Question for Supporters of New WotP High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I have only read the last 4 pages of this thread, but what is clear to me is that a focused program on helping kids with drive and some capacity EOTP starting in early grades would grow the pie of capable kids to make several strong middle and high schools. There are a lot more of these kids out there than we appreciate. Yes this takes time, but even 5 or so years of supports could build a solid cohort. Problem is that the district has never focused on this cohort. NCLB has meant that resources have focus on pulling the kids at the 30-50th percentile and try and pull them to proficient. If you were proficient, here read a book, while I work with this group. I know kids from pretty dire economic circumstances now at wilson that take 3-4 buses some days to get to school that are going to to go to some excellent colleges because adults at Hardy made sure they got tutoring where needed and a few summer scholarships. This is where the pie needs to be expanding.

+1.

I know kids that fit this description and I see their parents really scrambling to put private school tuition together because the public school options just aren't there for them.

[Anonymous]

I didn't finish my thought. I meant to explain that I'd like to see DCPS on the Walter reed campus because the location is fantastic, it's rare to have the opportunity to build a school campus from scratch with lots of space and we could found a couple new DCPS secondary schools that are free of the strings attached/reputation/legacy that many long-standing Schools have (i.e. the alumni issue referenced throughout this thread).

[Anonymous]

Sorry if I shouldn't have strayed from the Roosevelt topic. I haven't though enough about the Walter reed idea launch a thread on it. Feel free someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The number of students enrolled in DCPS or charters near Roosevelt is exponentially larger than that near a Western High School. Which makes more sense to develop?

With the exception of Haynes and the DCI feeders*, many of the new charters don't have middle or high school options, and there's a huge crush to get into latin, basis, or sww. What about a new charter high school near Walter Reed that would feed from CM, IT, 2R, etc as well as be open to citywide lottery?

Because DCI already got Walter Reed. The idea is to get HSs (whether DCPS or charter) located within more than one corner of the city. Co-locating a charter HS at Dunbar or Eastern might work. Both schools are newly renovated, both want to be ambitious, both aren't far from metro, and neither is at capacity.


(*Don't forget Cap City - which also has a HS)

I personally would like to see a DCPS middle school, high school or both at Walter reed. The property is certainly big enough to accommodate both DCI and DCPS. Was the DCI property out on hold because the funding fell through (based on a legal reading)? Is it back on again?

DCI wasn't off the table, but a funding stream may have been affected temporarily. Now that Vincent Gray is a lame duck, his attempt to harm David Catania indirectly by harming DCI directly is more likely a bump in a road.

More to the point, with both DCI and LAMB locating at Walter Reed, it may not be impossible to put another DCPS there, but it doesn't address the problem of needing to spread seats around the city. It's not the best location for two HSs after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't finish my thought. I meant to explain that I'd like to see DCPS on the Walter reed campus because the location is fantastic, it's rare to have the opportunity to build a school campus from scratch with lots of space and we could found a couple new DCPS secondary schools that are free of the strings attached/reputation/legacy that many long-standing Schools have (i.e. the alumni issue referenced throughout this thread).

The location for a comprehensive DCPS HS is not fantastic. Walter Reed is in a triangle bounded by Wilson, Roosevelt, and Coolidge, and with DCI that's a lot of HS students located in one section of the city. There are students elsewhere who are not being served.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I have only read the last 4 pages of this thread, but what is clear to me is that a focused program on helping kids with drive and some capacity EOTP starting in early grades would grow the pie of capable kids to make several strong middle and high schools. There are a lot more of these kids out there than we appreciate. Yes this takes time, but even 5 or so years of supports could build a solid cohort. Problem is that the district has never focused on this cohort. NCLB has meant that resources have focus on pulling the kids at the 30-50th percentile and try and pull them to proficient. If you were proficient, here read a book, while I work with this group. I know kids from pretty dire economic circumstances now at wilson that take 3-4 buses some days to get to school that are going to to go to some excellent colleges because adults at Hardy made sure they got tutoring where needed and a few summer scholarships. This is where the pie needs to be expanding.

+1.

I know kids that fit this description and I see their parents really scrambling to put private school tuition together because the public school options just aren't there for them.

It is the middle school where I see it falling apart for parents. There needs to be application middle schools that get some of the hedge fund money you see going to charters. I would make a world a difference.

[Anonymous]

Roosevelt location is perfect.
Agree with all previous posters who identified in the IB the key to attract a number of proficient kids (I personally know of many Deal families who would opt for continuity with the IB).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I have only read the last 4 pages of this thread, but what is clear to me is that a focused program on helping kids with drive and some capacity EOTP starting in early grades would grow the pie of capable kids to make several strong middle and high schools. There are a lot more of these kids out there than we appreciate. Yes this takes time, but even 5 or so years of supports could build a solid cohort. Problem is that the district has never focused on this cohort. NCLB has meant that resources have focus on pulling the kids at the 30-50th percentile and try and pull them to proficient. If you were proficient, here read a book, while I work with this group. I know kids from pretty dire economic circumstances now at wilson that take 3-4 buses some days to get to school that are going to to go to some excellent colleges because adults at Hardy made sure they got tutoring where needed and a few summer scholarships. This is where the pie needs to be expanding.

+1.

I know kids that fit this description and I see their parents really scrambling to put private school tuition together because the public school options just aren't there for them.

It is the middle school where I see it falling apart for parents. There needs to be application middle schools that get some of the hedge fund money you see going to charters. I would make a world a difference.

I think you overestimate the amount of money charters are receiving, particularly when you compare that how DC has traditionally tried to underfund them.

I can see the appeal of the Roosevelt idea, and it's certainly better than recreating Western at Ellington. I'm curious though (sorry if this was answered, but I don't recall seeing it), what does Roosevelt have to offer over Cardozo except that it's currently undergoing renovation (and now the city needs to justify overspending on a shrinking population, especially as it is underspending on growing ones)? The amount of money being spent on renovating Roosevelt is staggering, as is that which was spent on Dunbar and Cardozo. Taxpayers are justifiably ticked off at the extravagance, because it doesn't attract new students the way it was supposed to (e.g. Eastern, not to mention Brookland MS, which will delay opening in the hopes that families will care and enroll their children).

Having spent a lot of time in the two neighborhoods (Roosevelt and Cardozo), Cardozo has more to offer (central location, amazing view of the city, metro accessibility, etc.). Perhaps there's hope that Roosevelt would draw from Ward 3, but as has been discussed above ad nauseum, barring an even more extravagant outlay of expenses nobody is going to drive past Wilson on their way to Roosevelt and consider that anything other a slap in the face.

If there's a serious attempt to placate other parts of the city, then Cardozo could be discussed as an alternative to Roosevelt. Again, curious why we're not going down that road instead.

[Anonymous]

The city is building a brand new middle school in Brookland at Turkey Thicket, and is running full tilt to have it completed by September. If DCPS can make it successful and attractive to Ward 5 parents, with strong academics-- a big if-- it could also be a good feeder for a strong program at Roosevelt.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone remember when Wilson was inferior and they had the same demographics? The creating of Banneker, SWW and McKinley was to do actually what? Surely not to offer a better alternative to Wilson's perpetual over-crowding. This offer to siphon Wilson students to send them off to oblivion is laughable. Might as well create the all powerful high school for athletes only too.

The goal to offer Roosevelt as an alternative site for the over-crowding at Wilson is such bullsh*t. Again there's not enough of y'all to make a school self-sufficient, it is just that plain and simple.

The first couple of posts had a parent say that a commute from Wilson to Roosevelt would be a nightmare. I honestly LOL considering the schools are more accessible with free transportation now than ever before. Helicopting parents cracks me up.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I can see the appeal of the Roosevelt idea, and it's certainly better than recreating Western at Ellington. I'm curious though (sorry if this was answered, but I don't recall seeing it), what does Roosevelt have to offer over Cardozo except that it's currently undergoing renovation (and now the city needs to justify overspending on a shrinking population, especially as it is underspending on growing ones)? The amount of money being spent on renovating Roosevelt is staggering, as is that which was spent on Dunbar and Cardozo. Taxpayers are justifiably ticked off at the extravagance, because it doesn't attract new students the way it was supposed to (e.g. Eastern, not to mention Brookland MS, which will delay opening in the hopes that families will care and enroll their children).

Having spent a lot of time in the two neighborhoods (Roosevelt and Cardozo), Cardozo has more to offer (central location, amazing view of the city, metro accessibility, etc.). Perhaps there's hope that Roosevelt would draw from Ward 3, but as has been discussed above ad nauseum, barring an even more extravagant outlay of expenses nobody is going to drive past Wilson on their way to Roosevelt and consider that anything other a slap in the face.

If there's a serious attempt to placate other parts of the city, then Cardozo could be discussed as an alternative to Roosevelt. Again, curious why we're not going down that road instead.

The only reason this thread is focused on Roosevelt is that I started the thread and Roosevelt is very close to where I live. But, just about everything discussed here is equally valid for Cardozo. Maybe a second thread should be started to explore the possibility of further developing programs at Cardozo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone remember when Wilson was inferior and they had the same demographics? The creating of Banneker, SWW and McKinley was to do actually what? Surely not to offer a better alternative to Wilson's perpetual over-crowding. This offer to siphon Wilson students to send them off to oblivion is laughable. Might as well create the all powerful high school for athletes only too.

The goal to offer Roosevelt as an alternative site for the over-crowding at Wilson is such bullsh*t. Again there's not enough of y'all to make a school self-sufficient, it is just that plain and simple.

The first couple of posts had a parent say that a commute from Wilson to Roosevelt would be a nightmare. I honestly LOL considering the schools are more accessible with free transportation now than ever before. Helicopting parents cracks me up.

I disagree with your first point as a parent at Deal and inbounds for Wilson, I would totally bypass Wilson to continue the IB program. I do agree with your 2nd point though about people complaining about traveling to Roosevelt, it's ridiculous. Even more ridiculous are those parents complaining about the travel difference between Murch and Hearst on other threads. I don't think many people on here get that the majority of families in DC travel extra distances to go to school - that is the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone remember when Wilson was inferior and they had the same demographics? The creating of Banneker, SWW and McKinley was to do actually what? Surely not to offer a better alternative to Wilson's perpetual over-crowding. This offer to siphon Wilson students to send them off to oblivion is laughable. Might as well create the all powerful high school for athletes only too.

The goal to offer Roosevelt as an alternative site for the over-crowding at Wilson is such bullsh*t. Again there's not enough of y'all to make a school self-sufficient, it is just that plain and simple.

The first couple of posts had a parent say that a commute from Wilson to Roosevelt would be a nightmare. I honestly LOL considering the schools are more accessible with free transportation now than ever before. Helicopting parents cracks me up.

I disagree with your first point as a parent at Deal and inbounds for Wilson, I would totally bypass Wilson to continue the IB program. I do agree with your 2nd point though about people complaining about traveling to Roosevelt, it's ridiculous. Even more ridiculous are those parents complaining about the travel difference between Murch and Hearst on other threads. I don't think many people on here get that the majority of families in DC travel extra distances to go to school - that is the norm.

Traveling great distances may be the norm for some, but, shouldn't, in my opinion, be accepted as a norm for all in the future -- which is what a city-wide lottery would be.

There are many charter parents who would gladly send their kids to a neighborhood school, if they had a good one. There are also many parents who have worked hard to improve their neighborhood schools so their kids could walk to school. Nothing ridiculous about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The number of students enrolled in DCPS or charters near Roosevelt is exponentially larger than that near a Western High School. Which makes more sense to develop?

With the exception of Haynes and the DCI feeders*, many of the new charters don't have middle or high school options, and there's a huge crush to get into latin, basis, or sww. What about a new charter high school near Walter Reed that would feed from CM, IT, 2R, etc as well as be open to citywide lottery?

Because DCI already got Walter Reed. The idea is to get HSs (whether DCPS or charter) located within more than one corner of the city. Co-locating a charter HS at Dunbar or Eastern might work. Both schools are newly renovated, both want to be ambitious, both aren't far from metro, and neither is at capacity.


(*Don't forget Cap City - which also has a HS)

I personally would like to see a DCPS middle school, high school or both at Walter reed. The property is certainly big enough to accommodate both DCI and DCPS. Was the DCI property out on hold because the funding fell through (based on a legal reading)? Is it back on again?

DCI wasn't off the table, but a funding stream may have been affected temporarily. Now that Vincent Gray is a lame duck, his attempt to harm David Catania indirectly by harming DCI directly is more likely a bump in a road.

More to the point, with both DCI and LAMB locating at Walter Reed, it may not be impossible to put another DCPS there, but it doesn't address the problem of needing to spread seats around the city. It's not the best location for two HSs after all.

What does the DCI funding have to do with Gray and Catania? I read that it was a legal ruling that prevented the city from giving the money to a nonprofit.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The number of students enrolled in DCPS or charters near Roosevelt is exponentially larger than that near a Western High School. Which makes more sense to develop?

With the exception of Haynes and the DCI feeders*, many of the new charters don't have middle or high school options, and there's a huge crush to get into latin, basis, or sww. What about a new charter high school near Walter Reed that would feed from CM, IT, 2R, etc as well as be open to citywide lottery?

Because DCI already got Walter Reed. The idea is to get HSs (whether DCPS or charter) located within more than one corner of the city. Co-locating a charter HS at Dunbar or Eastern might work. Both schools are newly renovated, both want to be ambitious, both aren't far from metro, and neither is at capacity.


(*Don't forget Cap City - which also has a HS)

I personally would like to see a DCPS middle school, high school or both at Walter reed. The property is certainly big enough to accommodate both DCI and DCPS. Was the DCI property out on hold because the funding fell through (based on a legal reading)? Is it back on again?

DCI wasn't off the table, but a funding stream may have been affected temporarily. Now that Vincent Gray is a lame duck, his attempt to harm David Catania indirectly by harming DCI directly is more likely a bump in a road.

More to the point, with both DCI and LAMB locating at Walter Reed, it may not be impossible to put another DCPS there, but it doesn't address the problem of needing to spread seats around the city. It's not the best location for two HSs after all.

What does the DCI funding have to do with Gray and Catania? I read that it was a legal ruling that prevented the city from giving the money to a nonprofit.

Please, I beseech you, let's not turn this into a DCI thread. Roosevelt folks, please concentrate.