child attends. People on this forum constantly post statements that are demonstrably false (like they could possible know the AP scores or college admissions of all kids in their child’s classes). Or that a school doesn’t offer a class that it actually does.

Yes, exactly this. That’s why I think it’s important as a DC native who grew up in the DCPS system to correct a lot of the misinformation out there. People are often relieved when they talk to me because there are so many wild rumors out there. But it’s also just that so many people live in bubbles that aren’t representative of the real world and they expect everything else in their life to be bubbles. A lot of things in life are beyond our control and the quicker people learn how to deal with adversity (real adversity) the better off we all are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can hope is that these posts turn off other families on the wait list, thereby increasing the odds that my kids gets a spot off the waitlist!

Haha this forum is always making Basis, Walls, JR and now MacArthur sound like horrible schools. But then you look at the waitlists and clearly people want to go there!

True but reality is that many EOTP families with no better options are desperate and willing to accept substandard schools and options.

They don’t want to move to the burbs which is an option for all and can’t afford private. It’s their reality.

But everyone knows the quality of public schools in the city is not very good and are willing to accept it. No one is moving from the burbs to the city for the schools while there is plenty for the reverse.

As someone who grew up in DC and the public schools here- these elitist takes are incredibly bizarre to me. My friends and I all went to JR, formerly Wilson and some are very high profile, all successful, and most still live in the dc area. The friend groups are all still extremely tight knit too. So much so that my kids are going through all the feeders at DCPS and having a similar experience to mine- they love it and all their friends.

I think a lot of people think they know a certain school well but they don’t. I find in actual conversations that people know very little about any school outside the one their child attends. People on this forum constantly post statements that are demonstrably false (like they could possible know the AP scores or college admissions of all kids in their child’s classes). Or that a school doesn’t offer a class that it actually does.

Yes, exactly this. That’s why I think it’s important as a DC native who grew up in the DCPS system to correct a lot of the misinformation out there. People are often relieved when they talk to me because there are so many wild rumors out there. But it’s also just that so many people live in bubbles that aren’t representative of the real world and they expect everything else in their life to be bubbles. A lot of things in life are beyond our control and the quicker people learn how to deal with adversity (real adversity) the better off we all are.

I think you are in the bubble as the self-vaunted DC native. Perhaps you don't realize that a lot of the country is far more functional than the DC Government and DCPS? It's no badge of honor to wallow in low-expectations and mediocrity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I can hope is that these posts turn off other families on the wait list, thereby increasing the odds that my kids gets a spot off the waitlist!

Haha this forum is always making Basis, Walls, JR and now MacArthur sound like horrible schools. But then you look at the waitlists and clearly people want to go there!

True but reality is that many EOTP families with no better options are desperate and willing to accept substandard schools and options.

They don’t want to move to the burbs which is an option for all and can’t afford private. It’s their reality.

But everyone knows the quality of public schools in the city is not very good and are willing to accept it. No one is moving from the burbs to the city for the schools while there is plenty for the reverse.

As someone who grew up in DC and the public schools here- these elitist takes are incredibly bizarre to me. My friends and I all went to JR, formerly Wilson and some are very high profile, all successful, and most still live in the dc area. The friend groups are all still extremely tight knit too. So much so that my kids are going through all the feeders at DCPS and having a similar experience to mine- they love it and all their friends.

I think a lot of people think they know a certain school well but they don’t. I find in actual conversations that people know very little about any school outside the one their child attends. People on this forum constantly post statements that are demonstrably false (like they could possible know the AP scores or college admissions of all kids in their child’s classes). Or that a school doesn’t offer a class that it actually does.

Yes, exactly this. That’s why I think it’s important as a DC native who grew up in the DCPS system to correct a lot of the misinformation out there. People are often relieved when they talk to me because there are so many wild rumors out there. But it’s also just that so many people live in bubbles that aren’t representative of the real world and they expect everything else in their life to be bubbles. A lot of things in life are beyond our control and the quicker people learn how to deal with adversity (real adversity) the better off we all are.

I think you are in the bubble as the self-vaunted DC native. Perhaps you don't realize that a lot of the country is far more functional than the DC Government and DCPS? It's no badge of honor to wallow in low-expectations and mediocrity.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the OOB is coming from JR feeder. Some from Oyster-Adams.

That seems unlikely given that MacArthur will qualify as a Title 1 school next year, indicating that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

This. I recall someone said it’s 20% white and majority black 70-80% which in this town is a proxy for SES.

Wow. There is no close metro and the buses are infrequent. Too bad there are no real neighborhood schools in DC. They're all overcrowded and loud.

[Anonymous]

Macarthur's 2023-4 enrollment by race:

Race/Ethnicity Enrolled
Asian 6
Black or African American 135
Hispanic/Latino of any race 36
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1
Two or More Races 8
White 52
Total Enrolled 238

JR:
Race/Ethnicity Enrolled
American Indian or Alaska Native 7
Asian 108
Black or African American 556
Hispanic/Latino of any race 509
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3
Two or More Races 89
White 722
Total Enrolled 1994

Hardy:
Race/Ethnicity Enrolled
Asian 32
Black or African American 180
Hispanic/Latino of any race 106
Two or More Races 41
White 243
Total Enrolled 602

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the OOB is coming from JR feeder. Some from Oyster-Adams.

That seems unlikely given that MacArthur will qualify as a Title 1 school next year, indicating that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

This. I recall someone said it’s 20% white and majority black 70-80% which in this town is a proxy for SES.

Wow. There is no close metro and the buses are infrequent. Too bad there are no real neighborhood schools in DC. They're all overcrowded and loud.

In another few years it will mirror the demographics at Hardy, which is 40% white, 12% at-risk, and 64% in bound. OOB families coming from the feeders are committed to their kids education, which is why they are driving across town for elementary or middle school. It will be a smaller version of JR with comparable offerings and performance, just like Hardy is to Deal now.

[Anonymous]

The bus is full all the time and they very disrespectful and loud and they using terrible vocabulary .DCPS has to hire real teachers and principals to do a better job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bus is full all the time and they very disrespectful and loud and they using terrible vocabulary .DCPS has to hire real teachers and principals to do a better job

Why is it the principals job to manage a bus?

[Anonymous]

If you’re the something of something, you’re nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bus is full all the time and they very disrespectful and loud and they using terrible vocabulary .DCPS has to hire real teachers and principals to do a better job

Why is it the principals job to manage a bus?

dp: Ideally it would not be. But somebody needs to teach them to be better citizens. It should be their parents. But with some parents failing, we rely on the schools to teach the kids citizenship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the OOB is coming from JR feeder. Some from Oyster-Adams.

That seems unlikely given that MacArthur will qualify as a Title 1 school next year, indicating that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

This. I recall someone said it’s 20% white and majority black 70-80% which in this town is a proxy for SES.

Wow. There is no close metro and the buses are infrequent. Too bad there are no real neighborhood schools in DC. They're all overcrowded and loud.

In another few years it will mirror the demographics at Hardy, which is 40% white, 12% at-risk, and 64% in bound. OOB families coming from the feeders are committed to their kids education, which is why they are driving across town for elementary or middle school. It will be a smaller version of JR with comparable offerings and performance, just like Hardy is to Deal now.

If it will be Title I next year, sounds like it is trending the other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bus is full all the time and they very disrespectful and loud and they using terrible vocabulary .DCPS has to hire real teachers and principals to do a better job

Agree with this. DC ruins all of its publics by allowing rude and subs par behavior of its students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bus is full all the time and they very disrespectful and loud and they using terrible vocabulary .DCPS has to hire real teachers and principals to do a better job

Why is it the principals job to manage a bus?

dp: Ideally it would not be. But somebody needs to teach them to be better citizens. It should be their parents. But with some parents failing, we rely on the schools to teach the kids citizenship.

you should take the lead on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the OOB is coming from JR feeder. Some from Oyster-Adams.

That seems unlikely given that MacArthur will qualify as a Title 1 school next year, indicating that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

This. I recall someone said it’s 20% white and majority black 70-80% which in this town is a proxy for SES.

Wow. There is no close metro and the buses are infrequent. Too bad there are no real neighborhood schools in DC. They're all overcrowded and loud.

In another few years it will mirror the demographics at Hardy, which is 40% white, 12% at-risk, and 64% in bound. OOB families coming from the feeders are committed to their kids education, which is why they are driving across town for elementary or middle school. It will be a smaller version of JR with comparable offerings and performance, just like Hardy is to Deal now.

If it will be Title I next year, sounds like it is trending the other way.

nah. you can't be a title I year school the first year. you need demographic data from the prior year for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the OOB is coming from JR feeder. Some from Oyster-Adams.

That seems unlikely given that MacArthur will qualify as a Title 1 school next year, indicating that at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

This. I recall someone said it’s 20% white and majority black 70-80% which in this town is a proxy for SES.

Wow. There is no close metro and the buses are infrequent. Too bad there are no real neighborhood schools in DC. They're all overcrowded and loud.

In another few years it will mirror the demographics at Hardy, which is 40% white, 12% at-risk, and 64% in bound. OOB families coming from the feeders are committed to their kids education, which is why they are driving across town for elementary or middle school. It will be a smaller version of JR with comparable offerings and performance, just like Hardy is to Deal now.

If it will be Title I next year, sounds like it is trending the other way.

nah. you can't be a title I year school the first year. you need demographic data from the prior year for it.

+1. A new school with grandfathering rights to the old school will take a few years to level out. DCPS was correct in only allowing dual rights to Mac and JR initially. There simply aren’t enough private school seats to absorb all of Hardy, nor do all parents want private, so once it’s through the first few years, the demographics will catch up to the other public schools in the same geographic region.