Latin Cooper - Capitol Hill families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin Cooper is right next to Extra Space Storage!

I'm the Dew Drop Inn poster. I think their building is what used to be Extra Space storage. Or maybe there's another.

It's also next to a liquor store on Franklin that's kind of shady. Kinda weird, I know but I want my kiddo to live/learn in an urban setting as kiddo has been.

I want the opposite of walking onto Landon's campus.

Not saying that the burbs are bad. Just different strokes for different folks. We have NoVa burn family that when they visit don't even know how to cross a city street. And when we visit them kiddos are bored as hell.

16 kids per class & teachers that care, windowless building next to a dive bar, metro, bike path. I WANT that.

Fine for 5th, but if they're in that building for 3 or 4 years, my kid will be missing out. We want more than teachers that care - my kids have that at home in the form of parents with multiple grad degrees and au pairs. We want playing fields/sports, music, art, a good library, nice science labs, debate team, school newspaper, robotics etc.

Cooper is not going to have any of the above being in that building. Even if they find a new location in year 2-4, it likely won’t have any of the above either, not when you are starting a campus with such a small class.

Worth noting for the sake of accuracy that the initial lease (and public statements) have them there for 2 years. Plus the admin team is telling anyone who asks they are there for 3 years.

[Anonymous]

I'm just not sure that Latin I is that great, so Latin II, in a warehouse in a sketchy neighborhood, just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

Latin I is ranked 14th for middle schools in DC:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Only 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 48% tested at or above that level for math. That's pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just not sure that Latin I is that great, so Latin II, in a warehouse in a sketchy neighborhood, just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

Latin I is ranked 14th for middle schools in DC:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Only 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 48% tested at or above that level for math. That's pretty bad.

Their HS rankings are inane but this really takes the cake. Only on DCUM would anyone invest any interest in such pointless ranking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just not sure that Latin I is that great, so Latin II, in a warehouse in a sketchy neighborhood, just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

Latin I is ranked 14th for middle schools in DC:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Only 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 48% tested at or above that level for math. That's pretty bad.

You clearly are unfamiliar with the demographic population and testing scores in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents are desperate enough to cleave to their happy lives in Wards 5 and 6 not to mind the warehouse. I don’t see the permanent campus across the River. If Latin wanted a Ward 7 or 8 location, they would already have selected one.

This is an incredibly dumb statement. They don't need a school sufficient for 5th-12th this year, or next, or the year after that. It would be irresponsible for any school to pay for that much space when they won't need it for years. And there is not scenario where they can secure a lease in 2022 that doesn't start until 2026.

I sincerely doubt it. But only time will tell.

[Anonymous]

Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just not sure that Latin I is that great, so Latin II, in a warehouse in a sketchy neighborhood, just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

Latin I is ranked 14th for middle schools in DC:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Only 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 48% tested at or above that level for math. That's pretty bad.

You clearly are unfamiliar with the demographic population and testing scores in DC.

Right, but Latin doesn’t reflect the demographic makeup of DC. Kids at Latin test lower than other schools with that large a percentage of rich, white kids. Which is perfectly fine — maybe that just isn’t a focus for the school — but you can’t say Latins scores are lower because of DC’s demographics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just not sure that Latin I is that great, so Latin II, in a warehouse in a sketchy neighborhood, just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

Latin I is ranked 14th for middle schools in DC:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Only 63% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 48% tested at or above that level for math. That's pretty bad.

You clearly are unfamiliar with the demographic population and testing scores in DC.

Nice try. Latin has "easier" demographics than a lot of the schools that are doing much better than them in turns of testing outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

That has been their stated plan since they announced the expansion. It’s not exactly a bait and switch if parents just aren’t paying attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

That has been their stated plan since they announced the expansion. It’s not exactly a bait and switch if parents just aren’t paying attention.

Yup, and one of the reasons we are giving up our spot! That future commute would just not be worth it (among all the other uncertainty).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

That has been their stated plan since they announced the expansion. It’s not exactly a bait and switch if parents just aren’t paying attention.

And the program is not a success if many, if not most, of the anchor families drop out. Simply put, Latin Cooper is going to need decent test scores to thrive.

The home-grown charter has no history of Saturday school, extended day, year-round school, or the militancy of KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. In effect, the Latin model relies on a large cohort of UMC students to buoy needy kids academically. In the last analysis, they're going to think twice about a permanent location across the river.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

That has been their stated plan since they announced the expansion. It’s not exactly a bait and switch if parents just aren’t paying attention.

+1000. Only people who live on Twitter and FB and DCUM thin a school would care about the "bad press" (i.e. DCUM naval gazing). The school has said over and over again that this is a temp location and they will move...and they don't know where. It is one of the reasons it was not under consideration for my kid, but that's an informed choice I had to make. I'd also point out that Latin said what they wanted a location in W7 or W8. Since that time both wards have moved across the river. They could locate in eastern edge of what was once ward 6 and still meet their desired goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latin II would be asking for a great deal of trouble in locating from Brookland to Ward 7 or 8 a few years in. They'd risk having most of the families on board failing to follow Latin across the river. The leadership needs the enrollment continuity and stakeholder buy-in to succeed and knows it. They're not going to want awkward press related to dozens, perhaps scores, of "racist" and "elitist" UMC families, along with low SES minority families who can't handle a major commute change, dropping out over a move Across the River. I wager that they pick a permanent location within a couple miles of the temp location.

That has been their stated plan since they announced the expansion. It’s not exactly a bait and switch if parents just aren’t paying attention.

And the program is not a success if many, if not most, of the anchor families drop out. Simply put, Latin Cooper is going to need decent test scores to thrive.

The home-grown charter has no history of Saturday school, extended day, year-round school, or the militancy of KIPP, SEED and DC Prep. In effect, the Latin model relies on a large cohort of UMC students to buoy needy kids academically. In the last analysis, they're going to think twice about a permanent location across the river.

Your reply is nonsensical.

PP to whom you replied was responding to someone who said families would flee due to a bait and switch if Latin moved. Their (correct) observation was that there was no bait and switch and that every family knows or should know that the school will move and that (presumably) that is factored in and they are willing to move with the school. In fact it would make no sense for a family to do 3 years at a marginal temp facility and then bail once they move to (what I assume will be) a lovely, shiny new facility with all the Latin-esque amenities.

To which you replied that the program will not be a success if anchor families drop out. A position not remotely in opposition to what anyone has argued, anywhere, ever. It also ignores the substance of the post to which you replied that made the case that they were unlikely to drop out based on Latin moving precisely because they entered knowing Latin would be moving.

[Anonymous]

I believe Latin's plan has always been to locate a second campus centrally but on the east side (ie east of North Cap) to complement their centrally located west side campus. I don't think that plan will change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building itself leaves a lot to be desired. That said, it's a short walk to the very nice recreation center, near the bike trail and to be thoughtfully opened by dedicated educators from the 2nd street campus. We'll be snapping up our WL spot when offered. We consider ourselves lucky to have the potential opportunity to be a part of the new campus from the beginning.

Keep your fingers crossed with the principal. I have no idea why they would choose someone who is not even physically here to prepare for the opening and who might not be here when the campus opens if the visa issue isn’t resolved.

+100. Not a good look for a school looking to get families on the fence to buy in. The Latin admin team seems to think the gild on the lily from Latin I shines bright enough to bathe Latin II. I hope they are correct, but I worry their hubris will cost them some short term momentum.

OH FFS. If you look into it, you will find that Latin I started in some really dismal facilities--included when my oldest started there in some kind of church facility and demountable trailer with nothing but some cracked concrete to play on. But it was kept clean and safe, it was well-managed and the adults in charge were creative and empathetic enough to make it a quality academic and social program.

If you talk to Latin alum now, you will find them nostalgic for those old, ad-hoc facilities and for the way in brought them all together and focused them on the basics---a solid foundation of reading, writing, thinking and analyzing in order to become an accomplished person and a good citizen.

This handwringing over facilities is unnecessary. If your family has other choices and other priorities by all means pass up Latin Cooper Campus. But don't fret for a second about the kids who do enroll there next fall. They will be more than alright. They will be part of something really great. That's what happens when you get quality, committed and expert people on board in an educational institution and they are unbound by central office BS.